p estate of Hightee Heller。
He was impressed！ The estate looked like it prised several acres that rested high in the air； crowning an elegant building。 One could see for miles and miles from such an aerie； the view was not even blocked by neighboring buildings and looked down on other lovely estates。 A place for the angels； even unto a wisp of wandering cloud！ At least that was what Flick was crooning as he put the Model 99 down on the roof target。 He was very disappointed to see a house clerk in black awaiting them instead of Hightee。
〃The lady is expecting you；〃 the clerk said。 〃She is in the summerhouse。 I will escort you。〃
Madison sternly told Flick to stay by the car and followed the black…suited man down a curving path。 The first thing that struck Madison was that the trees were full of songbirds trilling their hearts out in melodies and harmonies。
〃However do you keep the birds in？〃 he asked the clerk。
At that moment two birds of gorgeous plumage swept down and inspected the briefcase Madison was carrying and then fluttered accusingly in front of his face。
〃It's not a matter of keeping them IN；〃 said the clerk。 〃It's a matter of never being able to drive them away。 They sometimes hear the music from the oratory and they e for miles around to sing with Hightee。 And they always fly with her when she takes her walks。〃
What struck Madison was the total absence of guards。 This clerk didn't even have a telltale bulge in his close…fitting black coat。 They hadn't even asked for an identoplate on landing； or now。 He could be anybody； even an assassin。 Nobody had even asked to look in his briefcase。 Very； very lax。 And it might be very useful。
He had to make sure。 〃Don't you have guards and security and things？〃 he asked。 〃It makes me nervous for her。〃
The clerk snorted。 〃Lady Hightee has fifteen billion fans who would tear anyone to pieces if she was hurt。 And who would touch the sister of the hero of the Fleet； Jettero Heller？ Only a madman would so much as frown at Lady Hightee； and it is very plain you are not one of those。〃
So there was no security； Madison filed away。
They came to the summerhouse； a grill of golden lattices through which the summer sun splashed in gentle patterns。
She had been working at a table with a sheet of music； probably memorizing a lyric。 She came forward to the door； hand outstretched in wele。
Madison flinched。 He had never in his life seen such a beautiful woman。 She was wearing a casual artist's smock of shimmering green。 Her hair was the color of Heller's but it was fluffed into a glowing halo。 Her eyes were an electric blue that made you feel very warm。 The presence of her was an aura that seemed to make the day go brighter。
Madison came out of his shock； took the hand； bent over it to kiss it but the touch of her on his palm almost paralyzed him。 Oh； yes； indeed； this was Hightee Heller。 Even the three dimensions of Homeview screens couldn't begin to do her justice。 For an instant he thought he was going to kneel despite himself。
Still bent over the golden fingernails； he summoned up his most engaging and ingenuous smile。 He was very glad he had practiced it。 The presence of this woman had almost knocked him flat and gawping。 In fact； for the barest； fleeting instant； out of pure admiration for her； he had qualms at going forward with his plans。 But he recovered quickly。
She was graciously waving him to a seat as she resumed her own swinging chair。 As soon as she had sat down； Madison perched himself on the edge of the indicated armchair。 He wished those patches of sunlight didn't make her glow。 It made it difficult to proceed。
But Madison held on to his smile。 〃Forgive me for seeming so much at home； but Jettero has spoken of you to me so often； I feel that I know you。〃
She smiled。 〃Oh； Jettero and I have always been close。 He is such a wonderful person。〃
〃One of the finest fellows that ever lived；〃 said Madison。
〃Probably the finest and most honorable man alive；〃 said Hightee。
〃A prince among princes；〃 said Madison。 〃I bless the day when he honored me with his friendship。〃
〃You know him well； then？〃 said Hightee。
〃Oh； intimately；〃 said Madison。 〃It often makes me feel humble when he tells me how much he trusts me。 How heartening it is； when all else is black； to know that one has such a dear friend as Jettero。 I don't know what I would do without him。〃
〃I have always felt；〃 said Hightee； 〃how fortunate I was to have a brother like that。〃
〃And such a future！〃 said Madison。
〃There isn't a young officer in the Fleet that doesn't try to emulate him；〃 said Hightee。
〃Oh； he will rise to the top；〃 said Madison。 〃Inevitable success。〃
〃His superiors swear by him；〃 said Hightee。
〃I am sure he will achieve universal renown；〃 said Madison。 〃In fact； he deserves everything that can be done for him。〃
〃Indeed he does；〃 said Hightee。 〃Ever since I was a little girl； I've felt more confident in life knowing he was there。 I've always felt I was one of the luckiest girls alive to be his sister。〃
〃And I have felt I was one of the luckiest fellows alive to be his friend；〃 said Madison。
〃You really have a message from him？〃 said High…tee； eagerly。
〃It's more interesting than just that；〃 said Madison。 〃In fact； he made me swear on my honor that I would not fail to see you personally and give you this present from him。〃
He opened up his briefcase and removed a large jewelry box and said； 〃From your brother with his love。〃 And he handed it to her with a bow。
She opened it。 The sunlight hit it and it hit back； breaking the light into a thousand colored pieces。 Sitting in its new setting； nestled into the gold net cap； the jewel quite took her breath away。 She had never seen anything like it： an emerald inside a perfect diamond。
She put it on and the jewel in the center of her forehead drove the sunlight frantic in the summerhouse。 She took up a small mirror and looked。 Then she took it off and gazed at it。 When the pulse in her lovely throat slowed down； she gazed at Madison。 〃Where could he have possibly acquired it？ It must have cost ten years' pay！〃
〃Oh； he didn't buy it；〃 said Madison。 〃It is quite a story。 It's called the 'Eye of the Goddess'。 Jettero is so brave and so manding that it was presented to him by the Aga Khan when Jettero saved the life of his son。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Hightee。 〃Tell me！〃
〃Well； Jettero made so little of it that he did not give me many details。 He never brags。〃
〃How like him；〃 said Hightee。
〃But it was headlines in all the newssheets。 The son of the Aga Khan was on a tiger hunt…that is a very dangerous beast…and Jettero happened to be flying by and pulled the Aga Khan's son right out of the jaws of the tiger； barehanded。〃
〃Oh！ How dangerous！〃
〃Well； Jettero is nothing if not the most courageous fellow alive。 But you know； he is so modest； I'll wager when you see him he won't even mention the exploit。 Probably just laugh and say it never happened。〃
〃That's my brother。 Go on。〃
〃He's so unwilling to take well…earned praise；〃 continued Madison。 〃And when the Aga Khan presented him in gratitude with this family heirloom； do you know that Jettero actually blushed？ I know。 I was right there and saw him myself。 He slid it into his pocket and he whispered to me； 'The only reason I'm not giving this back is because I think Hightee would like it。' 〃
〃Oh； how sweet。〃
〃But that's Jettero；〃 said Madison。 〃He also said； when he made me promise to give it to you directly when I arrived on Voltar； 'Tell her I won it shooting dice and say it's a bauble she needn't even thank me for。' But I could never bring myself to lie to you。 So I have told you the truth。 Don't mention it to him that I did。 He'd half kill me！〃
〃But good Heavens； I have to thank him。〃
〃Oh； I thought of that。 Wear it on your next Home…view appearance and； without saying how he got it； since that would embarrass him and reveal I had told you the truth； casually mention that the jewel is a gift from your brother Jettero and dedicate your next song to him and all his brother officers of the Fleet。 And then sing some song about far places and loved ones at home and then say you don't know where your brother is and long to hear from him to thank him for the gift。 And his brother officers； hearing it； wanti