The Eistaa moved with pleasure when she heard this and took Akotolp's upper arms between her opposed thumbs in the gesture of greatest happiness, highest respect. The fargi murmured with pleasure at this happy sight, pain and despair forgotten for the moment. The city would grow again.
They set to work, under the Eistaa's instruction, clearing away the mud-caked debris. The rain never stopped, pouring darkly from a muddy sky. By nightfall much had been done. They discovered that fish that had been washed in from the sea were still alive in the remaining pools of water. These were gathered and shared out. In the end, tired and wounded, they slept.
The flood of water that had destroyed the coastal plain had also destroyed the civilized, formal way of life of the city. The fish vats were gone, along with the enzyme vats that cured and preserved the flesh of the animals. These creatures were gone too for the most part, the thorn barriers between the fields wiped away, the penned animals drowned or fled. Only a single hunter had survived — though all her weapons had drowned. With teeth and claws alone she could not supply the city with meat. Therefore it was the sea they turned to, the sea they had emerged from, renewing ancient swimming skills, seeking out the schools of fish and herding them into the shallows. Then the ocean churned with silver bodies seeking escape and reddened quickly with blood. It was crude but effective, — they would survive.
Many days passed before Akotolp approached the Eistaa where she sat in the newly-cleaned ambesed. All had worked hard. The dead had been cast into the sea, the lightly injured had recovered. The badly injured were dead, for all of Akotolp's healing creatures were gone and she could not aid them.
"Everything is gone," she told the Eistaa. "You must remember that all of the creatures bred by our science are mutations and most cannot survive on their own. Our weapons, the hesotsan, lose mobility with maturity and must be fed. We need more of them — as well as all the other forms of life that enable Yilane civilization to survive. I have now done all that I can within the limitations forced upon me. I have taken fargi inland and returned with sharp-thorned vines that have been planted to once again form our fields. I have examined every fargi; the badly wounded are all dead. There is a sufficient supply of fish."
She acknowledged the Eistaa's motions of common-place and boring food. "I agree, Eistaa. But it enables us to live. To improve our situation I must take fargi with me to Teskhets, the city on the great river beyond the hills. I know all of the things we need, hesotsan and string-knives, nefmakel — the list is very long. I will return with breeding stock and our city and our lives will be regrown. I ask only your permission to leave."
The Eistaa moved tail and thumbs in the sign of doubt magnified. "Your presence is needed here."
"Was needed. I guided and explained, you ordered. My work is done — unless I get those things that make science possible. Fargi are training as hunters, the meat supply grows. The fishers grow more proficient. Under your supervision the Yilane will eat, the city live."
The Eistaa radiated displeasure, looked out at the dark and ceaseless rain. "We live, but barely. More like wild creatures than Yilane."
"But we live, Eistaa, that is what is important. In order to live once again the rich life of Yilane you must permit this expedition."
"I will consider it. The meat supply must be greater before you go. You must find a way to bring that about."
Akotolp did what she could, which was very little, knowing that it was only the Eistaa's sense of unease that prevented her making any decision. It was understandable. At least six fargi, uninjured and strong, had simply curled up and died. This of course happened when a Yilane was forced to leave her city, a terminal punishment only meted out after great provocation. Now it happened spontaneously. That even the Eistaa was disturbed by terrible events of this magnitude was understandable.
Still Akotolp was displeased, even angry. There was really nothing more for her to do. The endless clouds, the almost continuous rain, did nothing to change her mood. A second time the Eistaa refused her request; she was hesitant about a third. It was Velikrei, the hunter, who brought a measure of light into her darkness.
"I seek permission to speak as one to one," the scarred hunter said, moving one of her eyes in the direction of the nearby fargi.
"Granted. We will walk along the shore."
"Respectfully suggest forest instead."
There must be a reason for this, Akotolp realized, and signed agreement. They were silent until they had crossed the hardened mud flats and reached the trees beyond.
Here, out of sight of any watchers, Velikrei stopped and spoke.
"You must tell me what to do. I hunt, that I do well. And I follow orders. I serve the Eistaa. Now order and service clash." She brought her fiJtos together with a loud crack; her body writhed with indecision. Akotolp saw she needed quick reassurance.
"The city needs you, Velikrei, at the present time far more than it needs me. Let me help you, for I respect and admire your skill and your strength. My thoughts-rational powers are at your service now. Tell me what disturbs you."
"One comes from the forest with fargi. She will not enter the city, will not see the Eistaa. Asks if a Yilane of science is here. She knows your nanje. Orders me to bring you, not the Eistaa…"
The hunter could no longer talk, her mouth gaped wide as she shuddered. Akotolp touched all four thumbs to her arms in reassurance.
"You have done the correct thing. The Eistaa must not be disturbed in her labors. I will talk to this one who comes — then I will tell the Eistaa about the matter. The responsibility is now mine."
"You have decided.” Velikrei said, relief draining the tension from her knotted muscles. She was safely back in the chain of command, following orders. "I take you to her."
"Name?"
"Essokel."
"I do indeed know her as she knows me. This is very good — for all of us. Take me to her, quickly."
Akotolp recognized the tall form of the other scientist at once, waiting in the shelter of a large tree. She stepped forward when they approached, made motions of greeting. Velikrei stood hesitantly to one side, signed gratitude when she was dismissed, almost fled from sight. Only when she was gone did Akotolp speak.
"Welcome, Essokel, welcome to what little remains of our city."
"Of many cities," she answered grimly. "I was far inland when this thing happened, returning with fargi to my city. When I saw the destruction along the coast I halted them in the forest, went on alone." There was pain in her eyes now, the wound of memory. "Destroyed, gone, none survived. I came close to dying myself — but I did not. I have willed myself to forget the name of my city, strong-request you do not repeat it."
"You are welcome-magnified here. You are now a part of my city, our city. We were injured, we survive. With your aid we grow anew. You will mend our broken egg. We now have nothing other than the claws and teeth with which we emerged from the ocean."
"Then I can indeed be of service," Essokel said, drawing herself up, pride replacing death in her movements. "Mine was a long expedition to distant cities. My fargi carry everything we needed — that your, our, city needs."
"The fargi are here?"
"Close by and out of sight. I wished to talk with you and you alone."
"Not the Eistaa?"
"Not yet. There are matters of science that are for our knowledge alone. Are you strong, Akotolp?"