"Well you could've saved us a good hour's time if you'd have called me to see what I had to say first before dragging me over here as if I were a common criminal! I think an apology will be in order!" _If only Barnum had been right!_ "What I ordered, just in the event you're as interested as you say you are, was a high-speed blower-rack!" "A--what?" _Reel him in!_ "A high-speed blower-rack. So happens I'm having trouble with the electronic units of my vento-conditioner at home, and I'm doing the work myself more or less as a project in avocational therapy--" "Now it is you who can't be serious. How great a fool do you think--" "Damn it, whose word are you going to take in this?" Doug stood up. "Some Electrosupply technician's, who can't hear any better than you can reason, or mine?" There was a second's silence. "All right, Doug. You're a fool, you know. You are, and so am I.... It was a high-speed blower-rack. I'll make sure it's set straight." "Well, thank you." "Just be careful, Doug." "That's good advice--don't wear it out!" He turned quickly, made his exit before the panel had widened half-way. CHAPTER IX The ugly, black building stood out like a shapeless smudge of soot against the milk-white sky, but it was by sheer accident that Terry and Mike discovered it, built as it was at the water's edge where the high blue grass had been neither trampled nor trimmed, and at a distance further from the training areas than they had ever ventured. "We'd better go back, Terry. We'll get in trouble." Mike's young body glistened with perspiration as he stood on the knoll with his brother, eyes still fastened to the low black structure as he spoke. His equipment belt was heavy and he tugged again at it to change the distribution of its weight. The broadsword swung loosely at his left side, not quite counterbalancing the mace which hung by its thong to his right. "They said there were a couple of hours before the next class, didn't they? The guy in the sharp uniform said we could amuse ourselves any way we wanted." "Sure, but this isn't the way the others are doing it. They all went out and started practicing with the swords again. We oughtta." "You rather do that than go exploring?" Mike touched the half-healed flesh-wound on his right shoulder. He remembered how the short, dark-haired kid had laughed when it had started to bleed, and then how mad he got when he found he couldn't use the sword well enough to cut him back. "I'd like to get that guy." "Don't be a dope. It's only a dream--you didn't really get hurt. Come on, let's see what that place is. Nobody's around...." "Maybe it is only a dream, but he made me mad. Boy I'll cut his ears off if I--" "Aw, come on." They had barely started down the opposite side of the knoll when Jon Tayne's voice hailed them.