by a phalanx of smaller Nines or Twelves.
He wondered briefly if there was any significance to seeing all these domed spaces inside this domed building that was inside a domed city--not at all unlike the ride they had just taken on a spherical ship inside a spherical ship. Did that speak of some deep-set Vixan need to have some physical space and yet not feel exposed? Did it reveal some Vixan obsession with domes and spheres--perhaps because they very roughly resembled the rounded main body of a Vixa? Or was it just a local, temporary, architectural fad?
Their escort came to another of its abrupt halts outside one of a cluster of domes near the center of the greater dome, then led them to a fire-engine-red sub-dome. As with the larger dome of which it was a part, it was not the largest--but it was one of the largest, and adjacent to the largest of all.
Great, Jamie thought. I'm here less than an hour and they've already got me checking the size and positions of the buildings and the type of escort Vixa to determine status. "It must be catching," he muttered.
"What?" said Hannah.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"We have arrived," said Brox. "We must wait until we are summoned. That could take thirty seconds, or three hours. We must be patient. I do not know what, exactly, will happen once we enter. The rituals vary, and I know nothing of this particular Subhouseholder. But I can assure you that you will not be harmed in this time, or in this place. I will escort you in. Speak only when spoken to, and only when a reply is truly required. Use no honorifics, such as 'sir' or 'madam' or 'Great One' or whatever. Only a Vixan may address a Grand Vixan of exalted rank in that manner. Keep your answers short, literal, and truthful. Make no attempt at humor. Ask no questions."
Even with those instructions, or perhaps in spite of them, Jamie felt sorely tempted to make a joke. But either Hannah was a mind reader, or they had been partners long enough for her to know him a little too well. The expression of warning on her face would have silenced anyone. He nodded his agreement and left it at that.
Their escort kept in formation around them, standing utterly still. Even the two simulants remained in line and motionless. There were two Sixes, with escort groups, to their left, obviously waiting to be summoned as well. Their escorts didn't move at all either, but the Vixa being escorted didn't seem obliged to freeze in place. They remained inside the perimeters of their escorts, but they were moving around inside the spaces, using their manipulator arms to work with what appeared to be the Vixan equivalent of datapads. Reading the newspaper in the waiting room, Jamie decided.
He was tempted to get "out" of their escort and walk around a little, see what there was to be seen, but it didn't seem worth the risk of misunderstanding--or worse. So he stayed with Hannah and Brox, in an absurd caricature of waiting in the car.
Suddenly, without any signal that they could perceive, their escort started moving again. Jamie had expected that they would have to wait their turn behind the escort Vixa who were already present, but apparently their calculated status entitled them to jump the line. That's a good thing, Jamie told himself. Probably.
Their escort marched them toward the blank wall at the base of the dome. A door slid open at the last moment, and in they went, the door snapping shut behind them.
The interior was much dimmer than the outside, and it was hard to make out much detail immediately. The first things to hit Jamie were the heat, and the smell. It had to be at least thirty degrees Celsius, maybe higher, in the chamber, and, in those first few seconds, the sickly-sweet scent of decomposing flesh was almost overpowering. Jamie had to suppress the impulse to gasp, or cover his mouth. Hannah was having the same trouble. He glanced behind himself, and saw that Brox seemed not only unaffected, but slightly surprised by their
He wondered briefly if there was any significance to seeing all these domed spaces inside this domed building that was inside a domed city--not at all unlike the ride they had just taken on a spherical ship inside a spherical ship. Did that speak of some deep-set Vixan need to have some physical space and yet not feel exposed? Did it reveal some Vixan obsession with domes and spheres--perhaps because they very roughly resembled the rounded main body of a Vixa? Or was it just a local, temporary, architectural fad?
Their escort came to another of its abrupt halts outside one of a cluster of domes near the center of the greater dome, then led them to a fire-engine-red sub-dome. As with the larger dome of which it was a part, it was not the largest--but it was one of the largest, and adjacent to the largest of all.
Great, Jamie thought. I'm here less than an hour and they've already got me checking the size and positions of the buildings and the type of escort Vixa to determine status. "It must be catching," he muttered.
"What?" said Hannah.
"Nothing. Nothing at all."
"We have arrived," said Brox. "We must wait until we are summoned. That could take thirty seconds, or three hours. We must be patient. I do not know what, exactly, will happen once we enter. The rituals vary, and I know nothing of this particular Subhouseholder. But I can assure you that you will not be harmed in this time, or in this place. I will escort you in. Speak only when spoken to, and only when a reply is truly required. Use no honorifics, such as 'sir' or 'madam' or 'Great One' or whatever. Only a Vixan may address a Grand Vixan of exalted rank in that manner. Keep your answers short, literal, and truthful. Make no attempt at humor. Ask no questions."
Even with those instructions, or perhaps in spite of them, Jamie felt sorely tempted to make a joke. But either Hannah was a mind reader, or they had been partners long enough for her to know him a little too well. The expression of warning on her face would have silenced anyone. He nodded his agreement and left it at that.
Their escort kept in formation around them, standing utterly still. Even the two simulants remained in line and motionless. There were two Sixes, with escort groups, to their left, obviously waiting to be summoned as well. Their escorts didn't move at all either, but the Vixa being escorted didn't seem obliged to freeze in place. They remained inside the perimeters of their escorts, but they were moving around inside the spaces, using their manipulator arms to work with what appeared to be the Vixan equivalent of datapads. Reading the newspaper in the waiting room, Jamie decided.
He was tempted to get "out" of their escort and walk around a little, see what there was to be seen, but it didn't seem worth the risk of misunderstanding--or worse. So he stayed with Hannah and Brox, in an absurd caricature of waiting in the car.
Suddenly, without any signal that they could perceive, their escort started moving again. Jamie had expected that they would have to wait their turn behind the escort Vixa who were already present, but apparently their calculated status entitled them to jump the line. That's a good thing, Jamie told himself. Probably.
Their escort marched them toward the blank wall at the base of the dome. A door slid open at the last moment, and in they went, the door snapping shut behind them.
The interior was much dimmer than the outside, and it was hard to make out much detail immediately. The first things to hit Jamie were the heat, and the smell. It had to be at least thirty degrees Celsius, maybe higher, in the chamber, and, in those first few seconds, the sickly-sweet scent of decomposing flesh was almost overpowering. Jamie had to suppress the impulse to gasp, or cover his mouth. Hannah was having the same trouble. He glanced behind himself, and saw that Brox seemed not only unaffected, but slightly surprised by their
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