thing moving. After that you just enjoy the
trip, of course making sure the water is feeding to your boiler all
right, that your pressure stays up, your fire is hot enough, all your
bearings are lubricated and the rest...."

Jason looked on astounded as Edipon did a little jig around the room,
holding his robe up above his bony knees. Bouncing with excitement he
jabbed his knife into the table top and rushed over to Jason and
grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him until his chain rattled.

"Do you know what you have done?" he asked. "Do you know what you have
said?"

"I know well enough. Does this mean that I have passed the exam? Was I
right?"

"I don't know if you are right or not. I have never seen the inside of
one of the Appsalan devil-boxes." He danced around the room again.
"You know more about their ... what do you call it, _engine_ ... than
I do. I have only spent my life tending them and cursing the people
of Appsala who keep the secret from us. But you will reveal it to us!
We will build our own engines and if they want water-of-power they
will have to pay dearly for it."

"Would you mind being a little bit clearer," Jason pleaded. "I have
never heard anything so confused in my entire life."

"I will show you, man from a far world, and you will reveal the
Appsalan secrets to us. I see the dawn of a new day for Putl'ko
arriving." He opened the door and shouted for the guards, and for his
son, Narsisi, who arrived as they were unlocking Jason who recognized
him as the same droop-eyed and sleepy looking D'zertano who had been
helping Edipon to drive their ungainly vehicle.

"Seize this chain my son and keep your club ready to kill this slave
if he makes any attempt to escape. Otherwise do not harm him, for he
is very valuable. Come."

He tugged on the chain, but Jason only dug his heels in and did not
move. They looked at him, astonished.

"Just a few things before we go. The man who is to bring the new day
to Putl'ko is not a slave, let us get that straight before this
operation goes any further. We'll work out something with chains or
guards so I can't escape, but the slavery thing is out."

"But--you are not one of us, therefore you must be a slave."

"I've just added a third category to your social order. Employee.
Though reluctant, I am still an employee, skilled labor, and I intend
to be treated that way. Figure it out for yourself. Kill a slave and
what do you lose? Very little if there