[Lenka, for his part, is starting to resign himself to the staring too -- certainly, he'd turned some heads at the Far East Branch just for being a New-Type, and then some more that were entirely Lindow's fault (it's oddly soothing, to start blaming his former captain for things as if he were around again) -- but lizard eyes are a little different.

The Palai seem pretty much harmless, but it still makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end to have something nonhuman tracking him whether out of curiosity or not.

Possibly it's a good thing he hasn't scared up a real weapon yet. So to speak.]

Is there any world with just one city? [is his confused reaction to Julius' question; but Lenka indicates above their heads, at the floating shadow of the island] I don't know, but I think there's something up there. The Palai seem interested in the island.

[He hasn't yet figured out for what reason; but either way it makes no sense to have just one city, does it?]