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by caves and tunnels and - as here - with artfully carved and soaring arches
that turned the monumental massifs into a more precise image of exactly what
they were: vast aqueducts on a water course ten million kilometres long.
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The parapet of the massif here, just a few kilometres from the cliffs and the
plains that marked the beginning of Xaravve, was a flower-strewn grassy bank
less than ten metres wide. From his vantage point here, standing on a raised
forecastle of the ceremonial barge Bariatricist, Quilan could look down
through wisps of cloud to rolling hills and meandering rivers unwinding
through misty forests two kilometres below.
They had asked him whether he wanted to go straight to the house they had
provided for him, or if he would like to take in part of Masaq Great River,
and one of its famous barges, where a small reception had been arranged. He d
said he would be happy to take them up on their kind offer. The
Hub avatar had looked quietly pleased; the drone Tersono had positively glowed
with rosy approval.
The personnel module had lowered itself gently towards the atmosphere of the
Orbital. The craft s ceiling had also become a screen, showing off the soaring
arc of the Orbital s evening and night far-side while the vessel submerged
into the slowly warming morning air above Osinorsi Plate. The module had swung
out over one end of the vastly elongated S shape of the central massif
carrying the river above the Plate s lower level. They rendezvoused with the
Bariatricist near the border of Xaravve.
At about four hundred metres, the barge was nearly twice as long as the river
here was wide; it was a tall, beamy craft tiered with decks and studded with
masts, some of which held highly decorated sails, most of which trailed
banners and flags.
Quilan had seen lots of people, though the vessel was hardly crowded.
 This isn t all for me, is it? he d asked the drone Tersono as the module
approached one of the barge s half-decks stern first.
 Well, it had said, sounding uncertain.  No. Why, would you prefer to have a
private craft?
 No, I was just wondering.
 There are various other receptions, parties and different events taking place
on the barge just now, the avatar had told him.  Plus there are several
hundred people for whom the vessel is their temporary or permanent home.
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 How many people have come to see me?
 About seventy, the avatar replied.
 Major Quilan, the drone had said.  If you ve changed your mind-
 No, I-  Major, might I make a suggestion? Estray Lassils had said.  Please
do.
And so the module had positioned itself so that he could walk straight out
onto the barge s high forecastle; Estray Lassils had disembarked at the same
time and shown him the route to take; she d hung back while he found his way
across a sort of gantry, through a rather riotous party, and eventually
fetched up on one of the set-back decks looking out over the vessel s bows.
There were a few humans there, mostly in couples. He had remembered a hot hazy
day on a much smaller boat on a broad but almost infinitely tinier river,
thousands of light years away now; her touch and smell, the weight of her hand
on his shoulder ...
The humans had looked at him with curiosity, but had left him alone. He d
gazed out, taking in the view. The day was bright but cool. The great river
and the vast, stunning world flowed and revolved beneath him, taking him with
them both.
8
The Retreat at Cadracet
After a while he turned away from the view. Estray Lassils emerged from a
dance at the noisy party
- flushed and breathing heavily - and walked with him towards the section of
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the barge set aside for his reception.
 You re sure you re quite happy to meet all these people, Major? she asked.
 Quite certain, thank you.
 Well, do say the instant you want to get away. We won t think you rude. I did
some research into your order. You sound quite, ah, ascetic, and
semi-trappist. I m sure we d all understand if you found our gibbering gaggle
tiresome.
Wonder just how much they were able to research.
 I m sure I ll survive.
 Good for you. I m supposed to be an old hand at this sort of thing but even I
find it pretty dan~n tedious sometimes. Still, receptions and parties are
pan-cultural, so we re told. I ve never been sure whether to be reassured or
appalled by that.
 I suppose both are appropriate, depending on one s mood. Well said, son.
Think I ll go back to hovering. You concen- trate on her; this one s devious.
I can feel it.
 Major Quilan, I do hope you appreciate how sorry we are for what happened to
your people, the woman said, looking at her feet, then up at him.  You may
all be heartily fed up hearing this by now, in which case I can only apologise
for that as well, but sometimes you feel you just have to say something. She
glanced away into the hazy depth of the view.  The war was our fault. We ll
make what amends and reparations we can, but for what it s worth - and I
realise it may not seem like very much - we do apologise. She made a small
gesture with her old, lined hands.  I think all of us feel that we owe you and
your people a particular debt. She looked down at her feet again for a
moment, before catching his gaze once more.  Do not hesitate to call upon it.
 Thank you. I appreciate your sympathy, and your offer. I ve made no secret of
my mission.
Her eyes narrowed, then she gave a small, hesitant smile.  Yes. We ll see what
we can do. You re not in too great a hurry, I hope, Major.
 Not too great, he told her.
She nodded and continued walking. In a lighter tone, she said,  I hope you
like the house Hub s
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