"Of course it bothers me. I don't like being judged by how I look, and I don't like other people judging how I look."

"But…it's good. Saying you look exotic is a good thing."

"Not. The. Point. No one else has a right to decide whether I look good or bad or exotic or whatever."

Jason frowned at his lap. "You wouldn't be happy on…where I come from. Everybody judges everybody else all the time. Usually on how they look."

Kira studied Jason, recalling some of the things he had said, and how the other members of the crew of the ship from Urth had looked oddly similar. "People got down on you for looking different?"

"Odd guy out," Jason said, trying to sound uncaring and failing.

"Didn't the people who knew you—"

"Everybody." He looked at her. "We're all linked. People you've never met feel free to comment on what you look like, what you said, what you did…"

Kira stared at him, trying to find words and failing, horrified at the idea of mobs of people criticizing others they didn't even know. Fortunately, at that moment a rumble and the hiss of steam announced the arrival of the early morning train.

She started to walk toward the passenger cars at the back of the train, but suddenly realized that Jason was standing still, gazing at the steam locomotive as if entranced. "What are you doing?"

"I'm…I'm…" Jason took a deep breath. "That is so great!"

"The locomotive? Yeah, it's a nice design. About ten years old with some improvements to make operation and maintenance easier. Let's—"

"Operation and maintenance?" Jason's stare shifted to her. "Can you do that?"

Kira shrugged, feeling strangely selfconscious. "Yeah. Some I learned at school, but Mother also took time to go over it with me."

"You can drive a steam locomotive? For real?"

"Yes," Kira said, wondering why a boy who had come to another world in a silvery ship would find that impressive. "Come on! We need to get good seats."

Jason followed, staring around like a kid from the Great Woods encountering his first Mechanic devices. Fortunately, there were still enough people like that on Dematr for his behavior to attract only a few amused glances from the others getting on and off the train.

Remembering some of the stories she had heard from her parents and their friends, Kira led Jason to seats at the back of the last car. She wasn't expecting trouble this early, but better safe than sorry.