¡¡legs¡£¡¡Creaking¡¡tree¡¡trunks¡¡swayed¡¡like¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡masts¡¡as¡¡lines¡¡snapped¡¡and¡¡ripples¡¡stitched¡¡the¡¡water¡£¡¡A¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡leaves¡¡poured¡¡from¡¡the¡¡forest£»¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡air¡¡with¡¡spinning¡¡spiral¡¡forms¡£¡¡Nelo¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡basso¡¡rumble¡¡of¡¡a¡¡quake£¡¡¡Spine¡tingling¡¡fear¡¡mixed¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡thrill¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pondered¡¡whether¡¡to¡¡try¡¡for¡¡open¡¡ground¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡tumult¡¡passed¡¡before¡¡he¡¡could¡¡decide¡£¡¡Branches¡¡kept¡¡swaying£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡walkway¡¡planks¡¡ceased¡¡vibrating¡¡and¡¡the¡¡watery¡¡ripples¡¡vanished¡¡like¡¡dreams¡£¡¡Relieved¡¡sailors¡¡snorted¡£¡¡Villagers¡¡made¡¡reverent¡¡hand¡¡gestures£»¡¡for¡¡Jijo's¡¡flexings¡¡were¡¡sacred¡¡omens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡planet's¡¡healing¡¡force£»¡¡even¡¡when¡¡they¡¡brought¡¡riotous¡¡ruin¡£¡¡Once£»¡¡a¡¡century¡¡ago£»¡¡a¡¡more¡¡violent¡¡quake¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡forth¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Egg£»¡¡a¡¡blessing¡¡worth¡¡all¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡that¡¡acpanied¡¡its¡¡birth¡£
¡¡¡¡Oh£»¡¡Mother¡¡Jijo£»¡¡Nelo¡¡prayed¡¡as¡¡the¡¡last¡¡temblors¡¡faded¡£¡¡Let¡¡things¡¡go¡¡well¡¡at¡¡Gathering¡£¡¡Let¡¡the¡¡sages¡¡talk¡¡Lark¡¡and¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡foolish¡¡plan¡£
¡¡¡¡And¡¡perhaps£»¡¡he¡¡dared¡¡add£»¡¡let¡¡Dwer¡¡also¡¡meet¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡of¡¡good¡¡family¡¡and¡¡settle¡¡down£¿
¡¡¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡better¡¡than¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡a¡¡third¡¡wish¡£¡¡Sara¡¡wouldn't¡¡want¡¡him¡¡invoking¡¡a¡¡deity¡¡in¡¡her¡¡favor¡£¡¡Not¡¡unless¡¡it¡¡were¡¡Ifni£»¡¡the¡¡impartially¡¡capricious¡¡goddess¡¡of¡¡numbers¡¡and¡¡fate¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡his¡¡pulse¡¡steadied£»¡¡Nelo¡¡signaled¡¡for¡¡Prity¡¡to¡¡lead¡£¡¡Their¡¡route¡¡now¡¡spiraled¡¡up¡¡a¡¡massive¡¡garu£»¡¡then¡¡along¡¡branch¡tops¡¡spanned¡¡by¡¡rope¡¡guideways¡£¡¡Nelo's¡¡feet¡¡moved¡¡by¡¡habit¡¡and¡¡he¡¡barely¡¡noticed¡¡the¡¡height£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡bundle¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡grew¡¡heavy¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hands¡£
¡¡¡¡Sara's¡¡treehouse¡¡perched¡¡so¡¡high¡¡that¡¡daylight¡¡spread¡¡for¡¡hours¡¡across¡¡one¡¡wattle¡¡wall¡£¡¡Nelo¡¡gripped¡¡a¡¡guide¡rope¡¡while¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡last¡¡stretch¡£¡¡The¡¡naked¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡so¡¡unsettling£»¡¡he¡¡nearly¡¡missed¡¡noticing¡¡a¡¡square¡sided¡¡cage£»¡¡made¡¡of¡¡braced¡¡rods£»¡¡that¡¡hung¡¡from¡¡a¡¡pulley¡¡next¡¡to¡¡Sara's¡¡sky¡¡porch¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡lift£¡¡¡Why¡¡is¡¡a¡¡lift¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡my¡¡daughter's¡¡home£¿
¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡recalled¡£¡¡It's¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Stranger¡£
¡¡¡¡Pungent¡¡aromas¡¡wafted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡house¡tart£»¡¡musty£»¡¡and¡¡sweetly¡¡slimy¡£¡¡Peering¡¡inside£»¡¡Nelo¡¡made¡¡out¡¡slanting¡¡rays¡¡of¡¡light£»¡¡stabbing¡¡through¡¡louvered¡¡blinds¡£¡¡Sara's¡¡voice¡¡could¡¡be¡¡heard£»¡¡muttering¡¡unhappily¡¡from¡¡another¡¡room¡£¡¡His¡¡hand¡¡raised¡¡to¡¡knock¡¡on¡¡the¡¡jamb£»¡¡but¡¡paused¡¡when¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡shadows¡¡loomed¡¡from¡¡within¡one¡¡a¡¡cone¡shaped¡¡outline¡¡of¡¡circular¡¡tubes£»¡¡taller¡¡than¡¡Nelo's¡¡head¡£¡¡Nubby¡¡feet¡¡propelled¡¡the¡¡bottommost¡¡ring£»¡¡making¡¡squishy¡¡sounds¡¡as¡¡it¡¡neared¡£
