uessed yesterday that I'd be here today," Kennon said
as he looked down at the yellow waters of the Xantline Sea flashing to
the rear of the airboat at a steady thousand kilometers per hour as they
sped westward in the middle traffic level. The water, some ten thousand
meters below, had been completely empty for hours as the craft hurtled
through the equatorial air.

"We have to move fast to stay ahead of our ulcers," Alexander said
with a wry smile. "Besides, I wanted to get away from the Albertsville
offices for awhile."

"Three hours' notice," Kennon said. "That's almost too fast."

"You had nothing to keep you in the city, and neither did I--at least
nothing important. There are plenty of females where we are going and
I need you on Flora--not in Albertsville. Besides I can get you there
faster than if you waited for a company transport."

"Judging from those empty sea lanes below, Flora must be an
out-of-the-way place," Kennon said.

"It is. It's out of the trade lanes. Most of the commercial traffic is
in the southern hemisphere. The northern hemisphere is practically
all water. Except for Flora and the Otpens there isn't a land area for
nearly three thousand kilometers in any direction, and since the company
owns Flora and the surrounding island groups there's no reason for
shipping to come there. We have our own supply vessels, a Discovery
Charter, and a desire for privacy.--Ah! It won't be long now. There's
the Otpens!" Alexander pointed at a smudge on the horizon that quickly
resolved into an irregular chain of tiny islets that slipped below them.
Kennon got a glimpse of gray concrete on one of the larger islands, a
smudge of green trees, and white beaches against which the yellow waters
dashed in smothers of foam.

"Rugged-looking place," he murmured.

"Most of them are deserted. Two support search and warning stations and
automatic interceptors to protect our property. Look!--there's Flora."
Alexander gestured at the land mass that appeared below.

Flora was a great green oval two hundred kilometers long and about a
hundred wide.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Alexander said as they sped over the low range
of hills and the single gaunt volcano filling the eastward end of
the island and swept over a broad green valley dotted with fields
and orchards interspersed at intervals by red-roofed structures whose
purpose was obvious.

"Our farms," Alexander said redundantly. The airboat crossed a
fair-sized river.