“Take seven. If they have not come up with a solution to this problem in six days they never will. Far< is not going to do us the service of lying down and dying.”

Nor did she. Every morning she and her followers appeared in the ambesed. They asked the same two questions always. Have the Eight Principles revealed the answer? For five days they were answered only with silence, after which they asked the second question; has the uruketo returned? Then they left. Ambalasei did not attend these unhappy sessions: if there were solutions of any kind she would hear of them soon enough. She spent peaceful days examining and cataloging the specimens they had brought back. Only on the sixth day did she go to the ambesed soon after the sun rose, taking the eistaa’s place with some satisfaction. She was the first to arrive and acknowledged the greetings of the others as they approached, waited to speak until they were all there.

“Have you found the solution?” she asked. There was a great unhappiness behind Enge’s negative response.

“It eludes us.”

“Undoubtedly because it does not exist. Then you will permit Far< to leave?”

“We cannot stop her.”

“That is to be seen.”

There were movements at the ambesed entrance as Far< and her loyal followers entered. There were more of them now for her intent-of-purpose had inspired many. Ambalasei writhed in obvious distaste as Far< came and stood before them, then spoke.

“Has the answer been found among the Eight Principles?” There was superiority in her attitude as she looked at each of the silent Yilanè in turn. As she started to speak again Ambalasei interrupted.

“The answer is yes and no.”

“I do not speak to you or listen to you because you do not believe.”

“Your not speaking is too wonderful to even consider. But you will listen because what you do depends on my permission.”

Far< turned her back with motions of dismissal, would hear no more. It was Enge who spoke.

“Sorrow and apologies for lack of grace/rude behavior of a companion. What permission is it you speak of, Ambalasei?”

“The uruketo returns tomorrow.”

“We will leave then,” Far< said firmly; she had been listening with one eye.

“You will not!” Ambalasei spoke the command loudly and harshly. “I will remind you that the uruketo is mine, taken by me and controlled by me. Do you have any doubt about that?”

As always they turned to Enge for guidance. She stood in silent, unmoving thought, then gestured compliance.

“In this matter we must do as Ambalasei says. Freely she had herself imprisoned with us, escaped with us—and did indeed see that we left that city of unhappiness in this uruketo. She guided us here and grew our city of life. We have used the uruketo, but we use it only as she wills . . .”