Return to Eden

communicate they will believe anything. Go to them when they leave the beaches and before they enter the city. Give them food, that will certainly draw their attention, then speak to them of Ugunenapsa and tell them how they will live forever. Do that and you will get all the recruits you need. And by staying away from the city you won't get seized and imprisoned as you have in the past. The fargi are numberless; your converts will never be missed. Agree to do this and the uruketo will take you to a city, to the beaches beyond the city."
    Ambalasei accepted their gratitude as her due, listened to the animated discussion. But she kept one eye on Far< always and Enge soon became aware of this. She signed for attention, then turned to Far<.
    "And what do you say to this? Will you take Ugunenapsa's truth to the fargi?"
    They were all silent and watching now, interested in what their argumentative sister would answer. They saw her lift her head, sign firmness of resolve, then speak.
    "I have not been wrong—but I have perhaps been overzealous. Ambalasei has led us to the truth and for this I thank her. I will go to the fargi and speak to them so that this city may live. I thank her again for helping us."
    There were overtones of dislike behind what she said, but she still spoke with sincerity. Enge, filled with the joy of revelation, seeing the answer to this vexatious problem before her, ignored these small signs.
    Peace had been restored. Ugunenapsa's great work would proceed.
    "What are your commands, great Ambalasei?" Enge asked, speaking as a supplicant and not an equal.
    Ambalasei acknowledged this with easy acceptance.
    "I will grow containers for preserved meat. When these are ready and filled we will leave. I suggest a limited number be allowed to preach so there will be room in the uruketo when it returns for those whom you have converted. When the meat is gone and the conversions made the uruketo will come back here.
    This city will grow, particularly with young and strong fargi to do the labors."
    "When you spoke of leaving you said when we leave," Enge observed. "Then you intend to go in the uruketo?"
    "Naturally. Who else is able to organize this better than I? And I yearn for discussions where a certain name is never mentioned. Now agree among yourselves who is to go. I suggest five as a maximum number."
    "Suggest?" Far< said, an edge of apprehension and distaste behind the question.
    "Order, if you prefer that. But I am magnanimous and do not bear grudges. You and four others if that is what you want. Will you come, Enge?"
    "My place must be here in the city now, readying it for the newcomers, though my strongest wish is to join you. Satsat, closest to me, will you go in my place?"
    "Gladly!"
    "Three more then," Ambalasei said and stretched her stiff muscles and walked away. "I will inform you when it is time to leave," she called back, then left the ambesed. At an easy pace went through the city that she had grown, that was named in her honor. But she walked slowly now and she knew that this was more than fatigue. She was old and often, in moments of quiet thought, she felt that she was reaching the limits of her physical powers. The end would come, not tomorrow but perhaps tomorrow's tomorrow was waiting with its void of emptiness. There were things that must be done before that inevitable moment arrived. Setfessei was mounting specimens when she entered but instantly ceased and signed readiness for instruction.
    "Containers to be grown," Ambalasei said as she rooted through a store of dried eggs and pods. She found what she wanted and gave them to her assistant. "Nutrient fluid needed for growth, then preserved meat to be sealed in them. But first bring me the ugunkshaa and a memory creature."
    "Which memory do you seek?"
    "One of no real importance for I need to make a record."
    "There are early reminders of ocean currents and winds of the south, now supplanted by observations of discovery."
    "Perfectly correct. I do not keep partial records of vagueness—only historically important successes."
    The ugunkshaa, a severely mutated creature of no intelligence, squatted before Ambalasei, its great organic molecule lens staring sightlessly up at her. Setessei placed the memory creature beside it and delicately inserted one of the tendrils above its withered eyes into a fold of flesh on the memory-speaker.
    As she made subtle adjustments a black and white image flickered across the lens and there were