"A sheltered upbringing?" Chamlis Amalk-ney said. "On a GSV?" Its gunmetal aura indicated puzzlement.

"She's shy."

"She'd have to be."

"I must meet her," said Gurgeh.

"You will," Boruelal said. "Soon, maybe; she said she might come with me to Tronze for the next concert. Hafflis runs a game there, doesn't he?"

"Usually." Gurgeh agreed.

"Maybe she'll play you there. But don't be surprised if you just intimidate her."

"I shall be the epitome of gentle good grace," Gurgeh assured her.

Boruelal nodded thoughtfully. She gazed out over the party and looked distracted for a second as a large cheer sounded from the centre of the hall.

"Excuse me," she said. "I think I detect a nascent commotion." She moved away. Chamlis Amalk-ney shifted aside, to avoid being used as a table again; the professor took her glass with her.

"Did you meet Yay this morning?" Chamlis asked Gurgeh.

He nodded. "She had me dressed up in a suit, toting a gun and shooting at toy missiles which "explosively dismantled" themselves."

"You didn't enjoy it."

"Not at all. I had high hopes for that girl, but too much of that sort of nonsense and I think her intelligence will explosively dismantle."

"Well, such diversions aren't for everybody. She was just trying to be helpful. You'd said you were feeling restless, looking for something new."

"Well, that wasn't it," Gurgeh said, and felt suddenly, inexplicably, saddened.

He and Chamlis watched as people began to move past them, heading towards the long line of windows which opened on to the terrace. There was a dull, buzzing sensation inside the man's head; he had entirely forgotten that coming down from Sharp Blue required a degree of internal monitoring if you were to avoid an uncomfortable hangover. He watched the people pass with a slight feeling of nausea.

"Must be time for the fireworks," Chamlis said.