"Perhaps. But the windows would each be manned by a pilot — yes? — who would then have to relay instructions to a crew — five or six men who would haul laboriously at the directing fins, hoping to adjust the motion. Adda, your wooden pig would flounder in the Air, I fear."

Dura said, "But you don't have to use fins. The thing doesn't have to be exactly like a pig, after all. Maybe we could use jetfarts, coming from the sides of the pig."

"Yes." Muub looked thoughtful. "That could be far more precise."

Seciv smiled indulgently. "Still, I would expect instability. Besides, I fear my second objection is fatal."

Adda glared at him, his eye-leech slithering across his cheek.

"Your mode of propulsion could not work within the underMantle, let alone the Quantum Sea. In high-pressure conditions Air could not be expelled; it would be forced back into the body of the pig."

Hosch scratched his head. "I hate to be constructive about this stupid idea," he said, "but couldn't you throw a magnetic field away from the pig's hull? Then the farts would be expelled into Air at normal pressure."

Seciv looked at him and ran bony fingers through his scraps of hair, evidently searching for a simple explanation. "But the expelled Air would still be inside the magnetic field, which in turn would be attached to the ship through the field lines. The Air would push at the magnetic shell, which would drag back the ship. It is a matter of action and reaction, you see..."

Muub waved him to silence. "I think we can take your word for it, Seciv." He smiled at Adda. "Sir, the consensus seems to be that we can't proceed with your suggestion; but it was ingenious, and perhaps — do you agree, Seciv? — some aspects of it may survive in a final design. Also, it sounds to me as if we could use this idea to make Air-cars of a different design from those we have at present — Air-cars which wouldn't need pigs to draw them. None of the problems we've talked about would arise if the craft operated in the free Air, after all."

Adda, clutching his retrieved pig with his one free arm, looked inordinately pleased with himself. Dura nudged him and said quietly, "You're enjoying this. You're forgetting you're a miserable old bugger. You'll confuse them."

Adda glared at her. "Well? Who's next? This Fisherman's been so clever about my suggestions; now let's hear what he has to say."

"Indeed. Hosch?"

The Harbor supervisor spread his empty hands, speaking only to Muub. "My idea is straightforward and I don't need to send pigskins flying around to describe it. I say we stick to what we know. I say we extend the Spine... but build it as long as we need it to be, down into the underMantle."