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frowned.
    “Well?” growled Eldin.
    “It’s just that it’s so unusual for Kuranes himself to sit in judgment,” Dass answered. “Tell me, apart from your boat-stealing activities and all, what else have you two been up to?”
    “Nothing much,” Eldin airily answered. “A bit of spirited boozing, some brawling.” He looked at Hero sideways. “A little womanizing.”
    Hero returned his look with a snort. “Not to mention a spot of arson about!” he said.
    “Hmm,” mused Dass. “Well, it seems to me that none of that is really worthy of Kuranes’ personal attention. P’raps there’s something you’ve forgotten to mention … Anyway,” he quickly went on, changing the subject, “what would you say to an air-bath?”
    “A what?” asked Hero.
    Dass grinned. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
    As they made from the quayside and into the streets of the amazing aerial city proper, Eldin cast furtive eyes all about, taking in everything he saw. There were no pikemen now, just Eldin, Hero, and the man-o’-war’s captain. Dass spotted his covert squirming—both physical and mental—and said:
    “Whatever it is you’re thinking about, Eldin—or thinking of thinking about—I’d better warn you now that it’s probably unthinkable.”
    Hero looked at his companion’s scowling face and asked: “Were you thinking things, old lad? Well, I reckon Dass is right. I’ve had a few thoughts myself and they all lead me to one conclusion. There’s simply no way off this airborne rock, so we’d just better face up to what we’ve got coming. Dass,” he turned to the captain, “Where’s this air-bath of yours?”
    “In here,” smiled Dass, ushering them in through an arched doorway from which issued copious clouds of scented steam. He tossed a golden triangular tond to a man in a crimson towel where he sat behind a desk of moisture-slick marble, then led the way through a second archway to where an attendant in a green towel loomed suddenly out of hot banks of steam to confront them.
    The attendant waited until (not without a great deal of grumbling and grousing on Eldin’s part) they had all three shed their garments to stand pink and naked; and then, gathering up their discarded clothing, he guided them to a huge stone table studded with massive iron staples. From each staple there hung a great length of light but extremely strong chain. Here the three were given wide leather belts to fasten about their waists, to each of which the attendant attached the loose end of a chain.
    They were now firmly secured to the table, and when the attendant was satisfied that their fastenings were safe he led all three of them forward through the steam to a rim of marble where the floor fell away into billowing clouds of exotically perfumed, rose-tinted vapors. Many other lengths of chain disappeared downward into this great cauldron, jangling and rattling against its slippery marble lip.
    “When we’re done,” Dass explained, “our clothes will have been spruced up for us and we’ll all feel like new men.”
    “Oh?” Hero chuckled. “Well, of course you two can suit yourselves, but as for me—I’ll settle for a new woman!” He slapped Eldin on the shoulder and the two roared with laughter.
    While this was going on Dass positioned himself behind them. Now, as they suddenly sensed his intention
and turned toward him, he stepped forward and gave them each a push, so that they skidded on the slippery surface before sliding over the curved lip and into the rolling vapor-clouds. As they went they managed to grab hold of each other, so that they were not separated as they whirled in air and moisture-laden cloud.
    For a second or two the pair were too stunned to utter a sound, too shocked even to think, but as it dawned on them that there was no sensation of falling—that indeed they were suddenly weightless and that no danger threatened—so they relaxed and began to enjoy the invigorating experience of being suspended