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structures. They seemed to be as unconcerned about their safety as if they were walking down a solid road on earth below. There was an airiness and an ease about all their movements that amazed Sarah.
    “They’re like trapeze artists,” she said with amazement.
    “What is a trapeze artist?” Teanor asked.
    “Well, it’s hard to explain. They–they are people that swing and catch each other for the entertainment of others.”
    “Entertainment!” Teanor frowned. “All we want is to get from one place to another.”
    Abbey was as wide-eyed as Sarah. “Just look, Sarah,” she said. “Even the smallest of them have no fear at all.” She pointed to several little children, some of them barely walking, who were playing right on the edge of one of the platforms. They seemed to have no concept of height at all. Abbey shook her head. “I’ve never seen a place like this.”
    Another thing that Sarah noticed was that almost every house had plants growing around it. She stopped once to look and saw that a tomato plant was growing out of a clay pot filled with dirt. “That’s very clever to do up here,” she said to Teanor.
    “Oh, we have some very good gardeners among our people. We bring up only the best soil, and there’s always plenty of rain and sunshine. So we can grow all the vegetables we need.”
    The cloud city seemed to spread out over a considerable distance, farther than a village on earth.Some trees held as many as a half dozen small houses, but often there were only one or two.
    Finally Teanor pointed ahead. “And that is the palace. We will find King Celevorn there.”
    He helped Sarah cross the last bridge, which connected to an enormous platform, much larger than any of the others. Once she was on the solid platform, she was startled to see that the “palace” was constructed on several levels. It was of bamboo, as were all the others, but this building was much more ornate. There were windows on every level, and flowers grew everywhere out of small containers. Servants hurried about, all women as far as Sarah could tell, all plainly dressed, and all eyeing them with apprehension.
    “They’ve never seen anybody like you.” Teanor grinned. “Now follow me. The king will be anxious to see you.”
    Teanor led Sarah and Abbey up several flights of steps. Sarah thought she could still feel the tree moving slightly in the breeze. But that may have been only her imagination, for this was the most enormous tree that she had seen yet. Where they were now must be the trunk, she guessed. It must have been at least twenty feet thick at the top and no telling how large at the bottom.
    As they came to a large set of doors covered with a curtain, Teanor spoke to the guard who stood outside with a staff in his hand and a sword in his belt.
    “So you found them, eh, Teanor?” He peered at the girls and asked, “Where are the warriors?”
    Teanor registered some disgust. “They’re on their way—we hope. Is the king receiving?”
    “Yes. He got word that you were coming from our sentinels. Go right on in.”
    The girls entered and found themselves in a spacious room. Several women servants were moving about, and it was obvious that the king had just enjoyed a meal. He was sitting at a table covered with dishes and cups and several wooden platters of food were still before him.
    “O King Celevorn, I have found the Seven Sleepers,” Teanor announced, and he bowed deeply.
    King Celevorn had a goblet in his hand. He set it down, then took a look at the two girls. “Seven Sleepers! I see only two females.”
    “Yes, sire. The males were gone. But they will come as quickly as they can. This is Sarah, and this is Abigail.”
    King Celevorn was small, as were all of the Cloud People Sarah had seen. His auburn beard was streaked with gray. He was still strong looking, however, and his eyes were clear as he studied them. Then he turned to a young man sitting on his right and said, “I am disappointed. I