If you see her, make a pass."

("What's a pass? Do you mean propose marriage?" ("No . . . yes. That's got just the right touch. All seeds and no judgment.")

Wheeler asked, "Rather, is there something wrong with your eyes?"

"They get this way sometimes."

"When?"

"Lack of sleep. Dry air." His eyes were clearing up now, but they still hurt. To Wheeler they must appear pink and weeping. He was sniffling too.

Wheeler took writing implement in hand. "Where were you born?"

"Citizens Tree, year 370. It's a tree sixty klomters long, six or seven hundred klomters west of the Clump."

"What's your height and mass?"

"One point nine meters. I don't know my mass."

"We'll weigh you on the centrifuge. How did you know the year?"

"The Scientist keeps track. Was I off? This is 384, isn't it?"

"That's right. Put your arms straight forward, fingertips touching. Now your legs, big toes touching." Wheeler made a note. "Symmetrical. How much do you know about the Admiralty?"

"Not much. We tasted some of the food you grow and had a wild dinner at Half Hand's Steak House." Wheeler laughed at that. Rather went on, "The Serjents told us a lot. I've seen houses and the Market. The ride on the steam rocket was-well, I've never been through anything like it."

"Scary?"

"No, not that." He knew instantly that he should have said yes.

"Why do you want to join the Navy?"

"I came to find out if that was true. Petty. And you asked if I had questions."

Petty Wheeler stiffened a little. "Well?"

"I've seen the ships. They're all over the sky. I think I ought to ask, if I become a Navy man, will I in fact be riding one of those ships?"

"More than one, I expect. Over the years you'll fly every style."

"Will I be flying them, or just riding them?"

"You've given this a lot of thought."

"Yes sir. Once I thought I'd be a hunter for Citizens Tree." No need to mention the silver suit. "When I joined Booce and went logging, that was a big jump. I didn't know what I'd find here. The Market, it's frightening to think such a thing could be built. So many people!"

Wheeler was smiling, nodding. (In the corner of Rather's eye, Wayne Mickl was clinging to a wall tether, merely observing.) "Daunting, is it?"

Rather nodded.

"The ships, the Market, Headquarters, we built them all. And more. We built a civilization," Wheeler said gently. "Now that you've seen it, how can you not be a part of it? Yes, you'll fly a ship before you're much older."

"I want to know whether I'll be able to visit Citizens Tree."

"Mph. The answer's yes, but I don't know how often. We'll want to contact Citizens Tree at once. Set up some form of trade. There'll be visits, and you'll be useful as an intermediate."