"We're all humans. What are you?"

"You are now in a reception area for illegal vehicles. Do not attempt escape; the area is sealed."

The machine removed its grapples and lifted away from the aircraft. Lanier saw they were in a broad, uncluttered hangar-like enclosure, the walls smooth black and gray. Slender silver cables coiled before the cockpit windscreen. The plane hung from cables attached to a pale silver torus suspended below the hangar ceiling. Three large metallic gray mechanical workers surrounded the aircraft, pushing it along. They moved on four delicate jointed legs, their bulky bodies divided into hemispheres connected by a narrow flexible casing.

There was no sign of human life in the hangar. At two points, elliptical portals about four meters wide opened in the walls, but they gave no clue as to who was preparing to greet them.

"Will you address the person who has tentatively confirmed your identity?" the voice asked, still as pleasant and melodic as ever.

"Who is it? I mean, who identified us?"

The next voice was instantly recognizable. "Garry, its Patricia. There are four of you? Who are they?"

"That's her—we've found her," Lanier said. "Or she's found us."

"I thought someone would come after me—it's just like I said. They're my friends." Patricia leaned forward, hoping to receive the picted images more clearly. She had spotted Lanier inside the cockpit. "They must all be terrified." She watched the black flaw patrol machine rise into its cavity above and behind the aircraft.

"They could be in serious trouble with the city authorities," Olmy said. "I'm trying to get the case cleared and suppressed, but I can't guarantee anything."

"They've come looking for me," she said. "You can't blame them for that."

"They rode the axial flaw, and that's strictly forbidden."

"Yes, but how could they know?"

Olmy didn't answer. "I know who they are," he said. "Your boss Lanier, the scientist Carrolson, the Chinese Caucasian called Farley, and the engineer, Heineman."

"You recognize them? You kept track of all of us, didn't you?"

The mechanical workers pushed and guided the aircraft into a dilated entrance to a side chamber. The iris closed behind the plane and the hangar lights darkened.

Patricia stepped out of the chamber and took Olmy's proffered hand. He led her to the inspection hangar lock.

Suli Ram Kikura entered the chamber. She had not yet met Patricia, but she had become fully acquainted with her. The advocate picted a brief conversation with Olmy. Patricia was not in line to pick up the exchanged visual symbols—not that she could have understood many of them, anyway—but she could get the gist from the woman's attitude. The woman was a corporeal advocate. She was taking Olmy's deposition and relaying it to the pre-trial court.

The V/STOL hatch opened. A worker settled on its jointed haunches a few yards away, sensors fully extended to record the disembarking of the passengers.