“Do not let me disturb your work,” Vaintè said.

“It is completed. The transfer of measurements has been made.”

“And this is what you use,” Vaintè pointed to the orange animal. “I have never seen a creature of this kind before.”

Sòkain held out the orange chiton case for Vaintè’s inspection. Other than a tiny mouth and sealed eyes it was featureless, except for a tube on top and a number of indentations down the side.

“Explain,” Vaintè ordered, for as Eistaa there was no small detail of the city that she must not know. Sòkain pointed to the bare ground where the model was being enlarged, to small slivers of wood that had been pushed into it.

“Those bits of wood correspond to the stakes we used in the survey. When we are in the field I place this measuring creature upon a marked spot in the ground and look through this tube at a stake which is a certain distance away. When this is done I press the indentations to inform the instrument to remember the angle and distance. I then turn the tube to another stake and do the same. This is done many times. When I return to the model the instrument-creature informs us of the scaled down distance between stakes and of the correct angles between them as well. The result—this model.”

“Excellent. What are these curved channels you have scribed in the soil?”

“Waterways, Eistaa. On this side of the city we have found a great deal of swamp. We are now plotting its extent.”

Vaintè displayed concern. “We need many more fields. Can these swamps be drained or filled?”

“I do not think so. But Akasest, who has improved the quality of the feed for the herds, has examined them as well and we are now planning to create enclosures there. There are many amphibious species, such as the urukub, that will thrive in that environment.”

“A satisfactory solution and utilization of the environment. You are both to be commended.”

“Our pleasure is to serve Alpèasak,” Sòkain said formally, expressing great personal pleasure at the same time.

Much later, Vaintè was to remember this conversation, for it was the last time that she was ever to speak to the surveyor.