¡¡¡¡Two¡¡'roller¡hoops¡¡framed¡¡the¡¡smaller¡¡creature£»¡¡whose¡¡slim¡¡torso¡¡ended¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡graceful¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡four¡¡eye¡tipped¡¡feelers¡¡that¡¡peered¡¡all¡¡ways¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡One¡¡wheel¡¡squeaked¡¡as¡¡this¡¡entity¡¡rolled¡¡forward£»¡¡revealing¡¡the¡¡spotted¡¡brain¡¡case¡¡and¡¡droopy¡¡eyestalks¡¡of¡¡an¡¡elderly¡¡g'Kek¡£
¡¡¡¡If¡¡any¡¡two¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡Dolo¡¡Village¡¡could¡¡make¡¡Nelo¡¡feel¡¡spry¡¡at¡¡his¡¡age£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡this¡¡pair¡£¡¡In¡¡all¡¡the¡¡life¡history¡¡of¡¡their¡¡two¡¡species£»¡¡no¡¡g'Kek¡¡or¡¡traeki¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡climbed¡¡a¡¡tree¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Cloudy¡¡skies£»¡¡papermaker£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡wheeled¡¡one¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Deep¡¡shade£»¡¡Doctor¡¡Lorrek¡£¡¡And¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡Pharmacist¡£¡¨¡¡Nelo¡¡bowed¡¡twice¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡goes¡¡your¡¡patient£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Lorrek's¡¡Anglic¡¡was¡¡superb¡¡after¡¡years¡¡serving¡¡Dolo's¡¡mostly¡¡human¡¡populace¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Astonishingly£»¡¡the¡¡injured¡¡man¡¡gains¡¡strength£»¡¡soothed¡¡by¡¡Pzora's¡¡special¡¡unguents¡¨¡the¡¡doctor¡¡bent¡¡a¡¡stalk¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡traeki¡¡whose¡¡ninth¡¡torus¡¡looked¡¡flushed¡¡from¡¡hard¡¡medicinal¡¡labor¡¡¨and¡¡helped¡¡by¡¡the¡¡care¡¡he¡¡receives¡¡in¡¡this¡¡clean¡¡air¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡surprise¡£¡¡The¡¡Stranger¡¡had¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡goner¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡his¡¡wounds£¡¡¡The¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head¡£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡Shrugging¡¡had¡¡originally¡¡been¡¡a¡¡human¡¡gesture£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡one¡¡did¡¡it¡¡with¡¡more¡¡poise¡¡than¡¡a¡¡g'Kek¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡fatal¡¡mutilation£»¡¡I¡¡feared¡£¡¡Clearly¡¡the¡¡outlander¡¡owes¡¡his¡¡life¡¡to¡¡Pzora's¡¡secretions£»¡¡and¡¡your¡¡daughter's¡¡swift¡¡action£»¡¡hauling¡¡him¡¡from¡¡that¡¡foul¡¡swamp¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡traeki¡¡pharmacist¡¡then¡¡spoke£»¡¡turning¡¡its¡¡jewel¡like¡¡sense¡¡organs£»¡¡its¡¡voice¡¡wavering¡¡like¡¡an¡¡untuned¡¡metal¡¡harp¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨i/we¡¡help¡¡gladly£»¡¡though¡¡our¡¡synthesis¡¡rings¡¡near¡swoon¡¡from¡¡the¡¡effort¡£¡¡Unguents¡¡of¡¡rare¡¡potency¡¡were¡¡needed¡£¡¡Yet¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡please¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Only¡¡here£»¡¡up¡¡high¡¡where¡¡germs¡¡are¡¡scarce£»¡¡might¡¡the¡¡work¡¡be¡¡done¡£¡¡Miss¡¡Sara's¡¡abode¡¡is¡¡ideal£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡will¡¡let¡¡no¡¡other¡¡take¡¡the¡¡patient¡£¡¡Yet¡¡she¡¡plains¡¡so£¡¡¡Aggrieved£»¡¡she¡¡speaks¡¡longingly¡¡of¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡her¡¡work¡disruption¡£¡¡Toward¡¡getting¡¡us¡¡all¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hair¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨It's¡¡just¡¡a¡¡metaphor£»¡¨¡¡Lorrek¡¡explained¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡i/we¡¡assumed¡£¡¡Its¡¡paradoxical¡¡dissonance¡¡we/i¡¡esteem¡¡highly¡£¡¡May¡¡her¡¡selves¡¡understand¡¡that¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡see¡¡that¡¡she¡¡does£»¡¨¡¡Nelo¡¡told¡¡Pzora£»¡¡smiling¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Thank¡¡you¡¡all£»¡¡excellent¡¡Nelos£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡young¡¡traeki¡¡responded£»¡¡slipping¡¡into¡¡plural¡¡form£»¡¡¡¨i/we¡¡hope¡¡for¡¡serene¡¡work£»¡¡when¡¡we¡¡return¡¡this¡¡evening¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Lorrek¡¡wrapped¡¡his¡¡eyestalks£»¡¡and¡¡Nelo¡¡needed¡¡no¡¡rewq¡¡to¡¡read¡¡the¡¡old¡¡g'Kek's¡¡silent¡¡laughter¡£¡¡¡¨Serenity¡¡is¡¡good£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡agreed¡¡dryly£»¡¡coughing¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡hand¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡braced¡¡the¡¡elevator¡¡cage£»¡¡first¡¡for¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡traeki¡¡to¡¡shuffle¡¡aboard¡£¡¡Then¡¡Lorrek¡¡rolled¡¡in£»¡¡his¡¡left¡¡wheel¡¡wobbling¡¡from¡¡untreatable¡¡degenerative¡¡axle¡¡disease¡£¡¡Nelo¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡rope£»¡¡calling¡¡an¡¡operator¡¡far¡¡below¡¡to¡¡start¡¡the¡¡weight¡driven¡¡winch¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Has¡¡anything¡¡been¡¡learned¡¡about¡¡the¡¡Stranger's¡¡identity£¿¡¨¡¡Lorrek¡¡asked¡¡while¡¡waiting¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Not¡¡that¡¡I¡¡heard¡£¡¡Though¡¡I'm¡¡sure¡¡it's¡¡just¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡So¡¡far£»¡¡even¡¡merchant¡¡traders¡¡had¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡recognize¡¡the¡¡unconscious¡¡man£»¡¡implying¡¡he¡¡came¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡distance£»¡¡perhaps¡¡from¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡settlements¡¡or¡¡even¡¡The¡¡Vale¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡in¡¡Dolo¡¡knew¡¡Melina£»¡¡either£»¡¡when¡¡she¡¡arrived¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡of¡¡introduction¡¡and¡¡a¡¡baby¡¡on¡¡her¡¡hip¡£¡¡The¡¡Slope¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bigger¡¡place¡¡than¡¡we're¡¡used¡¡to¡¡thinking¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡g'Kek¡¡sighed¡£¡¡¡¨We¡¡must¡¡resolve¡¡soon¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡will¡¡better¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡patient¡¡to¡¡send¡¡him¡¡on£»¡¡now¡¡that¡¡he's¡¡stabilized£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡examined¡¡in¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡The¡¡cage¡¡shuddered£»¡¡then¡¡dropped¡¡swiftly£»¡¡cutting¡¡Lorrek¡¡off¡¡midsentence¡£
¡¡¡¡Ah¡¡well£»¡¡Nelo¡¡thought£»¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡car¡¡vanish¡¡steadily¡¡below¡¡moss¡heavy¡¡branches¡£¡¡That'd¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡shouting¡£¡¡Sara¡¡wouldn't¡¡want¡¡her¡¡pet¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡specialists¡¡in¡¡Tarek¡¡Town¡even¡¡if¡¡she¡¡does¡¡plain¡¡about¡¡disrupted¡¡work¡£
¡¡¡¡Would¡¡she¡¡ever¡¡learn£¿¡¡The¡¡last¡¡time¡¡Sara's¡¡nurturing¡¡instincts¡¡took¡¡over¡succoring¡¡a¡¡convalescing¡¡bookbinder£»¡¡in¡¡Biblos¡it¡¡led¡¡to¡¡a¡¡love¡¡affair¡¡that¡¡ended¡¡in¡¡tragedy£»¡¡scandal£»¡¡and¡¡alienation¡¡from¡¡her¡¡guild¡£¡¡Nelo¡¡hoped¡¡the¡¡cycle¡¡wasn't¡¡repeating¡£
¡¡¡¡Even¡¡now¡¡she¡¡could¡¡win¡¡it¡¡all¡¡back¡both¡¡her¡¡position¡¡and¡¡marriage¡¡to¡¡a¡¡respected¡¡sage¡£¡¡True£»¡¡I¡¡never¡¡liked¡¡that¡¡sour¡pussed¡¡Taine£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡offers¡¡a¡¡more¡¡secure¡¡life¡¡than¡¡she'd¡¡have¡¡had¡¡with¡¡that¡¡frail¡¡lover¡¡of¡¡hers¡£
