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limited. I'm not good at hiding my beliefs, and they are not the easiest beliefs to hold these days. I've fought the notion of re-opening for three years now. It will not die. But I can't help believing that no good will come of it. 'You can't go home again.' Especially if you can never decide where home is. We're in a delicate time. Shortages, weariness. I see the inevitability, someday, of re-opening .... But not now! Not until we have finished our tasks on Earth." Farren Siliom regarded Olmy with an expression near pleading. "I'm as curious as Senator Tikk, I'm afraid.

What are your opinions about the Way?"

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Olmy shook his head slightly. "I'm resigned to living without it, Set President."

"Yet you won't be able to renew your body parts soon . . . or are the shortages already acute?"

"They are," Olmy admitted.

"You'll resign yourself to city memory willingly?"

"Or death," Olmy said. "But that won't be for years."

"Do you miss the challenges, the opportunities?"

"I try not to worry about the past," Olmy said. He was being less than candid, but he had learned long before when to be open, and when not.

"You've been an enigma for all your centuries of service, Ser Olmy. So the records tell me. I won't press you. But in your brief.., considerations of the problem, have you thought of what might happen to us, should we re-open the Way?"

Olmy did not answer for a moment. The president seemed to know more about his recent activities than Olmy found comfortable. "The Way could be reoccupied by Jarts, Ser."

"Indeed. Our eager neo-Geshels tend to overlook that problem. I can't.

I'm not unaware of your researches. I believe you show extreme foresight."

"Ser?"

"Your researches in city memory and the Thistledown libraries. I have my own active rogues, Ser Olmy. You seem to be accessing information with a direct bearing on re-opening, and you've been studying for years, at some personal cost, I imagine." Farren Siliom regarded him shrewdly, then turned back to the railing, knocking it lightly with the knuckles of one hand. "Officially, I'm releasing you from any further duties. Unofficially, Page 32

I urge you to continue your studies."

Olmy picted assent.

"Thank you for your work. Should you have any further thoughts, by all means let me know. Your opinions are valued, whether or not you think we need them."

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