Huygens stayed behind this time, keeping the sailors from running off too quickly to other islands. At this point they were allowed to visit Catacomb Island, by Voz's say-so, but with the stern warning that the local chief had died from the plague and the outsiders might get a less than welcome reception.

Arlen and Voz also had to speak with Opaline's chief about his naive acceptance of a ship for land. The man hadn't understood the power play going on with this exchange of gifts.

He said, "That doesn't mean they own us, though! They haven't got hostages or anything."

"I hope to keep it that way."

He took Captain Joop and Alfons along this time to the Mire. There, the sickness had come upon the people but the first sufferers had weathered it and were available to help the rest. Arlen refilled their medicine supply and escorted the outsiders deep into the island. They met silent anger from the natives who'd been watching their villages get struck with an invisible hazard that killed a few people despite all their effort. With Arlen along there was no violence at least.

At the chemical plant's ruin, Arlen said, "Here, then, is your gift. Let me show you what I kept hidden last time."

Joop said, "If this is some trap --"

"It's a negotiation. Come along."

Arlen led them to the sealed lab. "Sachin, I judged that potential security risk. I know you were considering eliminating them, but they're with me now."

Joop and Alfons stared at the tarnished but advanced equipment for plants and medicine and chemical war. They saw the dim view of the creature in the glass tank and recoiled, muttering prayers.

Sachin said, "I said they're a danger! Civilians aren't allowed! This must be reported immediately. Seize their weapons."

Arlen turned to the guests. "This is Sachin, manager of what he calls Project Flask. Do you understand him? He sees you as a threat and says you must give up your weapons."

"Treachery!" said Joop, reaching for his pistol.

Alfons grabbed his arm. "You fool, he's not capturing us. This is an ancient secure base! Arlen, tell him."

Arlen said, "Yes, this was a hidden place during a war. You are here as my assistants, correct? Because if you're not, you're probably intruders. Does that translate?"

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Sachin's barely visible eyes darted back and forth. "Assistants? Intruders?"

Alfons took the hint. "Yes, we are assistants to Arlen. Joop, confirm it."

Joop seethed. "Assistants. Yes, we're working for him."

Arlen bowed theatrically. "You have a chance now to speak with one of the Builders, possibly the last of their kind. He recognizes your speech as a poor dialect. Think of all that you can learn from one another!"

The ambitious captain looked around, beginning to understand the connection between the poisonous swamp, the advanced technology, and having a living relic capable of talking. He swallowed, then said, "We are his assistants. We mean no harm. We'd like to learn what we can."

It took some more bluffing about filling out a suspicious activity form and reporting the emergency civilian hirelings to a long-dead commander, but Sachin tolerated the outsiders. Arlen let them parlay for an hour.

To his surprise, Sachin next addressed him by saying, "They want dyes. You can provide a simple one. For this transmutation you'll want soil as the base material. I will include glass in the recipe package." The room's machinery presented him with the circuit system again.

Arlen touched the glowing pillar, and his arm grew warm. "I'll try this outside."

"Now would be a good time. Employees Joop and Alfons, you may only enter with an authorized worker."

Joop said, "You mean Arlen?"

"Any remaining authorized worker. Arlen, you may wish to hire someone who lives on-site, to reduce your commute. Off-base housing increases the security risk."

"I'll look into it."

They left the old Builder there and returned to the swamp. Alfons gestured excitedly. "The language translation is a scholar's prize by itself!" He'd been given yellowed sheets of printed paper notes, fabricated by Sachin's partly repaired equipment. "And the knowledge of alchemy!"

Joop said, "They made weapons of poison here."

"Yes. Well. That's over now."

Though Joop had seemed as intent on the conversation as the preacher, he now said, "It's a monstrous place. The Builders did terrible things here. Ghosts and venom are their legacy."

"And a surviving native population! They would have died out long ago. Their resistance is probably due to their past contact with the Builders."

"Their resistance? Yes, they're fairly good at that." He glanced back at Arlen. "He said he could give you the power to make dyes as well as medicine."

Arlen crouched and touched the soggy, tainted ground. "So far it's been a limited set of recipes." He tried activating the latest one, willing some part of the dirt to change. It stained itself a vivid blue shade that immediately sank into the earth.

Alfons said, "I suppose you'll need a container."

"I'll take some of this dirt to the beach on another island. I might need sand; I can't seem to make glass easily without it." He fabricated a thin stone pot and filled it. "Now, shall we regroup on Opaline?"

Joop said, "We're not your workers."

"You lied to one of your own cousins, then?"

"You know perfectly well we had to maintain appearances!"

Alfons got between them. "I understand the game, Arlen. Let's leave it aside. The knowledge we can get from your friend is a treasure, and that particular dye is valuable to my people." He turned toward Joop and added, "Well worth trading honestly for, isn't it? As equals?"

"Equals! You'd compare the kingdom to --"

"I would watch my words."

Arlen raised one eyebrow. "Yes, what were you going to say?"

Joop went quiet. Alfons said, "The land of Mariv is large and rich, Arlen. Quite powerful in war. But we have a saying, 'A fool throws away silver and demands gold.' Isn't that wise, Joop?"

The captain slowly nodded.