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The river which meandered along the center of the valley floor was more subdued here； but still full of relentless； ringing music； the rippling light it reflected onto the city's shifting facades added to the illusion of watery depth。 Simon thought he could also see the silvery tracks of other streams weaving in and out through the trees。
The forest floor between the houses…if such they were…was covered with thick greenery； mostly springy clover。 This grew like a carpet everywhere but on the paths of dark earth that had been lined with shimmering white stone。 A few of the gracefully haphazard bridges that spanned the waterway were also constructed of this same stone。 Beside these paths； strange birds with fanlike； iridescent tails of green and blue and yellow strutted or flapped unsteadily back and forth between earth and the lowest branches of the surrounding trees； all the while uttering harsh and somewhat foolish…sounding cries。 There were other flashes of incandescent color among the upper branches； birds as brilliantly…feathered as the fantails but considerably more mellifluous of voice。
Warm； gentle winds lifted an essence of spices and tree sap and summer grass to Simon's nose； the avian choir fluted a thousand different songs that somehow fit together like a terrifyingly beautiful puzzle。 The marvelous city stretched away before him into the sunlit forest； a Heaven more weling than any he had ever envisioned。
〃It's 。 。 。 wonderful；〃 Simon breathed。
〃e；〃 Aditu said。 〃Jiriki awaits you in his house。〃
She beckoned。 When he didn't move； she gently took his hand and led him。 Simon stared around in delight and awe as they followed a cross…trail down off the rise and onto the outermost path of the valley floor。 The rustling of silken folds and the murmuring river blended their melodies together beneath the birdsong； creating a new sound that was altogether different； but still infinitely satisfying。
There was a long time of looking； smelling； and listening before Simon ever began thinking once more。 〃Where is everyone？〃 he asked at last。 In all of the city within his sight； a space easily twice the size of Battle Square back in Erchester； he could not see a single living soul。
〃We are a solitary folk； Seoman；〃 Aditu said。 〃We stay largely to ourselves； except at certain times。 Also； it is midday now； when many of our people like to leave the city and go out walking。 I am surprised we saw no one near the Pools。〃
Despite her reasonable words； Simon thought he sensed something troubling the Sitha； as though she herself was not quite sure she spoke the truth。 But he had no way of knowing： expressions or behaviors that meant something definite among those with whom Simon had grown up were almost useless as standards by which to judge any of the Sitha he had met。 Nevertheless； he felt fairly sure that something was troubling his guide； and that it might very well be the emptiness Simon had noticed。
A large wildcat strode imperiously onto the pathway before them。 For a startled moment； Simon felt his heart speed to a frenzied pace。 Despite the creature's size； Aditu did not break stride； walking toward it as calmly as if it were not there。 With a flip of its stubby tail； the wildcat abruptly bounded away and vanished into the undergrowth； leaving only the bouncing fronds of a fern to show it had existed at all。
Clearly； Simon realized； birds were not the only creatures who roamed unhindered through Jao e…Tinukai'i。 Beside the path； the coats of foxes… seldom seen at night； let alone bright noon…glimmered like flames in the tangled brush。 Hares and squirrels stared incuriously at the pair as they passed。 Simon felt quite sure that if he leaned down toward any of them they would move unhurriedly out of his fumbling reach； dismoded for a moment but utterly unafraid。
They crossed a bridge over one of the river…forks； then turned and followed the watercourse down a long corridor of willows。 A ribbon of white cloth wound in and out among the trees on their left； wrapped about trunks and looped over branches。 As they passed farther down the row of willow sentries； the initial ribbon was joined by another。 These two snaked in and out； crossing behind and before each other as though engaged in a kind of static dance。
Soon more white ribbons of different widths began to appear； woven into the growing pattern in knots of fantastic intricacy。 These weavings at first made up only simple forms； but soon Simon and Aditu began to pass increasingly plex pictures that hung in the spaces framed by the willow trunks： blazing suns； cloudy skies overhanging oceans covered with jagged waves； leaping animals； figures in flowing robes or filigreed armor； all formed by interlaced knots。 As the first plain pictures became entire tapestries of tangled light and shadow； Simon understood that he watched an unfolding story。 The ever…growing tapestry of knotted fabric portrayed people who loved and fought in a gardenlike land of incredible strangeness； a place where plants and creatures thrived whose forms seemed obscure even though precisely rendered by the unknown weaver's masterful； magical hands。
Then； as the tapestry eloquently showed； something began to go wrong。 Only ribbons of white were used； but still Simon could almost see the dark stain that began to spread through the people's lives and hearts； the way it sickened them。 Brother fought brother； and what had been a place of unmatched beauty was blighted beyond hope。 Some of the people began building ships。。。
〃Here；〃 Aditu said； startling him。 The tapestry had led them to a whirlpool swirl of pale fabric； an inward…leading spiral that appeared to lead up a gentle hill。 On the right； beside this odd door； the tapestry leaped away across the river； trembling in the bright air like a bridge of silk。 Where the taut ribbons of the tapestry vaulted the splashing stream； the knots portrayed eight magnificent ships at sea； cresting woven waves。 The tapestry touched the willows on the far side and turned； winding back up the watercourse in the direction from which Simon and Aditu had e； stretching away from tree to tree until it could no longer be seen。
Aditu's hand touched his arm and Simon shivered。 Walking in someone else's dream； he had forgotten himself。 He followed her through the doorway and up a set of stairs carefully cut into the hillside； then paved with colorful smooth stones。 Like everything else； the corridor through which they walked was made of rippling； translucent cloth： the walls were white near the door； gradually darkening to pale blue and turquoise。 In her white clothes Aditu reflected this shifting light； so that as she walked before him； she； too； seemed to change color。
Simon trailed his fingers along the wall and found that it was as exquisitely soft as it looked； but curiously strong； it slid beneath his hand as smoothly as gold wire； yet was warm to the touch as the down of a baby bird and quivered with the wind's every breath。
The featureless corridor soon opened up into a large； high…ceilinged room that； but for the instability of its walls； looked much like a room in any fine house。 The turquoise hue