Though he had magnificent quarters in the old fungus-reef city, Beneto often preferred to climb away from the settlement, descend to the forest floor and just sleep among the trees. He occasionally disappeared for days and came back refreshed. All the green priests knew where he was. They could simply look through the mind of the worldforest and watch him with the “eyes” of a million leaves. Beneto was never in any danger—not on Theroc or any world where the sentient trees grew.

Any world, including Corvus Landing.

Finally, after mulling over the possibilities for hours, he understood exactly what the old green priest Talbun and the worldforest wanted of him. And Beneto made his decision.

59: NIRA

59NIRA

The Voracious Curiosity descended toward Mijistra, where multiple suns dazzled off the transparent domes and crystalline spires. Ambassador Otema waited patiently in their cabin, but Nira could not tear her eyes from the viewing window, drinking in all the details with a child’s amazement.

Rlinda Kett announced over the intercom, “We’ll be groundside in a few minutes. They’re directing me to land on a diplomatic platform on the Prism Palace itself. Never expected that!”

She deftly brought her ship down to the magnificent structure. Perched like a citadel on a hill, the Prism Palace looked like an exotic glass model of an atom, with a central sphere surrounded by round domes connected by tunnels and walkways. Atop each of the symmetrically arranged subspheres rested small landing platforms for spacecraft and short-range vessels.

After she had settled the Curiosity in the designated spot, Rlinda emerged from the cockpit grinning and sweating. “You two sure must have attracted some attention. I’ve been to Mijistra before, but never to the Prism Palace, much less been told to land here!”

Otema looked unruffled. “You overestimate our importance, Captain Kett.”

Rlinda shrugged as she opened the hatch. “Whatever you say.”

Nira stared out into dazzlingly bright sunlight from a group of brilliant stars, large suns and small, with colors that ranged from blue-white to warm yellow to a deep orange-red.

The merchant woman wrapped tinted goggles around her eyes, a thin sheet that filtered out the glare. “I have other pairs for you two. You’ll have the worst trouble when you try to sleep. Ildirans don’t like the dark, not anywhere.”

Nira stepped out into the sunlight from all directions. Her skin tingled with all the energy. “I don’t need any. I’d like to just look at the sunshine.”

“Suit yourselves.” They stood together on the high platform above the central Prism Palace globe. The wonderful city of Mijistra spread out around them, dazzling Nira with its glowing primary colors.

Then as her eyes adjusted, she saw a tall, thin man walking toward them. “A rather small reception committee,” said Otema.