a Jinnjirri's removal of his or her hat indicated that the Jinnjirri was willing to risk a fairly high level of emotional vulnerability. Rowenaster inclined his gray head, clearly honored by Barlimo's unhatting gesture. He ate his stew in silence, waiting for the fifty-year-old architect to speak her mind. Barlimo took a bite of her own stew, savoring the strong taste of garlic in the meat. Finally she raised her eyes to meet Rowen's. She shrugged and said, «The Saambolin Housing Commission is sniffing around again. Got more building codes specs today in the mail. We meet none of their requirements, of course. What Jinnjirri house does?» Rowenaster nodded, his expression thoughtful behind his silver bifocals. «It's an election year, dear heart. And Gadorian's pushing for a second term in office.» «He's going to lose the Jinnjirri vote,» retorted Barlimo. «What does he care?» asked the professor mildly. «Your draw makes up a negligible portion of the city population. He's after bigger stakes: the wealthy Saambolin administrators on University Hill.» «And to think I voted for Guildmaster Gadorian,» grumbled Barlimo. «His wife's nice,» remarked the professor. «And I have some pull with her, Barlimo. Perhaps I could speak to her about the Housing Commission. Master Curator Sirrefene owes me quite a few favors,» he added, «including passing a certain struggling student some twenty years ago when I had him in my Greatkin Survey class. Made it possible for them to get married.» «Gadorian was your student?» Rowenaster nodded. «Does seem impossible that our present tyrannical Guildmaster could ever have been a struggling student, doesn't it?» «Prince of the City,» snorted the Jinnjirri derisively. «Where does he come up with these ideas?» «Academic aristocracy is making a comeback on the Hill,» said Rowenaster. «It's very trendy,» he added with a smile. «Better watch out or we'll have Timmertandi expecting us to kiss her hand when she walks in the room. Students rule, you know.» «Not in this house,» retorted Barlimo. «This is a pure dictatorship. Mine,» she added with a twinkle in her eye. Rowenaster surveyed the Jinnjirri's hair; it was turning a light shade of good-humored yellow. «That's better,» he said. The door to the kitchen swung toward them. A brown-haired, round-faced girl of nineteen walked into the room. Her movements were timid, her posture poor and lacking a spirit of self-assurance. She was the youngest and newest member of the Kaleidicopia. Her name was Mab, and she was Piedmerri born. «I'm sorry to disturb you both,» said Mab so softly that Barlimo had to strain to catch the words. The professor smiled warmly at the plump girl. Her landdraw was one of natural generosity; thus the people of this race tended to have bodies that reflected this quality. Mab started suddenly when she realized that Barlimo wasn't wearing her scarf. «Um—maybe this isn't such a good time—» she began. Barlimo chuckled. «Don't be a goose, Mab. If you're going to live in the Jinnjirri Quarter of the city, you're going to have to get used to seeing unhatted Jinnjirri.» «Yes, ma'am,» she replied dutifully, her cheeks coloring with embarrassment. Barlimo shook her head imperceptibly. She still had her doubts that Mabinhil of Matterwise would survive her stay at the Kaleidicopia. Other members of the «K"—Rowenaster included—had taken one look at the girl's innate wholesomeness and predicted she'd last no more than her trial two weeks. But Mab had surprised them all. She had not only passed the mandatory two-week «you-look-us-over-we-look-you-over» period without a snag, she was also the one person who not only paid her rent on time, but also managed to do her own chore load and often part of someone else's. As a result, Mab had endeared herself to all concerned—except Barlimo. Barlimo found Mab's goodness stifling. And manipulative. «So what can we do for you, Mab?» asked the professor kindly. «I thought—I mean, isn't there supposed to be a house meeting tonight?» «When Doogat gets here,» replied Barlimo, taking another bite of stew. Mab's smile caved in. So Doogat frightens you, thought Barlimo. So does everything else, it seems. The Jinnjirri rolled her eyes and concentrated on her dinner. Professor Rowenaster regarded Barlimo with interest. «What brings Master Doogat to one of our house meetings, Barl? They're hardly Doogat's usual fare. Besides, this one is bound to be ill-tempered.» «It is?» asked Mab nervously. «Po's the topic of discussion,» said Barlimo. «And I think you know why, Mab. That was some meeting you organized.» Rowenaster stared at the cherubic-faced Piedmerri. «Mab called the secret meeting? I don't believe it,» he said, genuinely astounded.
«People are just full of surprises in this house, Rowen,» replied the Jinnjirri, her expression unreadable. «Yes,» said the professor. «I guess so.» Then he asked, «Is it my imagination, or is everyone edgy tonight?» «Edgy?» asked Mab with increased uneasiness. She twisted a piece of her shoulder length hair around one of her fingers. «What do you mean?» The professor shrugged. «Timmer's out of sorts due to a flare up of her allergies; earlier this evening I heard Tree yelling down in the lab before he went off to do the effects for the Merry Pricksters, and Po seems more than a little unhappy that Doogat is coming for a visit.» «Tree was yelling?» asked Mab in surprise. Treesonovohn of Shroomz was a Jinnjirri. He was also the makeup and special effects artist for an all