The Jupiter tacked towards the island with the sun astern and the sea flat but ruffled by the trade wind blowing off the mountains. The scent of forest washed over them, mingled with smokey cooking smells — though that might have been due to the hunger Jupiter felt. Breeze perked up and pulled himself, hand over hand, up the mast, The Jupiter healed over and the outrigger dug into the water. Jupiter had to compensate with a rapid tiller movement, while Maggie spun the kheel up faster.

Breeze came down like a grump. ‘See far… wanting.’

‘We’ll be there soon,’ said Jupiter.

Coastal sailing vessels with tall square rigged sails passed them without any notice. The stink of fish told them they were returning from fishing. In the air above the island, a squadron of skyships dropped lower in the sky and angled towards the peaks before they fell behind a low line of hills.

‘The vanziyaq — Naval skyships, will be landing in the harbour,’ said Qhawana.

‘Does Zenska have a lagoon?’ said Jupiter

‘Yes, but only to one side and it is a fringing reef, not a great lagoon like at Nezhkara — Black Spire island.’

‘So the harbour is not in the lagoon?’ said Maggie.

‘No. Zenska has a great inner water.’ Qhawana had been more active once their speed and motion of the ocean rollers had diminished. ‘A wide and deep harbour, Narushkam, in the heart of the island. A ring of high mountains, the Chilakam, surrounds the harbour but with a break to the sea where the mountains settle into the land to become hills, and finally a shallow neck, Shavaqa, where the sea breaks into the heart of the island. No coral grows near the shallows… too many streams feed Narushkam — Moon Haven. The sweet stream water kills the coral as it flows to the sea.’

As Qhawana had been speaking the terms and descriptions became clear. Slowly Jupiter and Maggie had an understanding of both the form of the island and its names. The translation effect proved especially useful now.

‘So fresh water kills the coral?’ said Maggie.

‘Where there are breaks in a fringing reef you will find streams ashore where rain flows from land to lagoon and out to sea,’ Qhawana said. ‘The coral likes the sea not the stream water. So so. The color of the water has changed now we draw close to Narushkam… the inner harbour.’

As the harbour mouth opened before them they could see the huge expanse of Narushkam.

‘This must be another crater formed by a volcano. Like Lyttleton Harbour but bigger,’ said Maggie.

‘Yeah. But more like Taupo. That’s a huge volcano too.’

‘Taupo? But that’s a lake, there’s no mountain there.’

‘Exactly. An eruption so big it destroyed the mountain leaving a hole that filled with water.’

‘I don’t believe it.’

’Believe it. Taupo was the biggest eruption in recorded history. The Romans and Chinese have told of red skies, cold weather, and failed harvests.’ Jupiter said. ‘I’m guessing this harbour is the same. Maybe bigger.’

Maggie shook her head not quite believing him.

‘It’s true. Taupo makes the biggest eruptions in the world. The largest… 5,000 years ago… was probably the biggest since the Toba volcano almost wiped humans out 70,000 years ago.’

‘Okay, okay. Enough. But this is not going to erupt anytime soon. Right?’

‘No. Nor is Taupo… probably.’

Qhawana covered the kheel with a cloth now and directed Jupiter to sail towards the harbour entrance. The outrigger wobbled about more without the steadying kheel supporting it. A pair of tall lighthouses loomed each side of the harbour entrance, one on the left cut from dazzling white stone, the other a grey that was almost black.

‘Why did you cover the kheel up?’ Maggie said.

‘This object will draw unwanted attention,’ said Qhawana. ‘You are not among friends now, though I have allies here… there are many who would take all you have.’

‘Pirates?’ said Jupiter.

‘Perhaps. The authorities work to stop them but money works for them. It is best not to tempt fate. And there are other dangers.’

‘Like any big city,’ said Jupiter.

‘Thieves and crooks of all stripes. Some would appear your friend but sell or steal if the profit was enough.’ Qhawana stood and scanned ahead. ‘And there are the Nezhnakhevo — the Blackbirders.’

‘I’m glad we came here. Such a good idea.’ said Maggie.

