Tactfully, as always, Tarleton arranged the agenda so as to test the three "possibles" jirst, and initiated a project to work on development of personal Shields and weap- ons.

By the end of the second day, a firm schedule had been set. Slobodna would have a Shielded instrument package-complete with telemetry-in orbit the fol- lowing day, with three more in reserve in case of too- vigorous success against the first one.

On that cheerful note, Vertan issued an invitation.

"Our work is well. Now, also at leisure should we meet."

In other words. Barton translated, come to the party. He was right. Two evenings hence-come prepared to re- lax.

One thing bothered him. The Earth group had met no members of other races present on Tilara-nor were any such to be present at this first social occasion. The next time he and Limila were alone together, he asked her, "How come the apartheid?"

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"It is difficult," she said, "for persons of any race to accustom to other races, at first, even without facing several differing kinds immediately. You will meet the others later.

"But now-here is what you must tell your people, of the customs of Tilara."

Barton listened, then shook his head. "They'll never believe it," he said. "You tell 'em." And he stuck to that

The problem was the casual, friendly Tilaran attitude toward sex, considered as a social grace. He should not, Barton realized, be surprised-from their first meeting, Limila had made it clear that the ideal of sexual monog- amy did not dominate Tilaran culture, even superficially.

But now he found that be had not understood the extent of the difference ....

On social occasions, Tilarans wore loose robes-for the specific purpose of facilitating intimate advances.

One might. Barton learned, be intimately fondled at first meeting, if the other person were attracted. Consent was not mandatory-Tilarans took "no" for an answer, with good grace.

But there was a form-a protocol-to it, that be found hard to understand, and despaired that most of fleet personnel would ever understand.

The first thing he did was to make sure that Terike ap Fenn wasn't oo the list to go to the party. The second was, he insisted that Limila repeat her briefing lecture at least twice. And still he had his doubts.

A few more. than fifty Earthfolk attended the function -one from each ship, plus a few extra. At first. Barton was nervous as hell-too nervous to pay due heed to the lush decor of the place. He sipped a tart, greenish wine and hardly tasted it, preoccupied with wondering how he should react if groped under his Tilaran robe. After a while, when nothing happened, he began to feel ag- grieved-how could he protect bis virtue if no one propositioned him?

He turned to whisper to Limila, to make a joke of his unease, and saw her leaving the room-accompanied.

Beside him was another Tilaran woman, obviously young, whose long, reddish brown hair was coiled into a sin- gle curl falling forward over a bare shoulder.

She spoke. "Limila meets the one who long ago, be-

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fore the Demu took her, was her most needful person.

Is it not happy for them?"

Barton couldn't have said "yes" if someone had of- fered him a drink. Sure, it was all right by Tilaran cus- tom, but . . . Then, showing her small Tilaran teeth in a smile, she reached under his robe.

"I am livajj. Might you be with me now. Barton?

Limila has said you may not wish to, but that it is fitting to ask."

When in Rome, thought Barton, and allowed her to take his hand and lead him away. And when they were alone, livajj met him not casually but as though she had loved him all her lifetime. Barton was shaken; he felt unworthy, but did his best-hoping that best would be good enough-to be to livajj as she was to him.

She seemed to have no complaints or reservations. And later, her good-byes to him were warm and happy.

He decided to ask Limila no questions. He didn't have to-next day, back at the ship, she told him the answers anyway.

"Barton, it was so good to be again with Tevann. I am glad you did not mind and that you were with the little livajj. So young, she is, but of good thought." Well, yes. Barton mused-that, at the very least.

"Limila," he said. "That js how it is, with all your people?"

"Yes, of course. You know that. Barton-you pretend you don't, but you do, and have for long. With conscious control of ovulation, and lack of sexual diseases you have on Earth, why should it be otherwise?"

"But-I would have expected things to be sort of -oh, casual, I guess. Just for fun. And there was cer- tainly nothing casual about livajj."

"Nor about you with her. Barton, I would think. Free- dom is not a thing to be taken lightly. But now-is there more you wish to ask, that you also know already?"

Barton thought. "No, I guess not. Except Just one thing-am I still your most needfur person?"

"Always, Barton. Always. You gave me back my life, and before that, you helped me through the time when I was not alive. That was then-and now it is as we say, simply that you are my most needful person." She drew a shuddering breath. "Am I yours?"

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"Do you have to ask that?" It turned out she didn't, really.

Apparently no one from the fleet had blown any gaffs, for Tarleton was now invited-solo-to meet represen- tatives of other races who were on visiting terms. Over dinner, be gave Barton and Limila his impressions.

"You'll have to see the* Larka-Te, to believe them.

They're impressive-not especially tall, but slim and elegant They make you feel they're something special

-and it's not anything they do on purpose. It's just the way they are.

"The Filjar remind me, a little, of myself in a fur coat. Big and lumbering. But Vertan says they're not easy to push around." Well, thought Barton-neither was Tarleton, for that matter.

"The big question mark is the Ormthu. They're new to the Tilarans-made contact only a few months ago.

There is one Ormthan oa this planet-I repeat, one- unsupported by any troops or weaponry, and treated with utmost respect. I don't know when I'll get to meet him; Vertan wasn't sure. But if I didn't misunderstand

-and I may have-the Ormthu long since came to peaceable terms with the Demu, on the grounds that if you're tough enough, you get left alone. So apparently they're neutral, where the Demu are concerned. We'll have to find out more about that-if and when we ever meet the Ormthan."

"Tevann has seen it once, briefly," Limila said. "In rest, like a large pink egg, but with ability to shape it- self as it wishes. A head, eyes, mouth, arms-all form at need, and retract when need is gone."

"Like an intelligent amoeba?" Tarleton asked.

"I think, yes. But warm to touch, it is told, and not wet- Barton shook his head. "I guess it takes all kinds. But look, Limila-you must have seen Larka-Te, and Fil- jar, too. Can you tell us more about them?"

"On Tilara, before, I was seldom where they go-I saw them only a few times, and at distance. But with the Demu were several of each, taken as we. Along with other peoples not known to me."

"Did I see them? I don't remember any."

"No. Barton. These were taken earlier, by another

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ship. And I did not see them whole, but only after the Demu had changed them. Quite different."

"I'll bet." The thought of Demu surgery gave Bar- ton's voice a harsh edge.

"In some ways not so terrible as for Earth people or Tilarans," she said. "The Larka-Te produce not live birth, but eggs-like your birds. No breasts or outside sex-so not as damaged as your people or ours, except face and hands and feet-and hair, of course." A strand of her wig twisted between thumb and finger.