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Tesla threw back his shoulders。 〃No； my young friend； you have it backward。 It is we who are one step ahead。 But change is in the air。 Soon the reshapings will catch up with us。 And then we can begin to transform the world。〃
CHAPTER NINE
A footnote in Kahler's work （The Tirolian paign； Fantomadiscs； third issue； 2083； scr。 1099） refers those interested in Garudan psychism ＇sic＇ to a series of twentieth…century autobiographical novels written by a young anthropologist recording his attempts to enter into various states of altered reality through the guidance of an Yaqui Indian 〃man of power。〃 And while La Pea is willing to concede that there is some justification for Kahler's remendation； he points out that the Garudans required nothing in the way of extrinsic agents to attain 〃non…ordinary states。〃 Unless； however； one views the planet's atmosphere in this regard。 It is hoped that the much…awaited translations of Haydon's texts will shed light on this continuing controversy。
Taken from the 〃Imminent Immaterial〃 column of Psycho…physics Digest
Garuda。 Kami and Learna had told them what to expect。 A mostly cold and barren world of steppes and tundra； with vast frozen regions and glaciated mountain ranges。 What little there was in the way of flora and fauna was principally confined to a narrow band of equatorial forestland of evergreen analogues。 There were two seasons； wet and dry； Garuda was in the latter now； and that； Kami explained； would account for the differences in fur coloration the Sentinels would notice among members of his and Learna's tribe。 The Garudans； who numbered in the thousands； were not； generally speaking； offworlders。 Some； however； had volunteered for mining work on Rhestad…system moons after the arrival of the Zentraedi generations ago； and later on； the Masters' clones。 But most Garudans feared the thought of having to leave the planet； and had little tolerance for the breathing harnesses life anywhere else would require。 Their society was a simple one； organized along the lines of any hunter…gatherer group； however； they were anything but nomadic； and kept domesticated animals and raised some crops。 Religion was of a decidedly individual variety； with each clan answering to a different totem； and each member his or her own shaman。 Oddly enough； neither Kami nor Learna had the slightest knowledge of history in the sense that most of the Sentinels； including Burak and Lron； understood the term。 Unlike the Karbarrans； or Praxians for that matter； the Garudans seemed to live entirely in the present。 This is not to say that they were a placent group…they were certainly devoted to securing a free future for their world…but at the same time； they could supply no answers to questions concerning their racial past。
This enigma had bee something of a preoccupation with Cabell during the four months the Sentinels had remained grounded on Praxis。 Cabell was different than the Masters in this regard。 Those who had ousted the Tirolian regime after the Great Transition were more interested in expansion and conquest than in the accumulation of knowledge； to the Elders and their subordinate Triumvirates； knowledge of the past presented something of an impediment to change。 They had their gaze fixed on the day after tomorrow； on issues of uncontested rule； ultimate power； and selective immortality。
The rest of the Sentinels； though； saw Garuda more in terms of its tangible challenges； and foremost among these was its very atmosphere： though Earthlike in position； it was essentially toxic to all but the planet's indigenous life…forms。 There were one or two exceptions to this； but only Veidt and Sarna among the Sentinels qualified。 Surface scans verified the presence of dozens of varieties of airborne spores and microorganisms whose chemistry Jean Grant likened to certain laboratory…produced psychotropic drugs。 According to Cabell…based on what he had gleaned from Zor's notes…the vulpine beings' mental processes were linked to the planet itself in a kind of submolecular partnership。 Life…forms incapable of entering into this long…established microcosmic symbiosis were not； however； simply ignored or exempted； rather； they were sensed as potentially disturbing to the ecological balance and consequently counterattacked by those same microorganisms responsible for the Garudans' nonordinary psychic states。
It had therefore fallen upon the med group to outfit the landing party with transpirators and resp canisters。 But if logistics was about to hamper the operation's effectiveness； the Sentinels could take some fort in the fact that the Invid had also fallen prey to the planet's proprietary nature。 In fact； their presence on Garuda was essentially restricted to the hemispherically shaped hives they had erected in those areas where Zor's Flower of Life seedlings had taken root。 The crop was a mutant but bountiful one； and it was believed that Garuda provided largely defoliated Optera with much of its needed supply of nutrient。 With Karbarra liberated； the Regent had lost his mecha factories； now the Sentinels meant to strike him at the gut level； destroying as many of Garuda's orchards and 〃farms〃 as they could。
Rick； Lisa； Cabell； Rem； Jack； Karen； Burak； Kami； Learna； Gnea； Lron； and Crysta made up the drop group； with members of the Skull and Wolff Pack escorting the shuttle down。 The SDF…7 would remain in orbit to deal with Invid transport vessels； known to make frequent runs between Garuda and Optera。 Wolff and Grant shared the fortress mand。 Janice would be keeping an eye on Tesla。 Veidt and Sarna had elected to stay behind； and Bela was apparently determined to help Teal with the infant Baldan。
The landing party was certain that the SDF…7's arrival in Garudaspace had not gone undetected by the Invid； the shuttle landing would probably be monitored as well。 So rather than risk immediate engagement or present any of the hives with an easy target； they opted to put down in the relatively unpoliced tribal sectors； close to Kami and Learna's village。 Unexpectedly； they found themselves encircled by battle…ready troops nevertheless…even before the shuttle's landing gear made contact with the surface。
Kami had neglected to mention that some of Garuda's protectors were Tirolian Bioroids。
Kami and Learna consequently made certain they were the first to deplane； figuring their mere appearance would defuse the situation。 It did so…and more。 Within minutes； half of Kami's tribe had emerged from the trees to surround the shuttle and celebrate the return of their friends。 The air was suddenly charged with joyous sounds…excited barking to Rick's ears…and Kami and Learna were embraced； jostled； and hoisted up on countless shoulders。 With elaborate ritual； the two returnees threw off their breathing gear and pranced about； engaging in impromptu dances； shamanic steps of power。
Rick radioed the Skull and Wolff contingents to put down along the perimeter of the shuttle's rough strip； checked the integrity of his environment suit and transpirator； and followed Lisa out of the pilots' cabin to take part in the merriment。 An hour later； he and the rest of the landing party were in the village's wooden longho