"Sure. There's hand fungus, and flashers living on the bugs, and some other things. In a way it's like learning to hunt all over again ..." The link was lost.

A chance to examine the Admiralty's military arm from inside! But Rather wasn't enthusiastic. And Kendy would have to talk Jeffer around before his arguments could even reach the boy.

Patience . . .

Chapter Fourteen

Docking

BUT WILL SUFFICE. WE'VE PAINTED THE HONEY HORNET LOGO ACROSS LOGBEARER'S CABIN. NOW WE'LL SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT MY CREW'S WINGS.

DAY 1996. ENTERED ADMIRALTY SPACE. GYRFALCON HAS REGISTERED LOG AND METAL FOR CUSTOMS. ASSESSMENT TO FOLLOW.

DAY 2000. LOG NEARING MARKET. METAL CONCEALED FROM ALL BUT NAVY. CONDITIONS OPTIMAL.

DAY 2015. DOCKED. SENT THE CREW OFF WITH CARLOT. WOULD HAVE GONE WITH THEM IF I COULD. I NEVER DEALT WITH TREE DWELLERS BEFORE. I CAN'T GUESS HOW THEY'LL REACT.

I MISS RYLLIN. I NEVER IN MY LIFE HAD TO WEAVE SO MANY THREADS AT ONCE.

from Logbearer',? log. Captain Booce Serjent speaking:

YEAR 384, DAY 1700. THIS TRIP WE NEED NOT FEAR HAPPYFEET.

I FEAR JEFFER THE SCIENTIST. I FEAR THE SECRETS WE HIDE FROM THE ADMIRALTY AND THE SECRETS THE SCIENTIST KEEPS FROM ME. BUT I OWE A MAJOR DEBT TO CITIZENS TREE.

DAY1710. WE'VE FOUND A SIMPLE WAY TO HIDE OUR EMPTY CREWMEMBER. MAY I NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO THANK THE HAPPYFEET FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE.

DAY 1780. WE'VE GONE FOR MORE PODS. ONE HAS BECOME OUR CABIN, ONE STORES EXTRA WATER IN CASE A FIRE SPREADS. RETURNING WITH A POD FOR LOGBEARER'S CABIN GRATES IN MY SOUL, BUT IT WILL SURELY HIDE THE WEALTH WE CARRY.

DAY 1810. MAKING PAINTS GAVE MORE TROUBLE THAN I EXPECTED. THE COLORS ARE STILL POOR, 178

A FAT, BABY-BLUE TORPEDO CRUISED SLOWLY ALONG the Serjent log, moving closer to where Rather and Carlot stood watch. Suddenly it split along its length, and four slender blue-and-orange triunes dived on some tree-dwelling life form.

Rather pointed. "Four?"

"Sometimes triunes have twins."

"I've never heard of that."

"You never saw one of those either." She pointed out a triangular shadow. "That's a Dark shark. They don't usually come this far skyward. They're dangerous. All teeth, no brain."

"Skyward?"

"Dark, skyward, spin, and antispin. We use all the normal directions too."

"How do you keep it all straight?" Rather reached to wrap his legs lightly around her waist. She did not respond.

A ball of green fluff stretched a quarter klomter of curly tail toward a passing sphere of water.

Booce, Debby, and Clave were around the log's horizon, ready to use the rocket if anything came near. Carlot and Rather kept watch from the east. "We can still keep our eyes on the sky," Rather pointed out.

Cariot pounded his kneecaps with her fists, briskly.

"Who's watching us7"

"I don't mind triunes watching. Maybe I even like it."

"What about the houses?"

"Houses?"

"You'd say huts. Look-"