Return to Eden

of preserved meat that they had brought with them. Now she chewed a welcome delicious mouthful. Vaintè had come back aboard some time ago, her rigid body rejecting communication, and had gone at once into the uruketo's interior. As a courtesy Gunugul ordered a crewmember to bring some of the meat to her.
    Vaintè, still rigid with rage, saw the movements in the dim light and realized someone was standing before her with fresh meat. She acknowledged presence and took it, bit into it—then sent the deer leg flying to thud into the uruketo's side. She could not eat, could scarcely breathe, wanted to kill, could not.
    The dark interior was choking her so she rose to her feet and climbed stiffly up to the top of the fin. She was thankfully alone, the commander busy with others upon the dock. Through the haze of anger Vaintè was only barely aware of the activity below, the supplies being piled there, the enteesenat being fed, the coming and going of fargi busy on the city's business. When something did catch her attention it took long moments to realize what it was.
    It was a newcomer, a Yilanè of some rank for she ordered laden fargi before her. In the direction of the uruketo. Why had this disturbed her, this fat Yilanè? Fat? Of course, it was one she knew well. The scientist Akotolp. Who looked up and saw her—and made no sign of recognition. Turned and issued brusque orders to be obeyed instantly.
    This was a matter of great interest, Vaintè could tell that at once. Akotolp now served the Eistaa and the city—but she had also once sworn that Vaintè was her eistaa for as long as she had breath. Now Akotolp was purposely here—and undoubtedly without Lanefenuu's permission!
    Vaintè stood aside as the fargi toiled up the fin with their burdens, carried them below as Akotolp ordered. Emerged again and were sent back into the city. Only when they were out of sight among the crowds did Akotolp wheeze and puff her way up the fin, to stumble over its edge. She glanced around, took a last look at the dock—then signed a silent and imperative descend!
    Safely out of sight in the interior she turned to Vaintè with great happiness of return/reunion of pleasure.
    "It is I who have the pleasure, Akotolp." Vaintè touched her thumbs as she would to her efensele. "She who is Eistaa, who I would kill were I able, has offended and angered me. So sight/presence fat and familiar loyal figure brings the greatest happiness."
    "The pleasure is mine to serve you, Eistaa. I was there, behind the others, when you faced the Eistaa. It was cowardly/wisest not to intervene at that time. I felt I could serve you better in other ways. I know of matters that no one else knows of, have reached conclusions that others will never reach, will give you information that no one else has. I listened closely to the hunter named Fafnepto when she spoke of your mission. You share it with her?"
    "I do."
    "Then your search is at an end. I know where the uruketo is!"
    "You have seen it?
    "No—but there is a logic to many events that inescapably points to it. I have all of the evidence here with me. And evidence of another kind, of equal or greater importance to you."
    "As you know there is only one thing of importance to me. Discovery/death Kerrick ustuzou."
    "Of course!" Akotolp's wattles shook as she moved with pleasure of discovery/enlightenment of importance. "I am of strong opinion that I also know where he is!"
    Vaintè shook with emotion, clutched Akotolp's arms between her thumbs so hard that the scientist gasped in sudden pain. Released her with apologies, overflowing of joy, thankfulness to the one in the world who aided her.
    "You are my efensele, Akotolp, as no other is. You fill an empty life, bring pleasure where there has been only nullity, tell me what you know, but first of the ustuzou."
    "He is close, that I can assure you, but all must be told in the proper order for complete understanding."
    "Then speak, I bid you!"
    "Ambalasei was here. She arrived one day, by uruketo, left the same way a few days later with great abruptness. I questioned and discovered the uruketo came and went away with her at once. None here knew the beast nor its commander."
    "Then is it the one I seek?"
    "Undoubtedly. And other matters of greatest interest. Before Ambalasei went away something of strangeness happened here. A Yilanè was discovered and captured on the birth beaches. It appears that she was attempting to abduct a male fresh from the sea. A