It was big and round and rimmed in scarlet paint. The four guards wore helmets and torso and leg armor and carried harpoons. Debby backpedaled to stop within a meter of the harpoon points. She said, "Looking to join up."

One smiled and said, "I hope they take you, beautiful." His harpoon pointed. "That one, just next to the rim."

"Thanks." She rejoined Rather. Half blind, he'd been afraid to fly close to sharp spears. "It's over there. - Lovely beard on that one. Like goldenwire plant, and clean. The .crew keep themselves cleaner than Carther States people ever did. Maybe I'll see him again."

"Jeffer'd like that."

"He would, wouldn't he. He probably likes my seeing Grag too. I wonder what they're guarding?"

The door they sought was a rectangle with curved sides, marked in print along one edge: RECRUITMENT.

The room within was sizable, but of the same odd shape. A man made marks on thin white sheets fixed to a slab of sanded wood. His pants and tunic were blue with Navy markings. No armor. He ignored them for a bit, then looked around. "Yes?"

Rather pointed to the wooden rectangle. There were clips along the edge, and stacks of paper leaves in the clips. "What would you call that?"

The man frowned. "You never saw a desk before? What do you want?"

"Petty Mart Wheeler wants to interview me for recruitment. I'm Rather Citizen."

"I'll see if he's available." The man kicked against the table and disappeared down a corridor. Lack of wings didn't hamper him: he touched the wall and disappeared into a doorway in one smooth flow.

Debby smiled at Rather. "Easily distracted?"

"That's why I did it, but look at how the grain of the wood curls around! I think it must be burl. How did they get it?"

"There had to be burl somewhere or Booce wouldn't know it was possible."

When the desk man reappeared, Rather was mopping at his eyes with his tunic. The man said, "Come with me."

Debby said, "May I come too?"

"I'm afraid not. Would you be his mother?"

"Stepmother. I really think I ought to be with him."

"That's not permitted."

The office was small, a cube with two curved walls. Petty Wheeler was at a desk, lightly gripping the rim while he talked to another man . . . and that one was Rather's height.

Their talk stopped. Wheeler said, "Rather, good to see you. This is Captain-Guardian Wayne Mickl."

Mickl nodded but said nothing. He seemed relaxed and disinterested. Wheeler said, "We want to ask you a few questions. You probably have questions too-"

"A hundred. Urn, whereabouts is Bosun Murphy?"

"Mpf? Last I saw of her she was on her way to the Purser's office. After that she'll be on leave. . . . Why?"

"I thought I might see her before I go." . (Booce had told him, "Try to talk to Bosun Murphy. Your interest in the Navy comes straight from your seeds.