1 remain a little confused about this。 How did he leave the building？ Did he take one of the pany cars？'
'Impossible。'
'Then he had his own transport。'
Dan 'shook his head。
'Then he stole a radiation suit and walked out。'
'No such suit has been reported missing。 We have made extensive checks。'
'Did anyone see him leave？'
Dan drummed his fingers upon the desk top。 'Not as such。'
'Well； with no suit and no air car； he didn't simply walk out into the night rain。 He must still be in the building。'
'But he's not。'
'Am I missing something？ I don't think I quite understand。'
'Then understand this。 He escaped from the building。 We don't as yet know how。 He is at large somewhere out there and I want to know where。'
'Yes； but I don't see how。。。'
'Bring him back for me； Rex。 Or simply tell me where he is and you will be amply rewarded。 Do I make myself clear？'
Rex smiled broadly。 'Would that include further indulgences with the saffron women？' Dan nodded wearily。
'Right then； Dan。 I am； as ever； your man。' Rex leapt to his feet。 'I shall require one or two small favours。'
'Go on then。'
'I' d like to take the photograph with me。'
'Take it with my blessings。'
'Thank you。 And I'll need an air car。'
'Of course。'
'But not one with the hourly check…in system。' Dan looked doubtful。
'Of course you can monitor my movements。' Dan nodded in agreement。
'And one further thing。 I will want access to MOTHER。'
'That；' said Dad； 'is quite impossible。'
'For a limited period。 Say twenty…four hours。' Dan scratched his shaven head。 I will do anything to help this great man； thought Rex。
'Twenty…four hours then。 And keep me informed of your progress。'
'Of course； sir。'
'Good then。' Dan wrung Rex's hand between his own。 'Go with God。'
Rex inclined his head。 'It's an honour to serve you； Inmost One。'
Dan gave him an encouraging wink。 'Good boy。'
As Rex backed from the room； Dan pondered upon the wisdom of his decision。 Giving any unauthorized person access to MOTHER was an extremely hazardous affair。 To be on the safe side he would monitor all Rex's requests for data retrieval。
You are certainly wele to try； thought Rex； but I wouldn't rate your chances。
The lads at the motorpool were quite warming to Rex Mundi； what with there being ever fewer air cars to service and everything。 When news reached them that Rex was taking to the air once more they were not slow to open a book on the oute of his latest jaunt。 The young…fellow…me…lad who escorted Rex across the tarmac even asked for his autograph。 'Have another day；' he called gaily as Rex climbed into the cockpit。 'Drive carefully now；'
Rex closed the canopy and eyeballed the dash。 'Rex Mundi。 Special assignment。 Destination Odeon Towers；'
'Identification confirmed。 Kindly fasten your safety belt。'
Rex did so and the car lurched into the murk。
Rex set the car down on the flat roof of Odeon Towers； to spare it the dismantling it would inevitably receive in the street below。 He lifted the roof hatch and climbed down the short metal ladder which led directly to his own landing。 Very convenient； thought Rex。
'Mr Mundi has his own private aerodrome you know；' he said in mock conversation with some station swell。 Rex disarmed his door and went into his rooms。 The grim hovel had about it almost a refreshing air of normality。 Well； almost。 Rex had seen too many things over the last two days to ever fully e to terms again with his accustomed squalor。 He slammed shut the door and took himself over to his homemade armchair； tossing his weatherdome into a not so far corner。
His plan was simplicity itself。 How the Dalai hadn't thought of it was beyond Rex。 Although Dan； in Rex's opinion； wasn't all the God he cracked himself up to be。 Feet of clay； or something like。
Rex tweaked the controller and the TV terminal lit up。 The EYESPI took up his identification and prepared to log viewing points。 Rex switched to the data channel and punched in a series of instructions at the console beneath the screen。 He worked with flawless precision。 Calling up MOTHER he requested security clearance and was given it after a moment or two's delay。 Rex tapped at the console。 REQUEST IDENTIFICATION OF SUSPECT THROUGH IRIS PATTERNS。 The puter granted his request。 Rex held up the photograph to the EYESPI unit。 The information exchanged。 Circuits mished and mashed。 The words UNCLASSIFIED。 IRIS PATTERNS UNREGISTERED appeared on the screen。 Rex smiled。 It was no more than he had expected。 He tapped in a further set of requests； this time under a security code of his own invention。 Then he sat back。 Presently the words PRESENT LOCATION UNKNOWN came up； followed by SCANNING NOW IN OPERATION。
