Jal studied the computer screen, shocked. It had typed in “jungle mammals,” with no results. After trying “Animals of the mountains” and “land mammals of Shifos,” with no success, it tried “Expeditions on Shifos.”

A list of twelve items popped up. “Someone did go over the mountains!” it muttered. “They went from the south end. Hm. Same person, multiple expeditions.” As it carefully went through the search results, it studied the book descriptions. “There’s a journal with drawings. I wonder if it’s the same one that Talim gave me.”

Jal tried “map of Shifos” next. It was surprised to see that there were several detailed maps of the lower fourth of the continent. Not understanding the codes on how to access the materials, it marked the references with its electronic pad and went on. Four more ideas for searches were on its list. Jal tapped the computer desk thoughtfully, then typed “Early explorers of Zuphreon.” A list of nearly thirty items came up. Jal leaned back in the chair. “I wonder why we never learned this in school?” Again, it marked things for downloading.

When Jal was finished with its research, it took the list of bigger volumes to the front counter to download the files. It asked the librarian about the codes for the maps. “I’m Tamrie Ninala, Jal. I’ve worked here for over one hundred years and no one has ever asked about these maps. They’re all paper. The ones you are asking about were created on smaller sheets originally. We have those in display cases upstairs. The largest one is on the wall.” He led Jal to an elevator and they went up two levels. “There is the map I mentioned. The rest of this floor is a museum.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“Surely you learned it in school?”

“I don’t think so.”

“This is a place where items of historical value are stored and displayed. Each item on display has a tag that tells where it came from. The maps you are asking about are over here.” He helped Jal locate the maps it was looking for and returned to the front desk.

Jal sat for a long time studying the maps. It compared them to a simplified one it had created from the typographical one it had made with Dr. Gyasi. After it finished, it stood up and walked through the exhibits. It noticed several plants near a window and stopped to look them over. “What are these? I’m sure that I’ve never seen anything like them in my books. I wonder where they came from.”

Eventually Jal went back to Tamrie. “Would it be possible to duplicate two of the maps I was looking at so one can overlay the other?”

“Certainly.” As the librarian scanned the maps and sized them to match, he asked Jal, “Why are you so interested in these?”

“I’m working on a research project on biomes.”

“Are you from Shifos?” Jal explained that it was from the Iragos Peninsula. When the librarian raised its eyebrows in surprise, he asked why Jal wasn’t studying a biome of Trazene.

“Everyone else will be studying the biomes of Trazene. I wanted to do something different.” Jal said simply. “I’m wondering if you can tell me about the plants that are by the window. I don’t recognize them. Are they from here on Shifos? Does someone come in to care for them?”

Together they went back to look at the plants. Jal waited as the android considered the question. “Those are from a location that is directly north of Jeparu, Naynur. It was along a stream in the grassland. They are very different, aren’t they?”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were manmade. The veins seem almost metallic. Do you know if there is metal in the potting mix?”

The librarian laughed. “I have no idea, but I can put you in touch with the caretaker. You must have a great interest in science.”

“I do. I’m training to be an herbologist, and am considering going into the medical field.” Jal thanked him for all of his help.

“Are you looking for more resources, or do you have enough?”

“If there are others, I’m very interested.”

“Try the university library in Kop. They have information about the attempts that were made to cross the continent starting in Haybuti.”

Jal contacted Taryn and she suddenly appeared in front of it, leaning against a stack of cases. “I was waiting for you. You were here a long time.”

“I found a bunch of information!” Jal said enthusiastically.

“Good. It’s time for lunch. Then you will spend the afternoon with Jan.”

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“Today?”

“Jan contacted me a while ago and said it needed you this afternoon.”

“What about my appointment with Master Avina?”

“I’ve already contacted her and rescheduled it.” Jal blinked and shook its head. “You are annoyed.”

“Of course I’m annoyed! I stayed up late last night, reviewing for this exam! What is it that’s so important?”

“Jan didn’t say.” She transported Jal and the stack of luggage to “The Grove,” a new restaurant.

Over lunch, Sage Elvan and Victor ben Nacri discussed the increasing tension in the disputed territory on Shifos. Jal, angry about the schedule change, didn’t say much as it picked its way through a salad.

“Is there a problem, Jal?” Sage Elvan asked, after the dishes for the main course had been removed.

“This conversation needs to be private,” it responded.

“We’re supposed to meet with the Haybuti delegation today.”

“Then we’ll discuss it after the meeting.”

“I don’t want you walking into that angry. What is going on?”

Jal hesitated. “I was supposed to have an important exam this afternoon. I was up late studying for it. Is this why my appointment with Master Avina was changed? You really need me at these negotiations?”

“Yes, I do. I wasn’t aware that you had a major exam today.”

