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nt cities； eroded by wind； salt； and rain。 Explosions and pulverizing rays must have shattered the mighty towers； just after the last Buyur tenant turned off the lights。 In time； the ceaseless churning of the Midden and its daughter volcanoes would grind even these sky…stabbing stumps to nothing。
Soon the sky…boat left the continent altogether； streaking over chains of mist…shrouded isles。
Even Dwer never dreamed of going this far。
Lark decided not to mention this trip to the lad without discussing it first with Sara； who understood tact and hurt feelings better than either brother。
Then reality hit home。 Sara's back in Dolo。 Dwer may be sent off east； hunting glavers and sooners。 And when the aliens finish their survey； we all may meet our end； far from those we love。
Lark sank into his seat with a sigh。 For a while there； he had actually been enjoying himself。 Damn memory； for reminding him the way things were！
For the rest of the trip he kept low…key and businesslike； even when they finally landed near forests eerily different from those he knew； or while helping Ling haul aboard cages filled with strange； marvelous creatures。 Professionalism was one pleasure Lark still allowed himself…a relish for studying nature's ways。 But there remained little zest or wonder in the thought of flying。
It was after nightfall when Lark finally shuffled back to his own shabby tent near the Glade…only to find Harullen waiting there with news。
The low massive figure took up fully half the shelter。 At first； standing in the entry with only dim moonlight behind him； Lark thought it was Uthen； his friend and fellow naturalist。 But this qheuen's ash…colored carapace wasn't scarred from a lifetime digging into Jijo's past。 Harullen was a bookworm； a mystic who spoke with aristocratic tones reminiscent of Gray Queens of old。
〃The zealots sent a message；〃 the heretic leader announced portentously； without even asking Lark about his day。
〃Oh？ Finally？ And what do they say？〃 Lark dropped his daypack by the entrance and sagged onto his cot。
〃As you predicted； they desire a meeting。 It is arranged for tonight at midnight。〃
Echo…whispers of the final word escaped speaking vents in back； as the qheuen shifted his weight。 Lark suppressed a groan。 He still had a report to prepare for the sages； summarizing everything he'd learned today。 Moreover； Ling wanted him bright and early the next morning； to help evaluate the new specimens。
And now this？
Well； what can you expect when you play games of multiple loyalty？ Old…time novels warn how hard things can get when you serve more than one master。
Events were accelerating。 Now the rumored； secretive rebel organization had finally offered to talk。 What choice had he but to go？
〃All right；〃 he told Harullen。 〃e get me when it's time。 Meanwhile； I have work to do。〃
The gray qheuen departed silently； except for a faint clicking of claws on the rocky trail。 Lark struck a match that sputtered rank fumes before settling enough to light his tiny oil lamp。 He unfolded the portable writing table Sara had given him when he graduated from the Roney School； what seemed a geologic age ago。 Pulling out a sheet of his father's best writing paper； he then shaved black powder from a half…used ink stick into a clay mortar； mixed the dust with fluid from a small bottle； and ground the mixture with a pestle till all the lumps were gone。 Lark used his pocket knife to sharpen his tree…staller quill pen。 At last he dipped the tip into the ink； paused for a moment； and began to write his report。
It was true； Lark realized later； during a tense conclave by the wan opal glow of Torgen； the second moon。 Tentatively； suspiciously； the zealots were indeed offering alliance with Harullen's loose…knit society of heretics。
Why？ The two groups have different aims。 We seek to reduce； then end； our illegal presence on this fragile world。 The zealots only want the old status quo back； our hidden secrecy restored； as it was before the raider ship came…and perhaps a few old scores settled along the way。
Still； envoys of the two groups gathered in the dead of night； near a steaming fumarole； by the winding path leading to the silent nest of the Egg。 Most of those in the conspiracy wore heavy cloaks to hide their identities。 Harullen； who was among the few still to possess a functioning rewq； was asked to remove the squirming symbiont from his sensory cupola； lest the delicate creature burn itself out in the atmosphere of strained intrigue。 Creatures of the Great Peace； rewq were not suited for times of war。
Or is it because the zealots don't want us to see too much； Lark pondered。 Not for nothing were rewq called the 〃mask that reveals。〃 Their near…universal hibernation was as troubling as the heavy silence of the Egg itself。
Before starting； the zealots first cracked open several jars； releasing swarms of privacy wasps around the periphery…an ancient ritual whose origins had been lost but that now made earnest sense； after discoveries of the last few days。 Then the urrish spokesman for the cabal stepped forward； speaking in Galactic Two。
〃Your association sees opportunity in the （greatly lamented） ing of these felons；〃 she accused。 The whistles and clicks were muffled by a cowl； obscuring all but the tip of her muzzle。 Still； Lark could tell she wasn't many seasons past a middling； with at most one husband pouched under an arm。 Her diction implied education； possibly at one of the plains academies where young urs； fresh from the herd； gathered within sight of some steaming volcano； to apprentice in their finest arts。 An intellectual； then。 All full of book learning and the importance of her own ideas。
Yeah； a part of him answered honestly。 In other words； not too different from yourself。
Harullen answered the rebel's challenge； making a political point by speaking Anglic。
〃What do you mean by that strange proposition？〃
〃We mean that you perceive； in these （disliked/unwele） aliens； a chance to see your ultimate goals fulfilled！〃
The urs stamped a foreleg。 Her insinuation sent angry murmurs through the heretic delegation。 Yet Lark had seen it ing。
Harullen's gray carapace rocked an undulating circle。 A traeki gesture； which the ringed ones called Objection to Unjust Impeachment。
〃You imply that we condone our own murder。 And that of every sapient on Jijo。〃
The urrish conspirator imitated the same motion； but in reverse…Reiteration of Indictment。
〃I do so （emphatically） imply。 I do so （in brutal frankness） mean。 All know this is what you heretics （misguidedly） desire。〃
Lark stepped forward。 If the zealots' murmur included any anti…human slurs； he ignored them。
〃That is not （negation reiterated） what we desire！〃 Lark plained； garbling the qualifier trill…phrase in his haste to speak up。
〃There are two reasons for this；〃 he continued； still struggling in GalTwo。
〃First among our grounds （for rebuttal） is this…the aliens （greedy to extreme fault） must not only eliminate all sapient witnesses （to crime/to theft） who might testify in a Galactic court。 They must also wipe out the native