Fuu nodded. She wished she had managed to speak to the ants, but she'd watched a nature special about army ants in the Amazon once that left her quite reluctant to meet them at her current size.

"It was all very neat and tidy--not as though people had left in a rush," she agreed. "Possibly it was an orderly, well-planned evacuation, leaving houses full of furniture--possibly it was prepared for us in advance, but that still leaves why in either case." She drummed her fingers on her chin. "We should ask Miss Chime if there was anyone here before us."