Chapter 21

           He’dlosthisangeragain.Hemissedit.

           Thelittlecartwascrowded:Maelcum,theRemingtonacrosshisknees,andCase,deckandconstructagainsthischest.Thecartwasoperatingatspeedsithadn’tbeendesignedfor,itwastopheavy,cornering,andMaelcumhadtakentoleaningoutinthedirectionoftheturns.Thispresentednoproblemwhenthethingtooklefts,becauseCasesatontheright,butintherightturnstheZionitehadtoleanacrossCaseandhisgear,crushinghimagainsttheseat.

           Hehadnoideawheretheywere.Everythingwasfamiliar,buthecouldn’tbesurehe’dseenanyparticularstretchbefore.Acurvinghallwaylinedwithwoodenshowcasesdisplayedcollectionshewascertainhe’dneverseen:theskullsoflargebirds,coins,masksofbeatensilver.Theservicecart’ssixtiresweresilentonthelayeredcarpets.TherewasonlythewhineoftheelectricmotorandanoccasionalfaintburstofZiondub,fromthefoambeadsinMaelcum’sears,ashelungedpastCasetocounterasharpright.Thedeckandtheconstructkeptpressingtheshurikeninhisjacketpocketintohiship.

           `Yougotawatch?’heaskedMaelcum.

           TheZioniteshookhislocks.`Timebetime.’

           `Jesus,’Casesaid,andclosedhiseyes.

           TheBraunscuttledovermoundedcarpetsandtappedoneofitspaddedclawsagainstanoversizedrectangulardoorofdarkbatteredwood.