There was a dormitory building, a small, cramped box packed with rows of cocoons. About half the cocoons were occupied. A woman's sleepy face lifted to stare at them before flopping back into sleep, mouth open and hair dangling. Rauc pointed out a vacant cocoon Dura would be able to claim for herself. But Dura couldn't imagine sleeping in here, breathing in the snores and farts of others, while the fresh Air of the Mantle swept away all around her. It made her realize, jarringly, that she was going to be as out of place here as in Parz itself. Most of the coolies were, after all, City-born — and mostly from the Downside where conditions were even more cramped than the average. So off-shift coolies shoveled themselves into this stinking box, listening to each other breathe and pretending that they weren't stranded out here in the Mantle, but were tucked away inside the cozy confines of Parz.

Rauc smiled at her. "I think we'll get along, Dura. You can tell me about your people. And I'll show you how to get around here."

"Frenk seems all right..."

Rauc looked surprised. "Oh, he's decent enough. But that doesn't matter. Not day to day, it doesn't. I'll introduce you to our section supervisor, Leeh. She makes a difference... But not as much as she likes to think. Now Robis — who runs the stores — that's where the real power lies. Get him to smile on you and the world is a brighter place."

Dura hesitated. "Frenk says I might get to be a supervisor, eventually."

"He says that to everyone," Rauc said dismissively. "Come on, let's find Leeh; she's probably off in the fields somewhere..." But she hesitated, looking searchingly at Dura. Then, glancing around to check they were unobserved, she dug into a deep pocket in her smock and drew out a small object. "Here," she said, placing the object in Dura's hand. "This will keep you well."

It was a tiny five-spoked Wheel, like the one she'd seen around the neck of Toba Mixxax... a model of the execution device in the Market Place. "Thank you," Dura said slowly. "I think I understand what this means."

"You do?" Now Rauc's look was becoming wary.

Dura hastened to reassure her. "Don't worry. I won't betray you."

"The Wheel is illegal in Parz City," Rauc said. "In theory it's illegal everywhere, throughout the Mantle... wherever the Guards' crossbows can reach. But we're a long way from Parz here. The Wheel is tolerated on the ceiling-farms. Something to keep us happy... That old fool Frenk says it's economically efficient for us to be allowed to practice our faith."

Dura smiled. "That sounds like Frenk."

"...But you never know. Do upfluxers follow the Wheel?"

"No." She studied Rauc. She didn't seem very strong, or much of a rebel; but apparently this Wheel business gave her comfort. "I saw a Wheel used as an execution tool."

"Yes."

"Then why is it a symbol of faith?"