"That's not important," he said. "What did Patricia—"

"It is important," Farley said flatly. "I enjoyed you. I believe you enjoyed me. It was healthy too. I just wanted you to know I thought so and don't resent you."

Lanier said nothing for a moment, regarding her with his dark, falsely Amerindian eyes. "I wish I spoke Chinese so we could really understand each other. I could learn. . .”

"That would be useful, but not necessary right away," Farley said. She smiled. "I could teach you."

"What did Patricia say?"

"She thinks we're being used by somebody—Olmy or somebody else—to some end. Olmy has been talking to her a lot, and she's even had some conversations with the Frant. She thinks there's a lot of politics in the Axis City, and we can't possibly know what any of it means. Not yet. Also, she says the data service in her apartment actually accesses less information than the ones in the third chamber city. She thinks they may be censored for us."

"That doesn't sound good," Lanier mused. "Or rather, it might not be good—it might not mean anything. They might want to treat us gently, let us get accustomed slowly."

"I told her I thought that, and she just smiled. She's behaving strangely, Garry. She also said she has a way to get us all home. There was a real tinkle in her eye when she said that."

Lanier did not correct her. "She told me that, too. Did she elaborate?"

"Pardon? Oh, yes. She did. She said the corridor moves forward in time about one year every thousand kilometers. And she said it's the most beautiful curve she's ever conceived. Garry, they kidnapped her—she believes this—they kidnapped her because they were afraid we might interfere in the sixth chamber. Remember all the people—all those Naderites in the second chamber being forced to move out, years after the third chamber exodus?"

He nodded.

"Patricia says she thinks they were forced out against their will, because the people on the Axis City wanted the Stone empty. No interference, no sabotage. That's why she thinks we're stuck in the middle of politics. There is still division between Naderites and Geshels."

"Has it occurred to anybody that no matter what we're told, these rooms are bugged?" Lanier asked. "That perhaps we shouldn't be discussing these things here?"

"Where can we discuss them?" she asked innocently. "They could follow us anywhere they wanted and listen to us, maybe even read our minds. We're children here, very ill-educated children."

Lanier looked down at the milky-translucent table between the couch and the chair. "That makes sense. I really like the way this apartment is decorated."

"Mine's nice, too."

"And how would they—the rooms, I presume—know what we like?"

Her expression became conspiratorial. "Right," she said. "I've asked the room voice and it just says, 'The rooms are made to suit."