"I was uneasy in advance," Mr. Flison said. "You read various descriptions about the physical sensations. Intellectually, of course, you draw a distinction, but emotionally you know that the only word which applies is death--pure and simple. But there's no sensation. It happens too fast. You don't even notice it." Politely attentive, the general had leaned forward. "I don't think it could be put better," he contributed. "That's very apt. You don't even notice it." Mr. Flison's eyes narrowed in speculation. They maintained the general's own in unwavering focus. He did not acknowledge the compliment. The general's eyes broke to one side. He moved nervously as though physically to dismiss the tactical error of underestimating his opponent. "Since this is your first planet," the general said, "perhaps you'd like to see something of the operation? Basically, we have nine Richardson Domes here on Miracastle. Two are the living quarters--the other similar to this. Right now domes Seven and Nine are the more important. They contain the air-changing equipment. We are holding tightly to our completion date, and these two--Seven and Nine--will be pulled out in fifteen days. That is to say, they will, barring any serious interruptions in our work. On schedule, I should point out." The general poured coffee for himself. Mr. Flison politely declined. "When you've been in the Corps as long as I have," the general resumed, "the schedule becomes a part of you. Everything--" he held his hands before him, fingers spread, palms facing, and drew them together--"converges on that. It's that simple. Other planets are waiting. In a society as complex as ours, a million--and I mean this literally, sir--a million decisions must be reviewed if the schedule falls behind. Delay of a critical item of equipment can necessitate an unbelievably vast reassignment of personnel and supply patterns. A small cause reverberates throughout the whole fabric of the space technology." "General Shorter, I think perhaps you're being carried away a little. I'm sure we have adequate procedures to accommodate minor variations in equipment delivery dates. If we don't, the Lord help us: we'd have been dead long ago." The general was in the process of forming an immediate reply, but he reconsidered. When he reached for the coffee, which by now was cool and bitter, his hand was trembling. The general licked his lips. "More coffee? No? Well, I didn't intend to get off on this. I really wanted to ask if you'd like to inspect our operations." He glanced at his time piece. "I could show you the present shift operation in Dome Nine." Mr. Flison rose. "No, General, I don't want to be of any bother. I wouldn't want to interfere with your--work." III "City" is not necessarily descriptive: perhaps less so than the application of Euclidean axioms to advanced geometry. Physically, it was this: 1. Three dozen stone arches whose keystones were inverted bowls.