Later they strolled down a corridor that paralleled an immense artificial cavern filled with hybrid aircraft and military shuttles. The latter, part of the planetary defense network, were narrow, round-winged craft armed with missiles and energy weapons. To Ryo’s amateur eye they looked almost new, and, indeed, none had been flown on anything more strenuous than training flights.

Having lived through an off-world attack, Ryo felt a surge of confidence at the sight of the deadly craft, hibernating peacefully beneath the clith but ready to leap spaceward in defense of the mother world. Everything required to mount such a defense was here, safely underground, except for the ventilators and the forest of electronic receptors that doubtless lay camouflaged somewhere above.

If only we’d had two or three of these warcraft when the AAnn attacked, he thought Those broken-plated invaders would have received a lot more than a simple diplomatic reprimand!

Dwelling on the past was useless, he reminded himself. There was nothing constructive in retained bitterness. He forced the incident from his thoughts, concentrated on admiring the ranks of gleaming ships. Then they’d passed beyond the hangar and were once more making their way through the warren.

They’d been walking for some time and Ryo’s feet were beginning to hurt around the single footpad and trimmed claw, for his feet were still swathed in the fur shoes Tor insisted they wear to complete their hunter’s garb. He moved next to Tor. “I know we must be headed somewhere—but where? If this is a tour, I’ve seen enough.”

“It’s no tour. Our roundabout course is intentional. So is our walking instead of taking an internal module. Walking can’t be traced.

“There are only two sections of this place I’ve never been into. Three, actually, but one of them is the battle command center and we’re not likely to find our answers there. No one’s ever told me what goes on inside the other two and I never bothered to go there and inquire for myself. That’s what we’re going to try today. Surely the best place to hide something that doesn’t exist is in a section where no one’s allowed to go.”

“You say no one’s told you what takes place in these two sections,” Ryo said. “Does that mean that you’ve asked?”

“Of course. Even on this visit—and I mentioned the possibility of alien monsters this time. Either my friends are not as friendly as I thought, or their ignorance is genuine. Not one of them professes to know anything about what goes on in the two maximum-security areas. Even officers at the level of Burrow Marshal aren’t allowed inside without special permission.

“As to the possibility they harbor captured aliens, the thought was met with derision and laughter.”

“Then how are we going, to learn anything?” Ryo muttered concernedly.

“Let us find the sections first, my impatient friend,” the hunter advised him, “and proceed from there.”

Gradually foot traffic thinned around them and they came to a turn where the corridor was blocked. No side branches here, only the single dead end.