Return to Eden

spoke her outward calm matched that of her antagonist.
    Fafnepto accepted this, signed gratitude, turned and left. So she did not see the blaze of color on Vaintè's palms, the curve of hatred in her fingers. Akotolp did, stepped back, rocked by the strength of feeling. It passed quickly as Vaintè fought and controlled her emotions, spoke calmly to Akotolp.
    "It would be pleasure magnified for me to see the images of the ustuzou. The image now will suffice. I have waited this long to find him—I can wait that bit longer. Nor will this be a wasted journey. Those Daughters of Death escaped me when we fled this city. Their existence has long troubled me. It will be my pleasure to search them out now. Gratitude expressed/amplified—the images!"
    Vaintè went through the sheets slowly, her limbs moving in emotive response as she did. Hatred, pleasure, discovery. When she had seen them all, she carefully went through them a second time and found one that drew her attention. The others fell from her thumbs as she held this one in the light from the fin; Akotolp retrieved the discarded sheets.
    "Look at this, Akotolp," Vaintè finally said. "You have the eyes and the brain of a scientist. Tell me what you see here. Look at this figure."
    Akotolp turned it until the light fell clearly upon it, examined it closely. "It is one of the killer ustuzou, probably a male since the females have other organs here. It shields its eyes as it gazes upwards, so the face is not clearly seen. There is something, a design perhaps, painted upon its upper thorax."
    "You see it too! Could it be a metal tooth like the one you sealed in the bladder long ago?"
    "The possibility is there/detail unhappily unclear. But it could be an artifact of metal."
    "It is almost too much to believe, that it is the one I seek, that he is out there."
    "Strong belief/probability. And there is another thing of great interest that I neglected to mention to the eistaa. Here, upon this other sheet, you will see a crude structure of some kind. With two figures standing before it."
    Akotolp signed excitement and pride of discovery as she passed over the sheet, touched the correct spot with one thumb, watched Vaintè's movements of disbelief.
    "This is inexplicable. One is a Yilanè—the other ustuzou. How is this?"
    "We can only guess. Perhaps the Yilanè has been captured, held prisoner. Not injured, for she appears in other pictures. And this is very close to the place where the ustuzou lairs are located."
    Vaintè trembled with excitement. "Then the creature we have seen must be Kerrick, the one I seek. Only he can communicate with a Yilanè. How close are they?"
    "Less than a day in an uruketo."
    "And we are in an uruketo…" Vaintè's body twisted as strong emotions gripped her again and it took her a moment to regain control. "But not at the present time. Now we go south. There is one called Enge whom I would see again."
    "One came to me," Enge said, "bringing the message that you wished to see me, a matter of urgency."
    "Urgency obviously relative with Daughters of Drowsiness," Ambalasei said disgustedly. "That message was sent earlier today in the hope it might reach you before we all were dead of advanced age."
    "Does the matter have urgency?"
    "Only to me. My researches are complete. There is an entire continent to be explored—but others can do that. I have records and specimens for them to marvel at. I have opened the path that others may follow. I return now to Entoban*."
    "Suddenness of decision unexpected/unhappiness, unwelcome information!"
    "Only to you, Enge. Everyone else here will be glad to see me leave. Just as pleased as I will be to turn my back upon them. All of my records have been sealed and loaded aboard the uruketo. Setessei will go with me, but assures me that she has trained two Daughters in use of nefmakel, sanitation and wound repair. So you all will not instantly die when we are gone."
    "The suddenness of this confuses/saddens me. I knew the day must come. The pleasure in your presence profound. Absence will produce emptiness."
    "Fill it with thoughts of Ambalasei like everyone else here."
    "I will do that of course. And will feel pleasure that the uruketo will now be restored to Yebèisk."
    "That pleasure will have to wait, since I am staying far from Yebèisk and the undoubtedly furious Eistaa.
    When I have reached Entoban* the uruketo returns here and becomes your responsibility."
    "Gratified acceptance of