The flesh in the furnace

everyone came home from the stars, there would be need for places like this."
        "And no one came home," the angel said.
        "That's right."
        "Pertos did," Sebastian said.
        They turned to look at him.
        "Who?" Belina asked. She was tense, standing on her toes.
        Sebastian looked at her, at her golden hair.
        "I don't remember," he said.
        "That's better," she said.
        They watched the city a while longer, to be sure.
        "Now what?" the angel asked.
        "Drive ahead," Belina told the idiot. "Let's see what happens."
        Sebastian hesitated only a moment, put the truck in gear and drove down the last length of the highway which now seemed more like an avenue as the curbs rose on each side until they became walls higher than the truck itself.
        The road gradually began to descend as they neared the walls of the city. Hidden detection circuits registered the pressure of the truck's air cushion against the roadbed. Photoelectric circuits were interrupted by their passage, and this data was passed on to the city's central traffic computer. The computer woke from the non-think that possessed it most of the time these days. When they were within a hundred yards of the blue stone facade, a section of wall rumbled open before them. Beyond, there was a well-lighted, wide avenue that bored away into the city itself.
        If they continued, there could be no backing out. That gaping entrance was the point of no return.
        "Go on," Belina directed.
        He did not want to.
        But he did.
        The stone walls slipped over and around them. The entrance hissed shut behind as they were bathed in the soft amber light of the glowing panels in the ceiling. Their engine was switched off by remote control. They settled to the floor. The rubber parking rim of the truck squealed as it made contact with the black rubber road. Instantly, the mammoth conveyor system jerked to life and carried the truck forward to the maw of an elevator large enough to accept it. Then the belt stopped; everything was still and quiet, as if it were now their turn to do something.
        "Everybody out," Belina said.
        By the time they were on the pedestrian walk, the puppets in the cargo hold had also disembarked.
        "Now what?" the prince asked.
        A computer-tape voice spoke to them through the public address system speakers installed in the ceiling of the public walkway. "Please complete the provided form at the arrival desk. Your vehicle will be returned to you when you request, upon identification of fingerprints."
        The truck was pushed into the elevator by the beltway. The lift doors closed behind it. It was gone, along with all their belongings and what food they had with them.
        "You can't do that!" the prince shouted at the invisible speaker, his hand upon his sword.
        It was the prince's fate to be constantly challenging opponents against whom he could never win a battle. Consequently, his rashness and bluster made him less formidable in the eyes of the puppets he could handle.
        Bitty Belina only smiled. Every time he made a fool of himself, he gave her a firmer hand with the others and ruled out the possibility of making a successful coup against her.
        "Damn!" the prince snapped.
        Wissa giggled behind her hand.
        Belina filled out the arrival form. She knew the idiot would not be with them when they left. Three times the computer requested another chance to register her prints, unconvinced that such small fingers could be real. At last it was silent, as if disturbed but satisfied.
        "Now?" the angel asked.
        "Now," Bitty Belina said, "let's explore"
        
        The city was a palace, though much larger.
        Every street, park and apartment had been designed for gracious living. The wood paneling was dark and well-oiled and generously used. The fabrics were thick and lustrous, the brocades rich in texture and story. The stones were polished or carved in intricate designs that related the tales of Eskimos. Everywhere the eye rested there was beauty, sometimes subtle and gentle, sometimes blaring and bold. There was no dirt wad no sign of corruption to mar the loveliness.
        There were pedways and simple sidewalks, escalators and elevators and inclined plains for transportation.Thoughthe city was large, one could get about in it as fast as one