"He's a prominent lawyer, working on some high level business here," said Mr. Cordial. "Now, then, if you'll hop into the car, we'll be all ready-"

"Has it got anything to do with my a.s.signment here?" said Machiko.

"I haven't the foggiest, really," said their host. "Now, if you will get into the car-"

"I agree totally Machiko should know," said Attila, turning as though to walk toward the talking men.

Cordial became noticeably fl.u.s.tered. "Please, no . . . please cooperate."

"No need to rock the boat, Til," said Machiko, placing a calming hand on her android's arm. "After all, we're just hired hands."

The little man noticeably relaxed. "I think you'll find this vehicle very comfortable. We have a variety of music, snacks, and a full beverage bar for your needs."

Attila got in first. Machiko was about to follow when she realized that Livermore Evanston was clomping back to join them.

"No, no," said the big man. "Continue. I'm afraid I have to attend to something immediately, and so I'll be riding back with Mr. Brookings. Mr.

Cordial, would you be so kind as to take my place in showing these folks around?"

Cordial positively beamed. "Why, yes, sir. And I think we'll actually be able to hunt up a splendid time."

"Good. Good. I will speak to you later, Noguchi, when you are comfortably situated in your quarters."

The usually affable, in-control Evanston looked quite preoccupied, thought Machiko.

She slid in beside Attila while Cordial spoke to the driver a minute.

"Wonder what's going on," said Machiko.

Attila wore a puzzled, worried expression. "I heard a few of the words."

"Well?"

But then Cordial was back, all smiles and goofy good cheer, and they were off on their tour, their guide yak-yak-yaking away.

Chapter 9.

Evanstonville was clearly more a settlement than a real city; however, it was spread out over a wide area, and there were many large and architecturally interesting buildings. It was set in a beautiful valley beside a meeting of two rivers. Trees and gra.s.s and plains surrounded it, green and vibrant.

As they drove along a road that crossed one of the rivers via a lovelyold-fas.h.i.+oned bridge, Cordial explained that rather than allow his own city to grow in a haphazard fas.h.i.+on, Livermore had, with the help of experts, planned the whole thing out beforehand. Vital pieces-s.p.a.ceport, essential roads, bridges, quarters and residences, storage places and parks-had been set in first, and as time and tide allowed, and actual colonists came to live and work on the world, the place would grow in a preordained and contained fas.h.i.+on. In this way there would be an aesthetic to every part of the city when in the fullness of time it was completed.

They drove past fountains and gardens and spectacularly designed buildings, many of which were just under construction. After viewing the city hall and main hotel, Machiko had to allow that she was impressed. There wasn't just money going on here, there was taste.

Then they stopped at a duck pond in the central park, and she had to reconsider.

Not that the park wasn't beautiful. It was. As centerpiece to the entire settlement, and to the future masterpiece city, it was already galaxy cla.s.s.

All manner of trees and gra.s.s and flowers and other blended botanical wonders were sculpted into a paradisal vision of nature, complete with rolling fields and swooping copses, glimmering streams and waterfalls, pretty ponds, and in the very middle, a splendid lake stocked with fish and graced with a collection of the greatest variety of Earth ducks and swans and other waterfowl that Machiko had ever seen.

"Very nice," she said.

"Rather like an interesting Western version of a j.a.panese garden, don't you think?" said Attila.

Mr. Cordial beamed with the compliments. "I think that all sorts of influences can be seen in this park."

"Well, I wouldn't go that far, Til," said Machiko. "I mean, where's the Zen garden, for instance?"

"Pardon?" said Cordial, brow furrowed.

"Zen garden. You know, sand, rocks, contemplation. Meditation!"

Cordial whipped out an electronic notebook, made a quick gathering of jottings. "An excellent notion. I'll make the suggestion. And please, any other thoughts . . . we'd appreciate them."

"Can we get out of the car and enjoy the fresh air by the lake?" said Machiko.

A frown from Cordial. "Well . . . actually, there are other things you should see, and we should be getting on."

"Nonsense. We need to stretch our legs, don't we?"

"Yes. After all, doesn't this vehicle make these stops? I mean, it is a stretch limo, isn't it?"

Cordial laughed. "Well, don't we have a sense of humor? Very well, but only for a few minutes."

"I'd like to take a look at some of these species of waterfowl," said Machiko as she got out. "You must have some sort of genetic and cloningbiofactory here as well."

"Indeed, indeed. One of the features I was going to point out."

Amid the fresh floral and water smells, the sweet of gra.s.s and the sour of turned soil, they strolled down to the edge of the lake. Machiko produced a handful of crackers that she'd taken from the snack bin, gave some to Til, and together they soon had a flock of the things feeding and fluttering before them.

"Idyllic," p.r.o.nounced Attila.

"Most disciplined," said Machiko. "And very interesting. I think I've already got a few questions I'd like to ask Mr. Evanston."

