The suit was open down the front, and emptv.

"Can you get in?"

"Where's Mark?"

"Debby?"

"No problem. We relieved him and he took Karilly to the kitchen."

"Father . . . wait. Listen. I'm the only boy in the tree with two mothers and two fathers." Rather plunged on despite the sudden hurt in Gavving's face. "We've never talked about this, but I always knew . . . sooner or later I'd ... does Mark know what you're doing with the silver suit?"

"No."

"What's it all about?" Four big adults could make him do whatever they wanted; and it didn't matter. They needed his cooperation, and he didn't know enough to give it.

Jeffer the Scientist said, "It's about seeing what's outside Citizens Tree. It's learning about the Smoke Ring, what we can use, what we need to be afraid of. Or else it's about staying savages until someone comes out of the sky to teach us the hard way."

"We're going to the Clump," Gavving said. "We'll be safer if we can take the Silver Man."

"Uh-huh. Mark doesn't want to go?"

"Right."

They watched as Rather tried to get into the suit. He had to get his legs in first, then duck under the neck ring. He closed the sliding catches, the headpiece, the latches. The suit was loose around his belly, snug everywhere else. "It fits."

Jeffer closed the helmet on him. He rotated it left until it dropped two mi'meters, then right.

Rather was locked in a box his own size and shape. The suit smelled faintly of former occupants, of exertion and fear. He moved his arms, then his legs, against faint resistance. He turned and reached and plucked a handful of foliage . . . good. He could move. He could move like a normal man.

The air was getting stale ... but Jeffer was already turning the helmet, lifting it. The adults were smiling at each other. Gavving said, "Okay. Get out of it."

Getting out of the silver suit was as difficult as getting in. Rather said, "Now tell me."

"Some of us are going to visit the Clump. Do you want to come with us?"

"Who's going? How long will it take?"

"Me," said Jeffer. "Gavving. Booce and Ryllin. Anthon and Debby. The Clump is all jungle giants. We need people that size."

"How does the Chairman-"

"He'll try to stop us."

"Father, I don't really like the thought of not ever coming home."

Gavving shook his head. "They'll want the CARM back. They'll want us back too. Citizens Tree isn't so crowded that they can afford to lose anyone who breathes. They'll want to know what we learned. They'll want what we bring back. Half the citizens are on our side anyway; they just don't want to buck the Chairman."

"You're taking the carmT"

"We are." Gavving clapped him on the shoulder. "Think about it. We've got two sleeps to get ready. Whatever you decide, don't mention this to anyone, particularly your mothers."