of their own race. In the corner of my stateroom was an interesting array of holes and spigots that looked like something that you would probably use for bathroom purposes. But I had no idea what was what. I didn't want to use the thing that I thought was the sink, only to find out later it was supposed to be the toilet. Drinking from the toilet was fine for Babar, but I like to think I have higher standards.
This was definitely going to be an issue in another hour or two. I would have to ask Hickory or Dickory about it.
They weren't with me because I asked to be taken directly to my stateroom when we took off and then asked to be alone for an hour, at which point I wanted to see the council member. I think that by doing that, I messed up some sort of ceremonial welcome from the crew of the Obin transport (called Obin Transport 8532, in typical and boring Obin efficiency), but I didn't let that bother me. It did have the effect I was going for at the moment: I had decided I was going to be a little bit difficult. Being a little bit difficult was going to make it easier, I hoped, to do what I needed to do next. Which was to try to save Roanoke.
My dad had his own plan to do that, and I was going to help him with it. But I was thinking up a plan of my own. All it needed me to do was to demand something back.
Something really, really, really big.
Oh, well, my brain said. If this doesn't work at least you can ask this council guy where you're supposed to pee. Yes, well, that would be something.
There was a knock on my stateroom door, and the door then slid open. There was no lock on the door because Obin among themselves didn't have much of a concept of privacy (no signal on the door, either, for the same reason). Three Obin entered the room: Hickory and Dickory, and a third Obin who was new to me.
"Welcome, Zoe," it said to me. "We welcome you at the start of your time with the Obin."
"Thank you," I said. "Are you the council member?"
"I am," it said. "My name is Dock."
I tried very hard to keep a smile off my face and failed miserably. "You said your name was Dock," I said.
"Yes," it said.
"As in 'Hickory, Dickory, Dock,'" I said.
"That is correct," it said.
"That's quite a coincidence," I said, once I got my face back under control.
"It is not a coincidence," Dock said. "When you named Hickory and Dickory, we learned of the nursery rhyme from which you derived the names. When I and many other Obin chose names for ourselves, we chose words from the rhyme."
"I knew there were other Hickorys and Dickorys," I said. "But you're telling me that there are other Obin named 'Dock,' too."
"Yes," said Dock.
"And 'Mouse' and 'Clock,'" I said.
"Yes," said Dock.
"What about 'Ran,' 'Up,' and 'The'?" I asked.
"Every word in the rhyme is popular as a name," said Dock.
"I hope some of the Obin know they've named themselves after a definite article," I said.
"We are all aware of the meaning of the words," Dock said. "What was important is the association to you. You named these two 'Hickory' and 'Dickory.' Everything followed from there."
I had been getting sidetracked by the idea that an entire fearsome race of aliens had given themselves goofy names because of the names I had thoughtlessly given two of them more than a decade before; this comment by Dock snapped me back into focus. It was a reminder that the Obin, with their new consciousness, had so identified with me, so imprinted on me, even as a child, that even a nursery rhyme I liked carried weight.
Demand something back.
My stomach cramped up. I ignored it.
"Hickory," I said. "Are you and Dickory recording right now?"
"Yes," Hickory said.
"Stop please," I said. "Councilor Dock, are you recording this right now?"
"I am," it said. "Although only for my personal recollection."
"Please stop," I said. They all stopped recording.
"Have we offended you?" Dock asked.
"No," I said. "But I don't think you'll want this as part of the permanent record." I took a deep breath. "I require something from the Obin, Councilor."
"Tell me what it is," Dock said. "I will try to find it for you."
"I require the Obin to help me defend Roanoke," I said.