The Dolphin was up near zenith； its flank shimmering with blue…white stars； seeming to dive between milky waves。
Clouds。 And more snow was falling。 He blinked； trying to stare。 Something was moving out there。
Dwer lifted a hand to rub his eye； but the fingers would not uncurl。 When they touched his face； they seemed petrified…a sign of shock pounded by frostbite。
Over there。 Is that it？
Something was moving。 Not another robot； wafting on smug pillars of force； but a shambling bipedal figure； hurrying upslope at a pace Dwer found professionally lacking。 At that rate； whoever…it…was would tire much faster than necessary。 No errand was worth taking such risks in this kind of weather。
Of the Six； only a hoon or human could make it this high in a snowfall； and no hoon would let himself get into that much of a hurry。
Hey； you！ Don't go up through the boo！ There's danger thataway！
Dwer's voice produced only a croak； barely loud enough to rouse the noor； causing Mudfoot to lift its head。
Hey； fool。 Can't you see our trail in the grass and snow？ It's like a Buyur highway out there！ Are you blind？
The figure plowed right on by； disappearing into the dark cathedral…like aisle between twin walls of vaulting boo。 Dwer slumped； hating himself for his weakness。 All I had to do was shout。 That's all。 Just a little shout。
Glassy…eyed； he watched more flakes fill the runnel in the grass； slowly erasing all signs leading to this rocky cleft。 Well； you wanted to hide； wasn't that the idea？
Perhaps the four of them would never be found。
Dwer lacked the strength to feel irony。
Some hunter。 Some mighty hunter。。。
The Stranger
It will take some getting used to； this curious unlikely voyage； rushing along in a wooden boat that glides down rocky canyons； swooping past high stone walls； giving a sense of incredible speed。 Which is odd； since he knows he used to travel much； much faster than this。。。 though right now it's hard to recall exactly how。
Then there are his fellow passengers； a mixture of types he finds amazing to behold。
At first； several of them had filled him with raw terror…especially the squishy thing； looking like a stack of phlegmy doughnuts piled up high； venting plex stinks that scrape…tickled his nose and tongue。 The mere sight of its corrugated cone wrenched feelings of blank horror…until he realized that something was quite different about this particular Joph…
His mind refuses to bring forth the epithet； the name； even though he trolls and sifts for it。
Words refuse to e easily。 Most of the time； they do not e at all。
Worse； he cannot speak or form ideas； or prehend when others send shaped…sounds toward him。 Even names； the simplest of labels； refuse to rest within his grasp but wriggle off like slippery things； too angry or fickle to bear his touch。
No matter。
He resolves to wait； since there is no other choice。 He even manages to hold back revulsion when the doughy cone…creature touches him； since healing seems its obvious intent； and since the pain always lessens a bit； each time it ivraps oily tendrils round his throbbing head。
In time； the contact bees oddly pleasant。
Anyway； she is usually there； speaking to him gently； filling the tunnel…view of his attention with her smile； providing an excuse for frail optimism。
He doesn't recall much about his former life； but he can dimly remember something about the way he used to live。。。 not so much a philosophy as an attitude…
If the universe seems to be trying to destroy you； the best way to fight back is with hope。
IX。 THE BOOK OF THE SEA
Scrolls
In order to be blessed；
And to bring redemption；
Forgetfulness cannot e at random。
Aspects of oblivion
Must e in the right order。
First must e detachment from the driving need
To coerce the material world；
Or to shape other beings to your needs。
To be shaped is your goal。
First by nature；
And later by hands and minds
Wiser than your own。
…The Scroll of Promise
Alvin's Tale
SO THERE WE WERE； WAY UP IN THE THIN； DRY AIR atop Mount Guenn； surrounded by heat and dust and sulfury smells from Uriel's forge； and what does Gybz the Alchemist want to talk to us about？
The traeki tells us we're being sent to a different kind of hell。
But hold on； Alvin。 Spin the yarn the way an old…time human storyteller would。 Describe the scene； then the action。
