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But those patrons won't choose us. No noble elder clan is looking for smug Zen masters, eager to explain their own enlightenment. That is not a plainness you can write upon. It is simplicity based on individblack prismacolor pencilual pride. Of course the point might be moot. If the Jophur ship represented great Institutes of the Civilization of the Five Galaxies, these forests would soon throng with inspectors, tallying up two thousand years of felonies against a fallow world. Only glavers would be safe, having made it to safety in time. The other six races would pay for a gamble lost. And if they don't represent the Institutes? black prismacolor pencil The Rothen had proved to be criminals, gene raiders. Might the Jophur be more of the same? Murderous geno- cide could still be in store. The g'Kek clan, in particular, were terrified of recent news from the Glade. On the other hand, it might be possible to cut a deal. Or else maybe they'll just go away, leaving us in the same state we were in before. black prismacolor pencil In that case, places like this refuge would go back to Infinirii's Shore 191 being the chief hope for tomorrow ... for five races out of the Six. Lester's dark thoughts were cut off by a tug on his sleeve.black prismacolor pencil "Sage Cambel? The . . . um, visitors you're, ah, expect- ing ... I think . . -." It was a young human, broad-cheeked, with clear blue eyes and pale skin. The boy would have seemed tall almost a giantexcept that a stooped posture diminished his appearance. He kept tapping a corner of his forehead with the fingertips of his right hand, as if in a vague salute. Lester spoke gentle words in Anglic, the only language the lad ever managed to learn. "What did you say, Jimi?"black prismacolor pencil The boy swallowed, concentrating hard. "I think the . . . um . . . the people you want t'see ... I think they're here . . . Sage Cambel." "Lark and the Danik woman?" A vigorous nod. "Um, yessir. I sent 'em to the visitors' shed ... to wait for you an' the other Great Sage. Wasblack prismacolor pencilthat right?" "Yes, that was right, Jimi." Lester gave his arm a friendly squeeze. "Please go back now. Tell Lark I'll be along shortly." A broad grin. The boy turned around to run the way he came, awkward in his eagerness to be useful. There goes the other kind of human black prismacolor pencil comes to this place, Lester thought. Our special ones . . . The ancient euphemism tasted strange. At first sight, it would seem people like Jimi fit the bill. Simpler minds. Innocent. Our ideal envoys to tread the Path. black prismacolor pencilInsighturs, hoons, and g'Keks who were sent here by their respective races in order to do that. To lead the way. By the standards of the scrolls, these ones aren 't dam- aged. Though simple, they aren't flawed. They are leaders. But no one can say that of Jimi. All sympathy aside, he is injured, incomplete. Anyone can see that. We can and should love him, help him, befriend him. But he leads humanity nowhere. black prismacolor pencil black prismacolor pencil192 David B r i n f i n i r y ' s Shore 193 Lester signaled to his blue qheuen colleague, using an urslike shake of his head to indicate that their appointment had arrived. She responded by turning her visor cupola in a quick series of GalTwo winks, flashing that she'd be along shortly. Lester turned and followed Jblack prismacolor pencilimi's footsteps, trying to shift his thoughts back to the present crisis. To the problem of the Jophur battleship. Back to urgent plans he must discuss with the young heretic and the woman from the stars. There was a dire proposalfarfetched and darkly danger- ousthey must be asked to accept.