Return to Eden

proceed as we have been doing. I have come to believe that we will never find that which we seek by chance. We must have aid."
    "And what do you propose?" Vaintè said, having a very good idea of what was coming next.
    "We must return along the coast, to the city of Alpèasak, and talk with those there. They may have some knowledge of the uruketo we seek."
    "And they may not," Gunugul said.
    "Then we have lost nothing because our search will continue. But it is my conclusion now that we must seek them out. Vaintè, what are your thoughts?"
    Vaintè looked out at the width of the river and signed equality of choice. "The decision must be yours, Fafnepto, for the final command is yours. There may be knowledge of those we seek in Alpèasak. But you must know one thing before we go. The Eistaa there is Lanefenuu, she who was Eistaa of Ikhalmenets before it came to Alpèasak. It was I, as you know, who freed Alpèasak of the ustuzou so she could bring her own city there. In her name I pursued and killed the ustuzou, and then in her name I ceased the war upon them. I have not spoken of it before but I will tell you now. We were joined in friendship once; we are joined no longer. I served her once; she rejects my presence now. Do you understand?
    Fafnepto's thumbs flicked in understanding-amplified.
    "I have served many eistaa in many cities and know their ways. Because they rule they issue orders only and do not listen closely. They hear what they want to hear, say what they want to say. What is between you and Lanefenuu will remain between you. I serve Saagakel and go to this city as her missionary. It is my thought that we leave this river and return to the ocean. Then proceed to Alpèasak. Will you do that Fafnepto?"
    "You speak for my Eistaa. We go now to Alpèasak."
    The enteesenat had never liked the murky river water, now leapt high with pleasure and smacked back in a welter of foam when they turned and headed downstream. Once out in the open ocean they proceeded east along the coast. Although there were still lookouts always posted on the fin, they went far more quickly than they had on the outward voyage. They passed the bays and inlets they had searched before, but now stayed in the deeper water. Gunugul had charted the currents and when the uruketo followed them away from shore she did not change the course. Once they were out of sight of land for three days as they swam in a deep-sea current. When they next saw the shore it was ahead of them, green with tropical trees. Fafnepto joined Vaintè on the fin and her palm colors signed recognition.
    "I know this coast. We first went north along here after leaving the islands."
    Vaintè expressed agreement. "I think you are right—and if you are, we are very close to Alpèasak."
    "Is the city on the ocean?"
    "On the ocean and the river as well. The beaches are large, the water warm, the game abundant. It may not be as old as other Yilanè cities but in its youthfulness it has a newgrowth/attraction that many cities do not have."
    The crewmember on watch had been summoned below. None could hear them now when they spoke.
    There were matters that Fafnepto wanted to know about.
    "I have never visited sea-girt Ikhalmenets."
    "Nor will you ever. The snow of winter is there, all are gone."
    "And all in Alpèasak now. Lanefenuu is Eistaa there now, just as you were Eistaa there once." Vaintè signed agreement. "I will talk with Lanefenuu and she will know of your presence. Before that time I would like to have more knowledge of her, and of you and her, and what will happen when you meet again."
    Vaintè signed understanding. "As to the last—I do not know. For my part I will do nothing, say nothing.
    But I am sure that she will have a great deal to say. You yourself have told me that an eistaa respects no rule other than her own. This Eistaa commanded me to clear the city of the ustuzou that infested it. I did that. I pursued and killed them as they fled. I had them all between my thumbs, was about to kill them all—when the Eistaa stopped me. I obeyed her orders but I was not pleased. And it would be correct to say that she was not pleased that I was not pleased."
    "Delicacy of relationship understood. Relationship of an eistaa to an eistaa a difficult one. I will not speak of the matter again." She started to add something but a crew-member came up from below and their conversation was at an end. In the short time before they reached Alpèasak there was no opportunity to