Free 02. The Shadow Dancers by Jack L. Chalker Page B

here, you'll get used to it."
    One of the golden boys said somethin', and the girl nodded and also said somethin', both in a kinda soft, pleasant, singsong kinda voice. The words didn't sound like nothin' human, and I knew I for one could never make them notes.
    "I think we're being told to move on," Markham told us. "Their language is unique and nearly impossible to learn or even understand. I think their vocal equipment includes a few things ours doesn't, but don't worry. They do that for their security, too. The folks we'll be with will have been prepped and know English by now, at least as long as theyneed to. I can assure you, too, we've been observed by security, both people and machines, since we came in the entry room and they understand English quite well, or any other language."
    "Quite right, sir," said a man's voice from another of them doors that just opened. We looked over and saw him come in, wearin' the same kind of Roman-karate outfit as the rest, but he looked a little different. For one thing, he looked older, though not real old and real good for his age, and his clothes seemed fancy and tailored even if they was the same style. He also had two gold-plated thick watches, one on each arm, or at least they looked like watches. He went up and shook Bill's hand.
    "Folks," Markham said, "May I present Executor Aldrath Prang. My boss. These are the Horowitzes."
    He shook Sam's hand then took and kissed mine. It was kinda sensual and neat. He got right to the point, though, in a neutral American-type accent that coulda been from anywheres. I guessed he learned it all by machine.
    "We must go quickly," he told us. "We need to allow others in and I really would like to get you out to Vice President Mayar's estate as quickly and quietly as possible for security reasons. The fewer who know you're here, the better. We don't want any slips."
    I could agree with that tune. "What about them here?" I asked, suddenly gettin' a little nervous. I didn't bargain for no public sessions here at headquarters.
    "Everybody you'll meet outside the estate works for me," Aldrath Prang assured me. "They get their minds probed and cleaned so often they don't think of it as anything more of a big deal than taking a shower. Now-come."
    We made it over to an elevatorlike contraption, but you didn't have no feelin' you was goin' up or down. One last security precaution, I guessed, and this Executor read my mind.
    "All the weak points are well covered and blocked," he told us. "All but this one, which happens to be very deep inside a mountain of granite and basalt. Even if somebody managed to infiltrate and blow their way through and capture the station, it would do no good. They can't get into the world any way but one, and we control that from thesurface. It's nothing personal, but it's somewhat ironic that we must isolate ourselves pretty much from any universe but our own even as we master the others. All our records are here, all the knowledge is here, all the computer controls and administration are here. Our culture is also very tight and devoted to our mission, and we dare not have it polluted lest some culture without our sense of responsibility come in and take control."
    "You mean you never leave this world?" Sam asked, amazed.
    "I don't, no. Particularly not me, although I was out when I was younger and didn't know too much. Some of our people go out, of course, particularly when they're young and idealistic or ambitious. We have research projects all over the place, and special needs and interests, and it's essential that those who will have the responsibility of running the Labyrinth and the Corporation get a sense and feel for just what we're dealing with-not just its size and complexity, but its differences. You see, there's been no disease here of any kind for generations. That's why you received a sterilization treatment among others when you arrived. It kills any microorganism that might be harmful to us and at the same