Ah, yes. Chapter 2:
“Near a swamp?” Thyren absently tugged on his antenna, to the amusement of all present. “What about in a swamp? One the most highly prized cities on this planet is sinking.”
“What?” said Kilruym.
“What?” said Skrilla.
“What?” said Shran.
“Sinking,” said Thyren with a twitch of his right antenna and a head shake. He leaned back in his chair with a distracted expression.
“By the Tongue Dancers of Rigil,” Kilruym demanded, “What is he talking about Lethos?”
Lethos looked resigned. “The city is named Venice. It is very old, by Human standards. They built it in the middle of a swamp, on poles.”
“On what?” Skrilla stared, dumbfounded.
“Poles,” Lethos repeated. “They drove long poles down into the mud as deeply as they could. Then they built their houses on top of them. It is a common practice here. What is unusual about Venice is that they built an entire city this way. Instead of streets they use canals, and boats instead of ground cars.”
“You cannot possibly be serious,” Shran whispered hoarsely, incredulous.
Hee hee...thanks, mjimeyg.
