Return to Eden

responsibility."
    "There is another responsibility we must discuss. Accompany me."
    Instead of boarding the uruketo Ambalasei led the way to the boat which floated close by. It was better trained now and responded to Ambalasei's thumbs on its nerve endings by moving smoothly out into the river. She guided it to the shore beyond the city, then secured it to a tree with the binding sucker on its carapace.
    "Do you know this place?" she asked.
    "Unforgettable. We saw the first Sorogetso just there. I came here many times when learning their speech.
    They are gone now." There were overtones of sorrow, not a little regret, to her meaning.
    "They are—and a good thing too. Their independence is assured, their unique culture undefiled by followers of Ugunenapsa. Come this way."
    The floating tree was permanently in place now, its branches sunk deep into the mud. They crossed and pushed their way along the once-smooth pathway, now rank with high grass. When they came to the overgrown clearing, Ambalasei indicated the sodden and collapsed shelters that the Sorogetso had made.
    "The Sorogetso had to be taken away from the interference of your argumentative associates. Their culture was in danger. They are on the borderline between material-manipulation and life-manipulation. A wonderful opportunity for observation/knowledge for scientists. Not for me though. I will instruct others, send them to the place on this river where the Sorogetso now dwell. To complete my work. Which brings me to my last contribution in the service of Ugunenapsa. A solution to a problem that has had some of my attention. An intriguing proposition. Continuity."
    "Understanding escapes me."
    "It shouldn't. Put baldly—when you all die so do Ugunenapsa's theories."
    "That is entirely too true and it grieves me greatly."
    "Then cease your grieving. A solution is to hand."
    They emerged from the trees to stand on the empty beach of the lakeshore. Ambalasei looked around, then called out the simplest sounds for attention to speaking. After this she settled back on her tail with a weary sigh. Enge could only sign puzzlement and lack of understanding.
    There was a stirring in the shrubbery as a small and immature fargi stepped out.
    "Together," Ambalasei signed with color changes of her palms.
    "Together," the fargi answered, then came forward hesitantly at the sight of Enge, trembling and stopping.
    "Be without fear," Ambalasei said slowly and clearly. "Bring others."
    Enge could only stare after the fargi, her body shaped in confusion and wild hope.
    "Fargi… here?" she said. "And so small. Can they be Sorogetso?"
    "Obviously. I removed all those that were mature and yilanè as you well know. But I observed juvenile efenburu in the lake and was deeply concerned. It was my fear that they would emerge and find none to speak with, would face only certain death. At first I thought I would bring them to join the others, but this represented certain problems. There are other younger efenburu in the lake who will emerge later to join with the older ones. This is a natural process I did not want to interfere with too much. Then I saw the single obvious answer to two problems at one time. Can you tell me what that is?"
    Enge choked with emotion, could barely speak. "Salvation. We will be here when they emerge, they will learn to speak, join with us, and in turn speak to the others when they too come onto the beaches."
    "That solves their problem. And the other?"
    "You are the salvation of the Daughters of Life. You insure for eternity the continuity of the wisdom of Ugunenapsa."
    "I am not sure about eternity, but for a while at least. You do realize that you cannot interbreed with them, don't you? Their metabolic birth changes are far too different from ours. When they reach maturity you must be absolutely certain that Sorogetso mate only with Sorogetso. Can you control the lust of your Daughters?"
    "Our lust is for wisdom only—you need have no fear."
    "Good. You must also realize that you will only have cultural continuity, not genetic? One day the last of the present crop of Daughters will die of old age. There will be only Sorogetso then."
    "I understand your meaning—and assure you again that it is of no importance. The Eight Principles of Ugunenapsa will live on, that is all that matters."
    "Good. Then it is time for me to go. My important labors are finished here. I return to the adulation of civilized cities, the respect of eistaa. And pleasure at