“Well, you keep us all fed, it’s the least we can do to see that you get fed when you need it,” she said. “I thought I saw the Phaenarete come in earlier?”

“Yes, we made it in immediately before sunset, but between then and now I’ve been rushing about and haven’t had a minute,” I said, as she handed us big red Samian bowls for our soup, with a flatter oatmeal bowl for Hilfa.

“It’s been a funny day, Pytheas dying and all the fuss with the human ship,” she said. “Everyone has been talking about it. It would happen on the day it was my turn to serve.”

“So does everyone know now that Pytheas is Apollo?” Sokrates asked, as we filled our bowls together from the big soup urn. “I mean, do you all know that now?”

“Yes, we’ve all known that since the Relocation. And his children are gods with powers. It would have been hard to hide.” I wasn’t sure how they had managed to hide it before. Surely people must have guessed? We sat down at one of the long tables, near the vent that blew warm air into the room.

I picked up my soup and sipped it. It was a dark fish broth with onions and turnips and barley. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry until I’d swallowed half of it. Sokrates started asking Hilfa questions about the Saeli, and he explained patiently in response how they generally lived in pods of five, had three genders, nineteen settled planets including their original home and not including Plato, and how they’d been in contact with the Amarathi for a hundred and Plato for twenty years, and other humans only today. I ate without adding anything to the conversation.

“And you like being here, and working on Jason’s boat?” Sokrates asked Hilfa.

“Yes, I like that. I pursue excellence. I am happy to discharge my function. And now I know what I am. And that I belong to Plato,” Hilfa said, with the flicker of expression I thought was his real smile.

“Do you want to stay here?”

“Yes, to stay here and take oath and study the fish,” Hilfa said, giving me an odd sideways look across the table, an expression I had not seen before. His markings were standing out clearly, so I knew he was all right.

“The fish is tasty,” Sokrates said. “Where did they come from?”

“They’re native to this planet,” I said. “There aren’t any land animals or plants except what we brought with us, but the sea is full of life—there’s plenty of fish, and different kinds of edible seaweed.”

“So people can’t go off into the wilderness and survive?” Sokrates asked.

“Not for any longer than the food you’re carrying lasts,” I said. “People do go exploring. We put together expeditions from time to time.”