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ding now parted； providing a debarkation gate。
But the landing stage was empty。 Max turned to their Haydonite pilot suspiciously。 〃You said you were taking us to Sarna。〃
The Haydonite was smaller and more slender than either Veidt or Sarna and had an emerald cast to her skin。 In the center of her forehead was a star…sapphire pattern of light that came from no apparent source。 Her features were no more pronounced than those of any other Haydonite the visitors had seen； and yet there were contours that somehow gave her face an individuality。 The offworlders had learned that the Haydonites were far from anonymous。
She bowed serenely。 〃She will be with you presently。 You will； after all； wish some privacy for your consultations。 There are dangers in this city； as well you know。 And now； if you will pardon me； I have other pressing matters to which I must see。〃
Vince led the way out of the cone…flier； and in another few seconds it was lifting away into the sky of Glike； among the flying carpets and lolling sky barges。
It was windy and chilly up there； but the view made it worthwhile。 Jonathan Wolff unlimbered a telebinocular and looked around。 Max glared out angrily at the Oz…like urbanscape； he was worried about Miriya and the rest； wishing some direct action were possible。
Vince said； 〃What I don't get is this business with Vowad； Sarna's father。 I mean； jealousy； from a Haydonite？
The emotions of the synthetically spawned Haydonites were usually too subtle for the other Sentinels to detect； or were deeply suppressed。 And certainly their family ties were tenuous by outsiders' standards。 But the situation between Sarna； Vowad； and Veidt was apparently the exception。
Haydonites didn't so much reproduce as literally create their offspring； as a sort of art form。 The young incorporated characteristics of the elders and selected innovations； as esthetic essays； as well。
Wolff lowered the telebinocular。 〃From what I've been able to pick up since we've been here； Vowad is the ultimate expression of Haydonite development； their Number One；〃 he said。 〃And Sarna was； sort of； his crowning achievement。 Except； she didn't behave quite the way she was supposed to。 Got all enthused over Veidt and some radical ideas he had； like resisting the Invid encroachment。〃
〃Where've we heard that before？〃 Max murmured。
〃Thing is；〃 Wolff Went on； 〃I get the impression that if anybody could keep the Invid from having their way on Haydon IV； it's Vowad。 Only； he doesn't seem inclined to do it。〃
〃The whole thing's a little slippery by Haydonite standards； I suppose；〃 Vince said。 〃The Invid ease their way in with trade arrangements and diplomatic missions； cultural exchanges and all that； and the next thing you know； they're entrenched。 Bribed the officials； intimidated or blackmailed the bureaucrats…they've got all the leverage they need around here； more or less。〃
And if the planet's vaunted defense system ever really existed； the three had e to realize； it found the Invid infiltration/subversion operation too nebulous to deal with。 So long as the Invid made no overt moves； they were safe from retribution。 And violent transactions between offworlders were； so it seemed； exempt from interference by planetary defenses。
Wolff raised the telebinocular again； scanning。 〃Heads up；〃 he said softly。
A flying carpet was approaching； a hooked…rug size。 In another few seconds； Sarna alighted next to them。
After receiving news that Rick； Lisa； and the others had recovered； she said； 〃We haven't much time。 Matters here are much worse than Veidt and I ever thought when we proposed this plan。 We have to get you all off Haydon IV as soon as we can。〃
Before they could press her for details； she hastened； 〃You brought your seeing devices？ Good； look over there； at the juncture of the Sky Road and Silver Way。〃
Eventually they focused on the point she was indicating。 Vince watched for a moment； then breathed an uncharacteristic； deliberate string of obscenities。
〃Yeah； this changes things；〃 Wolff added sardonically。
Far away and below； a slave coffle was being moved along by Inorganic guards toward a rearing； adamantine Invid stronghold that looked brutally out of place in exquisite Glike。
The prisoners； headbanded with metallic straps that glowed with instrumentation； were dirty and disheveled。 It was easy to see that they were big； rugged women wearing the remains of their fighting costumes； walking with heads held high； herded by their captors。
〃Praxians；〃 Max said softly。 〃The missing Praxians。 They're here！〃
Sarna was nodding measuredly。 〃They were not； as we thought； exterminated； the Invid have many more than that here in the city and elsewhere on Haydon IV。 Many； many thousands。〃
In contrast to the usual lack of extreme emotion in Haydonites； there was loathing in her voice now。 〃And my father； Vowad； permits it。 Permits anything； to preserve his oh…so…important serenity； and this little。。。Shangri…la； as you Humans might say。〃
They lowered their binoculars as she went on。 〃The Regent has brought the proper pressure to bear； he'll have you all in captivity soon； if we don't move quickly。 I've arranged for…〃
But she got no further； as the sun was blotted out overhead by flying carpets over half an acre in area。 On them stood Inorganics： Scrim and Crann and Odeon； weapons ready； along with the Haydonites who were doing the actual flying。
The three REF fighters pulled their Badger assault pistols； ready to fight for their lives； but Sarna said； 〃No！ If you fire first； you'll have done what they want。 And Miriya and the others will suffer the more for it。 Stay where you are and let me speak for you。〃
The flying carpets landed so as to ring them in with the sheer drop of the brink at their backs。 Vince； Max； and Wolff formed their own security wheel； but kept their machine pistol muzzles pointed at the landing stage surface。 They had a few other surprises on their persons beside the Badgers； but going up against Inorganics without mecha of their own would amount to a suicide mission。
They recognized Vowad right away by the bulging cranium and deep red flesh tone； and the enormous lavende