"Oh, I'm quite equipped with answers."

"No, I think I'll just use them for conversational fodder with our employer, if you don't mind."

"Of course not. Now perhaps we should be-"

"Say, look," said Attila, pointing to a rise just beyond the lake. "Another touring party?"

Machiko looked. She wasn't equipped with Attila's telescopic vision, but Cordial had supplied her with a pair of opera gla.s.ses to enjoy some of the scenery. She picked these up and examined the new arrivals.

They were a group of six men, all wearing stylized camouflage coveralls.

Big hats and enormous goggles covered their eyes, and shoulder pads made them all look uniformly masculine and powerful.

"How peculiar. Who are these men, Cordial?" asked Machiko.

"Guests."

"Ah! So these are some of the rich men who've come to hunt."

Cordial nodded. "That is correct. Now, the limo is waiting, and there's so much more I want to show you."

Machiko put her gla.s.ses to her eyes.

"Wait a minute," she said. "These guys have guns."

"Shotguns, from the looks of them," added Attila. "How curious. Some sort of display of macho power. I also see holsters and bandoliers of ammunition."

"Yes," said Cordial with a forced cheeriness. "We of Hunter's World work to create an ambience of imagination and virility. Longtime symbols of power are utilized to create a sense of security and self-confidence in our guests. We also create exercises to prepare our guests for larger, more dangerous hunts and---"

"They're throwing bread to the ducks and swans," reported Attila. "They seem to be gathering in great numbers."

"What-feeding the birds is some sort of good-luck ritual before safari?

I've never heard of that," said Machiko.

"Not exactly. This park, uhm, serves many purposes, all calculated to bringon various moods and satisfactions. In fact, if you'll just accompany me around to the other end, I'll show you something very interesting, something that--"

A gigantic, echoing blast interrupted his words.

Other blasts followed.

Machiko swiveled to see what was going on.

"Goodness," said Attila.

"Ha ha," t.i.ttered Cordial nervously. "Just a display of high spirits among our guests."

Ka-blam, ka blam, ka-blam.

The men had lifted their guns and aimed them point-blank at the large gathering of birds trustingly partaking of the bready offerings. Now many of these ducks and such were just clouds of broken feathers and down, interspersed with a fine mist of blood and bone. Ruined duck bodies lay sprawled in the gory water. A flutter of wings took to the sky.

Whoops of joy.

Bloodthirsty success.

Ka blam, ka blam, ka-blam.

Flame and smoke poured from shotguns, and hard metal pellets shattered through a dozen more bodies.

The ma.s.sacre was truly something to see, a Fourth of July of excess. As the shots ended and the ducks that had escaped flew away pell-mell, Machiko found herself gaping. The manly men were stomping around the flesh-and-feather detritus, laughing and clapping each other on the back.

The yautja had never done anything like this. Their prey were always hunters themselves. For food they would take down prey, yes-but never in such a disgusting display.

Machiko found herself sick to her stomach "My goodness," said Attila. "It seems a little excessive, doesn't it? And the waste!"

"Oh, the lab-and-factory folks can whip up more, I quite a.s.sure you."

"But the mess . . . hardly idyllic."

"A momentary thing, I a.s.sure you," said Cordial. "Look-the service robots axe already coming."

A number of robots-true robots, of the servo-sort, of plastic and gla.s.s, waldo arms, and visible gears and equipment appeared as though magically, hustling down on this barbaric scene. Quickly, the brave hunters picked up a few of the less-damaged birds for souvenirs and then let the robots deal with the rest. They set off for further park adventures, b.l.o.o.d.y and happy, tilting flasks and singing songs.

"Truly, where else in the galaxy can such exercises be discovered?" said Cordial. "Now perhaps another side of the park, and then on for the rest ofthe tour."

"Mind if my android and I take a little walk alone around the lake?" said Machiko.

Believe it or not, she thought to herself, the brave huntress is feeling a little queasy.

Cordial eyed his wrist.w.a.tch. "I really do have to stick to my schedule . .

. and we do have excellent drugs in the car that will doubtless eradicate any stomach or intestinal distress."

Machiko nodded. She'd be able to get Attila alone eventually and hear those words that he'd heard pa.s.s between Livermore Evanston and the lawyer . . . .

But apparently not now.

"That genetic factory you mentioned?"

"Yes?"

"The one that seems to be able to spew forth so many ducks and swans and all that expendable plasm and life things into this world?"

"I did mention such an establishment, didn't I?" He sounded a little uncomfortable, as though he hadn't realized the creature that had exited the bag had been a cat.

"If it's not too much trouble-could we have a look at that during our tour?"

Cordial, though obviously a bit discomforted by the request, said, "Certainly," with some of the verve and brightness returning to his speech.

Machiko followed Attila back into the car.

She wished she could talk this over with him now, without the ear of this flunky canting toward them.

She didn't feel real good about this "factory" thing.

Not good at all.