The scene--the cold, yellow stretch of hallway, curving up in both directions, that’s currently home to the unauthorized market. Master Mospheiran and Atevi 1 sit on a makeshift bench. Atevi 1 is holding a pair of knitting needles, from which hangs one part of a cabled sweater. Other humans and atevi walk by, examining merchandise further down the hallway, or stand around a makeshift bar, talking and drinking. A few yards down the hall, a human man strums a guitar and sings soulfully.

Master Mospheiran: "Yes, it is kind of confusing. But if you increase that way, you get a hole in the work, like you did. It’s a good way to make a hole if you want one, though."

Atevi 1: "Ah, one sees, nadi. Thank you."

Master Mospheiran: "Any time, nadi."

Atevi 1: "There is another question. I look at old books from the archive."

Master Mospheiran: "Knitting patterns? Can you read them, nadi?"

Atevi 1: "They are difficult. ‘SK,’ what does it mean?"

Master Mospheiran: "I guess I’d have to see the pattern to be sure, nadi, but I imagine it’s ‘slip knitwise.’ Sometimes the abbreviations are odd, and some things are standard while others aren’t. And they change over the years. Some really old patterns are very hard to understand."

Atevi 1: "Also I see ‘DC’ and ‘SC.’ What are these?"

Master Mospheiran: "I don’t think those are knitting abbreviations, nadi. Those must be crochet."

Atevi 1: "Come, nadi, you are cold. Sit closer, I keep you warm. You show me crochet, nadi?"

Master Mospheiran; (scooting closer to Atevi 1) "Yes, nadi, I can show you crochet. You need a hook--I have one. Some of the work we sell is crocheted. Here."

Master Mospheiran reaches into the bag at his feet and pulls out a crochet hook and some yarn.

Master Mospheiran: "See, you start like this."

Atevi 1 watches as Master Mospheiran makes a starting chain.

Master Mospheiran: "That’s called chain stitch. Then you do this. See--you put the hook in, wrap it around, and pull it out. Like that. Very simple. Put it in, pull it out. Put it in, pull it out. Put it in, pull it out."

Atevi 1: "I try."

Master Mospheiran hands the crochet swatch to Atevi 1.

Atevi 1: "Put in, pull out. Put in, pull out. Put in, pull out. Very felicitous, nadi. Crochet is nice."

Master Mospheiran: "Yes. In a lot of ways it’s simpler than knitting, but the results can be really nice. If there’s a pattern you want to try, maybe you could bring it and I could help you read it."

Atevi 1: "Yes. We do more put in, pull out."

Master Mospheiran: "Yes, nadi."

Master Mospheiran and Atevi 1 practice a few crochet stitches. The soulful singer sings.

Singer: "My heart doesn’t rhyme,
The best rhyming dictionary in the world
Can’t help me
Because I don’t have you

You’re like a delicate flower,
With a really really sharp thorn,
You stuck my thumb and now I’m bleeding,
Bleeding all over the place.

How was I supposed to know
That love would hurt
Oh, I need, I really need
An adhesive bandage for my heart.

I just want to die
But hardly anything rhymes with death
Except Beth and breath
But that’s about it

My heart doesn’t rhyme
My heart doesn’t rhyme...."

Master Mospheiran: "Oh, that song is really annoying."

Atevi 1: "What is ‘annoying?’"

Master Mospheiran: "It doesn’t please me. I don’t like it."

Atevi 1: "I hear nadi Paula say this song is romantic."

Master Mospheiran: "Do you know what ‘romantic’ is?"

Atevi 1: "No, nadi, but I think from the way nadi Paula says it, it is a good thing."

Master Mospheiran: "Well, it pretty much is, I guess. But I don’t think it’s a romantic song. I think it’s stupid. But it’s really popular on Mospheira right now, and it’s caught on here, unfortunately." (turns to address the singer) "Hey, you. How much do you charge to stop playing that song?"

Singer: "Very funny. Do you have a request?"

Master Mospheiran: "Anything but My Heart Doesn’t Rhyme."

Singer: "Anything?"

Master Mospheiran: "Anything."

Singer: (strums introduction on his guitar) "Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Teardrops rolling down on my face,
trying to forget my feelings of love.

Feelings, wo-wo-wo feelings..."

Master Mospheiran: "What the hell is that?"

Singer: "You said anything."

