tlemen？〃
〃That！〃 said Flick； jabbing with his finger。
Madison had gotten the sweetbun crumbs out of his eyes。 They were surrounded by rows and rows of airbuses of every shape and hue。 But Flick wasn't pointing at any of them。 He was jabbing at the ceiling。
Up there； on a transparent sheet suspended by cables； was a vehicle on display； visible from the air if one looked through the high windows or glass dome。 It was utterly huge： it had a flying angel in lifelike colors protruding forward from each of its four corners and it appeared to be solid gold。
〃That； that； that！〃 said Flick。 〃I've wanted it for years！〃
〃Oh； I am sorry；〃 said Chalber； 〃that's the Model 99。 There were only six of them ever built and they were used for parades and vehicle shows。 It's sort of our symbol of excellence to show what Zippety…Zip can do。 It's not for sale。〃
〃Oh； yes； by Gods； it's for sale。 Look at that sign on the window。 It says； 'We Sell Everything That Flies。' 〃
〃Well； that's just a figure of speech；〃 said Chalber。
〃You better start figuring；〃 said Flick。 〃I WANT THAT AIRBUS！〃
〃Well； really；〃 said Chalber； 〃you must realize that when the Model 99s were built； they were never intended for sale。 We were merely seeking to prove we could do better than any other manufacturers。 One or two of them were presented to noblemen as a gesture of good will。 But you gentlemen aren't noblemen。〃
〃You want a fight？〃 said Flick； putting up his fists。
〃Listen； Flick；〃 said Madison。 〃I don't think we should get into any brawls。。。。〃
〃Listen yourself！〃 said Flick。 〃That 99 has a bar； a toilet； a washbasin with jewelled buttons。 It has a color organ and every known type of screen and viewer。 The back seats break down into beds that massage you。 The upholstery is real lepertige fur。 It flies at six hundred miles an hour and can reach any place on the planet nonstop。 It is fully automatic。 It is pletely soundproof and it is pressurized for flights up to three hundred miles altitude。 When you land； a piece of the back end pulls out and bees a ground car and you don't need to walk。 The Model 99 has tons of storage cabinets and you can even hide a girl under the seat。〃 He shook his fist at Chalber pugnaciously。 〃I've had dreams of driving one around； snooting at all the other traffic and I'm NOT going to be stopped！〃
〃Really；〃 said Chalber。 〃Be reasonable。 The price would be ten times that of a top…grade limousine airbus。 I can show you gentlemen some very fine vehicles that… … 〃
〃How much？〃 said Flick。
〃That Model 99；〃 said Chalber with a superior sneer； 〃sits on the books at thirty thousand credits。 I am sure。。。〃
Flick still had Madison's identoplate。 He stuck it in front of Chalber's face and said； 〃Will that do？〃
Chalber looked at it。 Then he went into staring shock。 〃Pay Status UNLIMITED？〃
〃Him；〃 said Flick； jabbing a finger at Madison。 〃Apparatus…Palace City…Royal。 Now get that beauty down here！ Service it！ And don't delay！〃
Chalber nodded numbly。 Flick threw his hands wide toward the car and cried； 〃Baby； e to your Daddy Flick！〃
Chapter 4
After Flick had oohed and ahed over the lowered Model 99； showing Madison all its beauties； and while mechanics got dust off of it and fuel rods into it； Flick raced over to an office munication booth and got very busy。
Madison； already a car buff； began to warm to the vehicle。 It certainly was FLASHY！ Even the angels at the four corners had a sort of wild grin on their faces as though they were going to show the world。 He thought for a moment of his poor Excalibur； probably on the river bottom still in New York； far away； and then dismissed it。 This was a car that performed like a jetliner； with no wings。 It wasn't chrome…plated。 It was gold…plated！ Every button was a precious stone。 The seats were like sitting on a cloud。 He forgot the Excalibur。 This was a PR car to end all PR cars！
Chalber had a lot of papers to stamp and had to show him how but he was very respectful。 Flick came away from the munication booth long enough to make sure it was all in order。
