"Yeah. Clave, the truth is that I didn't trust anyone else to talk to Kendy. I don't trust Kendy, and he's very

persuasive."

"Am I too fluff-brained to say no?"

"Clave ... all right, so I was arrogant and wrongheaded. Now let's go tell the Serjents."

"Uh-"

"Hey, citizumf!" It wasn't really a shout, but Clave's long fingers closed over Jeffer's face. After a moment the palm lifted to expose an evil grin.

Clave said, "You still should have told me. Rather didn't see anything. Did you tell Lawri?"

"No."

"What does Kendy want?"

"He wants the Clump. He wants to know everything about the Clump."

"This trip was his idea, wasn't it?"

"I told you he's persuasive. Clave, we have to tell Rather about this before he talks to anyone. He already knows too much. Nobody else, right?"

"Right. Then I want to talk to Kendy."

"He comes in range every four days lately. Four days from now, when the sun is dead east."

Jeffer found Rather in the Scientist's seat, hands poised above the controls. "Freeze," he said. "Now move away."

Rather obeyed. "I was trying to open the airlock." "Use the little lights on the doors. Rather, any citizen knows better than to fiddle with the controls. Once I nearly killed us all with one ill-considered tap of one finger. But I don't have to explain that to you. I only have to say, Jeffer captains the CARM, keep your tree-feeding hands off the controls. Stet?"

"Stet. Sorry, Jeffer. I've seen you open the doors, and I was feeling shut in."

"How are your eyes?"

"Okay."

He held still while Jeffer looked. Rather's eyes were pink and the lids were puffy, but he didn't blink. "From now on you sleep in the CARM with me. I should have someone here anyway in case we get shaken up when the tuft tears loose."

Rather had already summoned the blue diagram of the CARM's cabin. Jeffer opened his fingers over the lines that represented the airlock. The doors opened behind him. He said, "Help me get the hose linked up. Then take it outside."

Booce met them at the door. "I'll take that, Rather. We're filling the rocket. How are you doing?"

"Better."

Debby, Clave, and Carlot waited at the rocket. Booce and Rather crawled along the bark, dragging the hose after them. Booce spoke quietly. "Did you know that Carlot was a crossyear child?"

"No. What's it mean? The crossyear is when Voy crosses the sun-"

"Children born at the crossyear are unpredictable. They can go any way at all. Rather, I'm trying to tell you that you and Carlot are not to marry. She'll marry a logger."

Rather didn't answer. Carlot's expression was unreadable until the moment Booce's back was turned. Then she winked. Rather felt his face glowing.