“Slow down a bit.” Tomi ran his hand over the top of his head, as if he expected to find hair there. Ruth remembered that he had indeed spent a whole year in the village, living as they lived. “I'm sorry about your friends,” Tomi went on. “The soldiers are trained to act first and think afterwards. They discovered them by the first floor elevators, and at first took them to be slaves - the hair, I suppose. They thought it was a start of another riot. Since the last riot slaves are forbidden ever to use the elevators.”

“Were any of them hurt?”

“I believe they were only stunned. I'm not sure.”

“You haven't seen them? I was counting on ... “

“I'm sorry. I may be the son of the Overlord, but my position in the Ark is not such that ... I am only a junior, one of the Thousand. I had no authority to ... Most of my time is spent in the library making new dreams.”

“Dreaming?” Ruth didn't try to keep the contempt out of her voice.

He flushed. “No. Making dreams. I design the dreams that go into the computer and are used by the citizens. It is away of keeping them contented. At least that was the original idea. I've changed it a bit.”

Ruth suddenly understood. “Freedom. You've been giving them freedom dreams.''

“Yes, but how did you know?”

“I dreamed them too. It was your dreams that brought us here. I'll explain when there's more time. But how very sneaky of you! We are on the same side, then. You and us. You will help, won't you?”

“I'm not sure what I can do. There's to be a full inquiry, of course ... ''

“You're afraid to do anything, aren't you? What does this place do to people? I can feel your fear- it's as bad as when they chucked you in the river.”

He flushed. “What do you know about that?”

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ... “

“You'd better go on, I think. If you want my help.” Ruth tried to explain about the Esper community of Ark Three. “And you've been part of my dreams since you came back. I think it must have been because of whatever you did to the dreams in the computer. I began to receive your dreams, so clearly ... “

“You mean the ones I designed for Dreamland?”

“Yes, the freedom ones. But then I began to get you, too - your feelings, about falling in the river and being alone, and the dam and ... and Rowan.”

He flushed. “If you're so smart, what am I thinking now?” She guessed. “That you want to help us?” Then she found herself saying, “And you want us to help you. But ... I just came to get you to help us escape and go home.”

“After you've come all this way?”

“We certainly don't want to stay and be part of this society. “