“You have complete access to my schedule, Master. I would appreciate advance notice of things like this.”

Sage Elvan took a drink and swallowed. “Would you like to take your exam then transport to join me?”

“No. Taryn has already changed that appointment.”

“Taryn, you knew Jal had an important exam, and didn’t remind me when I asked you to transport Jal?” She didn’t respond to its question. “Taryn?”

“The appointment has already been changed.”

“We’ll discuss this matter when we return home,” Sage Elvan said, frustrated.

Not too long after the meal, Sage Elvan and Jal stood in a lot where various types of vehicles could be rented. They chose a lightweight speeder that was designed to fly at various elevations above the ground. “Where are we?” Jal asked curiously.

“In Darej.”

“In the contested area?” Jal whispered, wide-eyed. “I thought you didn’t want me here!”

“I don’t.”

“I thought you said we were meeting with the Haybuti.”

“I lied. But we’re here now. Once we’re on our way, we’ll find a place to change clothes.” Under a clump of trees, the two peeled off their uniforms, donned work clothes that Taryn had assembled for them, and repacked their cases.

“What are we doing, Master?”

“We’re going mountain-climbing, Jal.”

“What?” It was nearing dusk. “Master, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that mountain-climbing in low-light or night conditions is not a good idea.”

“You don’t need to tell me. Here’s what you need to know. We’re meeting with a small cadre of Zebrans who are willing to share information regarding something they’ve found in the territory. They want us to hear what they have to say about it and about the conflict. There are two young people who are going to meet us at a local bar. We’ll follow them on the premise that we’re going mountain-climbing in the morning. When we reach our destination, we’ll meet with the cadre. If our conversations don’t make the progress that we need by the third day, we’ll make our way back to Darej.”

“I thought that soldiers were stopping vehicles and searching them for weapons,” Jal responded.

“They are. We have no weapons. If we find ourselves in a situation we can’t talk ourselves out of, we’ll use the communicators and the Protectorate will transport us out.” Sage Elvan shared more of the details as the speeder rose into the air.

Jal watched the map on the dashboard anxiously as Sage Elvan flew the craft just above the trees.

“Why aren’t we using lights?” Jal demanded.

“To avoid detection.”

Jal was stunned. “How many other people are flying around without lights?”

“Let’s not think about that.” Sage Elvan followed the route laid out with little variance. There was a thud as something hit the back of the vehicle. “That’s probably an owl or something.”

“Master, owls don’t start fires in the storage section!”

“Can you put it out?”

“I think so.” Jal unbuckled the straps, stood up unsteadily, and grabbed what it thought was an old blanket. It tried to suffocate the flames. “I can’t get it out, Jan.” Jal wrapped the blanket around the cylindrical item and hefted it over the side of the speeder. It burst into flames and exploded as it hit the ground.

“If we’re going to go mountain climbing, why are we sneaking around?”

“Trust me, it’s better this way,” Sage Elvan muttered. It had been trying to watch the navigation map, and testing out various buttons. A panel slid aside and a yellow lights turned on. Two red dots appeared on a small sonar screen.

“Master! There are two vehicles at fourteen degrees! Coming this way fast!” Sage Elvan slowed, dropped in altitude, put the front lights on, and followed a marked traffic line, as if it were a hovercraft.

Jal watched the front lights of the vehicles as they passed above. Several minutes passed and Jal spoke. “They’re gone, but there’s something at 140 degrees. It’s some distance behind us.”

“We’re going back up,” Jan decided. “We can go faster that way.” Again, it turned the lights off.

“There’s traffic at 140, 200, and 270,” Jal responded. With Jal watching the traffic around them, Sage Elvan and Jal crossed the widest part of the contested area without lights.

Several hours later, only minutes from their destination, Jal spoke. “There is a vehicle coming this way from 25 degrees.”

“I see them. Watch their lights.”

“Red, yellow, yellow, red.”

“That’s our contact. We’ll stop here for drinks.” A few minutes later, the pair wandered into the local bar. Sage Elvan found a seat at a table in the back and placed an order for a small meal. As they ate, they studied the customers.

Two adolescent Zebrans entered. “Show me your ID!” the bartender demanded. Without a word, the two displayed the documents, then asked for drinks at the counter. Muscular and gray-skinned,Jal guessed that they were about two meters tall, but likely could pack a good punch.

After they were served, the pair sat down and began talking loudly about mountain-climbing.

“Those are our contacts,” Sage Elvan whispered. “When they go out, we’ll wait another minute or so, then go out too.”

Sage Elvan and Jal were able to finish most of their meal before the two young men got up and left. Sage Elvan signaled the waitress for the bill and paid her, then led the way out to the speeder. As Jal circled around the front of the speeder to the passenger side, a pair of hands reached out from the trees, covered Jal’s mouth, and pulled it to the ground.