Winter in Eden

presence harbor communication requested."
    It was almost to much to bear, but Vaintè still controlled her temper and wondered at her own patience.
    "Need for clarification. Are you informing me that Naalpè is now in the harbor aboard her uruketo and wishes to talk with me?"
    "Agreement!" The fargi writhed with pleasure of communication and turned away at Vaintè's sign of dismissal, therefore she did not see Vaintè's glare of displeasure at the abominable quality of her speech.
    As she left her place was taken by a second fargi also signing desire-to-communicate.
    "Do." Vaintè said curtly. "And strongly-desired superiority of speech over last messenger."
    Far better indeed, because this one was from the Eistaa and she only used fargi whose speech was yilanè most of the time.
    "Request from highest through lowest to Vaintè of rank. Warm salutations and upon completion of present labors presence desired in the ambesed."
    "Return pleasure-of-acceptance to Eistaa, soonest arrival." No matter how politely it was expressed an order from the Eistaa was an order instantly obeyed. As much as she wanted to talk to Naalpè the meeting would have to wait.
    But Vaintè was not going to hurry and arrive breathless and speechless. She moved along shadowed walks in the direction of the ambesed, knowing the messenger would be there first to report her compliance with the order.
    Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    Walking these familiar ways had a bitter-sweet taste for Vaintè. Sweet, in that the city was again Yilanè: bitter in that much of it was still in ruins—and the ustuzou had escaped. That they must never do. They would flee, but they would be found.
    The large ambesed was quite empty, for only the advance forces had arrived from across the sea. The city must be repaired and regrown and further preparations made before Ikhalmenets came to Alpèasak. Its defenses strengthened, that was the first priority. No ustuzou must set foot in this city ever again.
    Lanefenuu was sprawled back in the warm sunlight in the place of honor against the far wall. There nobly dead Malsas< had sat, there Vaintè herself had sat and ruled once long ago when the city had been young.
    It was strange to see another there—and Vaintè instantly wiped away the feeling of jealousy that came to the fore. Never! She was no longer an eistaa nor did she want to rule ever again. Lanefenuu was an eistaa of power, one to respect and obey. In her generosity to Vaintè she had permitted her to prepare armed forces and enlist the genius of science to recapture this city. To kill ustuzou. Lanefenuu was an eistaa of two cities, a leader among leaders.
    Lanefenuu saw these expressions clearly when Vaintè approached and accepted them as was her due. Her advisers drew back to make room for Vaintè in the attendant circle.
    "An uruketo has arrived with reports and questions," Lanefenuu said. "The thought of it stirs me and I feel the need to once more breathe the air of sea-girt Ikhalmenets. I have been too long here and my nose-flaps close at the stench of ustuzou and smoke that drenches this city."
    "It will be cleansed, Eistaa, just as you cleansed the city of the ustuzou who befouled it."
    "Gracefully said and appreciated. Ukhereb will remain here and will oversee that process. It is a scientific one and not a political one so it will be her responsibility. Yours will be to watch and guard and preserve the city for the Yilanè. Is there clarity of meaning here?"
    "With certainty, Eistaa. We shall not rule together but work together, one to build, one to guard. There is only one ruler here."
    "Agreed. Now tell me of the ustuzou."
    "Those that fled north are all dead. Though we are on constant guard, keeping watch in all directions always in case some are in hiding, for they are as deadly as serpents when concealed by the forest."
    Lanefenuu signed agreement and understanding, with more than a trace of unhappiness.
    "How well I am aware of that. Far too many Yilanè are dead who should have lived to see this city theirs again."
    "Good meat cannot be prepared without the death of a beast." Vaintè offered this, with overtones of Winter in Eden - Harry Harrison
    understanding, in an attempt at solace. But Lanefenuu's temper was short this day.
    "There were just a few too many deaths, far more than you led me to believe. But that is in the past—though I still grieve for Erafnais who was close to me. There is a gap in my existence that she and that great