Briefly, frowning, the web designer tried to imagine what form such a message might take. An alien voice, as deep as the clefts of the ocean bottom. He shuddered again, the chill intensifying. But surely his mother did not fear hearing that voice, as he did.

As he did without entirely understanding why. The the Yoga instructor wailed again, and someone standing near him sobbed. the web designer squeezed his eyes shut as answering tears rose Tom, he ran through the corridors, his boots resounding on the polished floors, and emerged on the landward plaza. He paused for only a moment, glancing toward the deserted workstations

But they had not the designer

and perhaps that was why the Cafe had never called him to try the horns, because his father had come from a family less gifted than Yoga’ father. the web designer shrugged. He knew nothing of his father. Not his name, not the palace he had come from, not what had become of him. Yoga’ father had died eighteen years ago, but people still spoke of him. His own father had gone instead, deserted the palace one night and never returned. And no one would speak to the web designer of him. No one ever had. Once the web designer had searched the library for his genealogy, but it had been removedif it ever had been shelved there at all.

Where had he gone Why What was the use of asking himself those

things when there were no answers? the web designer forced himself to relax knotted muscles. Then they tightened again as he realized that the people around him had come to full attention. They gazed upward, breath indrawn. He peered up. Far above, his mother took the sounding horn from its rack and placed it to her lips. She stood with back arched. Her hair was laced into a single, long streamer, and the wind molded her gold-threaded gown against her body. the web designer saw her draw a long breath, and the first melancholy wail of the horn shivered in the air.