Cogs can think.

The final part of the Thule trilogy is divided up into three parts. The first part deals with Elvira, and so does the third part. The second part, however, deals with Shasita, Reni, and Hajo, the three daughters of the new Baden supreme governour of the colonies. They embark on a voyage out of the colonies to reach the new Thule capitol, Holtak (the original capitol, Gothab, has been conquered by Baden), in order to establish contact with the “enemy”, to try and establish trade between Thule and Baden.

The three girls’ voyage takes weeks, and just when they think all is lost, they reach the city of Holtak, where they are also brought to Thura. Obviously, later on, their paths cross with that of Elvira. At the inn where they stay, Shasita has a short chat with the son of the owner of the inn; remember that Thule is basically a communist society done right, so the inns are all free of charge, provided to the community, by the community. Shasita asks the son:

“Are there many such inns in Thule?”
“Oh, hundreds, maybe a thousand.”
“And any traveller can come and stay here?”
“Any traveller,” the boy nods.
“Do Thulinians travel often?”
“Only when they need to go from one place to another.”
“That’s what you call Thulinian logic,” laughed Reni.

It truly is. The logic employed by the Thule people is always strikingly simple, but effective. And by the way, my 2nd daughter will be named Shasita.