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〃New Zarkopolis weles General Edwards；〃 Breetai said with practiced elaborateness。 〃We're sorry we couldn't provide the general with better weather。〃 He could hear a few Zentraedi snicker。
〃Very thoughtful of you；〃 Edwards returned over the mecha's external speakers； mimicking Breetai's tone of voice。 〃And I'm sorry I can't bring you better news。〃
The two men fell into an uneasy silence； the wind came up； howling and pinging gravel against Breetai's armored suit and the Battloid's alloy。 The Zentraedi mander narrowed his eyes and grinned； picturing Edwards in the mecha's cockpit； nervous hands on the controls。 When one of the VT's gauntlets came up； Breetai almost made a grab for it； but restrained himself at the last moment。 Edwards caught the gesture； however。
〃A bit nervous today； are we； Breetai？〃
Breetai snorted。 〃This wind has put me in a foul humor。〃
Edwards inclined the ultratech knight's head。 〃Well then； maybe this won't seem like bad news after all。〃 The mecha's hand held out an outsize audio device for Breetai's inspection。 〃You and your。。。crew are relieved； mander。 New Zarkopolis is now under REF jurisdiction； and I'll be assuming personal control of this facility。 Tomorrow's cargo run will be your last。 You can hear it straight from the council； if you wish。〃
The Zentraedi began to grumble among themselves； and Edwards's sentries took a step forward。 Breetai motioned his cadre silent with a downward wave of his massive hand。 He accepted the playback device and regarded it for a moment。 〃No need for that。 But I should warn you； General； that you're going to find the conditions here somewhat harsh。 This is； after all； Zentraedi's work。〃
Edwards's short laugh issued from the speakers。 〃We'll manage all right。 Of course； you're all wele to stay on…as laborers； you understand。〃
〃I'll consider it； General。〃
〃Good； Breetai； good；〃 Edwards said； pleased with the oute。 〃I like a man who can follow orders。 Could be that you and I will see eye to eye yet。〃
Breetai nodded； tight…lipped。 Peripherally； he noticed Kazianna stepping deliberately into his restricted field of view。
Edwards went on to inform him that within a week's time several hundred men and women would begin arriving from Tirol； along with the new mecha Lang's teams had designed。 Until then； Edwards was leaving behind six of his troops to oversee the transfer of mand。 Six or six hundred； Breetai said to himself； it wouldn't matter now。
When Edwards and most of his squadron had lifted off； Breetai swung stiffly into the wind and made for the mining colony's Quonset…style headquarters。 On the way； he asked the lieutenant if his men had pleted their task。
〃Almost； my lord。〃
〃And the fool's ore？〃
〃Loaded for tomorrow's delivery。〃
Breetai grunted。 〃See to it that the last of the monopole is placed aboard the ship。 The delivery will go as scheduled； but the monopole remains our property。〃
The lieutenant raised an eyebrow。 〃About Edwards's soldiers； mander。。。〃
Breetai came to a halt short of the headquarters hatchway。 〃Invite them along to 'oversee' the delivery。 Afterward； we'll give them the option of joining us。〃
〃And if they refuse？〃
〃I leave that up to you；〃 Breetai said； stepping inside。
〃Pregnant？〃 Max asked； as Rhestad's morning rays touched the med team's geodesic shelter。
Vince shrugged his huge shoulders。 〃That's what Jean says。 And Cabell concurs。〃
〃That's right； my boy；〃 Cabell affirmed。 〃It is most remarkable； but true。〃 The Tiresian was all smiles for a change； his concern for Rem momentarily eclipsed。 〃I thought her first pregnancy the exception that proved the rule。 But this…this is nothing short of。。。〃
〃Remarkable；〃 Max finished for him； shaking his head in disbelief。 〃Yeah； tell me about it。〃
Vince laughed。 〃What's with you？ It takes two； if I'm not mistaken。〃
Max looked up into Vince's brown face。 〃Yeah； but Vince； you don't understand。 Remember； Miriya's。。。different。〃
〃She had Dana；〃 Vince started to say。
〃Yeah； and Dana's different。〃
〃How is she different？〃 Cabell wanted to know。
Max and Vince traded looks； but left the question unanswered。 〃Can I see her？〃 Max said suddenly； getting up。
Vince laughed。 〃That's a good start。〃
Max started off for the small area of the med dome Jean's team had partitioned off。
〃Remarkable；〃 Cabell mused as he and Vince walked back to where Rick； Lisa； and Karen were undergoing treatment。 The three had yet to emerge from semiconsciousness。。。
〃Any change？〃 Vince asked his wife a moment later。 She was standing over Rick just now； looking almost as drawn and pale as her patient。 Vince put his arm around her narrow waist。
〃I'm worried； Vince。 They should have e out of it by now。 We've tried everything…antipsychotics； transfusions。。。〃 She threw up her hands。 〃I don't know what to do。〃
〃It is the hin〃 Veidt said； hovering over to them from the foot of Karen's bed。 He had spent the last several hours absorbing everything Jean's medical library databanks had to offer。 〃Garudans live in the womb of the hin。 It is what you might term 'an alternate reality。' The microorganisms here； the same which keep Kami's people in a constant state of hin； have caused your friends to bee unstuck in what constitutes Human reality。〃
〃Yes； and it's killing them； Veidt。 It's not providing them with psychedelic trips or allies or personal power。 It's draining the life from them while we sit here and。。。and…〃
〃e on； Jean；〃 Vince said。 〃You're doing what you can。〃
Cabell tugged at his beard。 〃There is a treatment； of course。〃 He turned to Veidt as Vince and Jean's eyes fixed on him。
〃I will be succinct；〃 the Haydonite began。 〃On my world there are devices capable of reversing the Garudan effect。 'Mental illness；' as some of your disks name it； is unknown to us； it is as archaic a thing as your own smallpox。〃
〃Then what are we waiting for？〃 Jean said； looking up at Vince。 〃Our work here is finished； isn't it？ Garuda's liberated。〃
Vince removed his hand from her waist to feel his jaw。 〃Yes； in a way。〃
〃In a way？ What's that supposed to mean？〃
〃We've learned that the Regent is on his way to Haydon IV；〃 Cabell told her。 〃With what remains of his fleet； no doubt。〃
Jean pressed her lips。 〃More fighting； then。〃
〃It's not even as simple as that；〃 Vince added。
〃Our world；〃 Veidt said； 〃cannot be approached with the same tactics you employed to liberate Karbarra； Praxis； and Garuda。 Haydon IV is in a certain sense beyond both conquest or liberation。 And while it is true that the Invid have assumed control of our political structure； they have not in any way attempted to tamper with our lives。 They could not。 Haydon IV is an open world and will always remain so。〃
〃Couldn't we sneak through or something？ I mean； isn't there a back door we could use； some way of getting to those devices without confronting the Invid？〃
Veidt stared at Jean and shook his head。 〃It is impossible。〃
Vince was pacing up and down； hands clasped behind his back。 〃We've gotta ask ourselves whether it's worth the risk。〃
〃Whether Rick； Lisa； and Karen are worth the risk； you mean。〃
〃And Rem；〃 Cabell added。
Vince nodded。
〃Look wha