On an ancient network, Clara created an email address for Helen. At first they exchanged email about the places where they lived.

Septemberlaver, where Clara lived, was a hillside circle of tan houses with red roofs. The houses all looked the same. All the rooms in all the houses were carpeted with thick gray carpets. Glass chandeliers with orchards etched in white on rectangular fringes hung from the ceilings. In every living room there was a white couch. On every coffee table, were fake flowers in ceramic pots.