Rex reached under his chair and brought out a warm can of Buddhabeer。 He popped the ring and slurped the muddy liquid。 Sooner or later； the mystery man was bound to watch television； even glance at a screen。 And when he did； MOTHER would register it and beam his whereabouts straight back to Rex。 It was a killer of a plan。 He would buzz straight through to the Dalai and get him to despatch a couple of pany bullyboys to make the arrest。 He had never even to leave his chair。 'Sheer genius；' said Rex to himself。 'Rex Mundi； you sly dog； I don't know how you do it。'
Elvis had been watching television for nearly three hours。 He was； to say the least； fascinated by all he saw。 The floor about the set was littered with Coca Cola cans； empty Bourbon bottles； Kentucky Fried Chicken boxes and several Chinese women in varied states of undress。 For those who prefer clarity to implication； Elvis was in the penthouse suite of the Hong Kong Hilton。 It was a summery day in July。 It was 1994。
'Hey； little green buddy；' called the King。 'Bounce over here； they're showing another of my movies。' The Time Sprout lay upside down on the bedside unit。 He seemed a mite wilted。 'Sorry； chief；' he gasped。 'A bit puffed here。'
'No sweat。' Elvis fiddled with the remote control and brought the sound up。 'Don't mess with this guy；' came an actor's voice。 'He knows Karate。'
'Goes with the sickle；' the on…screen Presley replied。
Elvis fell back in his chair。 'Goes with the sickle； do you hear that？ Goddamn； honey； shift your ass； I can't see the movie。'
'Chief；' croaked the sprout。 'Chief； I think we've got a problem。'
'Look at that jacket。 Was I cool or was I cool？'
'Chief； I think I'm about to go to the great post heap in the sky。'
'You what？' Elvis swung about in his chair； dislodging titties and beer。 He stumbled over to the ailing sprout。 'What are you saying？'
'It's all this toing and froing。 I think it's done for me。'
'Shit man； I thought you were a higher life form。'
'I am。'
'Then let me get you a glass of water or something。 Here； d'you wanna beer？'
'Won't do。 I need a bio…enzoic top…up。'
'Then I'll ring down for one。 Listen； we're buddies； ain't we？ You've got me out of all kinds of shit。'
'Right。'
'And you said you'd let me meet Abe Lincoln。'
'I'm dying； chief。'
'I'll ring down for the bio stuff。。。'
'No good。。。 I've got to get back to Phnaargos。 Back to the germination beds and re…charge。'
'I'll get us a cab。'
'Wrong； all wrong。。。'
'Don't leave me。 Hell； I need you； fella。' Elvis plucked up the sprout and held it lovingly to his cheek。 There was no mistake about it； it was definitely starting to pong a bit。
'If I stay here any longer I'll rot。 I've got enough energy left to get us back to Phnaargos。 You've got to help me when we get there； OK？ I'll tell you everything on the way。'
'Right； right。 No sweat； OK。 Let's get。'
They got。
Elvis Presley's departure from the Hong Kong Hilton was easily as opportune as any of his previous sudden departures had been。 On this occasion he outran； literally by seconds； the hotel's security forces； who had just been tipped off that their penthouse guest was none other than the notorious international fivestar moonlight flitter； currently wanted on five continents。
Elvis bucketed through time and space。 He was being somewhat seasoned to it by now。 It was merely a toothbrush in the top pocket number。 And for all the Time Sprout's early fears； he showed no signs whatever of ill effect。 In fact he seemed to thrive on it。 He never got any smarter； though。
There was a crash…bang…wallop and the two fell through a crack in the clouds and wound up suddenly in a certain research establishment at Earthers Inc。 'Quickly；' croaked the failing sprouty。 'The vat at the end of the hyper…ponic bench。。。 bung me in or I'm a goner；'
'No sweat； small buddy。' Taking in only a blur of his fantastic surroundings Elvis stumbled along the bench。 He never saw the figure crouching near at hand； nor the post shovel as it arced through the air。 It struck him a resounding blow to the top of the skull。 As he toppled sideways； the sprout fell from his grip； bounced across the floor and came to rest at the feet of Gryphus Garstang。 'Gotcha；' said that very man。 'Oh shit；' said the Time Sprout。 'And farewell。'
Garstang turned to Jason Morgawr。 'I have to hand