It was nearly sundown when Ravdin eased the ship downinto the last slow arc toward the Earth's surface. Stretchinghis arms and legs, he tried to relax and ease the tension inhis tired muscles. Carefully, he tightened the seat belt forlanding; below him he could see the vast, tangled expanse ofJungle-land spreading out to the horizon. Miles ahead was thebright circle of the landing field and the sparkling glow of thecity beyond. Ravdin peered to the north of the city, hoping tocatch a glimpse of the concert before his ship was swallowedby the brilliant landing lights.
A bell chimed softly in his ear. Ravdin forced his attentionback to the landing operation. He was still numb and shakenfrom the Warp-passage, his mind still muddled by the abruptand incredible change. Moments before, the sky had been avast, starry blanket of black velvet; then, abruptly, he hadbeen hovering over the city, sliding down toward warmfriendly lights and music. He checked the proper switches, andfelt the throbbing purr of the anti-grav motors as the ship slidin toward the landing slot. Tall spires of other ships rose tomeet him, circle upon circle of silver needles pointing skyward.A little later they were blotted out as the ship was grappledinto the berth from which it had risen days before.
With a sigh, Ravdin eased himself out of the seat, his heartpounding with excitement. Perhaps, he thought, he was tooexcited, too eager to be home, for his mind was still reelingfrom the fearful discovery of his journey.
The station was completely empty as Ravdin walked downthe ramp to the shuttles. At the desk he checked in with theshiny punch-card robot, and walked swiftly across the polishedfloor. The wall panels pulsed a somber blue-green,broken sharply by brilliant flashes and overtones of scarlet,reflecting with subtle accuracy the tumult in his own mind.Not a sound was in the air, not a whisper nor sign of humanhabitation. Vaguely, uneasiness grew in his mind as he enteredthe shuttle station. Suddenly, the music caught him, a long,low chord of indescribable beauty, rising and falling in thewind, a distant whisper of life....
The concert, of course. Everyone would be at the concerttonight, and even from two miles away, the beauty offour hundred perfectly harmonized voices was carried onthe breeze. Ravdin's uneasiness disappeared; he was eager todischarge his horrible news, get it off his mind and join theothers in the great amphitheater set deep in the hillside outsidethe city. But he knew instinctively that Lord Nehmon,anticipating his return, would not be at the concert.
Riding the shuttle over the edges of Jungle-land toward theshining bright beauty of the city, Ravdin settled back, tryingto clear his mind of the shock and horror he had encounteredon his journey. The curves and spires of glowing plastic passedhim, lighted with a million hues. He realized that his wholelife was entangled in the very beauty of this wonderful city.Everything he had ever hoped or dreamed lay sheltered herein the ever-changing rhythm of colors and shapes and sounds.And now, he knew, he would soon see his beloved city burningonce again, turning to flames and ashes in a heart-breakingmemorial to the age-old fear of his people.
The little shuttle-car settled down softly on the green terracenear the center of the city. The building was a masterpieceof smoothly curving walls and tasteful lines, openi