They seemed to be enjoying themselves； holding squirmy things before their globelike eyes； mewling in approval； then catching them between smacking jaws。 Dwer had never seen glavers act with such…enthusiasm。 Not back where they were treated as sacred fools； encouraged to root at will through the garbage middens of the Six。
Mudfoot met Dwer's eyes with a revolted expression。
Ifni； what pigs！ All right if we charge in there now？ Bust 'em up good； boss。 Then herd 'em all back to civilization； like it or not？
Dwer vowed to curb his imagination。 Probably the noor simply didn't like the smell。
Still he chided Mudfoot in a low voice。
〃Who are you to find others disgusting； Mister lick…myself…all…over？ e on。 Let's tell the others； glavers haven't gone carnivorous； after all。 We have more running ahead； if we're to make it out of this sting…grass by nightfall。〃
Asx
MORE WORD ARRIVES FROM THE FAR SOUTH； SENT by the smith of Mount Guenn Forge。 The message was sparse and distorted； having e partly by courier； and partly conveyed between mountain peaks by inexperienced mirror…flashers； in the partly…restored semaphore system。
Apparently； the alien forayers have begun visiting all the fishing hamlets and red qheuen rookeries； making pointed inquiries。 They even landed in the water； far out at sea； to badger the crew of a dross…hauler； on its way home from holy labors at the Midden。 Clearly the interlopers feel free to swoop down and interrogate our citizens wherever they dwell； with questions about 〃strange sights； strange creatures； or lights in the sea。〃
Should we make up a story； my rings？ Should we fabulate some tale of ocean monsters to intrigue our unwanted guests and possibly stave off fate for a while？
Assuming we dare； what would they do to us when they learn the truth？
Lark
ALL THAT MORNING； LARK WORKED NEXT TO LING in a state of nervous tension； made worse by the fact that he did not dare let it show。 Soon； with luck； he would have his best chance to line things up just right。 It would be a delicate task though； doing spywork at the behest of the sages while also probing for information he needed； for reasons of his own。
Timing would be everything。
The Evaluation Tent bustled with activity。 The whole rear half of the pavilion was stacked with cages made by qheuenish crafters out of local boo； filled with specimens brought from all over this side of Jijo。 A staff of humans； urs； and hoon labored full…time to keep the animals fed； watered； and healthy； while several local g'Kek had shown remarkable talent at running various creatures through mazes or performing other tests； supervised by robots whose instructions were always in prim； flawless Galactic Two。 It had been made clear to Lark that it was a mark of high distinction to be asked to work directly with one of the star…humans。
His second airborne expedition had been even more exhausting than the first； a three…day voyage beginning with a zigzag spiral far out to sea； cruising just above the waves over the dark blue expanse of the Midden； then hopping from one island to the next along an extended offshore archipelago； sampling a multitude of wildly varied life…forms Lark had never seen before。 To his surprise； it turned out to be a much more enjoyable trip than the first。
For one thing； Ling grew somewhat less condescending as they worked together； appreciating each other's skills。 Moreover； Lark found it stirring to see what evolution had wrought during just a million fallow years； turning each islet into a miniature biological reactor； breeding delightful variations。 There were flightless avians who had given up the air； and gliding reptiloids that seemed on the verge of earning wings。 Mammiforms whose hair grew in horny protective spikes； and zills whose coatings of fluffy torg shimmered with colors never seen on their bland mainland cousins。 Only later did he conclude that some of the diversity might have been enhanced from the start； by Jijo's last legal tenants。 Perhaps the Buyur seeded each isle with different genetic stock as part of a very long scale experiment。
Ling and Besh often had to drag him away when it came time to leave a sampling site； while Kunn muttered irascibly by his console； apparently happy only when they were aloft。 On landing； Lark was always first to rush out the hatch。 For a while； all the dour brooding of his dreams lay submerged under a passion for discovery。
Still； as they cruised home on the last leg…another unexplained back…and…forth gyration over open sea…he had found himself wondering。 This trip was marvelous； but why did we go？ What did they hope to acplish？ Even before humans left Earth； biologists knew…higher life…forms need room to evolve； preferably large continents。 Despite the wild variety encountered on the archipelago； there wasn't a single creature the star…folk could hope to call a candidate for uplift。
Sure enough； when he rejoined Ling the next day； the outlander woman announced they would return to analyzing rock…stallers； right after lunch。 Besh had already resumed her intensive investigation of glavers； clearly glad to be back to work on her best prospect。
Glavers。 The irony struck Lark。 Yet he held back his questions； biding his time。
Finally； Ling put down the chart they had been working on…duplicating much that already covered the walls of his Dolo Village study…and led him to the table where machines offered refreshments in the sky…human fashion。 The light was very good there； so Lark gave a furtive nod to a small man cleaning some animal pens。 The fair…haired fellow moved toward a stack of wooden crates； used for hauling foodstuffs for the raucous zoo of captive creatures。
Lark positioned himself at the south end of the table so he would not block the man's view of Ling； as well as Besh and everything beyond。 Especially Ling。 For this to work； he must try to keep her still for as long as possible。
〃Besh seems to think you've found yourselves a first…class candidate species。〃
〃Mm？〃 The dark…eyed woman looked up from a plex machine lavishly dedicated to producing a single beverage…a bitter drink Lark had tried just once； appropriately named coughee。
〃Found what？〃 Ling stirred a steaming mug and leaned back against the edge of the table。
Lark gestured at the subject Besh studied； placently chewing a ball of sap while a contraption perched on its head； sifting neurons。 There had been a spurt of excitement when Besh swore she heard the glaver 〃mimic〃 two spoken words。 Now Besh seemed intent； peering through her microscope； guiding a brain probe with tiny motions of her hands； sitting rock still。
〃I take it glavers have what you seek？〃 Lark continued。
Ling smiled。 〃We'll know better when our ship returns and more advanced tests are made。〃
Out the corner of his eye； Lark saw the small man remove the cover from a hole in one side of a box。 There was a soft sparkle of glass。
〃And…when will the ship be back？〃 he asked； keeping Ling's attention。
Her smile widened。 〃I wish you folks would stop asking that。 It's enough to make one think you had a reason for caring。 Why should it matter to you when the ship es？〃
Lark blew his cheeks； hoon fashion； then recalled that the gesture would mean nothing to her。 〃A little warning would be nice； that's all。 It takes time to bake a really big cake。〃
She chuckled； more heartily than his joke deserved。 Lark was learning not to take umbrage each time he suspected he was being patronized。 Anyway； Ling wouldn't be laughing when shipboard archives revealed that glavers…their prime candidate for uplift…were already Galactic citizens； presumably still flitting around their own backwater of space； in secondhand ships。
Or would even the star…cruiser's onboard records reveal it？ According to the oldest scrolls； glavers came from an obscure race among the myriad sapient clans of the Five Galaxies。 Maybe； like the g'Kek； they had already gone extinct and no one remembered them； save in the chilly recesses of the largest sector branch Libraries。
This might even be the moment foretold long ago by the final glaver sage； before hum