She darted a tentative look at the screen but it was comfortingly blank. "It wasn't human. And it was staring right into me. It was awful!" "Did it have a nose, ears, mouth?" "I--I can't be sure. Let's get out of here. I'm all right now. Thanks for being so good to me--Don." "Don't mention it--Jen. Here, put your shoes on." When he had closed the big wooden door behind them, Don padlocked it again. He preferred to leave things as they'd found them, even though their visit to the observation room was no longer a secret. He was relieved when they had scrambled up the steps under the grandstand. There had been no sense of anyone or anything following them or spying on them during their long walk through the tunnel. They were silent with their separate thoughts as they crossed the frosty ground and Jen held Don's arm, more for companionship than support. At the campus the girl excused herself, saying she still felt shaky and wanted to rest in her room. Don went back to the dining room. The meeting was over but Alis Garet was there, having a cup of tea and reading a book. "Well, sir," she said, giving him an intent look, "how was the rendezvous?" "Fair to middling." He was relieved to see that she wasn't angry. "Did anybody say anything while I was gone?" "Not a coherent word. You don't deserve it but I made notes for you. Running off with that redhead when you have a perfectly adequate blonde. Did you kiss her?" "Of course not. It was strictly business. Let me see the notes, you angel." "Notes, then." She handed over a wad of paper. "Rubach," he read, "Magnology stuff stuff stuff etc. etc. Nothing. "Q. (Conductor Jas Brown) Wht abt Mayor's proclamation Superior seceded frm Earth? "A. (Civek) Repeated stuff abt discrimination agnst Spr & Cavlr & bubl gum prices. "Q. Wht u xpct gain? "A. Stuff abt end discrimination. "Q. Sovereignty? "A. How's that? "Q. R u trying set up Spr as separate city-state w/govt independent of U S or Earth? ('That Conductor Brown is sharper than I gave him credit for,' Alis elaborated.) "A. Hem & haw. Well now. "Q. Well, r u? "A. (Father, rescuing Civek) Q of sovereignty must remain temporarily up in the air. Laughter (Father's). When & if Spr returns wil acpt state-fed laws as b4 but meantime circs warrant adapt to prevailing conditions. "Rest of mtg was abt sleeping arngmnts, meals, recreation privileges, clothing etc." Don folded the notes and put them in his pocket. "Thanks. I see I didn't miss much. The only thing it seems to add is that Mayor Civek is a figurehead, and that if the Cavalier people know anything they're not talking, except in gobbledygook." "Check," Alis said. "Now let's go take a look at Pittsburgh." "Pittsburgh?" "That's where we are now. One of the students who lives there peeped over the edge a while ago. I was waiting for you to come back before I went to have a look." "Pittsburgh?" Don repeated. "You mean Superior's drifting across the United States?"