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 of the cloth near the entrance shaded imperceptibly into ultramarine。 A low table of dark wood stood near one wall； with cushions scattered all around it。 On the table sat a board painted in many colors； Simon thought it a map until he recognized it as a place to play the game called shent； which he had seen Jiriki do in his hunting lodge。 He remembered Aditu's challenge。 The pieces； he guessed； were in the intricate wooden box sitting beside it on the table top。 The only other item on the table was a stone vase containing a single branch from a flowering apple tree。
〃Sit down； Snowlock； please。〃 Aditu waved her hand。 〃I believe Jiriki has a visitor。〃
Before Simon could follow her suggestion； the room's far wall began to billow。 A section flew up as if it had torn free。 Someone dressed in bright green； whose braided hair was a jarringly contrasting shade of red； stepped through。
Simon was surprised at how quickly he recognized Jiriki's uncle； Khendraja'aro。 The Sitha was muttering gruffly in what seemed to be fury…seemed； because Simon could see no discernible emotion on his face at all。 Then Khendraja'aro looked up and spotted Simon。 His angular face blanched； as though the blood had run out of him like water from an upended pail。
〃Sudhoda'ya！ hi…isi'ye…a Sudhoda'ya！〃 he gasped； his voice full of an anger so astonished as to seem like something else altogether。
Khendraja'aro dragged his slender； beringed hand slowly across his eyes and face as if trying to wipe away the sight of gangly Simon。 Unable to do so； Jiriki's uncle hissed in almost feline alarm； then turned on Aditu and began to speak to her in rapid； quietly liquid Sithi that nonetheless strengthened the suggestion of spitting rage。 Aditu absorbed his tirade expressionlessly； her deep； gold…shot eyes wide but unfrightened。 When Khendraja'aro had finished； she answered him calmly。 Her uncle turned and regarded Simon once more； making a series of strangely sinuous gestures with his splayed fingers as he listened to her measured response。
Khendraja'ro took a deep breath； letting a preternatural calm overtake him until he stood motionless as a pillar of stone。 Only his bright eyes seemed alive； burning in his face like lamps。 After several moments of this overwhelming stillness he walked from the room without a word or sideways glance； padding silently down the corridor to the door of Jiriki's house。
Simon was shaken by the unmistakable force of Khendraja'aro's anger。
〃You said something about breaking rules。。。？〃 he asked。
Aditu smiled strangely。 〃Courage； Snowlock。 You are Hikka Staja。〃 She brushed her fingers through her hair； a curiously human gesture； then pointed to the flap where her uncle had entered。 〃Let us go in to my brother。〃
They stepped through into sunlight。 This room； too； was made of fluttering cloth； but the fabric of one long wall had been rolled and drawn up to the ceiling； beyond this opening the hill