“Speaking of
winter, do you think we’ll get sleepy and distracted this winter like Tolari
do?”

“Good
question,” she said. “Heck if I know. The Paran thinks I might not because my
metabolism runs so high. You’re more normal though.” She shrugged.

“I’ve watched them struggle with it every winter I’ve been here,” Marianne said. “Most of them really don’t like it,
being groggy for most of a season. They start to get sleepy about a month into
winter and they don’t wake up again until almost spring, unless they take
stimulants, which most of them do. I think it’s the one thing the Tolari would
change about themselves if they could.”

“They’re so advanced that you’d think they could. I wonder if the Jorann can change it?”

“Maybe she
doesn’t want to. It’s the only time the ruling caste lets up on the scheming
and plotting. She doesn’t like the great game.”

“The Paran
doesn’t share it with me. Thank goodness.”

“Neither does
the Sural, but I can tell when he’s scheming. He gets even more randy than he usually is.”

“Men!”

“Yeah.”