“Will it? Some creature with dirty teeth has bitten you and the wound is infected. So you intend to talk to them of Ugunenapsa. That means you speak their language?”

“A few words. I will learn more.”

“Not if I have any say in the matter. What bit you?”

At this question Far< turned away, hesitated before she spoke. “It was the male, whose name I think is Asiwassi—”

“Easassiwi, you Daughter of Dumbness!” Ambalasei roared, greatly enjoying herself. “You cannot even get his name right—and you are going to preach to him of Ugunenapsa. Stringknife, nefmakel, antiseptic,” she ordered Setèssei. “And I see by this reaction that he was not too impressed by your preaching. Sensible creature: my estimation of their intelligence has risen. I will heal and bandage this wound, treat you with antibiotics—then remove you from this place before you cause irreversible damage.”

“I will remain. You can not force me . . .”

“Can’t I?” Ambalasei bent so close that her angry breath washed over Far<’s face. “Watch. Your followers are going to pick you up and carry you back to the city. If they refuse I will take my hèsotsan and kill them. Then I will kill you. Do you have any slightest doubt that I will do that?”

If Far< had any doubts her companions certainly did not. They gave her no time to answer but seized her up as gently as they could and carried her, protesting feebly, back down the path and out of sight.

“This is turning out to be a very good day after all,” Ambalasei said happily, holding out her hands so that the admiring Setèssei could clean them with a large nefmakel.

The boat was a bit more obedient when they returned to the city so Setèssei fed it some fish as a reward. As before, Enge was awaiting their arrival.

“Far< has returned and has spoken to me of your threat of violence. Would you really have killed her?” Enge was upset by the incident and Ambalasei mistook her concern.

“You put survival of your dismal Daughters ahead of racial survival of the Sorogetso?”

“That is not my concern, neither they nor Far<. I am just concerned that a scientist of note, a Yilanè of great accomplishments, should consider murder of an inferior.”

“My anger was so great I might very well have bitten her head off. But as anger wanes good sense returns. Science instead of violence. Perhaps I would not have injured any of them. But prospect of death was very close. Now permit me to forget that Daughter of Destruction and listen now to item of importance and happiness you were to tell me.”

“Mine is the pleasure to disclose. You must first understand Ugunenapsa’s Eight Principles . . .”

“Must I?”

“Of course. You would not attempt to understand the science of the body before you had understanding of the science of the cells?”