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EN knew quite well that he had closed his eyes for only a moment, but when he looked up again he saw Siddereticus cross-legged on the deck in front of him. He was smoking and had every appearance of having been there for hours.

"But you weren't there two seconds ago!" cried Fen. "Oh, how do you just appear out of nowhere?"

Siddereticus smiled mysteriously, but did not speak. Instead, he rose to his feet and began to pace a slow circle, his unwavering eyes fixed upon a certain spot on the deck. Fen gazed at it too, fascinated, and not knowing in the least what might rise up from that particular place. Siddereticus stooped and traced a circle—