"Stet," Hilar Belmy shouted back. Woodsman slowed and stopped fifty meters from the trunk. "Join us after! I want to talk business."

"Stet." Booce dropped his voice. "Now let's do this right. Debby, stand by the water pod. Clave, I'll need you to help me turn the rocket.'' Logbearer looked ready. The firebox was dull red; white light glowed through the cracks. The plates had never fit exactly, but they didn't seem to be coming apart. Logbearer was tilted nearly parallel to the bark.

Booce entered the cabin. He blew into the flow port (CHUFF CHUFF chuff chuffchuff . . . ) and emerged panting. "Clave, not quite yet ... now."

They heaved against Logbearer''s fuel pod, tilting the rocket in its bark nest to keep it pointed straight toward the Market. Condensing live steam drew a line across the sky. Woodsman stood well clear. The log turned as it approached Belmy's log; and the rocket turned in counterposition, and the log's sluggish motion slowed, slowed, stopped.

Booce dove into the cabin. He knocked the plug loose from the flow port and jumped away. Warm water globules followed him out. "I've spilled the water. Debby, hose down the firebox. We're in place."

The firebox hissed. Globed in invisible water vapor, the coals went out immediately. The gap between the two logs remained constant.

"And that was a nominal docking," Booce said in satisfaction.

Carlot and Rather came around the curve of bark. Booce called to them. "Well done, my crew! I'm crossing to Woodsman to see what Hilar wants. Carlot, why don't you show these people the Market?"

Carlot reached him well ahead of Rather. "Speak to you in private?"

They flew clear of the others. Booce asked, "Have you been making decisions?"

She nodded, jerkily. "Raff probably expects to see me."

"Then you decide whether to take him along. Will Rather behave himself?"

She hesitated. "It's not a good idea."

"I'll make your excuses to Raff. Blame everything on me."

Clave and Debby followed Carlot. Rather hung back a little. Flying too close to Carlot would be uncomfortable now.

They passed close to Woodsman. It was Rather's first good look at Raff Belmy. He was dark-haired and tall, three meters or close to it, with long arms, long symmetrical legs, stiff black hair, and a short beard. His neck was like his father's: long and graceful, but the lines of muscle showed strongly. If you liked tall. Raff was a goodlooking man. He waved energetically as they flew past, then ducked into a cabin. There must have been hasty conversation in there. When Raff Belmy emerged he did not follow them.

"I'd have liked to talk to Jeffer first," Clave said softly.

"Let him wonder," Debby answered. "We'll have plenty to tell him when we get the chance."

They passed the Belmy log, and the Market was huge in their sight.