Inward, four huts in a column, not of woven foliage, but of cut wood.

Cables and tubes ran down the trunk in both directions, further than the Grad could follow. A pond had touched the trunk: a silvery globule clung to the bark, and that seemed strange. A single pond in this region of mist? Men in red moved around it, feeding it water carried in seed pods. It too must be artificial.

With all these artificial structures, London Tree made Quinn Tuft

look barbaric! But was it wise to.-"Scientist's Apprentice, do you cut the wood for these structures from the tree itself?"

She answered without looking at him. "No. We bring it from other integral trees."

Now she turned, startled and annoyed. He wasn't expected to judge London Tree. The Grad was developing a dislike for the Scientist's Apprentice. . . which he would try to keep in check. If she was behaving as a typical citizen toward a copsik, it augured badly for Quinn Tribe.

The trunk was coming at them, too fast. The Grad was relieved when he heard the motors start and felt the carm slowing. Those wooden beams would just about fit against the carm's windowed end . . . and that was what the pilot was doing, tapping at blue lights, fitting the window into that wooden frame. Watch his hands!

Chapter Fourteen – Treemouth and Citadel

IN THE LARGE HUT THE WOMEN WERE STRIPPED NAKED AND

examined by two women taller than humans, like Ilsa of Carther Tribe.

Their long hair was white and thin enough to expose scalp. The skin seemed to have withered on their bones. Forty to fifty years old, Minya thought, though that was hard to judge; they looked so strange. They wore ponchos in tuftberry-juice scarlet, closed between the legs. Their walk was easy, practiced. Minya judged that they had spent many years in the tide of London Tree.

"It looks like people live a long time here," she whispered to Jayan, and Jayan nodded.

The supervisors would not answer questions, though they asked many.

They found dirt and wounds in plenty, but no disease. They treated Minya's bruises, and brusquely advised her to avoid offending citizens in future. Minya smiled. Offended? She was sure she had broken a man's arm before they clubbed her unconscious.

Lisa was clearly pregnant. Jayan was also declared pregnant, to her obvious surprise, and sent off with Usa. Minya gripped Jinny's arm, afraid that she would attempt a futile battle for her twin.

One of the supervisors noticed Jinny's distress. "They'll be all right,"

she said. "They carry guests. One of the Scientist's apprentices will have to look them over. Also, the men won't be allowed near them."

The what would what? But she would say no more, and Minya had to wait.

The Grad watched through the small windows; the big bow window now gave on to rugged bark four ce'meters distant. Things were happening outside.