3

"It was a central part of the apparatus," Dr. Sabbatine says, "more than a yard wide and made of an iron-cadmium alloy covered in gold."

"We suspect a local took it," Control says, "because it was large and shiny."

"You'll need to track it down."

Alexius relays this information to the villagers. No one here has been hiding a giant golden wheel, but after some consideration, Chief Kothis speaks. Traders recently mentioned a "sun disc" possessed by one of the forest tribes south of the nameless river.

"That's a good place to start," Alexius says.

Vecla wiggles her arm-buds, excited because the jungles will be coming into full bloom soon, and the tribes there are master apothecaries who could teach the River People much. But Therko seems worried about heading into the trackless, beast-haunted jungle.

"I'm worried about the damp," Control says. "'Full bloom' does not sound compatible with my internal mechanisms."