Willing thumbs seized Enge and Ambalasi and hurried them from the ambesed. Once out of the Eistaa’s sight they all went slower, for it was a hot afternoon, but none released their tight grip on the prisoners’ arms. Enge had much to think about and did not speak until they had reached the sealed entrance to the orchard compound, had been roughly pushed inside. When the heavy entrance gate was sealed shut behind them she turned to Ambalasi and signed gratitude.

“You risked all, strong Ambalasi, and I thank you.”

“I risked nothing. Saagakel’s words could not kill me, nor would she have physically attacked me.”

“Yes, I can see that now. I also see that you deliberately angered her so you would be imprisoned here.”

Ambalasi made a motion of joined pleasure and humor, her mouth parted to reveal her ancient yellowed teeth. “I like you, Enge, and appreciate your presence here. And you are correct. I have been planning to visit this orchard—your being sent here has just accelerated my actions by a few days. This is a city of great boredom and paralyzed ideas and I wonder why I ever came here. Only because of the research facilities I assure you. I would have moved on long before this—but then they began arresting your Daughters of Despair . . .”

“Daughters of Life, I beg.”

“Life, death, despair—all are the same to me. It is not the name or the philosophy that I care about, only the physiological results. I say they are Daughters of Despair because it was I who despaired of ever carrying my research any further. A long time ago, when the walls for this imprisoning orchard were first grown I came here to supervise the work. At that time I talked to some of the Daughters, but I despaired of their intelligence. They reminded me of onetsensast cropping the leaves of a single tree. Having once made a leap into the dark of this philosophy they are happy to remain unmoving ever again. I think you will move for me, Enge, in fact know that you will.”

“If you will tell me what your moving involves I will attempt to help. Thus do I welcome you as a Daughter of Life . . .”

“Don’t do that—I am not one of you.”

It was Enge’s turn to be baffled. “Yet—you said that you would not risk death if the eistaa ordered your death. Then you must believe . . .”

“No, I do not believe. I understand—and that is a different matter altogether. I am a creature of science, not of faith. Can you understand the difference? Or would you find that too disconcerting to your beliefs?”

“I do not find it disconcerting in the slightest,” Enge said, registering joy-of-thought. “Quite the opposite. I see it as a testing of my courage and of Ugunenapsa’s words and would talk long with you about this.”