'It didn't seem important right now.'

Sullivan could tell that the green priest was troubled, changed somehow. Once, he'd been extremely talkative, spending much of his time connected through the worldforest network. 'I'm surprised you haven't been up in the rooftop gardens all day long, using the treeling to chat with your green priest friends.'

Kolker shrugged. 'What used to give me so much joy isn't enough anymore. It's as if blinders have been removed from my eyes. Where once I saw only a small meal, now I can envision an entire banquet, yet I'm not allowed to taste anything other than the same portions I had before.' He tilted the medallion, and bright light flashed at Sullivan, making him shield his eyes. 'Did I tell you about the funeral for Tery'l?'

'That old lens kithman who talked to you about the Lightsource? No. I didn't realize he was such a close friend of yours.'

Kolker continued in a wistful voice, Tery'l was laid out on a platform of impervious stone inside something called a blazarium. Handler kithmen swung focusing mirrors into place and tilted the crematory lenses. In only a second, the focused light of all the suns consumed him. It was beautiful and bright, just like a green priest being absorbed into the forest. I knew for certain my friend had become a part of the Lightsource. It's a whole racial tapestry that humans can't see. Ildirans are so much closer than we are, so united… while humans are separate, like billions of islands in a cosmic archipelago.'

Kolker stared down into the flashing medallion. Tery'l taught me that telink isn't as all-encompassing as I'd imagined. Only green priests can tap into the verdani mind, but  encompasses the entire Ildiran race. I want to be a part of that.'

Sullivan said, 'A human can't just become an alien by working hard at it, any more than a horse can become an eagle.'

'Nevertheless, I intend to study with other lens kithmen until I know the truth. The Mage-Imperator has given us permission to leave here, but I am staying on Ildira.'

Twelve

Tasia Tamblyn

No shower had ever felt so marvellous, no meal tasted so delicious, no clean set of clothes felt so wonderful against Tasia's skin. She was alive, and with Robb, and far from the purgatory where the drogues had held them.

Robb's father had taken aboard the prisoners rescued from the gas giant by a wental-charged Jess and flown away with them in his EDF transport. After delivering the haggard group to the nearest Hansa outpost for medical attention, Conrad Brindle insisted that his son go home with him. And Tasia refused to be separated from her friend and lover.

She and Robb luxuriated, taking turns in the ship's cramped hygiene facilities. Even when Robb was cleaned up and dressed in a fresh uniform, he still looked like a wild man with his hair and wiry beard sticking out in every direction, untrimmed and ungroomed during years of captivity.