"You can go back to your post, guard. Better watch it, though. One of those Royal Guard ships might try a landing. Might be a good idea to get a few more men out there." Again, Hense tried to turn around and challenge this fellow. Hang it, he was the Officer of the Guard. He was supposed to be giving the orders. In fact, he should have this fellow in the detention cell by now, waiting for the major to see him in the morning. He paused in mid-stride. "Never mind stopping, lieutenant," Michaels told him. "Just keep going. I want to see the commissioner before Stern's people figure out something really good." Hense gave up. He must be asleep. It was the only possible answer. Of course, that was bad, too. On some stations, an Officer of the Guard was permitted to take a nap between guard checks. But Major Kovacs had some sort of a thing about that. He'd made it clear that there was plenty of time for napping during off-watch time. His officers, he said positively, would never sleep while their men were on guard. And he made checks, too. Hense struggled with himself. He had to wake up. It was insane. How, he wondered, could a guy be asleep and dreaming--and know it? And, knowing it, why couldn't he wake himself up? This was pure fantasy. Yeah, dream stuff. He waited nervously. Any time now, the major could be coming around to check the guardroom. Then the roof would fall in. Any minute now, he could expect to hear a window-shattering roar. "Halt!" It was the Residence Guard. Post number two. "All right," Michaels' voice was low. "Hold up. Answer him. Have him continue his tour, and let's be on our way." Hense stopped. "Officer of the Guard," he said loudly. "Advance, one, to be recognized." Hense sighed and stepped forward, then halted again at the guard's command. The man flashed a light on him, then raised his weapon to his face and snapped it to the raise position again. "I recognize you, sir. Any special instructions?" "None. Just continue on your post." Inwardly, Hense was reaching the boiling point. That hadn't been what he'd intended to say, dammit! He---- "Pardon, sir," the guard was saying, "but how about this man here?" Now, Hense realized, there must be something really going on. Dream creatures just couldn't walk out of a man's mind and show up in front of an alert guard. Or had he completely lost gyro synch? He---- Michaels broke in again. "It's all right, guard. Just continue on your post. And keep an especially sharp lookout from now on." "Yes, sir." The guard snapped his weapon up to his face again, then holstered it and turned to continue his tour. Hense looked after him. It wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. He resumed his pacing, toward the Residence. "Oh, well," he thought resignedly, "might as well relax and enjoy it. Wonder what'll happen next." Commissioner Jackson himself came to the door. "What was that fire, lieutenant?" he demanded. He noticed Michaels.