Return to Eden

joined her.
    "Well done, Elem," she said. "A notable contribution to the future welfare of these simple creatures."
    "How long will they stay like this?"
    "Until they are injected and awakened. You need have no fear of violence or aggression.
    Now—information required. You will do as always this night? That is you will let the uruketo drift in the shallows until dawn?"
    "As always in the river."
    "Excellent. At dawn then I will be awakened and with Setessei's assistance will direct the creature's progress. None will join me, none will climb this fin."
    "I do not understand."
    Ambalasei signed weakness of intelligence. "I thought that my meaning was obvious. Under my instruction Setessei shall direct this creature to the beach where we will land. Since one stretch of river looks very much like another, particularly to the inattentive Daughters of your crew, none but my assistant and I shall know where the Sorogetso were brought ashore. Will you be able to recognize the landing site?"
    "I am sure I will, but…"
    "Then you will remain below. I know that you are a treetrunk of strength, commander, and a good scientist. But some day I will be gone from this part of the world and I force myself to remember that you are a firm follower of Ugunenapsa. If asked for information in her name I am sure that you would give it.
    I cannot take that chance. The Sorogetso must remain undisturbed by any future incursions into their well-being. Now, tell me, will my instructions be followed?"
    Elem signed confusion of desires. "I am a follower of science, just as you are, great Ambalasei. Thinking as you do I agree that matters must be arranged just as you have ordered. Yet I am also a believer in the wisdom of Ugunenapsa and I must reconcile these two."
    "Easily done. Think only of Ugunenapsa's third principle and your thoughts will be clear, your commands obvious. Did Ugunenapsa not say that the spirit of life, Efeneleiaa, is the great eistaa of the city of life, that we are citizens and beings in this city? This must include the Sorogetso. So while they will be going to a new and physical city on this river they will still be residing in the greater city of life. As Ugunenapsa said. Is that not right?"
    Elem still hesitated. "I think that it sounds right, certainly that is what Ugunenapsa said and I thank you for reminding me of it. And I am humbled that even though you are not a Daughter of Life you know so much of Ugunenapsa's thoughts that you correct me in my misjudgment. You are right, of course, and your orders will be obeyed."
    It was not that Vaintè wished to issue commands to the fargi, it just seemed to have become part of the natural order. If Velikrei had any resentment that her place had been taken by Vaintè she gave no indication of it. Quite the opposite in fact. She stayed at Vaintè's side, stretching her limited comprehension to understand Vaintè's instructions. She brought the tastiest of the freshly caught fish to her, watched with pleasure while she ate, did not eat herself until Vaintè had finished. It was the natural order of things. Some are destined to give orders, others to obey.
    Not that any real thought was needed to command this elderly efenburu. Fishing was the only thing that they did in common; they were all certainly skilled enough in that. When they entered the sea they moved apart, swimming slowly. If a school of fish were seen this fact was remarked upon with the simplest of signals, passed from one to the other and eventually to Vaintè. She would swim in the indicated direction, decide if the school were big enough, the fish of edible interest. If they were she signed attack and they moved in a familiar and reassuring fashion.
    When not fishing they did not communicate. When thirsty they drank. When chilled they sought the sun.
    Like basking lizards they littered the beach and Vaintè found the sight a reassuring one, in no way a disturbance to her mindless peace.
    There is a pleasure in companionship, no matter how inarticulate. Day followed day in a repeated pattern that did not require either intelligence or attention. Here, close to the equator, one day was very much like another. At times it rained, usually it didn't. The sea was filled with fish, the freshwater stream always ran. It was existence, simple and unthinking existence.
    This was all that the fargi were capable of. If they thought at all, which was doubtful, they must surely have preferred this to the pressures and