‘In any city there are the dark sides,’ said Qhawana. ‘However you are safer here than you would have been alone on Nezhkara — Black Spire.’

‘That’s true,’ said Jupiter. ‘I did run into Blackbirders… and pirates…’

‘And a navy pressgang,’ said Maggie.

‘Or whatever they wanted with Berg,’ said Jupiter.

‘Hmm. Yes. You understand the need for caution then?’ said Qhawana.

They sailed now through the passage between the lighthouses, and into a channel perhaps one hundred meters wide and three times as long. The channel was lined with houses that followed the colors of the lighthouses, black on one side, white on the other. And there were other differences. The black houses reached down to the water level, with jetties in front of some, others had wide steps leading straight down into the water. Boats and small canoes were tied up on this side.

The white side had a wide praya or pavement right next to the channel, beyond that a raised path wound along the base of each house. Handlers moved cargo along the Praya from boat to shore to wagon.

And the people. Not a human to be seen, but crowds of warbling and chortling manisaurs moved along the praya road, some pulled handcarts, while others rode in carriages pulled by...

‘Are those Moa?’ said Jupiter.

‘They’re just like them,’ said Maggie. ‘Huge ostrich type birds. I would never have thought they could be trained to pull carts.’

‘They’re not quite the same though,’ said Jupiter. ‘Can you see? Do they have hands and claws on their wings too?’

‘Yes. And tails. Short though, like a dog’s,’ said Maggie.

‘They’re almost like dinosaurs.’

‘But dinosaurs look like lizards, long tails, and huge teeth,’ Maggie said.

‘Yeah. But dinosaurs evolved into birds. These things are almost birds too. Beaks, and feathers… a shorter tail.’

‘Keep to the black side, to starboard,’ said Qhawana. ‘But also to the middle of the channel, away from the watcher’s houses.’

‘Why are they white and black.’

‘They are two different commercial clans. Traditionally they run the lighthouses and handle different parts of the cargo system. Traders and merchants… though the great houses are high on the mountainside above Narushkam. Their offices run here.’

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Jupiter was startled to see a series of large panels on the houses flash in different colors. The panels faced others across the channel. Over the houses a myriad of different flags and other symbols floated or waved over each house. It was almost as if they were showing off to their opponents across the channel. Then the purpose of the panels clicked in Jupiter’s mind.

‘They’re signaling one another,’ said Jupiter. ‘Flashing messages.’

‘Indeed,’ said Qhawana.’ Yes. But pay attention to your heading.’

Breeze squawked a warning from the bow, Jupiter thrust the tiller away from him, and managed to steer away from the side of a looming vessel powered by rows of oars. The sweep of the oars made it much wider than he had expected. The wind was dying, and there was only just enough way on The Jupiter to steer. Qhawana pulled a paddle out and handed it to Maggie, and began to stroke with the other. Jupiter lowered the sail and tied it down then steered as best he could through the increasing traffic of canoes, galleys, and sailing ships. None had the sort of triangular sail and rig The Jupiter used, so perhaps it was best not to call attention to the difference.

Then they were out of the channel and entering the harbour of Narushkam. The open water of the Moon Haven stretched wider in all directions than the length of Lyttleton harbour. And circular rather than long. Ringed with high forest-covered slopes on three sides. Low hills and rocky outcrops formed the side they had sailed through. The lower slopes of the mountains were covered in cascades of cubic buildings that spread and covered over the slopes. They were painted in all the colors you could imagine, as well as white, black and shades of grey between. Flags flew from towers and masts above sections of the city and you could almost see where one district blurred into another by the color and style of the flags.

The constant noise within Narushkam rivaled that of a football stadium. Not so loud you could not speak normally, but loud enough that you could not forget you were surrounded by life in constant commotion.

Away to the left on the west, a row of four tall towers rose from the edge of Narushkam’s waters. The foot of the towers stood in the harbour waters, and was ringed by wharves and jetties. They rose high above the masts of sailing ships. Arrayed about the tops of three of the towers, on cables strung from huge wooden spars made of trusses and braces, five huge skyships floated like huge balloons. The spar’s tether lines trailed all in the same direction — towards the setting sun and away from the easterly trade winds.

