She is, yes. I'll send for her. Is there anyone else who should be on the next plane?

One of the biologists mentioned a colleague who studies evolutionary history. If they are interested, I would enjoy speaking to them. He gives a name. Other than that, I suppose ambassadors from any other countries that have not sent actual delegations would be welcome. If there are any.

I'll let them all know they're invited!

Good.

Next, he asks the country that Bloom picked about her accommodation to describe what they've found or made for her.

She will be content once settled but would surely find the process of settling irritating, so I would like to make sure things happen smoothly by seeing how you plan to accommodate her and making suggestions if necessary.

Baravi has cleared out a warehouse with a truck parking lot that should give her enough space to take off, three miles from the botanical garden she likes.

Yes, I think that's suitable. When would be a good time to fly her and her belongings there? I can land directly on the truck lot.

We're ready whenever you are!

He asks Bloom. Bloom asks if anyone here is likely to also be there. He says 'probably not'. Bloom asks if he found someplace good for her and he tells her to think of it like a large rectangular cave, all yours for as long as your study lasts, with room to fly off just outside and near enough to the nice garden that it's a fairly short trip. And if you want paint or fabrics or planters or lights and the like they will surely be able to arrange those things given a day or two.

Bloom is ready to go now. Seeker sees no reason to delay it. He gets exact coordinates from the Baravi representative and lets Tapa know for air traffic control purposes, and then they're off.

Seeker's starship is curved and damages the pavement from sheer weight resting on a small surface when it lands on the truck lot, but it doesn't wobble. Bloom pops out to investigate the place.

It's pretty boring-looking; there's paint, but it's parking space lines and arrows and building labels, not decorative. The warehouse door slides sideways to open.

Symbols do not really need to be artful. She peers inside the building and paces a quick circuit of the interior, keeping watch for a local Amentan to address.

It's fairly plain in there. Columns support the roof. There's a blue in a corner, who stands up from his folding chair when she enters. Welcome!

Columns, because this is a thin-walled building and not a proper cave. Oh well.

Hello. I am welcomed. This place will be good enough as a temporary home. It's more like a real cave than anything else out there, I'm sure. Are you the one I should speak to for arranging visitors to study?

Yes, I'm coordinating that - and my colleague, who'll be here on shifts in case you want something at an irregular hour. I'm Ruan Morlou.

I am Creator Of Flourishing, Rising From Solid Earth Into The Bloom Of Beautiful Color, Whose Eye For Beauty Is Matched By The Skill To Create It. Long names, self-chosen, are traditional among Draak. 'Bloom' will suffice for most purposes.

I am not yet sure what will make the most sense for my study. At first I need to develop a working understanding of Amentans in my own perspective and framework - this simply requires watching a wide variety of Amentans exist and go about their business in a variety of contexts and conditions. After that I will want to narrow my focus and see the same people every day as spring begins. Some who spring little and some who spring much - some who expect a baby this year and some who don't. Otherwise, a variety.

We're already putting out advertisements for volunteers, I don't think it'll be hard to find plenty.

I think for the first part it may be easiest to simply wander the streets while seeing people, or lie down in a building somewhere busy and see the comings and goings of a whole day. There are many, many people. I suppose a geneticist or two would also be helpful. Usually I have to figure out things from scratch but your people know your own Essence.

We'll find you Amentan geneticists - any particular kind? Not every building has room for you but most streets do, and you'd fit in a medium-sized or larger train station without congesting traffic too badly, lots of people come and go through those.

I don't really know what kinds of geneticists you have. Perhaps the first one you find will be able to recommend a specialty based on my questions? A train station would be a good place to start. I might want to see restaurants, sports fields, schools, other such places... Context matters and train stations are places where everyone will be active and slightly stressed from travel.

I also would like to see the gardens and get some planters and lights and flower seeds so I can play with those when I need a break from my main study, but that's not urgent.

All right, a generalist with connections in the field. Restaurants will mostly be too small for you but we can ask for people to bring exceptions to our attention, and most parts of schools but they'll have playgrounds. What kinds of planters and lights and seeds?

I don't know enough about what you have to form a useful opinion. It will be just a hobby, anything suitable for growing a lot of flowers will do. In the meantime, I should get my things out of Seeker's ship. I thank you for the welcome, Ruan. I hope my study is successful and not too onerous on your clan.

We're delighted to accommodate you, he assures her.

So she goes and fetches a giant basket in and out of an airlock on the side of Seeker's ship, full of metal nuggets, geodes and crystals, animal skins and feathers and flowers preserved in clear blocks, dumping all the stuff into one great big waist-high pile in a corner in multiple trips. A few objects get treated more carefully and lined up on the floor.

I will be very upset if anyone takes my Treasure. And I will notice.

...would you like me to have extra security posted?

That would be helpful. There are so many of you that a thief would not necessarily be easy to find and punish.

It's sometimes a challenge, yes. I'll have them step it up.