"South America. Somewhere in the Andes."
"I think we'll have just one Category after this," said Lanza dreamily.
"Category Phoenix."
"What did you say, Leader?"
His thoughts wandered. No wonder Magnun's men found no bodies. The
planes they shot down were roboplanes, after all, and it was easy to
plant in an empty seat a man's wristwatch and his bulky leather pencil
case. David and the others were safe now. They were free and had enough
time to plan for the new free world.
"What did you say, Leader?" the girl repeated, bewildered.
"Nothing. It doesn't matter." He frowned painfully, and then shrugged.
"On second thought, I may be away longer than a week. If anyone asks for
me, say I'm on an Aimless Tramp. I've always hoped that some day I might
earn the right to a Free Choice."
"But you're the Leader," the girl said in astonishment. "You're entitled
to all the Free Choices you want!"
He lifted his twitching head, smiling wanly. "It would seem that way,
wouldn't it? Well, whether I am or not, I think I've really earned a
Free Choice. I wonder," he said in a wistful voice, "whether the climate
in the Andes is hospitable."