Imitation without understanding

The Rubbery Man becomes animated, gesticulating erratically as it loads its little device with amber of scintillating hues and upsetting stickiness. It holds up a nodule of dazzling purple, and four tentacles wriggle in an exasperated shrug. It holds up another globule, this time the milky green of old jade, and repeats the motion. Whatever its opinions of the Starved Men far above, they are strong.

The Docent frowns, struggling to translate the wurbling through the Rubbery Man's obvious and distortive emotion. "He feels.... sorry for them, I think?" An affirmative burble. "Humans do not have the right parts—" He interrupts, and the Docent nods. "—the right skin or organs to taste – or feel – the essences of amber." She struggles for an analogy. "It's like they're painting, but can't see colour. Messy."

You've learned something in Flute Street.

Bearing Admiralty Intelligence The Overworked Commodore will want to hear of this. Romantic Notion You've gained 20 x Romantic Notion (new total 405). Extraordinary Implication You've gained 2 x Extraordinary Implication (new total 46). Time Passing in Flute Street 'Time Passing in Flute Street' has been reset: a conclusion, or a new beginning?