“You were overwhelmed by the pleasures of command/understanding. I do not take offense. I take note of the fact that in the many days we have been away from the city this is your first lapse, the first time you have even considered mentioning the unmentionable in my presence. But now—speak the name aloud. Ugunenapsa!”

“Thank you, a pleasure to hear it . . .”

“Not to me. I only say it now to accustom my ear to its coarse sound. Ugunenapsa. How it grates on the nerve endings. We leave in the morning, reach the city the same day. That is why I permit the lapse. A small abomination compared to the ones that I will hear tomorrow.”

Elem signed hopefulness. “Perhaps all is well.”

Ambalasei answered with a rude sound. “Knowing your fellow Daughters as you do—do you really think that is what will have happened?”

Elem was too wise to answer a question like that, asked instead for permission to load cargo. Stirred by her righteous anger Ambalasei now found the strength to clamber up the fin and into the cool interior of the uruketo. She slept at once, knowing that she would need all of her strength in the days to come. Slept until Setèssei woke her with sounds of imperative attention.

“The city is in sight, great Ambalasei. It was my thought that you might wish to prepare yourself for arrival. Perhaps arm paintings of strength and victory?”

“I would not waste the pigment to impress those creatures. Bring meat instead so I will have the fortitude to listen to their stupidities.”

The uruketo must have been seen because Enge was waiting alone on the dock. Ambalasei signed appreciation.

“She knows I can bear her presence, but she spares me the sight of her disputatious companions for as long as possible. Setèssei, take the specimens to the examining chamber. I will join you there as soon as I discover what has happened in our absence. I hope for the best, yet expect the worst.”

Ambalasei was puffing and blowing from the exertion when she stepped onto the dock: Enge signed welcome greetings, with modifiers of happiness.

“Is it because of pleasure at my safe return that causes you to express such good cheer—or are you the bearer of good tidings?”

“Both, great Ambalasei. Long study of Ugunenapsa’s Eight Principles has led me unerringly to the seventh principle. When I told you that answer to our problems lay in Ugunenapsa’s words I truly believed it. But still there were doubts . . .”

“Spare me, Enge. Results will be sufficient, detailed explanation of route taken not needed. Are you sincerely informing me that all of your problems have been solved during my absence by application of philosophical principles? If that is so I enroll in the ranks of the Daughters instantly!”

“We would welcome you with gladness. While solutions are now possible there remains a problem . . .”