and I don’t think it was Madame, or not entirely, at any rate. What that other boy did to his face was inexcusable.”
“Spoiled it for you?” sniped Onsofruct.
“No,” snapped D’Jevier. “Nothing could.”
Onsofruct merely shook her head, more annoyed than amused. D’Jevier was younger than she, but not that much younger. If anyone was entitled to a little fun, it should be she! She said as much.
D’Jevier responded, “Well, cousin, the pleasures are there. Do not blame me if you would rather feel hard-used than enjoy them.”
When they had eaten, Questioner summoned them all together, including the Corojum.
“Corojum,” she said in a measured, respectful voice, “during our questioning of the Timmys, they have spoken of fitting together. Please tell us how the Timmys can join together.”
“Not so well, now that they are shaped like mankinds,” he said, as though puzzled. “All Kaorugi’s parts have seams that open and join together, seam to seam. Some are like tunnelers, end to end, or like Joggiwagga, making a circle around a middle piece. Timmys used to be shaped to make big things.”
“So a lot of them all together, they could become a rather massive shape.”
Corojum nodded. “They must keep airways open, but yes, they can make big assemblies with legs to move them and arms on the sides.”
Questioner turned to Ellin. “That would explain the lack of grace, would it not?”
She turned back to Corojum. “And Joggiwagga. Do they get very large?”
“Some Joggiwagga are very large, you would say huge, to do heavy things, like raising up very large stones to mark the rising of the moons.”
“Have we learned anything?” asked Madame in a weary voice.
Questioner replied. “One of our basic problems was how such small creatures, relatively speaking, as the Timmys could be observed in the dance. We have learned they used to be shaped differently and could mass together. We have also learned that the dance, as described by the Timmys, moved repetitively, in a quickening tempo. And, we have learned that the dance was done in the chasm, yonder, where the Quaggima is. All of this is more than we knew before.”
“We have also learned there were no costumes or sets,” said Ellin dispiritedly, “which makes it unlike any dance I was ever involved with. Even minimalist ballet had something by way of setting or lighting.”
“We have learned something of the music,” said Bao. “Singing by Timmys and drumming by Joggiwaggas, little ones and very big ones, on great singing stones set in the chasm. Some singing was by Bofusdiaga itself. Bofusdiaga is remembering the singing, which could be good clue if there were being words. It is being unfortunate there were no words.”
“We have to go down there,” said Ellin. “We have to see it, her. We can’t work on the dance at all until we see and feel where it is to be performed.”
“This is important?” asked D’Jevier.
“Oh, Ma’am, yes,” cried Ellin. “I remember the first time I encountered a raked stage! I had always danced on a flat stage, with the audience tilted up and away for good views of it, but I was transferred to another History House where they had a raked stage, higher at the back, slanted toward the audience, and, oh, the whole time I felt as though I would fall into their laps! It is also more laborious, for much of the time one is running uphill or plunging down!”
“Also, partnering,” said Bao. “With raked stage, partner is being upstage above, or downstage below, and every motion is being changed longer or shorter depending on location.”
“I see,” murmured D’Jevier. “Well, then, those of you who know something about dancing should go. I can’t imagine the rest of us would be of any help.”
Corojum, summoned, received this intention fatalistically, saying only, “You have little time.”
“Corojum, we know that,” cried Mouche. “Believe me, we’re doing everything we can as fast as we can!”
As though to underline this comment, the ground beneath them shook once more, and stones plummeted from above to splash into the Fauxi-dizalonz. Corojum looked up alertly as several Timmys came flashing into the firelight, hair wild and eyes wide.
“They come,” called one. “The jongau! The bent ones! Dozens and dozens!”
“Where?” asked Questioner. “On the road?”
“On the road, off the road, rolling, hopping, squirming, flowing, along the road.”
“When will they get here?” Questioner demanded.
Corojum said soberly, “Now is dark, only the one little moon rising will make them slow down, but they will come soon, for Bofusdiaga calls to them.”
“Why?” cried Ornery. “Why