"Virgin specimens, like me, right?" Patricia asked. Olmy agreed and walked with her to the line.

It vanished as they approached. "Quarantine is over," the lead medical homorph stated. He picted a few simplicities at Patricia and she acknowledged the politeness. Then she rushed forward and hugged Lanier, Carrolson and Farley, lingering with each. When Heineman's turn came, she hugged him more gingerly.

"Don't spare me—I feel pretty good," he told her. "Where in hell are we?"

"I'm receiving a judgment," said the advocate, still flying the American flag on her shoulder. She approached the group with hands extended.

"She has an implant, they all do," Patricia explained to Lanier, touching her head. "She's listening to the court decision now."

"The case is cleared from all pre-trial court records, and negated by circumstance," the woman announced. "You are all guests of the Axis Nader." With a meaningful glance at Olmy, Ram Kikura added, "By authority of the Presiding Minister."

Chapter Forty-Three

Chapter Forty-Three

Vielgorsky stood in front of the black panel which marked the entrance of the third chamber library. Across the plaza, almost shadowless in the tubelight, Belozersky and Yazykov walked cautiously toward him. Behind them followed two squads of SSTs, their rifles unslung.

Mirsky and Pogodin watched from the abandoned NATO security post, a small room in the overhang equipped with a video monitor. Mirsky toyed with the loud-hailer switches.

Pogodin looked at him. "We're taking a chance now," he said.

"I know."

Pogodin turned back to the screen. Mirsky aimed the American listening device at them and increased the volume.

"We won't need more soldiers," Vielgorsky said. "I have already sent Mirsky and Pogodin to the fourth chamber for detention."

"He seems to be cooperating," Pogodin said quietly.

Mirsky nodded. There was indeed a risk here; it had become apparent to him in the past couple of days that without Vielgorsky, he could not rule; he had neither the experience nor the inclination to engage in political intrigue and survive for long. Vielgorsky was the best of the political officers. If he and Mirsky could not work together, then no cooperation was possible. Mirsky doubted that he could kill all of them, which was the alternative. It would be better for him to turn himself over to the Americans or become lost in the cities and fend for himself.

"I think it is time you see what we fought for, and learn how to use it," Vielgorsky said.

"I have no desire to imitate Mirsky," Belozersky said. "I do not care for that place."

"Comrade," Vielgorsky said patiently, "knowledge is power. Do you want to be more ignorant than the rest? I have been in there, and I am still Vielgorsky, still Party Secretary."

"Yes. . .” Yazykov said. "It doesn't frighten me."

"Nor I," Belozersky said hastily. "But—"

"Then let's enter and see what Mirsky was up to, spending so much time here."