The huge skyships were like the one the navy had sailed to Black Spire. Around the base of the towers within cradles that floated on the water were yet more skyships, but Jupiter found it hard to see how many, the masts and support structures hid the huge flying vessels from easy view.

‘This is some place,’ said Jupiter. ‘I did not think it would be so big.’

‘No? There are some five hundred thousand here, both Man and quevantaqi. Though of our people there are a scant ten thousand. Perhaps less. This is a quevantaq city, built the way they like it, and they suffer our presence perhaps just out of habit. And we are useful. Our clan loyalty is shallow, and by tradition we can move between clans.’

‘Quevantaqi,’ Jupiter repeated the sound he heard when Qhawana spoke of manisaurs. He had begun to learn through repetition some of the language of Eoth. And there was meaning within the sound too — Two-Thumbed Hand People — manisaurs.

‘Clans?’ said Maggie.

‘In time. Like all cities Zenska is a beset with politics and rivalries, tradition and suffering. Stay close with me. I had some reputation here once… decades old. Renewed perhaps by recent events with Bamrushi’s capture. I must meet with my old colleagues to learn more.’

‘Is Berg here?’

‘Bergwash? Bamrushi?’ Qhawana sighed. ‘That is my desire.’ He renewed paddling and The Jupiter slid forward jostled by the chaotic waves of the busy harbour. Breeze stood at the bow like a figurehead, and Jupiter mused about who served who.

As they neared the shore where Qhawana had indicated, a small galley had turned to intercept them. As it raced near, the manisaur at the bow glared at them, their eyes black and forbidding. As the galley bobbed about the manisaur’s head stayed steady, tracking them, not moving up or down even as his body bounced with the motion of the rowing.

The glare and attention was intimidating. Jupiter figured that was the point — if he was the police coming to arrest them.

As the intercepting boat came closer Jupiter wanted to turn away — outrace them. He had the faster boat.

Qhawana must have read Jupiter’s concern. ‘It’s a clan agent. Let me handle this.’

‘What flag do you fly?’ the manisaur warbled. ‘Indeed no flag at all. What has befallen you? Or do you mock our laws?’

‘We have travelled far this day, and fly no flag.’

‘You are clanless?’ the official said.

‘We are clan Upanakara of the Celestial Star allied with Upariha of the Radiant Haven.’

‘Upariha I have heard of. But Upanakara is unknown to me.’

Jupiter got the impression that Qhawana had overstated things. ‘Celestial Star?’ he muttered. Perhaps Upanakara referred to his own Jupiter? But he got the sense it was not. Jupiter was Upariqami, the Radiant Star.

‘Your seal of Upariha?’

‘I have it here,’ Qhawana pulled a chain from his neck. A flat multicolored disk, a little smaller than a tennis ball in diameter, sparkled in the sun. As it hung from the chain Qhawana flicked it so the disk spun and became like a round ball but flashing and blinking colors as light caught its surface.

‘A see your seal of Upariha,’ the official said. He motioned for two soldiers or police officers to come to him in the bow of the galley. He turned to them. Silence echoed for eternity. Then, in a swift motion, the police took aim. Jupiter saw crossbows — yet complicated in some alien way. But he knew though what they were. Weapons.

‘You are to come with us. Upariha is under interdict.’

Qhawana did not suppress his look of stunned disappointment. His shoulders collapsed. Then he turned again. ‘Though Upanakara of the Celestial Star is not I believe.’

‘No. Where is the seal of Upanakara?’

‘There is no seal, we are free voyagers.’

‘And your flag? It is forbidden for free voyagers to hide their clan.’

‘Our flag flies on our sail,’ said Qhawana. He turned to Jupiter. ‘Raise your sail.’

Even before Qhawana had finished speaking Breeze had pulled at the halyard and the sail had begun to rise. Jupiter slipped over to help and together they hauled the sail up the mast to the peak. The red star of the Starling class symbol on the white sail caught the last light of the sun and seemed to glow against the deep blue of the sky.