Gybz concocts recipes for metal and glass in a grimy workshop； quite unlike Uriel's prim； spotless hall of spinning disks。 Mineral powders spill across stained wooden shelves and earthenware jars stink with noxious liquids。 One slit window overlooks a northern vista stretching all the way down to a splash of painful color that could only be the Spectral Flow； which means the chamber is about as high as you can get without tumbling into Mount Guenn's simmering caldera。
Below the window； flies swarmed over a pile of nicely aged kitchen mulch。 I hoped we weren't interrupting Gybz at dinner。
The four of us…Huck； Pincer； Ur…ronn； and me…had e up to the alchemy lab at the mand of Uriel； the great blacksmith； ruler of this fortress of industry perched on Jijo's trembling knee。 At first I figured she sent us away just to get rid of some irritating youngsters； while she conferred with a human sage over how to improve her beloved mobile of gears； pulleys； and whirling glass。 The chief assistant； Urdonnol； muttered disapproval while shepherding us up a long ramp to the traeki's mixing room。 Only our pal Ur…ronn seemed cheerful； almost ebullient。 Huck and I exchanged a glance； wondering why。
We found out when Gybz shuffled ers mottled； conical bulk around from behind a workbench。 Words bubbled from a speaking tube that puckered the third…from…the…top ring。
〃Bright youths of four races； be made wele！ Sublime news for you； it is an honor to relate。 A decision to approve your expedition； this has occurred。 Your endeavor to reach； visit； explore the nearest reaches of the Upper Midden； this you may attempt。〃
Gybz paused； venting puffs from a purple synthi ring。 When the traeki resumed； it was in warbling； uneven Anglic； with a voice that sounded strained。
〃The attempt will have。。。 the full backing of Mount Guenn Forge。 As evidence of this support； behold…your pleted window！〃
The Master of Mixes gestured with a wraparound tentacle toward a wooden crate near the wall； with its cover removed。 Amid drifts of fine sawdust； there gleamed a curved pane of thick glass； flawless to the eye。
Pincer…Tip danced excitedly； his red…clawed feet noisy on the stone floor。 〃Beautiful…iful！〃
Gybz agreed。 〃It has been treated with proper coatings…for clear vision in the planned environment。〃
Ur…ronn snaked her long neck around to inspect the bubble…pane。
〃This last phase was delicate。 Thank you； Gyfz； for the exquisite coatings！〃
Ur…ronn turned to explain to Huck and me； 〃After months of delay； Uriel suddenly agreed just three days ago to allow the casting。 And since the results were good on the first try； she will let this count toward a kun…urul。〃
That was urrish plains dialect for a master work。 One qualifying the maker for craftsman status。 It would take Ur…ronn a long way toward fulfilling her ambitions。
None of the rest of us have started professions； or even decided what we want to do； I thought； a little jealously。
On the other hand； urs have to hurry。 They don't get that much time。
I glanced at Urdonnol； who was Ur…ronn's top rival as Uriel's heir。 I didn't need a rewq to read her annoyance with all this fuss over what she called a 〃childish hobby〃…the making of an experimental deep diving craft。
You should know better； I thought； feeling a bit sorry for Urdonnol。 Uriel also has a useless pastime； that room full of spinning disks。 Ur…ronn's project shares that just…for…the…hell…of…it quality。 It's a similarity between them that goes beyond mere kin…scent。
To Ur…ronn； then； this had also been a smart career move。 I felt happy for our friend。
〃The glass was tested to withstand hydrostatic pressures exceeding those at fifty cords depth；〃 she mented with evident satisfaction。 〃And when you add the lanterns and other gear Uriel is kindly lending us…〃
〃Us？〃 Huck cut in； breaking the mood。 She spun to face Ur…ronn with three outthrust eyes。 〃What you mean us； honky？ You're volunteering to e along； then？〃
Ur…ronn's narrow head snapped back； staring at Huck。 Then her neck slumped in an S…curve。
〃I will。。。 if I can。〃
〃Huck！〃 I chided。 It was mean to rub Ur…ronn's nostril in her limitations。 I could hear Huck's spokes vibrate with tension。
Gybz interrupted with another venting； this time pungent like rusty metal。
〃If possible； an urrish presence will be called for。〃 The traeki seemed short of breath。 〃But even if that proves impossible； fear not。 A member from Mount Guenn shall。。。 acpany this bold undertaking。。。 to its deepest depths。〃
I had trouble following Gybz's halting； accented Anglic。 Huck and I shared a confused look。
〃It is i/we。。。 who shall part…wise acpany。。。 this a