"What's it saying?" Benteley asked.
"I can switch to the literal-channel, if you like."
Laura hurried in with silver and china for the table. "Don't put the literal-channel on; all the dullards watch that. This for us, the literal for them."
"You're wrong, honey," Al said seriously. "The literal-channel is for news and factual information. The symbolic channel is for pleasure. I enjoy watching it this way, but——" He waved his hand and the circuit switched abruptly. The vivid swirls of colour and sound winked out. In their place the placid features of a news announcer appeared. "Here's the same thing."
Laura returned to the kitchen in a flurry of activity. The living-room was friendly and comfortable. One wall was transparent; below the house stretched the city of Berlin clustered round the A.G. Chemie Hill, a towering cone, black against the night sky. Bits of light drifted in the gloom—surface cars dancing like sparks in the shadows.
"How long have you been in fealty to Verrick?" Benteley asked Al Davis.
"About three or four years."
"You're satisfied?"
"Why not?" Al indicated the pleasant, well-furnished living-room. "Who wouldn't be?"
"You knew I'd sworn loyalty to him?"
Davis's kindly face beamed up at Benteley. "I hope that means you'll be moving over here."
"Why?"
Davis blinked. "Well, because then we'll see more of you and Julie."
"I haven't been living with Julie for six months," Benteley said impatiently. "That's all off. She's on Jupiter as a work-camp official."
"I didn't know. I haven't seen you for two years."
"I came over with Verrick and his staff." Benteley's voice hardened. "When Oiseau-Lyre released me I headed for Batavia. I wanted to get out of the Hill system once and for all. I went straight to Reese Verrick."