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〃We haven't got an electric whip；〃 said the guard。
〃Well； you can't go changing protocol；〃 said the sergeant。 〃Don't you go shifting words around。 You keep the words just like they are； but if this （bleepard） doesn't do as he is told； use your stinger。〃
The guard checked the inside of his silver boot to see if his stinger was in place and started to nod； but the sergeant interrupted him。 〃Like I always tell you； be careful of your weapons。 The staff would kill you out of hand if anything happened to displease Her Majesty。〃 He had drawn the stinger out of the other man's boot。
The weapon was a limber rod about fourteen inches long。 The sergeant gripped the handle and the tip glowed。
He raised it and gave Madison a slash across the lower thigh。
YIKES！ It gave a stinging shock like the bite of a huge insect！ Madison yanked the robe aside and stared at his thigh。
〃Oh； that was just low power；〃 said the sergeant。 〃You don't think I'd mark you up just before you went to please Her Majesty； do you？ Man's an idiot；〃 he mented to the guard。 〃Now； when you present him and go back to stand guard in the hallway； you keep your ear to the door and if you hear any protests or arguments or if you DON'T hear some moans and squeals of pleasure； you go right back in and sting the Hells out of him until he DOES do his job！ Understand？〃
The guard nodded。 〃Sure is great to have things running normally again。〃
〃Well； yes；〃 said the sergeant。 〃And you just make sure that Her Majesty doesn't have to wear her thumb out pushing the button on that collar chain。 The darling is entitled to all the fun this fellow can give her。〃
〃What do I do when she's through with him？〃 said the guard。
〃Oh； you'll probably have been relieved by that time and I'll be hanging around。 But if it happens on your watch and she hasn't told you otherwise； listen to make sure it's all quiet and has been for some time。 Then beckon up one of her maids…probably the one on watch at the foot of her bed…and tiptoe in。 Now； this is the tricky part： use your ultraviolet lamp and eyeglass so you don't wake Her Majesty； and look very carefully at her face。 If she's frowning or sleeping restlessly； take him to the execution hall。 If she's sleeping with a slight smile； then get this fellow out very carefully without waking her and send him back to his regiment。〃
〃I haven't got a regiment；〃 said Madison。
They both looked shocked。 Then the sergeant said； 〃That's true。 Those clothes hanging there are no uniform I ever saw before。 Wait a minute。 Maybe this is all wrong。 Are you sure you're a nobleman？〃
Madison's mind raced。 Despite all these horrible arrangements which he only hoped he could escape； he had to get up those stairs and present his inspired idea to Teenie。 He drew himself up haughtily。 〃I；〃 he said； 〃am one of the Knights of Columbus！〃
〃Is that noble？〃 said the sergeant。 〃You see； if a male moner were to lay hands upon her； protocol requires instant death。 So don't go trifling with us。〃
〃A knight〃 said Madison； 〃in her native language； means a gentleman…soldier。 It is one who has been raised by his sovereign to the nobility。 I came here as a knight…errant。〃
The sergeant told the guard。 〃Well； that may be。 Tell you what。 When you take him out of her bed； put him in one of the better dungeons and hold him and I'll get this clarified in the morning。 If it turns out he isn't really noble after all； we'll have the pleasure of executing him anyway。 I sure didn't like the way he was yelling and screaming at her yesterday afternoon。 Didn't sound very noble to me！ And if he starts yelling and screaming at her again； take him out of there fast！ We don't want our dear queen getting upset and leaving us。〃
The guard gave the chain a yank and Madison； not expecting it； flinched back。
The guard pressed the button in the handle。
It felt to Madison that his neck had been sawed through！ It wasn't an electric shock； it was a tearing sensation。 Awful！
〃e along；〃 said the guard。 〃Her Majesty awaits。〃
The sole of Madison's foot recoiled from the cold； rough floor stones of the washroom。 〃You didn't give me any slippers！ At least let me put on my shoes！〃
〃Barefoot is just great；〃 said the guard。 And he gave the button another push。
Madison gripped his head so it wouldn't fall off。
He followed。
Everything depended on the next few minutes。 He would be a dead man or a hero！
His idea MUST work！
Chapter 2
He wasn't being taken up the golden stairs。 He was being led up a circular metal set of steps that spiralled back of the walls。 It was very dark and from the deadness of the air Madison suspected it had long been out of use。 Suddenly a gate with spikes barred their way： he could see small sparks chasing back and forth； skipping from tip to tip on daggerlike extrusions； ready to impale any unauthorized interloper。 No wonder Flick said no…no on robbing these palaces。 They were FORTS！
The guard did something over at the side and with the groan of long disuse the portal slid aside。
They seemed to be in a dark box now； another thick door facing them。 The guard picked up a dusty microphone and said something； evidently to a remote security desk…some sort of numbered password。 Then the guard shoved him in front of what must be a closed…circuit camera。
〃Demonstrate that you are not under duress； Jinto；〃 said a sepulchral voice。
Jinto； Madison's guard； closed his hand on the chain。 The dreadful tearing feeling ripped at Madison's neck and an additional yank threw him off balance。
Apparently some security post somewhere was satisfied。 Beyond the haze of lingering pain； Madison heard the slither and snap of several sets of remote…controlled bolts。
Silently the door slid open and Madison was pushed forward。
A moaning sort of music caressed his ears。
He was hit with a feminine whiff of fragrance and he fearfully opened his eyes。
He was standing in a softly lit room of considerable dimensions。 Gently rippling colored lights bathed the walls in ever…changing pastels； soothing； almost hypnotic。 Overhead； at first he thought these must be the open skies and then he saw that the stars were slowly dancing in a pattern about a moon which； real as it looked； could never possibly； in nature； pulse with the same ripples as the walls： the ceiling was some sort of an illusion that must change the hour of the day or night on mand。
The floor suddenly frightened him。 It seemed to be a thick mist； not a rug； and he was standing ankle…deep in it。 But he was reassured to find it seemed to be holding him up。
The furniture； delicate and curved； bureaus and chairs and tables； didn't seem to have any legs； they were just motionlessly floating in place。
The lost feeling he had experienced at his first glimpse of this place…like nothing he had ever heard of or imagined on Earth…was leaving him。 The determination to be successful in his visit gripped him again。 Where was Teenie？
Then he again felt all unstabilized。 Neither he nor the guard were walking； they seemed to have just been standing。 But they were moving！ Very slowly and gently this floor； without even so much as a ripple； was carrying them down one wall。 What he had thought must be some kind of huge bureau was actually the top of a bed！
Madison s