"Transportation? To where, Frost?"
"That is for you to tell me," said Frost, and his color changed fromsilverblue to sun-behind-the-clouds-yellow.
Mordel rolled back away from him as the ice of a hundred centuriesbegan to melt. Then Frost rose upon a cushion of air and drifted towardMordel, his glow gradually fading.
A cavity appeared within his southern surface, from which he slowlyextended a runway until it touched the ice.
"On the day of our bargain," he stated, "you said that you couldconduct me about the world and show me the things which delighted Man.My speed will be greater than yours would be, so I have prepared for youa chamber. Enter it, and conduct me to the places of which you spoke."
Mordel waited, emitting a high-pitched whine. Then, "Very well," hesaid, and entered.
The chamber closed about him. THe only opening was a quartz windowFrost had formed.
Mordel gave him coordinates and they rose into the air and departed theNorth Pole of the Earth.
"I monitored your communication with Divcom," he said, "wherein therewas conjecture as to whether I would retain you and send forth afacsimile in your place as a spy, followed by the decision that you wereexpendable."
"Will you do this thing?"
"No, I will keep my end of the bargain if I must. I have no reason tospy on Divcom."
"You are aware that you would be forced to keep your end of the bargaineven if you did not wish to; and Solcom would not come to your assistancebecause of the fact that you dared to make such a bargain."
"Do you speak as one who considers this to be a possibility, or as onewho knows?"
"As one who knows."
They came to rest in the place once known as California. THe time wasnear sunset. In the distance, the surf struck steadily upon the rocky