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.”
“We must discard unhappiness. This Yilanè of great wisdom whom I have been speaking with may be our salvation. Now let me see and meet with our sisters here, for I wish to know them all.”
Ambalasi stepped aside as they greeted each other and waited with stolid patience until she was aware of a Yilanè who appeared before her and signed respectful attention.
“Are you Shakasas‹?” Ambalasi asked.
“I was, before the time of my understanding. Because of my joy at accepting Ugunenapsa’s words I am now called Elem. What do you wish of me, Ambalasi?”
“The answer to a single question. I have heard that you once served on the crew of an uruketo. Is this true?”
“When I was first Yilanè it was my pleasure. This led me to my interest in air and sea currents. The mysteries of navigation became my study, and through them my interest in the work of Ugunenapsa.”
“Explanation satisfactory. Now tell me who leads you?”
“Ugunenapsa, for it is her example—”
“Enough! I refer to your physical presence in this despicable orchard. Who among you is in charge?”
“None, for we are all equal…”
Ambalasi silenced her with a rude gesture normally used only when commanding fargi, raking her toenails along the ground with great agitation. “Silence! Your Ugunenapsa has a lot to answer for. There must be someone who stands above you in this hierarchy of mindlessness. Enge, do you see her there? Good. Can she command you?”
“Certainly. I have heard much of her and her wisdom and would willingly do as she commanded.”
“At last, communication. The three of us will speak together at once. After that has been done you will stay by my side at all times and will do as I order. Will you do this if she tells you to?”
Elem signed pleased agreement and Ambalasi dismissed her quickly before she could begin again on Ugunenapsa.
The island just off the coast of Gendasi , south of Alpèasak, was small and crowded with quickly grown structures, most of them little more than covers to keep the rain off. Only the joined rooms where Ukhereb labored had any look of permanence, solidity. The eistaa, Lanefenuu, had been taken there when she emerged from the uruketo that had brought her across the ocean, but she listened to the explanations with bored disinterest, caring only about the results of the scientists’ labors, not the details. Only the masinduu drew more than casual attention.
“This is very amusing,” Lanefenuu said. “You must grow me one to take back to Ikhalmenets. I have never seen anything like it before.”
“The reason for that, Eistaa,” Akotolp said with some pride, “is that it has never existed before. Ukhereb and I needed to work with the new plants we developed, to work together on their modification. But they are most difficult to handle since they are so poisonous. For this we needed the magnifying abilities of the sanduu. You know the creature I refer to?”
“I do not,” Lanefenuu said, proud of her ignorance. “I am much too busy to devote my time to a study of your squalid beasts.”
“Perfectly correct, Eistaa,” Akotolp said. “It is a messy occupation. Explanation-offered. The sanduu magnifies, that is it makes things look bigger, up to two hundred times bigger and is an essential scientific tool. However, only one Yilanè at a time can use it — Ukhereb and I needed to work together. Therefore we developed this masinduu, which might be called an image-projecting sanduu. We use it in microsurgery, but now we are using it to show you pictures of what we have done, without the necessity of exposing your honored body to the dangers involved.”
“This honored body is much pleased by your efforts. And what may this thing be that we are looking at?”
Akotolp turned one eye toward the brightly lit image on the wall. Sunlight fell on the eye of the masinduu in the outer wall, was amplified to project the multifaceted and brilliant image. “Those are diatoms, Eistaa, tiny creatures that live in the sea. We use them to adjust the masinduu. The colors that you see are generated by a polarized filter…” Akotolp broke off when Lanefenuu signed boredom-of-scientific-detail.
The room brightened as Ukhereb entered, followed by a fargi carrying a tray of pictures.
“All is ready, Eistaa,” she said, motioning the fargi to put down the tray and leave. “Here are the latest prints and they will show you the unqualified success of our efforts on your behalf.”
“Begin at once,” Lanefenuu commanded.
The imaged diatoms vanished and a seascape took its place. Beyond the sea was a green coastline above white beaches. As Ukhereb talked she manipulated the masinduu so that one image faded into another so it appeared that the coast grew closer.
“This is the shore of Gendasi , south of the city of Alpèasak . We selected this site since we could establish ourselves there unobserved. The temperature and soil are the same as the city so our plants could develop in the correct environment.”
“Why not go to the city itself?” Lanefenuu asked.
“The ustuzou have occupied it,” Vaintè said as she entered. “I went there to see. Not all of the city was burned — but it is filled with these vermin.”
“Whose destiny is death, Vaintè,” Lanefenuu said. “I ordered your presence because these accomplished scientists have arranged a demonstration of what has been accomplished here in my name. You will watch with me since you have created all this.”
Vaintè signed pleasure-in-gratitude and settled down on her tail next to the eistaa — who ordered continuation-of-seeing.
Green shrubbery grew larger until dead animals could be seen around it, impaled on the thorns. “The mutated vines and shrubs,” Akotolp explained. “All of them growing and mingled with those broad-leaved plants which are rich with water and therefore fire resistant, protecting the others. All of this was not hard to do, simple variations of the walls that protect most cities. While these were being developed and grown in enough numbers to raise for seed, we were also developing this creature.”
The image of a multi-colored, shining lizard filled the screen. Akotolp walked over to point to the rows of nodules on the creature’s back. “These cysts develop when the lizard matures, burst, then regrow. You will notice the thick skin and slime coating that protects the animal from the deadly environment that it sows. A perfect development.”
“Need-for-clarity,” Lanefenuu communicated sharply.
“Apologies without count, Eistaa. I proceed out of sequence. The deadly plants we have just seen were designed to be sown in the city that the ustuzou occupy. Various self-perpetuating techniques were considered and this system was devised. When the cysts burst the seeds of poisonous plants are released. They grow and the lizards live beneath their protection — where no other animal could survive. So without any further effort on our part, without the loss of a single Yilanè life, the city itself drives out the invaders. It will not happen at once, but it will happen with the inexorable and unopposable persistance of the incoming tide. The plants will fill the city, the ustuzou will be forced out — and tomorrow’s tomorrow will be as yesterday’s yesterday.”
“Admirable.” Lanefenuu expressed pleasure and happiness. “But how will Yilanè live in this city of death?”
“With great ease. Parasites and viruses have already been developed to destroy the growths and wipe out the lizards — affecting nothing else.”