They pushed the suit into the decaying fisher jungle. The branches still had some strength. Rather got a good grip, then closed a jet key with his toe. Flame blasted through the rotting fisher jungle; the suit tried to escape. He let the jet run for several breaths before he turned it off.

"Jeffer should find that okay," he said. He was guessing and he knew it.

"Then tell me! What happened?"

He told her some of it while they searched out Logbearer. The rest would wait. Clave and Debby would have to wait to hear the tale, since Raym could not be allowed to. And Rather would have his chance to eat and sleep. He was exhausted.

Chapter Twenty-One

The Silver Suit

from the Library cassettes, year 200 SM:

CITIZENS MAY NEVER ENTER THE LIBRARY ROOM. CITIZENS WILL BE GIVEN ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY ONLY THROUGH OFFICERS, AND THEN ONLY ON CERTAIN DATES. . . . ON THESE DAYS THE LIBRARY WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE, WITH A PROGRAMMER ON DUTY, UNTIL ALL CITIZENS HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS; THOUGH SOME QUESTIONS WILL CERTAINLY BE UNANSWERABLE . . .

THEY STOPPED TWICE: ONCE AT THE MARKET, TO LET Raym off with half his pay in hand, and once at a pond, to refuel.

Belmy's log was very slowly turning end-for-end. A thread of steam poured from above the tuft. As Cariot made her final bum to bring Logbearer to rest near the midpoint, Woodsman cast loose and moved toward them.

Serjent House was just visible to antispinward: west. Rather tried not to think about the dot visible alongside it. He welcomed the delay.

Debby said, "I'd like to get this over with-"

Clave shook her by the ankle. "Wrong! We went into the Dark for mud, and we're back to get rid of it. We don't know of anything urgent. We're in no hurry at all."

Carlot shouted from where she and Rather worked the rocket. "Stet! Treefodder, they always make us wait!"

They had it all figured out. But copter plants were launching their seeds in Rather's belly.

Woodsman eased alongside. Hilar and RaffBelmy flew toward Logbearer. "You'll like Raff," Carlot whispered. "Ac? like you like Raff."

"It's all right. I'd make babies with him if it'd make you happy ... or get me away from the Navy."

Hilar introduced his son. (Treefodder, but they were big!) Raff smiled much and said little. He was shy for an adult, Rather thought. He stared at the tree dwellers, but his eyes seemed to slide aside from Rather's.

The teapot passed. Carlot asked, "How are you doing with the log?"

Hilar shrugged. "No burl yet." The others laughed.

"Give it time. We have some spin. I don't think we want to overdo it. We've splashed a pond against the trunk; that gives us a water flow. How are you planning to deliver the mud?"

"I ... hadn't thought past just bringing it here."

"Raff and I talked it over-"