Read Journey - Book II of the Five Worlds Trilogy for Free Online Page B

hemmed them in on either side; their forward progress was impeded by a long line of vehicles in front of them. The sandstone-paved streets were wide, but seemingly not wide enough; there didn’t seem to be enough room for everyone, walkers and riders.
    “Attendant,” Visid queried the transport driver, “is it always this crowded?”
    “Only at this time, and in the evening, when workers depart for their homes,” the robot answered. It added, “You must remember that there are nearly three times as many pedestrians in the underground walkways and transport tunnels at this moment.”
    “Wow. And where do they all work?”
    There was a moment a hesitation, which led Visid to believe she had asked a silly question.
    “There are approximately sixteen thousand, four hundred different occupations in Lowell City, beginning with the most densely filled position, Martian defense worker, followed by Martian Marine, followed by—”
    “Thank you, Attendant. That will be enough.”
    “As you wish.”
    “Tell me, though: when will we arrive at our destination?”
    “Traffic permitting, within five minutes.”
    Just then there was a break in the transport line in front of them, and their own vehicle shot ahead, making an abrupt right turn that brought it onto the straightaway bordering the Great Lawn, which led directly, blocks ahead, to the former residence of the High Prefect of Mars; its pink sandstone form was unmistakable, grand as it was, narrowing as it did to a single garret topped with a sickle within a circle of black iron, the symbol of Martian solidarity (and, lately, aggression) that scraped the pink sky.
    Visid felt herself go cold inside.
    “Attendant,” she asked, “where are we going?” Without turned from his driving, the attendant said, “Rear entrance, bay number four.”
    “Of the residence of the High Prefect?”
    “High Leader. Correct.”
    “Am I to meet with the High Leader?” Visid asked; she recalled the chancellor’s last words to her: You may not smile for long.
    “That I do not know.”
    To their left, the empty expanse of the Great Lawn gave way abruptly to the shadowing, looming bulk of the residence; the temperature seemed to drop within the transport.
    “Attendant,” Visid said, “let me out here.”
    “We are not yet at our destination.”
    With sudden foreboding, Visid rose from her seat as the transport began to descend an incline and pink stone walls rose up on either side of them. Unsteadily, she walked to the front of the transport, descended into the exit well, and tried to pry open the door.
    The attendant turned his chromed head in her direction.
    “We will be stopping soon,” he said. “Please return to your seat.”
    “Let me out now!”
    “That is not allowable.”
    “Let me out!”
    The attendant turned its attention back to driving, while its right hand let go of the transport’s drive bar and reached out to restrain Visid in a tight grasp.
    “Let me go!”
    “I am not allowed to harm you, but I must keep you in this position until we reach our destination.”
    They were nearly in darkness as the transport continued down the incline; now dim lights showed them a docking bay area as the transport’s angle evened out.
    “We are nearly there,” the attendant said.
    There was a single dark opening ahead of them, labeled overhead with the number 4; a single figure stood regarding the slowing transport.
    For a moment Visid’s heart skipped; the figure was tall and angularly thin, and she was struck with the flashing certainty that a cruel joke had been played on her: that the chancellor had somehow raced ahead of her to this spot, where he waited to drag her to the brain cleaning he so desperately wanted her to undergo.
    “Oh, no …” Visid said.
    The transport stopped and stood idling with a pleasant hum while the figure in the doorway slowly approached.
    The attendant continued to hold Visid in an iron grip as the figure outside, its face still hidden