He took a deep breath. "Let me go on to something happier. We were sitting in the hold of this cattle vessel, and I told her that what had happened on Polgar and elsewhere made me think that there was something important in the remnant songs, and that they needed to be traced back through their journey outward. Understand, this was long before I knew anything about Disneycorp's role in what was happening. Long before Margarnagarr.

It turned out that this cattleboat was heading for Cassiopeia, and I had always wanted to search for a Calliokeh master; so I suggested that since I had been able to get away with my recorder intact, and some money, she might like to come with me to Calliokeh: otherwise I would send her to my Father for protection. She said she would come with me. So we set out for Calliokeh."

At this point Mandy interrupted and said: "What is a Calliokeh master?"

Boukey replied: "Good question. About 200 years ago, an Earth remnant, on its way to Tern perhaps?" and here he looked at the Elder.

The Elder looked at him sadly. "They were coming here, but never reached us. We know of them only through the recordings, of course, that others brought with them."

Boukey nodded, and went on. "This remnant carried with it a number of famous musicians, who had sustained a very powerful style of playing and singing on traditional stringed instruments, guitars, banjos, etc. This style had been further developed in their progress towards Cassiopeia, so it is known to experts as Cassiopeian style. "