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legs of his and have a look. A marvelous mammal, the tripodero. I wonder whether he's still alive?
    Your Instructor,
    Doctor Burnheart
     
    The lighter grew hot in Moldenke's hands. The room cooled.
    He read another letter, a short letter attached to the one he had just read:
     
    Dear Dink,
    If you sense danger, rise up. I'll be over the hedge.
    Be cautious,
    Burnheart
     
    He chewed a stonepick and watched the moons come up, fell asleep in his chair.
     
    27]
     
    She came to him as a stranger in the Tropical Garden. He first saw her figure in the banana leaves. He spaded earth ceremoniously and watched her from the corner of his eye. She tossed a banana flower at his foot and warmed him with a flow of spirit and a smile. He raised his trowel and indicated the greenhouse.
    They walked among the rows of succulents, pressing thick leaves between their fingers. She broke open the stalk of an ice plant, drew a circle on his forehead with its juices, made an x inside the circle. The space around them fell into silent patterns.
    She lifted her Indian dress and dipped a foot in the frog pool.
    Two suns were up.
    She said her name was Cock Roberta.
     
    28]
     
    The phone rang. It was Burnheart:
    “Still constipated?”
    “Yes. I tried last night. Nothing would move.”
    “Then we'll have to go full, that's all. Nothing ever works exactly right. Luckily, you don't often get to eat. You'll be needing some liquids, though. I have a test ready. Let's get this thing going. When you get here I'll personally give you an enema. Are you ready for the test?”
    “Sure. What should I do?”
    “Simple. Go to the door, open it, step into the hall, walk to the stairway, make it down the stairs, through the main gate, and into the street. If you get that far, head south for the country. Eagleman and I will be waiting for you with a soft bed and solid food. Come.”
    “I can't. Bunce has a man in the hall.”
    “Ignore the man. He isn't there, even if it seems like he is. I know Bunce's games.”
    “I hear the feet shuffling out there, inflations, deflations. Bunce has a jellyhead out there. I won't make it, Burny. I won't.”
    “You're acting fruity. I said to ignore the jelly in the hallway. Put yourself in gear. Move! We'll wait three days for you. After that, no guarantees. Leave when the moons are down and the suns are not quite up. Pick a time when the shadows are confusing. Are you with me?”
    “Yes and no.”
    “Good. Fill your pockets with gauze pads. You'll need them. The weather is a mess. Whenever you come to a juncture, angle to the right. Follow me?”
    “Yes and no.”
    “That'll do. Remember, boy. Crossing the bottoms is not so easy. You'll be tried. You'll have to be at your most alert. Stay off the stonepicks.”
    “I'm a little weak for a trip like that.”
    “Bring cigars. You'll want cigars.”
    “What about food? Liquids? ”
    “Food? Did you say food, Moldenke? Liquids? Tell me, didn't you pass the survival exams? Haven't you read the book? Consider the first line: Starving at home is a simple matter, and so on. The swamp is a banquet table, son, always set. Kick open a rotted stump. Find it crawling with protein. The right fungus is good bread. It would take a jellyhead to starve in the bottoms. Liquids? Liquids are everywhere in the bottoms. Don't talk to me about liquids. Find a water flower, suck the stem. I fail to see the problem. Take the book along. Besides, I don't think you have the luxury of a choice at this point, do you? ”
    “Maybe not. I'm beginning to have fears, Burny, buzzing up and down the spine. What should I do?”
    “Nothing. At least you're feeling something. That's enough.”
    “They'll follow me, Burny. I won't get away so easy.”
    “So will your shadow. I'm not impressed.”
    “I don't have any weapons.”
    “Wrong, Dink. You have yourself. You and Bunce are equally armed.”
    “I might be safer staying here.”
    “I doubt that. But go ahead, stay. Wait for the bloodbird