"It must be. It's the only one unchartered. And Angus--if you are to control it--remember that it will submerge. And it has four speeds, two more than...." Tandor slapped the table with his palm, making the goblets bounce. "Enough, enough. Plisket, your tongue wags like a hound's tail. Angus, are you ready?" Angus stretched his tall, heavily shouldered body. He went and bent his lean height over the shallow-breathing scientist and swung him up in a fireman's hitch. He walked firmly, steadily, as he headed for the oaken door. * * * * * The man with the zigzag scar on his cheek drew back into the darkness of a jutting second storey as a door creaked open down the street. His eyes glittered, watching Angus emerge with a cowled body atop a shoulder. The hidden man touched a glittering knob strapped to his wrist, turned the knob and lifted it to his mouth. Angus did not see him, did not hear him whisper into the voxbeamer. He heaved up, settling the body on his shoulder. He began to trot, with space-devouring strides. He went by the spot where Tandor's bully had struck down the cowled man. He went ten paces beyond it, and halted. He lowered the man to the ground and began to shake him. "Wake up ... he didn't hit you that hard. Come on. Man, stir yourself ... that's better ... see me, do you? Who am I? Angus. Good. You're better? All right ... on your feet ... here, I'll give you a hand." The scientist teetered weakly, tried to smile. "I told you it was a place for rats. What happened?" "I beat him off. I carried you a bit, thinking he might come back. We've lost some time." "Sorry. I'll make a report to the Hierarch. He'll be glad to know you didn't run out on him." Red Angus clipped coldly, "I wouldn't leave Moana to that Diktor devil. The Hierarch knows that." The cowled man nodded. "Just the same, I'll tell him. I like you, Angus. If I can ever help you, remember Thordad." "You're all right? Sure you can go on?" "I can go on. Hurry. Never mind me. I'll make it." * * * * * They saw the towering ball of the globe-ship as they broke from the squat buildings framing the square at the waterfront. It was a ball of golden brilliance, riding the slight sea-swell despite its bulk, occasionally rubbing against the soft snubbers attached to the dock. In the moonlight it loomed majestic and awe-inspiring above the wet, rounded stones of the quay. Its soft _slip-slup_ motion on the waves made it seem alive in the salt-laden breeze moving in from the sea. The scientist halted. "I leave you here. You know how to get to the Flaming Land? Good." Thordad held out his bony hand. Angus grinned and clasped it. He chuckled, "Tell the Hierarch to dust off a shelf in his Literatum. I'll fill it with the Book of Nard."