the heart of one of the mushrooms. The hall
leading to it was filled with stores, and shops of all kinds, the lobby
of the hotel itself, was more like a park, though it was deep inside
the building.
96 "Oh, yes," the Clerk greeted, "The funeral party. The hotel
expresses its condolence at your loss, and hopes your mother's passing
was a gentle one. We've given you a double room with a partition. The
boy will take your bags."
97 They were led to an elevator down the long hall, and into a pleasing
room. To Bullet's surprise, it had windows and looked out over a
central core, which was full of green plants. A shaft of light
descended down, disappearing far below. "Something to see, isn't it?"
praised the Luggage Boy. "You know we grow eighty-five per cent of our
own food."
98 "You mean for the hotel?" inquired Smiling Fox.
99 The young man nodded. "Considering how many rooms this place
has," thought Bullet, "that was a considerable
accomplishment."
100 It didn't take him long to get freshened up and get to bed. He was
worn out. They would get started on their real work in the morning.
