The air-jet sped out of the tunnel and onto a long runway with a roof so high that it seemed closer to true daylight than anything Seldon had seen since he had left the Imperial Sector¹.
They came to a halt in a shorter time than Seldon would have expected, but at the price of an uncomfortable pressure forward. Raych, in particular, was crushed against the seat before him and was finding it difficult to breathe till Dorss hand on his shoulder pulled him back slightly.
Sergeant² Thalus, impressive and erect³, left the jet and moved to the rear, where he opened the door of the passenger compartment⁴ and helped the three out, one by one.
Seldon was last. He half-turned as he passed the sergeant, saying, "It was a pleasant trip, Sergeant."
A slow smile spread over the sergeants⁵ large face and lifted his mustachioed upper lip. He touched the visor of his cap in what was half a salute⁶ and said, "Thank you again, Doctor."
They were then ushered⁷ into the backseat of a ground-car of lavish⁸ design and the sergeant himself pushed into the front seat and drove the vehicle with a surprisingly light touch.
They passed through wide roadways, flanked by tall, well-designed buildings, all glistening⁹ in broad daylight. As elsewhere on Trantor, they heard the distant drone of an Expressway. The walkways were crowded with what were, for the most part, well-dressed people. The surroundings were remarkably--almost excessively--clean.
Seldons sense of security sank further. Dorss misgivings¹⁰ concerning their destination now seemed

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