The Topic Is The Value To Society Of Divination Based On Observations Of Celestial Bodies
Tosto Eksu, known as Star Hall to Adabans and called Toksu or the Hall by locals and travelers who wanted to sound worldly, functioned as the center of town government. Beyond that, it was the most splendid building in Mosso Eksu. Any major event from concerts to weddings had to be held there unless the organizers wanted everyone to dismiss it before it started. The layout brought ancient clan meetings into the modern era by using boxes rising in columns to represent the tents of the chiefs while the common man sat in the common area, taking one out of the hundreds of seats that faced the orchestra and the elevated stage above that. Each seat had its own rug below it and a fur slung over the back as a cushion much as did the places of hunters and warriors worthy of their names in the past. In Greater Enloffenkir's buildings meant for entertainment, such luxury was ignored in favor of cramming in more chairs.
Dirant Rikelta made that observation to his box-mates, whereupon Takki became curious. “Isn't it hard to have conversations then?” In such a manner did he learn the answer to the question of etiquette which had worried the Adabans interested in attending. The audience did not shut up for a single second of the debate. Dozens of conversations went on at once, perhaps hundreds. Ommes undid the careful chair spacing to push them together and form little clubs that praised, criticized, and mocked the arguments made. Takki kept up a running translation not only of the debaters but of Imlakke's comments to which a response was evidently expected.
By the end of it, Dirant and Imlakke were exchanging a few sentence fragments directly. “I think I'm on the verge of learning Adaban (Basic),” the banker said. Not as one of those efforts at direct communication, which showed how far he had to go. “We're doing increasing business with GE firms these days. I'd like to learn the language. Honestly I invited you for selfish purposes, but I hope you're enjoying the event.”
“I am, and I hope it doesn't diminish your opinion of my own altruism if I learn Usse (Basic).”
> Ability Usse (Basic) gained.
“And there it is.”
“Mine as well. Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!” Each said that jolly word in the other's tongue.
The debate concluded, the vote was held, and the proposition put forward by Luas Taikko Hinmi's side that stargazing is of no practical value won. Everyone applauded, including the stargazers. They had no intention of changing a single thing they did, but they had enjoyed the performance. The participants and audience dispersed among the town's entertainments, many of which the government permitted to operate at later hours than usual in honor of the special occasion. Oppo Imlakke Pau again imposed on Dirant and Takki.
“Everyone wants their bankers and lawyers to be worldly these days,” he explained. “I have no intention of becoming so, but if I'm seen in public with an Adaban and a known historian's daughter, people will draw favorable conclusions.”
“It's true, Mr. Dirant. We all have to increase our worldliness to keep up. I've been making some improvements there but it's not enough, just like when Sottoski visited . . . um . . . folktales aren't very cosmopolitan, are they?” An attack of self-consciousness weighed down Takki's light steps.
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Dirant, for his part, strode along the Mosso Eksu streets without impairment. “Not when told next to a fireplace to your nieces and nephews, and yet the compilers of stories from the hills and old forests are invited to speak in Dittsen's glamorous venues. The conclusion must be that folktales told outside the culture that produced them are highly sophisticated.”
“You've really hit on something there, Mr. Dirant. Don't you think so, Imlakke? The tale of Sottoski goes . . .” And so the evening went.
Morning meant the start of the last day in Mosso Eksu for crowds of Ommes. Travelers informed one another and the natives of their plans, bought souvenirs for the folks back home, and drained out of the town like water from a colander, leaving behind something small and light. Mosso Eksu reverted to its habitual moderate activity befitting a moderately sized town as opposed to the exorbitant liveliness it had exhibited before the event.
Silapobenk Rikelta had decided to leave the next morning in order to take advantage of the souvenir-buying. “Surprisingly, we have suffered no delays thus far. We have no need to hurry to Wamkessi Toltes.” He left it there, but then took it right back up to make the implication clear. “Wamkessi Toltes is more fortress than city from all reports. There won't be much for tourists to do. Enjoy Pavvu Omme Os as much as you can after market closure today.”
“Ah, it is that way, is it?” The employees reacted along those lines when they finally got it.
Stadeskosken, as expected, did much less business that day, though the colored paper designed for use in whimsical or intimate correspondence sold well. Departing Ommes wrapped souvenirs in it. Silapobenk set about trying to devise a way to get Adabans to adopt that charming custom, and Emmeg made sure to write about it in her travel dispatches. What a thrill it was to be there for an instance of spontaneous cultural transmission.
Afterward, Silone deemed it a social obligation to call on Hewwikke Satvo Sau. He tried to drag Dirtwo along but failed, since Dirant wanted to go. “There is something else I haven't had a chance to mention. I achieved Usse (Basic) yesterday.”
“I see you have the position of Itinerant Ritualist in view.”
“Is there such a position?”
“No, but it has been discussed.”
Full of optimism about the future, the brothers reached Ink House. It was much transformed from their last visit in that the papers were gone. “They dissolved along with the gremlins. So much for Kul's idea. I decided against firing him in the end, and it'll stay that way as long as he keeps getting himself into trouble we can write about.” Hewwikke was happy to talk about the incident now that it had ended well for him as far as newsworthy material, or even novel-worthy. In his happiness, he listened with a receptive mind to Silapobenk's ideas about articles that emphasized the benefits derived from Stadeskosken's trade mission, the cordiality of its staff members who went so far as to assist with solving a bizarre monster problem unrelated to their products or services, and the desirability of encouraging the government to grant entry and market permits to that company exclusively. Other Adaban transportation and mercantile firms were still evil, of course. No one disputed that.
As for his house guests, Oppo Imlakke Pau was on the verge of his return journey north. Millim Takki Atsa had no intention of going north at all, but rather east into Yean Defiafi. “Dolbaskei is reputed to have a distortion zone I'd like to check out. We shouldn't see any fire wolves until next year and the hoarbirds won't be a problem for months more, so I thought it would be alright. By the way,” she said as if she had just then thought of it, “Mr. Dirant, do you know Desurvyai at all?”
“I have it at Basic thanks to a misspent youth.”
“I'm afraid I spent my youth too well. If you see someone armed behind you on the road, you won't ring the bells, will you? It will just be an everyday citizen from Rattap Tuik on her own trip, and maybe if she asks you to translate a phrase or two for her, you won't turn her away.”
“That sounds suspicious. No doubt she is bent on creating controversies by making people solve mysteries and so forth.”
She raised a finger. “The people who cause the mysteries deserve the blame for that, don't you think?”
“Is it blameworthy, for instance, if an employee invents a new procedure that has a few flaws in it, or ought we to praise him for his contributions to the progress of industry? During this trip, we must investigate this mystery as well.”
“Yes, we will must.” Takki curtsied. First, Dirant mused, he must assist her with that “will must” hiccup.