Return to Eden

She turned to Gunugul who descended from the fin and was standing as rigid as the others, numbed by the speed and shock of events. "There should be meat and water enough for a return to Yebèisk. Is there?"
    "Yes, sufficient if many sleep during the journey."
    "Excellent. You will return there at once with Ambalasei."
    "What of this other uruketo? It was taken by Ambalasei, it must go back…"
    "It has been recovered, unharmed, as you can see for yourself. Reassure great Saagakel that it will be returned one day to her city. But I will have use of it for a period of time. This use is all the reward I ask for my labors, for finding the uruketo, for finding and returning the one she sought."
    "For killing Fafnepto," Ambalasei said with cold anger. "Enge spoke correctly—you are a poisonous and deadly creature, Vaintè. I have work, possessions, my assistant Setessei in the stolen uruketo, now doubly stolen. What of them?"
    "I offer all assistance. They return with you to Yebèisk of course. Transfer them now. And leave."
    "And you will remain. What labors of magnified negativity do you plan to do here?"
    "What I plan is no concern of yours, old one. Leave—and enjoy the attentions of the Eistaa."
    Ambalasei signed disdain. "If you think the Eistaa will punish me, abandon that hope. She will present no problems to me. When I turn over the records of my discoveries to Saagakel she will forget all thoughts of revenge. Her city will be the center of the new learning and will welcome scientists from all Entoban*.
    Like any other eistaa she will take all of the credit. As for myself, one city is like any other city. It will suffice. Setessei, supervise moving of my possessions. I now go and rest." She walked a few tired steps, then turned to Enge and signed departure immediate/final. "I am sorry to see these creatures of evil in your city, Enge."
    "Do not concern yourself. The Principles of Ugunenapsa will survive."
    "Good. I am particularly fond of the ninth."
    She turned, climbed the uruketo's fin and vanished from sight.
    Elem started to speak but Vaintè pointed the hèsotsan at her and signed silence on pain of death.
    It was a long silence that continued as Ambalasei's containers were taken from one uruketo and loaded into the other. Akotolp, her fear vanished with Ambalasei's departure, took up Fafnepto's hèsotsan again and settled back on her tail. Serving her eistaa. The commander, Gunugul, was the last to board when the uruketo was ready to leave. She turned and spoke coldly to Vaintè.
    "The Eistaa shall hear exactly what happened here. How Fafnepto died. Everything."
    "Speak of it," Vaintè said, her contempt withering and dismissive. "I did as I promised her, then did what I had to do for myself. Now—depart."
    She was silent again until the gap of water had opened up between the uruketo and the dock. Only then did she turn to Enge.
    "That is done with. Now we look to the future. I greatly admire this fine, fresh, new city that you have here. You must tell me of it."
    "I tell you nothing, will not speak with you, reject you now as I have rejected you before. None here will acknowledge your existence."
    "Do you realize how very difficult you are being? Can you not understand that it is now I who will issue orders? Your years of leadership are finished at last. It was power that we have both always wanted, isn't it? You must admit that to yourself—now that your days of power are ended. You led these confused creatures and many died because of your leadership. But, like me, you are very strong, Enge. In the end your leadership carried them all across the ocean and grew this city for them here. But these days are over. I rule now. And there is absolutely nothing that you can do about it. It is now I who will speak and be obeyed." She raised and pointed the hèsotsan. "If I am not obeyed then this shall speak for me. Do you believe that?"
    "I believe it. Of no one else, possibly. But of you I believe it."
    "Good. Then I shall tell you of this city, so obviously new and freshly grown. For now that I look closely it is obvious what happened here. You came to this place and that wise scientist, Ambalasei, grew a city for you where none had been before. Since there is no eistaa here you must foolishly think of it as your city, as the city of the Daughters of Death. That is no longer the case. I am the eistaa now. And if this city ever had another name I do not want to hear it. Since I am Vaintè, the joy-hunter, I