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.He wore a pale-blue cloth twined about his body.The second man was shorter and heavier, with closely cut hair and a small beard.He wore no clothing.The new arrivals waved to Anabben and Vakeis, and sat down on the lawn to wait.“Hello, Charait,” said Vakeis, walking up to the man in the blue robe.He touched her leg and kissed her knee, and Vakeis laughed.“This is Torephes,” said Charait, holding up the hand of the other man.“If you can believe it, he wants to perform, too.”Anabben frowned.Charait was no problem; his bits of retrieved literature were from the works of a Mrs.Lidsake.The scholars, with all the subtle forces of TECT, were unable to place her among the other rediscovered, either qualitatively or chronologically.Charait’s performances were interesting from a historical viewpoint, as all performances were, but they were somehow not absorbing.But this new Torephes presented a threat to Anabben, as the potential vessel of another genius that would overshadow Anabben’s meager contributions.“My friend Charait isn’t joking,” said Anabben.“Only we writers have seen what happens to the unsuccessful aspirants.Perhaps if the public knew how awful it is, soon there would be no new writers at all.How much thought have you given to this?”Torephes looked very uneasy.Anabben made a mental request to TECT, and the temperature in the meeting area was lowered ten degrees.“It’s something that I’ve always wanted,” said Torephes.“I understand about the chances.Charait has been warning me for about two years now, but I’m willing.” His expression was so determined that Anabben laughed.“Then let us wait for the others to arrive, and we’ll talk about it,” said Anabben.“Maybe the inspiration of Phioth has persuaded you unwisely.”Anabben and Vakeis seated themselves next to the two men.Anabben kept silent, and out of embarrassment, Vakeis assumed the role of hostess, asking the guests if they were comfortable, and if they desired refreshment.“It is a bit cool,” said Torephes, still ill-at-ease and fearing to offend such a celebrity as Anabben.Anabben grunted and had TECT increase the temperature by ten degrees.“The dispenser is in that plane,” he said, indicating the single wall in the meeting area.From his comment it was apparent that he was not going to serve his guests, as simple courtesy demanded.Torephes whispered to Charait, and Anabben could hear him suggest that they leave, but Charait just shook his head.After all, Anabben was a writer, the sort of person more inclined to moods than common citizens.And, further, he had just given a performance.Charait took Torephes’ arm and led him to the dispenser.“Vakeis,” said Charait, “would you like something?”“No,” she said, “I’ll wait.”“Anabben?”Anabben just frowned and waved.Charait requested a small bowl of meat and flowers, and Torephes had a cup of relaxant and some protein bread.In a short while three people stepped out of Anabben’s tect: a young woman and two old men.They greeted Anabben and his guests, went straight to the dispenser, and joined the others on the grass.The young woman was named Rochei; she was a writer attuned to the poetry of a long-dead person named Elizabeth Dawson Douglas.One of the old men was a famous writer, one whom Anabben envied almost as much as he envied Phioth.His name was Tradenne, and he was also Tertius Publius Ieta.The other man was Briol, who had given his first performance just a few days previously, and had held the audience entranced with a fragment written by Daniel Defoe.Anabben was still sitting sullenly next to Vakeis, and she made the introductions.The easy conversation of the friends stopped when they learned that Torephes wanted to become a writer.“Did you watch Phioth this evening?” asked Rochei, as she braided Vakeis’ long, dark hair.“Yes,” said Torephes.“One of my fathers understands how much I want to perform, and he let me use his place at the stadium.”“Did you enjoy it?” asked Tradenne.Torephes hesitated.“Phioth is another sort of greatness.You don’t enjoy him.You experience him, if you know what I mean.Not only the genius of Shakespeare, but the genius of Phioth.”“Exactly,” said Briol quietly.“I would be interested to know what you thought of my performance,” said Anabben.There was an immediate silence in Anabben’s meeting area.Suddenly the atmosphere was tense.It was an unfair question, and even Anabben’s notorious peculiarities did not excuse it.“I thought you were very good,” said Torephes after a long pause.“I’ve enjoyed all of your performances that I’ve heard through TECT.You’re a contrast.Courane is distinctive; he gives us something that we do not have from any of the others.”Anabben frowned.He stood, causing the others to stare up at him as he paced
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