With the tip of a finger Y-Uulisaan drew a broad circle over the map covering a territory that ran almost from Ni-moya in the east to Pidruid on the western coast, and southward as far as Velathys. What was the population of that territory, Valentine wondered? Two and a half billion, perhaps? He tried to imagine two and a half billion hungry people, accustomed all their lives to a plentitude of food, crowding into the cities of Til-omon, Narabal, Pidruid—

Valentine said, "The imperial granaries will be able to meet the need in the short run. Meanwhile we'll endeavor to get these blights under control. Lusavender smut was a problem a century or so ago, so I understand, and it was beaten then."

"Through extreme measures, my lord. Whole provinces were quarantined. Entire farms were put to the torch, and afterward scraped bare of topsoil. The cost ran into the many millions of royals."

"What does money matter when people are starving? We'll do it again. If we begin an immediate program in the lusavender-growing regions, how long do you estimate it'll take to return things to normal?"

Y-Uulisaan was silent a moment, rubbing his thumbs reflectively against his strangely broad and sharp cheekbones. At length he said:

"Five years, minimum. More likely ten."

"Impossible!"

"The smut spreads swiftly. Probably a thousand acres have been infested during the time we have been talking this afternoon, my lord. The problem will be to contain it, before we can eradicate it."

"And the niyk-tree disease? Is that spreading as fast?"

"Faster, my lord. And it appears to be linked to the decline of the stajja plants that are usually grown in conjunction with niyk."

Valentine stared toward the cabin wall, and saw only a gray nothingness.

He said after a time, "Whatever this costs, we'll defeat it. Y-Uulisaan, I want you to draw up a plan for countering each of these blights, and I want estimates of expense. Can you do that?"

"Yes, my lord,"

To Sleet the Coronal said, "We'll have to coordinate our efforts with those of the Pontificate. Tell Ermanar to open contact at once with the minister of agricultural affairs at the Labyrinth—find out what if anything he knows of what's going on in Zimroel, what steps are proposed, and so forth."

Tunigorn said, "My lord, I've just spoken with Ermanar. He's already been in touch with the Pontificate."

"And?"

"The ministry of agricultural affairs knows nothing. In fact the post of minister of agricultural affairs itself is currently vacant."

"Vacant? How?"

Quietly Tunigorn said, "I understand that with the incapacitation of the Pontifex Tyeveras, many high posts have been left unfilled in recent years, my lord, and therefore a certain slowing of Pontifical functions has developed. But you can learn much more on this point from Ermanar himself, since he is our chief liaison with the Labyrinth. Shall I send for him?"

"Not at the moment," said Valentine bleakly. He turned back to Y-Uulisaan's maps. Running his finger up and down the length of the Dulorn Rift, he said, "The two worst problems seem to be concentrated in this area. But according to the charts, there are significant lusavender-growing zones elsewhere, in the flatlands between Thagobar and the northern boundaries of Piurifayne, and over here south of Ni-moya stretching down to the outskirts of Gihorna. Am I correct?"