A steady gasp-wheeze-whum of an older repulsorlift-driven ship dominates the immediate soundscape. The ship is about ten meters long nose to stern, with a tiny cockpit and cramped head below the dull gray durasteel decking. Handrails loop around the deck, taller in the rear to do double duty; narrow extensions help support a stretched-taut ochre awning which offers some protection from the afternoon sun. The smaller barge is set on a straight course, steady but hardly fast, just barely clearing the dark green treetops. Like so many different types of artist's brushes, turned over and planted handle-down in the ground. At this steady clip, the leafy branches below seem almost soft.