"Father, you'd better tell it all." Rather didn't consider whether he had the right to ask. Clave wouldn't like this; Minya wouldn't like it; and if he agreed to this-it was only just coming to him-if Rather agreed, then he was the Silver Man.

Jeffer said, "It isn't just the wealth of the Clump Admiralty. It's-"

"Tell me what you're going to do."

They told him.

Chapter Six

The Appearance of Mutiny

from Disciplined log, year 1893 State = 370 SM:

MEDICAL READOUTS SHOWED THAT THE INHABITANTS OF CARM #6 LIED TO ME. THEY REACTED STRONGLY TO ACCUSATION OF MUTINY. I LOST MY CHANCE TO QUESTION THEM IN DETAIL. THEY MAY HAVE MUTINIED AGAINST LEGITIMATE HOLDERS OF THE CARM. HEREDITY WILL TELL.

IT'S A BAD HABIT. I WILL BREAK THEM OF IT.

-SHARLS DAVIS KENDY, CHECKER

CLAVE PULLED HIMSELF OUT OF THE ELEVATOR FIRST.

Wings were tethered next to the cage, and he pulled one free and tied it in place along his left shin. "This was a good idea, Gavving. Wings aren't much use in the tuft."

"Oh, we'll keep some there too. Hunters used to carry jet pods. Wings are better. But there's no point porting them up and down every time someone wants to fly. What are you doing?"

"Fixing this." He chopped with his matchet at his other wing. When ten ce'meters were gone, he tied the wing to his right shin. He felt distinctly lopsided. Jeffer and Gavving were also winged now. The three flapped out toward the CARM, spurning the convenient handholds the bark afforded. Clave's flight wavered, then steadied. He'd been right. This was easier on the warped muscles in his thigh.

Jeffer was first through the airlock. "Prikazyvat Voice."

The CARM's deep voice said, "Ready, Jeffer the Scientist-"

A woman's voice broke in. "Jeffer, it's Lawri. I think I want to join you."

"Come on up. Bring something to eat. We'll be running the main motor for maybe two days."

"Will do. Lawri out."

"What was that about?" Clave asked.

"Lawri doesn't trust me with the CARM." Jeffer laughed. "Now we refuel the beast."

Clave sighed. "Pump?"

"Right. You pump while 1 do a checklist. Otherwise we'll lose the pondlet when we go under thrust."

Some pumping had been done, but megatons of water still nestled against the trunk. Clave ran the hose from the CARM to the pondlet. The pump was a wheel and a tube and piston, all carved from hard branchwood. Clave braced his back and arms against the bark and kicked the wheel around with his feet on the spokes. "Help would be appreciated," he grunted.

Gavving joined him.

The pump leaked. The pond didn't dwindle fast, but it dwindled. They broke to drink thirstily, then resumed pumping. The sun had dropped from zenith to nadir- which at the midyear was not behind Voy, but north by three full degrees-when Jeffer poked his head through the airlock. "Stop! The tank's full!"