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`` Singing '' as applicable to herself required research.

She had, of course, been exposed to and enjoyed a music appreciation course which had included the better known classical works such as `` Tristan und Isolde '', `` Candide '', `` Oklahoma '', `` Nozze de Figaro '', the atomic age singers, Eileen Farrell, Elvis Presley and Geraldine Todd, as well as the curious rhythmic progressions of the Venusians, Capellan visual chromatics and the sonic concerti of the Altairians.

But `` singing '' for any shell person posed considerable technical difficulties to be overcome.

Shell people were schooled to examine every aspect of a problem or situation before making a prognosis.

Balanced properly between optimism and practicality, the nondefeatist attitude of the shell people led them to extricate themselves, their ships and personnel, from bizarre situations.

Therefore to Helva, the problem that she couldn't open her mouth to sing, among other restrictions, did not bother her.

She would work out a method, by-passing her limitations, whereby she could sing.