She looked up at the river again, but the uruketo was still not in sight. It did not matter, it was only midafternoon and Ambalasei had given them the entire day to exercise the enteesenat and catch food for the uruketo. Now there was movement from the other direction as Setèssei and two heavily burdened crewmembers emerged from the forest. The crewmembers let fall their bundles and joined their companion in the water. Setèssei had her mouth open but did not appear to be as overheated as the others.

“Discovery exactly as Ambalasei predicted,” she said.

“Excellent. From the contours of the land and the configuration of the tributary I knew that there had to be a lake in there.”

“A warm one, alive with fish, shored by sunny beaches.”

“And uninhabited?”

“Creatures of all kinds. Except Sorogetso.”

“Again as I predicted, the same as at the other sites. And of all the lakes we have examined this one is the nearest to the city. I am forced to the reluctant conclusion that the small group of Sorogetso that I discovered is the only one in existence. Certainly the only one on this river. Do you know what that means?”

“Ignorance of meaning/desire for enlightenment.”

“It means, faithful Setèssei, that our Sorogetso are not native to these shores. They were brought here, planted here, left here, as I had supposed. A single colony, fruit of dark experiments by a scientist unknown. Did you find anything else of note on your expedition?”

“Specimens of interest, featherless/furless flying creatures, and another of possible value.”

The crewmembers were emerging from the river now and Setèssei ordered that the discarded bundles be brought forward. She opened one and took out the body of a small, beaked lizard that was no longer than her forearm. Ambalasei examined it with interest, stretched out the lengthy tail.

“Agile, it is obvious that it grazes on all fours—yet can flee danger using its hindlegs alone. It can also feed anywhere with this sharp beak, eat woody stems, tough leaves.”

“Tastes good too. They were sitting on nests in the undergrowth. Admission of dislike for repetitive diet. I have consumed a sufficiency of preserved meat. I killed two, ate one . . .”

“Solely in the interests of science.”

“Solely. But it was my considered opinion that if the flesh was good I would collect the eggs.”

“And of course you have. You are turning into a true scientist, Setèssei. A new food source is always appreciated. And I am a little tired of eel as well.”

Ambalasei’s lips unconsciously drew back from her teeth as she examined the specimen. Her mouth opened. Then snapped shut since, in the name of science, she needed this specimen intact for dissection. “It shall be known as naeb because of its beak. Now—show me what else you have brought back.”