¡¡¡¡Anyway£»¡¡she¡¡can¡¡still¡¡do¡¡math¡¡while¡¡making¡¡me¡¡some¡¡grandkids¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡little¡¡chimp¡¡plunged¡¡into¡¡the¡¡house¡¡first¡£¡¡Sara's¡¡voice¡¡called¡¡from¡¡shadows£»¡¡¡¨Is¡¡that¡¡you£»¡¡Prity£¿¡¡It's¡¡been¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡interruptions£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡finally¡¡whipped¡¡that¡¡integral¡£¡¡Why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡look¡¡it¡¡ov¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡flat¡¡sound¡£¡¡A¡¡large¡¡bundle£»¡¡landing¡¡on¡¡a¡¡table¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡the¡¡paper¡£¡¡Wonderful¡£¡¡Let's¡¡see¡¡what¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡sent¡¡us¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Whatever¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡sends¡¡is¡¡good¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡one¡¡who¡¡don't¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡Nelo¡¡groused£»¡¡shuffling¡¡while¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡adapted¡£¡¡Through¡¡the¡¡gloom£»¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡rise¡¡from¡¡a¡¡desk¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡notebooks¡¡and¡¡obscure¡¡symbols¡£¡¡Sara's¡¡round¡¡face¡¡spread¡¡with¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡he¡¡always¡¡thought¡¡beautiful£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡might¡¡have¡¡helped¡¡if¡¡she'd¡¡taken¡¡more¡¡after¡¡her¡¡mother¡£
¡¡¡¡My¡¡looks¡¡and¡¡Melina's¡¡wild¡¡brains¡£¡¡Not¡¡a¡¡blend¡¡I'd¡¡wish¡¡on¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡lass¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨Father£¡¡¨¡¡She¡¡hurried¡¡over¡¡to¡¡embrace¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¨You¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡a¡¡start¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡Her¡¡black¡¡hair£»¡¡cut¡¡like¡¡a¡¡boy's£»¡¡smelled¡¡of¡¡pencil¡¡dust¡¡and¡¡Pzora's¡¡unguents¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨No¡¡doubt¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡frowned¡¡at¡¡the¡¡shambles¡¡of¡¡her¡¡quarters£»¡¡worse¡¡now¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mattress¡¡by¡¡her¡¡desk¡£¡¡A¡¡jumble¡¡of¡¡texts£»¡¡some¡¡bearing¡¡emblems¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Biblos¡¡trove£»¡¡lay¡¡amid¡¡notes¡¡on¡¡the¡¡¡¨new¡¡direction¡¨¡¡her¡¡research¡¡had¡¡taken£»¡¡bining¡¡mathematics¡¡and¡¡linguistics£»¡¡of¡¡all¡¡things¡£
¡¡¡¡Prity¡¡took¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Sara's¡¡papers¡¡and¡¡perched¡¡on¡¡a¡¡stool¡£¡¡The¡¡chimp¡¡worked¡¡her¡¡lower¡¡lip£»¡¡scanning¡¡one¡¡line¡¡of¡¡symbols¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡silent¡¡collaborator¡¡in¡¡an¡¡arcane¡¡art¡¡Nelo¡¡would¡¡never¡¡understand¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡sleeping¡¡porch£»¡¡where¡¡sunlight¡¡spread¡¡across¡¡a¡¡blanket£»¡¡outlining¡¡two¡¡large¡¡feet¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¨With¡¡both¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lads¡¡gone£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I'd¡¡e¡¡see¡¡how¡¡you're¡¡doing¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I'm¡¡all¡¡right£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡gestured£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡the¡¡firetrap¡¡of¡¡a¡¡treehouse¡¡were¡¡a¡¡model¡¡of¡¡home¡tending¡£¡¡¡¨And¡¡I¡¡have¡¡Prit