Winter in Eden

in shocked silence.
    "Have you heard of our fruit groves?" Enge signed response in the positive. "Good. Is there any reason why I should not send you there at once?"
    "Every reason, Eistaa. I know things about Gendasi known to no others alive. I know of the ustuzou there and can speak with them through the one I taught—who spared my life when the other ustuzou would Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    have killed me."
    "Yes, these are matters of interest. But not sufficiently interesting enough to keep you from the groves, would you not agree?"
    "I agree. There is only one reason to keep me from the groves. I know of life and death and have lived where all others have died. That is knowledge you should have, Eistaa—and I can teach it to you. You now have the power of death of every Yilanè in this ambesed, even your efenselè. You have only to command—and they die. But that is only half of what you should have. Life is the balance of death, as sea is the balance of sky. I can teach you of the power of life."
    With that Enge fell into static silence, looking and waiting. Ignoring the uproar from Saagakel's advisers, just as the Eistaa did. She looked back at Enge in the same silence, the process of her thoughts invisible.
    "All here will be silent," Saagakel ordered. "I have decided. As interesting as your arguments are—they are equally dangerous. You said it yourself—the existence of the Daughters of Death threatens an eistaa's rule. Therefore an eistaa has but a single choice." She made a gesture calling the nearest two of her advisers forward. "Seize this bold creature, bind her and lead her to the groves. There will be no sedition spread in my city."
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
    Strong thumbs bit deep into Enge's flesh as she was seized and pushed down to her knees, held there as one of the retinue hurried away for bindings. Saagakel sat back with dignity as an excited babble of conversation sounded behind her. Above all this one voice rang out clearly, ordering them aside; there was one yipe of pain as a foot was trod upon. Through the assemblage a Yilanè pushed, made her way forward to stand before Enge, to look down at her closely.
    "I am Ambalasi," she said hoarsely. Now that she was close Enge could see the lines of age on her face, the ragged edge to her pale crest. Then she turned about to face the eistaa and raked the claws of one foot along the ground in a sign of great disapproval. "I don't think that this is wise, Saagakel. There is much of importance in what Enge says, much to be learned from her."
    "Too much of importance in what she says, wise Ambalasi, to let her remain free to spread her poison. I respect your great knowledge of the working of science—but this is a matter of politics and I listen only to my own advice."
    "Do not close your mind, Eistaa. The teachings of the Daughters relate directly to our biological selves which in turn relate directly to our very existence."
    Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    "What do you know of their teachings?" Saagakel broke in, astonished.
    "A good deal—since I have talked with the Daughters at length. In a crude way they have stumbled across a mind-body link that is of immense importance to the biology of longevity and aging. Therefore it is my polite request that the prisoner, Enge, be released in my custody for study in the place of science.
    Will you permit that?"
    Although the expressions were polite, they were spoken loosely with only surface formality, close to insult since there were hints of negative qualifiers in the mode of address-to-Eistaa, and superiority-to-all in relation to science.
    Saagakel roared with anger as she sprang to her feet. "Insult of insults—and in my own ambesed! I have respected your great knowledge and great age, Ambalasi, respect them still. Therefore I do not order your instant death but instead order you from my presence and from my ambesed, to return here again only if I will it. Or better still—leave my city. You have been talking of leaving, have made your plans to go far too many times to remember. Now is the time to do as you have threatened…"
    "I do not threaten. I will leave as planned. And I will relieve you of the burden and take Enge with me."
    Saagakel was quivering with rage, her thumbs snapping with anger. "Go from my presence at once and do not ever return. Go from this city as well for your presence strains my leniency."
    "You are about as lenient as an epetruk at the kill. Since you see your absolute