〃You hold on to this Apparatus junk heap；〃 said Flick to Chalber。 〃I'll tell you what to do with it。 And you stand ready to give me two or three mass…passenger air…coaches if I send for them。 I've always wanted some。〃
He went off leaving a numbed Chalber。
Suddenly Flick rushed out of the munication booth。 He was flinging his arms around。 He said； 〃I've got it！ Oh； man； my dreams are really ing true。 Would you believe it； I've got it！〃
Flick was dashing around； checking the Model 99； and Madison couldn't get his attention。
Flick stacked all the contents of the vendor's cart into the hidden cabinets and pushed Madison in like another piece of baggage。
Madison felt a little piqued。 After all； it was he who now owned the car。 Who was boss here anyway？
〃Listen； Flick；〃 said Madison mildly as they took off； 〃I'm glad you got us a nice car but I have other things to think about and do。 I am a working PR； you know。 I should be about my business getting some connections。〃
〃Feel her！〃 cried Flick。 〃Ain't she beautiful？ Not a sound from the outside； not even a whirr from the drives。 Oh； man； does she handle just like I knew she would。〃
The car did ride smoothly； actually like a feather。 He was startled to look out the window and see the ground rushing by； quite close； at a speed which must be approaching sound。 They had left mercial City but the verdant countryside was such a blur； Madison could not tell if they were farms or parks or what。
〃Flick；〃 he said； 〃I'm sure it's a joy to drive this thing and she is a beauty； I admit。 But I see it is now afternoon and I should not be wasting the day。〃
〃Never you mind；〃 said Flick。 〃Don't you fret。 I can tell you're new here。 An Earthman； isn't it？ I didn't know we had such a planet but I don't know them all。 So you just let me handle this so you don't get lost。〃
They were over buildings now and were slowing down。 The area seemed to consist of a lot of parks and clubs whose signs were even visible in daylight。 For a hopeful moment； he thought Flick might be taking him to Homeview； for he could see a gigantic dome ahead with that lettering upon it。
〃We're almost there；〃 said Flick。 〃This is Joy City。 That's our destination over there； just beyond that big sign； Dirt Club。 Ain't it remarkable？〃
〃Well； that IS a remarkable advertising sign；〃 said Madison。 〃A girl in a military hat lying on cannon parabolas。 But really； Flick； I think I should go over to Homeview。。。。〃
〃Not the Dirt Club。 That's for Army officers and we ain't Army。 No； no。 That big bright slab of a building。〃
Madison tried to see what they were heading for。 All he saw was a rectangle of metal that must be eighty stories high and which covered an area of what might be six New York City blocks。
〃That's her！〃 said Flick； hovering to let some traffic clear。 〃The five top stories of that building was the town…house of General Loop。〃
〃All that？〃
〃Yeah； he was awful rich。 He died a couple years ago and it's too big for anybody to want to live in。 The swank residences are all over at Pausch Hills and nobody with that much money wants to live in Joy City： there's nothing but clubs and hotels and amusement parks and the entertainment industry around here。 So it's been closed。 It must be absolutely crammed with antiques and valuables。 Way back before he retired； the owner； General Loop； was in charge of all electronic security for the whole Confederacy。 Ever since I heard nobody was living in it now； I've tried and tried to sneak into it； but it's guarded by the fanciest electronic gimmicks anybody ever heard of！ An awful challenge： I've laid awake nights trying to figure out how to break in and rob the joint。 But back there； I solved it。 I'll tell them we're interested in buying it。 And they'll show me every security device！ Then we'll e back and rob it。 Smart； eh？〃
Madison blinked。 However； before he could protest； Flick received a clearance on a flashing screen on his dash and dived abruptly for the roof。 The flat metal expanse was the size of several football fields。 He headed for a solitary figure at one end； tiny as a doll in all that vastness。 It was waving at them to e in。 Flick landed。
An old man in a watchman's uniform was at their door。 He