There was a long buffet table and Flick opened a door of it； probably expecting vases or valuables。 It was a panel instead。
〃Don't touch the big one；〃 cautioned Madison。 〃I don't know what will happen。〃
Flick sorted down a rank of buttons and pushed one。
The salon lights came on。
Now that they could see it better； it was a very nice room； even though the walls and floor were bare。
There was a big set of glass doors at the end。 Flick pushed another switch and it was as if floodlights had turned on in a lovely garden。 A fountain was playing out there and birds could be heard to sing。
Emboldened； Flick touched another button。
Suddenly； the room was beautifully decorated！
There was a rug on the floor。
Vases with flowers appeared on small wall tables。
PAINTINGS APPEARED ON THE WALLS！
Hastily； Flick turned the switch off。 Vases； flowers； rug and paintings vanished！
〃OH； MY GODS！〃 cried Flick。 〃The objects of art we meant to rob are JUST ELECTRONIC ILLUSIONS！〃
Madison suddenly understood。 He had seen Lombar Hisst in his red uniform step in front of a thing the Master of Palace City had had placed before the building； and an apparently solid Lombar Hisst； two hundred feet tall； had appeared over the building blessing it。
General Loop was crazy as a coot on scenery with his officers and devils and all。 But he was smart as a whip on theft and security。
THERE WAS NOTHING TO STEAL！
Tears were running down Flick's face。 With leaden steps he dragged himself away。 With a sad； sad voice he muttered； 〃There goes my dream；〃 and fumbled off to the seventy…sixth floor； leaving it all to Madison to find the vanished crew。
It was a moment of agony and gloom。
Chapter 5
Madison had worked for hours rescuing the crew。 Belts underneath the upper…hall floors had shunted them to a 〃prison〃 on the seventy…sixth floor and they had been waiting there in fear of being returned to the Domestic Confederacy Prison when Madison let them out。
An embarrassed electronics security man had explained that he also had been taken in； for he said the devices were not of a type in general circulation outside the security forces。 He recovered a spare from an electronic parts storeroom and； after he had figured it out； showed them all it was just a chip about the size of a pen point which； put in the path of a microscopic projector； gave images in the air which could move and emit sound。 The spare； fortunately； was not of any ghost but of a small boy taking a pee and the crew morale had been restored； even if the laughs were weak。
The sealer had gotten over his fright after a few convulsions； aware now that people were laughing at him and anxious to make amends。
General Loop； they all agreed； had been purloining government property and devices； and this made him a fellow criminal and so； somehow； made it all right。 Whether he had done all this just to exercise a hobby or scare his fellow officers half to death was entirely beyond their interest。 Madison had another theory…that manufacturers； knowing Loop was somewhat crazy； had installed the devices in the hope of getting a contract after showing what they could do。 Madison had noticed different makers' names on the activating boxes； he didn't think any of this was in use or known to the government at all。 He had not found a single Security Forces stamp on anything。 If it were government property or even known to the government； it would have long since been taken out。 But he didn't disagree with the crew； they needed all the solace they could get。
The crisis was over。 The crew had slept。 And Madison now had other things to do。
In a seventy…sixth floor briefing room which General Loop had probably used to address his own staff； Madison had assembled his gang here today for purposes of his own。
They looked much better now： the men had shaved and cut their hair； the women were coiffed and made up。 They were gaunt but good food would handle that。 The prison pallor still showed through but a few days under sunlamps would turn them a more natural color。 The stink was gone！
The cooks were lounging in the doors； the rest sat on chairs and benches。 And all eyes were on Madison as he stood upon the raised platform at the front of the large room。
〃I have gathered you together this afternoon；〃 said Madison； 〃in order to clarify for you why you are really here。 I am certain some of you have probably wondered； and the very essence of a team is a mon purpose。
〃Now； I know some of you were curious as to what PR man really meant。 It does not mean 'parole officer'： I just told them that so I could spring you。〃
The crew sat up more alertly。 It made them feel better to know that they were not in the hands of just another Apparatus officer but with one who now seemed
Chapter 5
Madison had worked for hours rescuing the crew。 Belts underneath the upper…hall floors had shunted them to a 〃prison〃 on the seventy…sixth floor and they had been waiting there in fear of being returned to the Domestic Confederacy Prison when Madison let them out。
An embarrassed electronics security man had explained that he also had been taken in； for he said the devices were not of a type in general circulation outside the security forces。 He recovered a spare from an electronic parts storeroom and； after he had figured it out； showed them all it was just a chip about the size of a pen point which； put in the path of a microscopic projector； gave images in the air which could move and emit sound。 The spare； fortunately； was not of any ghost but of a small boy taking a pee and the crew morale had been restored； even if the laughs were weak。
The sealer had gotten over his fright after a few convulsions； aware now that people were laughing at him and anxious to make amends。
General Loop； they all agreed； had been purloining government property and devices； and this made him a fellow criminal and so； somehow； made it all right。 Whether he had done all this just to exercise a hobby or scare his fellow officers half to death was entirely beyond their interest。 Madison had another theory…that manufacturers； knowing Loop was somewhat crazy； had installed the devices in the hope of getting a contract after showing what they could do。 Madison had noticed different makers' names on the activating boxes； he didn't think any of this was in use or known to the government at all。 He had not found a single Security Forces stamp on anything。 If it were government property or even known to the government； it would have long since been taken out。 But he didn't disagree with the crew； they needed all the solace they could get。
The crisis was over。 The crew had slept。 And Madison now had other things to do。
In a seventy…sixth floor briefing room which General Loop had probably used to address his own staff； Madison had assembled his gang here today for purposes of his own。
They looked much better now： the men had shaved and cut their hair； the women were coiffed and made up。 They were gaunt but good food would handle that。 The prison pallor still showed through but a few days under sunlamps would turn them a more natural color。 The stink was gone！
The cooks were lounging in the doors； the rest sat on chairs and benches。 And all eyes were on Madison as he stood upon the raised platform at the front of the large room。
〃I have gathered you together this afternoon；〃 said Madison； 〃in order to clarify for you why you are really here。 I am certain some of you have probably wondered； and the very essence of a team is a mon purpose。
〃Now； I know some of you were curious as to what PR man really meant。 It does not mean 'parole officer'： I just told them that so I could spring you。〃
The crew sat up more alertly。 It made them feel better to know that they were not in the hands of just another Apparatus officer but with one who now seemed to be saying that he had other goals and might well be a master criminal in his own right； only using the Apparatus for some crooked purpose of his own。 His popularity rose。
〃The actual meaning of PR；〃 continued Madison； 〃is PUBLIC RELATIONS。 That is the activity in which you will now be engaged。〃
They nodded but now they looked puzzled。 They had never heard of this。 The only relations they had ever had with the public consi