Wei Loon Jingsheng
Loon set aside an infoplate and answered the door between the cottage and the house. It opened on
a trellised walk, its roof velvet with tiny puhnu leaves. On one side, the sand garden neatly
edged the short connecting path. On the other, the vegetable garden took off into the backyard
with its robust mess of turned soil and seedlings.
Her landlady stood there, her hands pressed together under her chin. "Come," said Chi Unesugi.
"We have an Em-Deh message about you."
Loon followed as the woman led the way under the trellis and into the house. Who could it be? Her
Society for Passage? No, graduation ended that relationship. Friends from the Society? No. She
knew how quickly people her age forgot those who left. I always did. The local Collective? Chi
Unesugi had notified them of her new tenant. Probably want me out of here: no strangers allowed.
She sighed. Oh well, I guess I can just go back — where? No answer came to her. The small
cottage behind her came as close as any place that she could call home, which was more than she
could have said two days ago. Start looking for a job then. Or a gong-she that will have me. I
can't keep sponging off Chi Unesugi and Lith Consulune. She owed them for their kindness. She
should start carrying her own weight. Very soon now.
They walked into the great room. In the corner farthest from the kitchen, a utilitarian entrance
to the Mirnaya Direvnya, with dull-gray foilscreen and glowing keyspace, occupied a deep alcove.
On the screen, a text panel showed a message addressed to the family from ... The Rendezvous of
Futures!
Loon tingled with surprise. Ever since she had arrived in Ganj Dareh, she had visited the meager
Em-Deh presence of the Rendezvous, a shell of a virtual entrance room and a drop-box for messages.
She had left countless pleas for recognition, then given up the hope that had brought her here.
And now?
She read, "Trade records show that you have just rented a room to Wei Loon Jingsheng, most recently
a resident of Ames Power Plant. We assume that she has traveled here to participate in
Byukan-Hamil's Rendezvous of Futures, but she has not registered with our combine to participate in
those activities.
"If Wei Loon has tried to contact us electronically, we regret failing to respond that way; we have
been concentrating on the zhuhndí.
"Please respond to this message. Does Wei Loon wish to participate in the Rendezvous? If so, we
will provide instructions for registration."
Loon straightened from her inspection and turned around silently. Suddenly, the world seemed back
in kilter, like a garbled screen had cleared away static and presented the picture she'd asked
for. Suddenly, she was a player on the stage of life again. said with a smile. Then she waved
toward the chair in front of the entrance. "The sooner you respond, the sooner you can get
started."
Loon grinned and swung into the seat.
