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narrowing her eyes at her brother and sister.
    We aren’t, really, Zara,
Laria said, somewhat chastened. Then she turned to Tip and asked it if there was a chance to see the ’Dini living quarters, or if that would be considered an intrusion.
    Tip got to its feet, chattering a comment to the marked ’Dini and the others were instantly off their tails and gesturing the Humans toward the door.
    â€œI gather we’re to inspect,” Thian said, grinning from ear to ear and signaling Tip that he was very pleased to be accorded such an honor.
    Having had ’Dinis roommates in their own quarters all their lives, it was somewhat of a surprise to see what ’Dinis considered suitable accommodations. Heated pools were featured on the lowest level of the five dormitories they were shown. Hatches led from the spacious pool area back into service areas, or so Thian suggested to his sisters. In the foyer of the main entrance, the walls were full of racks fashioned to hold the flying belts which the ’Dinis used for transportation. On the two upper levels, for the ’Dinis preferred to spread out rather than up, long dark corridors bisected the building and on either side were doors into smaller apartments. These included a main room, never very large, the ’Dini equivalent of a water closet—which was, in truth, a closet—andseveral sleeping rooms: with what Laria called bunk beds, usually four in each tier, two and three tiers across every wallspace. A small locker was fastened to the end of each bed and in that special personal possessions were kept. There seemed to be no blankets or pillows and Laria wondered that their ’Dinis had always used such comforts.
    Adaptable, aren’t they?
Thian told his sister as they did the rounds, expressing appropriate approval by signals. Their four ’Dinis returned with signals of pleasure at their responses. Zara was too awed by her surroundings to have any other reaction than a good long look around her.
    I wonder why they don’t have any windows at all,
Laria said to Thian, having noticed the omission.
That’d be smarter than those lighting bars.
    For us, maybe, but let’s not ask until we leave here,
Thian said.
    I wasn’t going to,
Laria said, a little miffed that her brother thought her so lacking in tact.
    Didn’t think you were. Hey, they do have exhaust fans in the ceilings. Or that’s what they look like. Small ones over each bed unless those round things are lights, too. So have our ’Dinis been living in the lap of luxury, or slumming it?
    Thian!
    He grinned, unabashed.
    Their spontaneous tour ended near the entrance to one of the hibernatories. Thian asked Mur if there were five facilities to accommodate the numbers of ’Dinis or to accommodate different continents. Continents, he was informed, so that there would always be a full crew of workersavailable in the mines. ’Dinis would honor their contracts.
    â€œNever doubted that for a minute,” Thian said, smiling and nodding approval at Mur.
    Although the three young people would never have intruded on such a sacred place, the ’Dinis were suddenly herding them adroitly back to the parking area. The mine whistle blew for a change of shift which speeded up their farewells.
    That evening while dinner was being prepared, Laria had a lot of questions for her parents.
    Mother, would you say that the ’Dini quarters are luxurious? Or just basic?
    Flk and Trp informed us in no uncertain terms,
Damia replied,
that the quarters are of a very high standard and everyone is very pleased with them.
    Afra grinned, looking over at Laria from where he was feeding Petra her supper.
Their real delight is the heated pools. Those would apparently have made up for many other shortcomings.
    Of which we made sure there were none. Though some of the amenities they did request were a bit odd,
Damia said, frowning slightly.
    Like what?
Thian wanted to know.
The