After half an hour of breathtaking music, the ghem choir moves to their next station. The haut-lady bubbles - great masses of them, hundreds - go in a separate direction from the delegation including the offworlders. There is a buffet, and then float-cars from there to the other side of the Garden.

And then there is more music and more food and more being trundled around, with no contact from the smooth little ba Linyabel has been sending to fetch him. However, there is a different ba, blonde-haired, who may be spotted talking in a low voice to Ivan.

Ivan follows it.