‘The flag of our clan Upanakara,’ Qhawana announced. ‘Free voyagers of Upariha.’

‘I see. I believe I may grant you passage. But you shall report to my office in the morning. And your vessel shall be moved to the commercial dock at Eastern Sunrise. You shall not sail again until formalities have been completed. As Upariha allies you remain under interdict but with some freedom. Can I suggest you realign with clan Qunaam — Serene Haven.’

‘Your clan?’

‘The same.’ The Manisaur pulled a chain from his neck and flicked the disk. The bold flashes of color were different to Qhawana’s disk.

‘We will consider it.’

’Tomorrow. Come to Qunaam — house of Serene Haven, you will ask for me,’ he burbled this in a complicated warble.

All Jupiter got was Kanthuva-something-something officer-something. There were limits to the language ability this tulanvarqa — connexion sense had given him. He realized then — Kanthuva — Thoughtful-One. He grinned at the strangeness of it all. How much were the clans like whanau — an extended family. Or were they larger groupings — a tribe.

‘Thank you.’ Qhawana bowed his head in an awkward movement as if out of practice. The small boat was no place for formalities.

As the customs galley pulled away Qhawana directed The Jupiter to the shore.

‘If Upariha clan of the Radiant Haven is under interdict then the politics of the city have altered a lot since I have been away.’

‘What does interdict mean?’

‘That all commercial and business activities are supervised by another clan, and permission has to be granted for any commerce at all. Perhaps due to some bad debt, or political disfavor.’

‘They’re bankrupt?’ said Maggie.

Qhawana cocked his head and appeared very like a manisaur. ‘I believe that is the case. Though why or how is a mystery.’

‘And the business with the sail?’ Jupiter lowered the sail as Breeze hung from the masthead and played with the wind indicator.

‘A ruse.’ Qhawana sighed.’ Upanakara will serve as a clan name for now… until that customs agent learns more. The red star though is a fitting symbol don’t you think?’

‘Red star?’ said Maggie. ‘I always thought that was a red Russian star somehow.’

‘Perhaps we can add to it.’ Jupiter slipped past the others securing the sail to the boom again… ‘Make it our own.’

‘And a free voyager?’ Maggie said.

‘They’re traders and explorers who take clan alignment for the term of a voyage. If so… our contract would now be nullified and we need to get a new chief clan to sail under.’

‘Like you said. Politics.’ Jupiter settled back in the stern with the tiller in hand.

‘All I want to know is that we’re safe,’ said Maggie.

‘Yes. This is a civilized land. Now. Steer towards that pylon.’ He took up his regular stroke of the paddle and Jupiter had to steer to compensate until Maggie started paddling.

A tall pylon, covered in flags and a flashing panel, marked the opening of a narrow canal lined with warehouses and workshops where manisaurs worked at building or making things. They paddled through stinking waters, a stench Jupiter had not experienced before. A smell almost animal in nature, and then it was gone. Perhaps a factory lay behind them. Then Qhawana stood, with one foot on the outrigger, the other on the side of the canoe, and took up a rope fixed to the side of the high walls that lined the canal there. As he pulled The Jupiter moved much faster through the water with less effort. He maneuvered them into a side channel and to a high wooden gate where he heaved a stone, wrapped in a cord and hung from a rope above, against the door with a boom.

Qhawana motioned patience and silence until the watergate opened. They paddled into the gloom through a high tunnel under a building. The mast of The Jupiter almost scraped the underside of the side vault. The waterway opened like a courtyard lined with buildings with a walkway above high tide. In front of them now, lit by a circle of light, lay a stone jetty with green slimed steps lead to a doorway in a red stone wall.

‘This is the home of my ancestors. We will be welcomed here.’

‘Then who are they?’ said Jupiter as he pointed.

To the side and behind were five archers, both human and manisaur. All had arrows nocked and aimed at The Jupiter from windows in the buildings around the water court.

‘No further,’ came a command from above. A tall manisaur clad in a red and turquoise robe stood now in the doorway into the red stone wall. ‘Who are you, and what is your business here?’