"The Skimmer?" asked Tandor. "That wonder-boat you were telling me about?"
"It is a wonder-boat. It incorporates the—"
"Never mind the details," rapped Angus, leaning his palms on the table. "Is that the boat the hierarchy want me to use?"
"It must be. It's the only one unchartered. And Angus—if you are to control it—remember that it will submerge. And it has four speeds, two more than...."
Tandor slapped the table with his palm, making the goblets bounce. "Enough, enough. Plisket, your tongue wags like a hound's tail. Angus, are you ready?"
Angus stretched his tall, heavily shouldered body. He went and bent his lean height over the shallow-breathing scientist and swung him up in a fireman's hitch. He walked firmly, steadily, as he headed for the oaken door.
The man with the zigzag scar on his cheek drew back into the darkness of a jutting second storey as a door creaked open down the street. His eyes glittered, watching Angus emerge with a cowled body atop a shoulder. The hidden man touched a glittering knob strapped to his wrist, turned the knob and lifted it to his mouth.
Angus did not see him, did not hear him whisper into the voxbeamer. He heaved up, settling the body on his shoulder. He began to trot, with space-devouring strides. He went by the spot where Tandor's bully had struck down the cowled man. He went ten paces beyond it, and halted. He lowered the man to the ground and began to shake him.
"Wake up ... he didn't hit you that hard. Come on. Man, stir yourself ... that's better ... see me, do you? Who am I? Angus. Good. You're better? All right ... on your feet ... here, I'll give you a hand."