Winter in Eden

Enge registered fear-of-pain Ambalasi signed negative in return. "You misunderstand. It is the string-knife of thought that I wish to use, to cut deep into your philosophy and see what makes it operate."
    "That indeed I would welcome. It is what I do myself. If you can aid me in that, then I welcome your help."
    "More than aid, Enge. I may dig so deep that I destroy the roots of your tree of knowledge and pull it out."
    "If you do then it was a dead tree, a false tree, and I would welcome that as well. I open to you. Embrace my thoughts—do as you will."
    Ambalasi seized Enge's arm in the quick gesture of greatest-pleasure. "Then it is agreed. I must now give my attention to our exodus. Since I have long been determined to leave this city I have already made all the necessary arrangements with my assistants and within a day—two at the most—there will be firm results."
    Enge signed apologies and lack of understanding.
    "You will understand when the time comes. Now there are other things to do. There is one here among the daughters whom I would speak to. Her name is Shakasas<."
    "Confusion-naming," Enge said. "Shakasas<, speed-in-changing-movement is a name that one of us would not use, a name that belongs to the existence before the understanding. As a sign of our acceptance of Ugunenapsa's wisdom we take new names."
    "I was aware of the ritual. But I am sure that your convert will remember her earlier existence before conversion. Send for her under that name and I will address her in any manner she wishes."
    Enge signed respectful understanding and turned away to issue the order. Only then did she realize for the first time that they had been talking in the middle of a circle of silent listeners. Omal stepped forward and welcomed her.
    "The one whose presence has been requested has been sent for. But I have pleasure-to-see you, Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    unhappiness-your-imprisonment."
    "We must discard unhappiness. This Yilanè of great wisdom whom I have been speaking with may be our salvation. Now let me see and meet with our sisters here, for I wish to know them all."
    Ambalasi stepped aside as they greeted each other and waited with stolid patience until she was aware of a Yilanè who appeared before her and signed respectful attention.
    "Are you Shakasas    "I was, before the time of my understanding. Because of my joy at accepting Ugunenapsa's words I am now called Elem. What do you wish of me, Ambalasi?"
    "The answer to a single question. I have heard that you once served on the crew of an uruketo. Is this true?"
    "When I was first Yilanè it was my pleasure. This led me to my interest in air and sea currents. The mysteries of navigation became my study, and through them my interest in the work of Ugunenapsa."
    "Explanation satisfactory. Now tell me who leads you?"
    "Ugunenapsa, for it is her example—"
    "Enough! I refer to your physical presence in this despicable orchard. Who among you is in charge?"
    "None, for we are all equal…"
    Ambalasi silenced her with a rude gesture normally used only when commanding fargi, raking her toenails along the ground with great agitation. "Silence! Your Ugunenapsa has a lot to answer for. There must be someone who stands above you in this hierarchy of mindlessness. Enge, do you see her there?
    Good. Can she command you?"
    "Certainly. I have heard much of her and her wisdom and would willingly do as she commanded."
    "At last, communication. The three of us will speak together at once. After that has been done you will stay by my side at all times and will do as I order. Will you do this if she tells you to?"
    Elem signed pleased agreement and Ambalasi dismissed her quickly before she could begin again on Ugunenapsa.
    Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    The island just off the coast of Gendasi, south of Alpèasak, was small and crowded with quickly grown structures, most of them little more than covers to keep the rain off. Only the joined rooms where Ukhereb labored had any look of permanence, solidity. The eistaa, Lanefenuu, had been taken there when she emerged from the uruketo that had brought her across the ocean, but she listened to the explanations with bored disinterest, caring only about the results of the scientists' labors, not the details. Only the masinduu drew more than casual attention.
    "This is very amusing," Lanefenuu said. "You must grow me one to take back to Ikhalmenets. I have never seen anything like it before."
    "The reason