In Helen's mind was the seed list, where directly opposite her name was the name of a never-married robotics engineer. She knew she had said too much.

On Friday of the long weekend of Tarclaver courtship, the women worked as assistants to the men. Helen did not precisely know what occurred after that, but she was certain that she did not want to participate in any way in Dr Wimmiebon's need for a woman who could draw terrifying designs for robotic carnivores.

"The machines are capable of attacking humans, if they are so ordered," she said. "When will they return?"

"Not until whomever they seek leaves the protection of the Old Stadium."