caskets being borne skyward. North's mother cried
out and reached up as if to pull the casket down. She would have taken
wing, had not his aunt restrained her.
65 As they were leaving, North saw the Officer of his Guard speaking
with Morn. The Officer took something from his pocket and put it in
Morn's hand, then nodded to him and rejoined North's family. When they
arrived home, a Messenger was waiting. An empty apartment had been
located in the same building where North's uncle lived. It was only two
floors down from his relatives. They wanted North to come and look at
it. "So soon?" asked his mother. "We'll have to leave so soon?"
66 "Apparently so," North told her. "You'd better start packing your
things, while I go take a look. All right Commander?" he asked the
Guard Officer.
61 "Yes," the man replied. "I'll leave my men here, and take you in
our flier." North agreed, and in a few minutes they were airborne.
68 When they landed at his uncle's building, they found the Manager who
gave them a key. They went down to the apartment. When they reached it,
the Guard Officer told North to stand way back as he opened the door.
The Officer disappeared inside for a few moments, then returned. "The
only other entrance is to the service shaft," he explained, "and it's
locked with an emergency release on the inside. It's clear."
69 The apartment was much smaller than their old one. It's kitchen was
not separate but part of the dining area. There were only two small
bedrooms but at least it had its own toilet and shower. They wouldn't
have to use public facilities. It was small, but it looked comfortable,
and
the furniture was nice. It looked like the previous tenants had not
been gone long. It had not been thoroughly cleaned, and it had the
smell of a young child.
70 "You'd better take it," suggested The Guard Officer. "if you turn it
down, the next one will probably be