Bolz couldn't register what was happening。 He had no way of knowing this was the battalion that had been sent by Lombar to 〃search out any traitors that were confederates of Heller's or took his orders and exterminate them。〃 For the Blixo had left a couple days before the order had been issued by the crashed Lombar Hisst。
A man in a black uniform with scarlet gloves； taller than Bolz； loomed over him。 〃I am Colonel Flay of the 243rd Death Battalion。 Who are you and where is everyone here？〃
〃I am。。。 I am。。。 Captain Bolz of the Blixo； this ship。 I have an urgent cargo of drugs for Voltar。〃
An officer yelled from the Blixo's airlock； 〃Colonel； this ship is carrying contraband drink！〃
The colonel glared at Bolz。 〃A smuggler！〃
〃I'm captain of an Apparatus freighter！〃
〃In those clothes？ Answer me。 Why weren't we challenged？ Where is the personnel of this base？〃
〃They've gone！〃 quavered Bolz。
〃Gone where？〃
〃We don't know！〃 screamed Oh Dear； who was being held by a Death Battalion soldier。 〃I am a courier to Lord Endow！〃
〃Ha！〃 said Colonel Flay。 〃Travelling with a smuggler？ Bend that pretty fellow over a rifle and make him talk。〃
〃No！ Look at my identoplate … 〃
Two soldiers grabbed either end of a rifle。 Another grabbed Oh Dear's head； a fourth grabbed his feet。 The first two held the rifle horizontally in the middle of his back。 The second two pulled。 Oh Dear's spine began to crack。 He screamed。
〃Tell me where the others have gone！〃 roared Flay。
〃We don't know！〃 shrieked Oh Dear。 〃Look at my I。D。！〃
An officer fished in Oh Dear's pockets。 He looked at the identoplate he found。 〃This just says he's a clerk in Section 451。 That's this planet。 He's no courier。〃
〃Make him talk！〃 said Flay。
They pulled on Oh Dear harder。
〃You better talk！ You know where they have gone well enough。 Don't lie again。 TALK！〃
Oh Dear went into a high…pitched keening as his spine stretched and cracked。 He was able to get out； 〃I have a despatch。 I have a despatch。 I have a despatch！ I must get it through！〃
〃To Hells with your despatches；〃 said Flay。
Oh Dear had fainted。
Flay gave a signal and soldiers grabbed Bolz。 One of them pulled his head back with a handful of hair and another hit him in the body with a fist。 Bolz grunted with the force of it。
〃Where have they gone？〃 demanded Flay。
〃They did not tell us！〃 cried Bolz。
The colonel snapped his fingers and an officer put a light in his hand。 Flay walked up to Bolz and shined the light in his eye。 〃Are you lying to us？〃
Bolz writhed； trying to get away from the light。 The only thing which was registering with him was that this colonel might discover that he intended to keep this base for his own use。
〃His pupillary reaction；〃 said Flay； 〃shows that he is lying！ Hit him！〃
The blow echoed through the hangar。
〃Once more；〃 said Flay； 〃I am going to ask you politely and then we will really get to work on you。 Where has this base crew gone？〃
〃I DON'T KNOW！〃 screamed Bolz。
〃Hit him！〃 said the colonel。
It was the last order he ever issued in this life。
The blow hit the button remote in Bolz's pocket。
There was a searing flash throughout the hangar！
The Death Battalion； the warship； the Blixo； the crew； Captain Bolz and Oh Dear glowed； suddenly outlined in incandescence。 They shifted color upward from red to yellow to violet。 They went black。 They turned to silica； momentarily holding shape； then they became molten glass。
No one in the base was left alive。
The wall boxes that held the beams in place turned into sand which； under the ferocity of heat； turned to liquid dribble。
And then with a shuddering roar； the walls of the hangar twisted and began to cave in。
The slide of rock went on for quite a while。
Fantastic heat fused the inside of the mountain。
Then there was nothing left of the Earth base。
And buried there； because of the delay and self…interest of Bolz； lying under the pile of shuddering glass which had been Oh Dear and under the countless tons of boiling silica above it； was the ash of the despatch which had been designed to stave off an invasion of Earth。
It would never be delivered。
PART SEVENTY…NINE
Chapter 1
Oh； Madison had little doubt now that he would be able to finish his job with Heller。 In the foreseeable future he would have not just the Apparatus but the entire Army and Fleet on Heller's trail。
Oh； what headlines that would make！
He was standing at an upper…story window of the Royal mansion on Relax Island； waiting for Teenie； who was unaccountably delayed。 He had landed in the rear of the palace so as to stay out of sight。 He was down here to tell Teenie some good news and give her some evidence。
Through the window came one of the softest and most perfume…laden breezes he had ever felt。 The magnificent view of the valley below soothed his nerves。 And one particular ten…acre square of the farmland down there would soothe other nerves as well： it was smoothly rippling with a flourishing crop of marijuana…Panama Red； if he recalled aright when Teenie； working a crew from her five…thousand island population； had told him what she was doing。
But no labors jarred today the tranquil scene of the terrace。 A masked woman； middle…aged； an editor's wife； was strolling along the balustrade； loosely gowned and indolent。 From time to time she turned her eyes away from the view and cast glances expectantly along the front of the palace。
Ah； here came what she was looking for。 A gallant young officer in a brilliant silver uniform approached her at a slow pace。 He stopped； he spread his hands admiringly； he bowed。 She stopped and steadied herself against the balustrade。 The young officer approached closer。 He said something in a low voice and the woman laughed coquettishly。 He took her arm and they began to stroll together。
Madison admired how well Teenie had taught her regiment。 He knew that their lessons did not include just deportment。
And here behind them smoothly appeared a musician with a chorder…beat。 But the tune he was playing and the tones had been taken from Teenie's record collection： it sounded exactly like a romantic gypsy violin。
The officer and the lady sauntered down the wide palace steps。 Followed by the violin music； they strolled along a path。 They entered one of the many secluded nooks。 Each one； Madison knew； had a softly padded bench。 He could just see the end of one through the flowering trees。
A begging babble reached his ears。
Presently； as he expected； he saw the woman's gown being laid gently on the bench end。
The musician was now behind a tree； his back to the nook； but the violin music played on。
In the limbs above； a branch of blossoms began to weave。
The musician's face was watchful； intent。 He was playing faster now。
Blossoms exploded and the petals showered down。
The music now was mild and slow。
An attendant in silver livery who bore a silver tray sped across the terrace。 He entered the nook。
Shortly the gray…blue smoke of marijuana rose。
The violin music played on。
Madison looked down at the terrace。 Another publisher's wife had e out。 She was masked； but Madison knew her husband published the Daily Conservative。
Another officer came out of the palace。 He stopped； he bowed； he approached。 He whispered something in her ear and she handed him a flower。
They sauntered down another path。
Another musician followed them。
The pair entered another nook。
From the palace now came a third officer。 He strolled to the first nook。 Madison faintly heard his voice； 〃I say； old man； may I cut in？〃
Above the second nook a branch of blossoms was going in a circle。
The second musician； back to it； played faster and faster。
The branch of blossoms erupted in a blast of petals。
The second musician smiled and began to play dreamily。
The attendant with the silver tray approached the second nook at speed。
Out from the palace came a third publisher's wife。
The violin music played on。 And Madison knew it would play on for the rest of the day。 And other violins would play for the twenty other wives who would be sporting in these gardens this afternoon…after sporting in their bedrooms the entire night before！
Aside from marijuana； any LSD trips they had now were totally full of handsome young officers！
Madison stole a peek at the clip