Martel used the standard phrase: "Your Honorable sufferance is
requested."
He stood in the cool night air, waiting. Far above him, through a gap
in the mist, he could see the poisonous glittering in the sky of
Scanners. _The stars are my enemies, he thought: I have mastered the
stars but they hate me. Ho, that sounds Ancient! Like a Book. Too
much cranching_.
The voice returned: "Sunward 4234 dash 182 rising Subchief Martel,
enter the lawful gates of the city. Welcome. Do you desire food,
raiment, money, or companionship?" The voice had no hospitality in it,
just business. This was certainly different from entering a city in a
Scanner's role! Then the petty officers came out, and threw their
beltlights in their fretful faces, and mouthed their words with
preposterous deference, shouting against the stone deafness of a
Scanner's ears. So that was the way that a Subchief was treated:
matter of fact, but not bad. Not bad.
Martel replied: "I have that which I need, but beg of the city a favor.
My friend Adam Stone is here. I desired to see him, on urgent and
personal lawful affairs."