“This is Barlennan, Charles.” The commander spoke the Flyer’s language, in which he was gradually becoming proficient. “Good to hear from you. Were we right about this little breeze?”

“It came at the time you predicted. Just a moment — yes, there is snow with it. I had not noticed. I see no dust as yet, however.”

“It will come. That volcano must have fed ten cubic miles of it into the air, and it’s been spreading for days.” Barlennan made no direct reply to this. The volcano in question was still a point of contention between them, since it was located in a part of Mesklin which, according to Barlennan’s geographical background, did not exist. “What I really wondered about, Charles, was how long this blow was going to last. I understand your people can see it from above, and should know how big it is.”

“Are you in trouble already? The winter’s just starting — you have thousands of days before you can get out of here.”

“I realize that. We have plenty of food, as far as quantity goes. However, we’d like something fresh occasionally, and it would be nice to know in advance when we can send out a hunting party or two.”

“I see. I’m afraid it will take some rather careful timing. I was not here last winter, but I understand that during that season the storms in this area are practically continuous. Have you ever been actually to the equator before?”

“To the what?”

“To the — I guess it’s what you mean when you talk of the Rim.”

“No, I have never been this close, and don’t see how anyone could get much closer. It seems to me that if we went much farther out to sea we’d lose every last bit of our weight and go flying off into nowhere.”

“If it’s any comfort to you, you are wrong.