“I as well. Welcome to the fruit groves of Yebèisk, welcome. Now I ask you a question. If you and your Daughters were free of this place, all of you, would you come with me to a city where you would be welcome? Where you could be free, not oppressed, able to go your own way?”

“We ask nothing else, wise Ambalasi. That is our only desire and we would be your fargi if you could do that.”

“It is possible. But before I aid you, I have another request, and you must think carefully before you answer. When you are free I want to make you captive again to my studies. I wish to understand how this new phenomenon operates and the string-knife of my research may cut deep.” When Enge registered fear-of-pain Ambalasi signed negative in return. “You misunderstand. It is the string-knife of thought that I wish to use, to cut deep into your philosophy and see what makes it operate.”

“That indeed I would welcome. It is what I do myself. If you can aid me in that, then I welcome your help.”

“More than aid, Enge. I may dig so deep that I destroy the roots of your tree of knowledge and pull it out.”

“If you do then it was a dead tree, a false tree, and I would welcome that as well. I open to you. Embrace my thoughts—do as you will.”

Ambalasi seized Enge’s arm in the quick gesture of greatest-pleasure. “Then it is agreed. I must now give my attention to our exodus. Since I have long been determined to leave this city I have already made all the necessary arrangements with my assistants and within a day—two at the most—there will be firm results.”

Enge signed apologies and lack of understanding.

“You will understand when the time comes. Now there are other things to do. There is one here among the daughters whom I would speak to. Her name is Shakasas<.”

“Confusion-naming,” Enge said. “Shakasas<, speed-in-changing-movement is a name that one of us would not use, a name that belongs to the existence before the understanding. As a sign of our acceptance of Ugunenapsa’s wisdom we take new names.”

“I was aware of the ritual. But I am sure that your convert will remember her earlier existence before conversion. Send for her under that name and I will address her in any manner she wishes.”

Enge signed respectful understanding and turned away to issue the order. Only then did she realize for the first time that they had been talking in the middle of a circle of silent listeners. Omal stepped forward and welcomed her.

“The one whose presence has been requested has been sent for. But I have pleasure-to-see you, unhappiness-your-imprisonment.”