““I’ll be the judge of that! I command you to speak at once!” “Permit me to land us first,” he said. And not waiting for her permission, he turned onto the base leg, brought the wings into optimum lift, settled gently onto the bright orange pad atop the roof. “Now,” Alia said. “Speak.” “I told him that to endure oneself may be the hardest task in the universe.” She shook her head. “That’s . . . that’s . . .” “A bitter pill,” he said, watching the guards run toward them across the roof, taking up their escort positions.””