Master Mospheiran: "Yeah, I know I did. But what the hell is it?"

Singer: "I found it in the archive. Isn’t it great?"

Atevi 1: "One should be cautious expressing wishes, nadi."

Master Mospheiran: (sighs) "I guess so."

Atevi 1 puts her arm around Master Mospheiran’s shoulders.

Atevi 1: "Come, nadi, you are cold and tired. I buy a drink."

Master Mospheiran: "Yeah. Yeah, I could use a drink."

With her free hand, Atevi 1 beckons over another ateva standing near the bar. She converses with him in Ragi for a moment, and he returns to the bar. Moments later he returns with two large steaming cups, and hands one to Atevi 1 and one to Master Mospheiran.

Atevi 1: "No alkaloids, nadi."

Master Mospheiran takes a taste.

Master Mospheiran: "It’s good."

Atevi 1: "Drink, nadi, it will cool."

Master Mospheiran takes a big swallow of the hot drink.

Master Mospheiran: "It’s kind of got a kick to it, doesn’t it? I like it."

Algie approaches down the hall, wearing a coat over his work coveralls and boots. He spots Master Mospheiran and approaches.

Algie: "Hey, what’s up? I’ve been meaning to talk to you. That advice you gave me--well, thanks, you know? And that thing you said. About a door not being a door. I mean, a jar. I get it! Ajar! When it’s open!"

Master Mospheiran: "Algie, my friend, I think you’ve found the spud."

Algie: "And you know, I’ve been thinking about it, and that’s just so deep, because when it’s open, you know, it’s not blocking your way. Right?"

Master Mospheiran takes another drink from his cup as he considers this.

Master Mospheiran: "I should say not.".

Algie: "Hey, that smells good. I should order one myself. It’s got a good kick to it. Just what I need. You’ve got to watch them, though. I had two of them the night I lost my clothes. In fact, it seems like every time I have one, I end up--"

Atevi 1: "Nadi Algie. One thought you spent all your time in Hydroponics."

Algie: "I’ve never even seen Hydroponics. What’s the deal with Hydroponics?"

Master Mospheiran: "Nadi...I mean, Algie, I think you would find a lot of opportunities to grow in Hydroponics."

Algie: "Do you really think so?"

Master Mospheiran: "I do."

Algie considers this for a moment. Master Mospheiran takes another drink.

Algie: "You must be right. Because even when I don’t understand you, you turn out to be right. You’re like, so deep. It’s amazing."

Master Mospheiran: "Thank you, nadi."

Algie heads for the bar.

Master Mospheiran: "Hey, if he hasn’t got any money, how is he buying drinks?"

Atevi 1: "Someone else buys drinks for nadi Algie."

Master Mospheiran: "Someone you know? Hey, you weren’t in that poker game, were you?"

Atevi 1: "No, nadi. One doesn’t favor, how do you say, ‘card sharp.’"

Master Mospheiran: "That’s how you say it."

Atevi 1: "One more drink, nadi."

Master Mospheiran: "Okay. I mean, yes. It’s good."

Atevi 1: "I will order one. Finish what you have, nadi. It will be cold, and more is coming."

Atevi 1 beckons the server over with her free hand. The atevi server goes back to the makeshift bar, and returns with two more steaming cups. Atevi 1 takes Master Mospheiran’s now empty cup and replaces it with the full one. They drink in silence for awhile.

Atevi 1: "Nadi, you have such pretty hair."

Atevi 1 shifts position, and Master Mospheiran’s eyes open wide.

Master Mospheiran: "Nadi, did you mean to put your hand there?"

Atevi 1: "Yes, nadi."

Master Mospheiran considers this for a moment. He seems to be having some difficulty considering, and considers again.

Master Mospheiran: "I know what you’re after! You want socks!"

Atevi 1: "No, nadi. But you may keep your socks on if you wish."

Master Mospheiran: "Oh....okay. I mean, yes nadi. I mean...wait, I guess I do mean yes, nadi. I don’t know what I mean. Where’s that drink?"

Atevi 1: "In your hand, nadi. We should go elsewhere."

Master Mospheiran: "Okay. I mean..."

Atevi 1: "One understands, nadi."

Atevi 1 gathers up her knitting and Master Mospheiran’s things.

Master Mospheiran: "You didn’t have to get me drunk you know. I would have been glad to..."

Atevi 1: "One knows, nadi."