was the purse closed with an imprinted seal, its number corresponding to the registration number of the certification document?' 'Yes,' he said.
'Oh,' I said.
'Here,' he said. 'I think you will find everything in order.'
I had forgotten the fellow was from Tabor.
'This document seems a bit old,' I said. 'Doubtless it is no longer current, no longer an effective legal instrument. As you can see, it is dated two weeks ago. Where are you going?'
'To fetch guardsmen,' he said.
'It will do,' I said.
I then, without great pleasure, restored to the determined, inflexible fellow the amount in full which he had earlier, and of his own free will, as I did not fail to remind him, bestowed on my friend, Hurtha.
'I would also like something for my trouble,' he said.
'A silver tarsk will be sufficient.'
'Of course,' I said. He then, now seemingly content, left. How little it takes to please some people. I decided I must speak with Hurtha. I returned to the campfire.
'I will take some of the spiced verr cubes,' I said.
'Alas,' said Hurtha, 'we have finished them. You should have invited my friend to sup with us.'
'I did,' I said. 'But he did not agree to do so.' 'It is perhaps just as well,' said Hurtha, 'as there is not much left. What did he want?'
'Oh, nothing,' I said.
'Interesting,' mused Hurtha.
'He just wanted to make certain that you were enjoying yourself,' I said. 'A splendid fellow,' said Hurtha.
'Hereafter,' I said, 'before you decide to apply for a loan or consider accepting an unusually generous gift, particularly while carrying an ax, at least while we are traveling together, I would appreciate it if you would take me into your confidence, if you would consult with me about it first.'
'Of course, my dear friend,' said Hurtha, 'anything you like.'
I regarded him.
'Did I do anything wrong?' he asked.
'No,' I said.
'That is a relief,' he said. 'One must be so careful in one's dealings with civilized folks.'
'Hurthaa€”' I said.
'Yes?' he said.
'Nothing,' I said.
'You told me, or led me to believe, as I recall, that there could be no possible objection to fellows making me loans or bestowing gifts upon me,' he said. 'That is true,' I said.
'It is not my fault,' he said, 'if a complete stranger takes a liking to me and instantaneously decides to make me a fine gift,'
'Of course not,' I said.
'You see,' he said.
'Just consult with me first, hereafter, if you would,' I said.
'Of course, my dear fellow,' he said.
'I am now nearly destitute,' I said.
'Have no fear,' he said. 'Half of what I have is yours!'
'That would come to about seven copper tarsks, as I recall,' I said.
'Precisely,' said Hurtha. 'What is left to eat?' I asked.
'Not much, I am afraid,' said Hurtha.
'Is there paga?' I asked.
'Yes,' he said.
'Give it to me,' I said.
7 We get a late start; Boabissia Is Encouraged to Silence
'So at last we are upon our way, you lazy sleen,' said Boabissia, lurching on the wagon box. 'I thought it would never come about!'
'Please,' said Mincon. 'My head.'
'It is well past noon!' said Boabissia.
'How do you feel?' I asked Mincon.
'I am sober now,' said Mincon. 'At least I see but one road ahead.' 'You did very well,' Hurtha congratulated me. 'I had not known those of the cities could drink so much.'
'We can do many wonderful things,' I said, 'when we are properly motivated.' If one kept one's eyes closed it was easier to avoid the glare from the light on the stones. One could hold onto the edge of the wagon bed with one hand. To be sure, it increased the likelihood of stepping into potholes.
Hurtha fell against the side of the wagon. 'Are you all right?' I asked. 'Certainly,' he said.
'You are all monsters, and lazy sleen,' said Boabissia. 'I am sure, now, we will never catch up with the others, surely not until after dark!'
'That is my concern,' said Mincon, blinking shaking his head.
'Then I suggest you attend to it,' said Boabissia.
'Please,' begged Mincon.
'I think I shall see that you are reported to the wagon officer,' she said. 'Surely he would have something to say about your broad-minded attitudes toward schedules, your unconscionable delays, your neglect of your duties. Do you think you are being paid to take your time? You have stores to deliver!' 'Please,' said Mincon. 'Please!'
Boabissia had been a pain all morning. Scarcely had we been permitted to sleep. Even before dawn, when others were having their breakfasts, and later, in the vicinity of dawn, when the other wagons were preparing to leave camp, we had been urged to bestir ourselves.
'We are alone on the road,' said Boabissia. 'You have deprived us of the safety of numbers. This could well be dangerous! Why did you not listen to me? What if we should be set upon by brigands?'
I hoped that would not happen, as I was not certain I could find my sword. Ah, yes there it was, somehow in its sheath, over my left shoulder. The only problem, then, would be in attempting to dislodge it from its housing.
'Brigands might only slay you,' said Boabissia, 'but I am a free woman! I have much more to fear! I might be put in a collar, and made a slave. Like those sluts in the back! You could of thought of me! You never think of me!'
How is it, I wondered, that each time I put my foot down, my head hurts. That was interesting. Could it be normal? There was nothing in the codes of warriors, as I recalled, that explicitly demanded resistance to brigands, though perhaps it was presupposed. It was an interesting interpretative question, probably one calling for the attention of high councils. If I were beheaded by a brigand's sword. I mused, I would be ridded of this headache. To be sure, such a remedy can be used but once. That is a count against it. Too, it was not true that we never thought of Boabissia. We often thought of her. In fact, I was thinking of her now.
'Men are such beasts,' she said, 'tarsks, miserable drunken sleen!' Tula and Feiqa, too, however, if it had to be known, had not been feeling too well. They were both sleeping in the back of the wagon. It had been with difficulty that Hurtha and I had managed to put them there. We would not have left them, of course. We were far to alert for that. Too, one does not leave Tulas and Feiqas simply lying about. They are far too desirable, far too luscious. To be sure, we had forgotten to chain them up last night, or rather, this morning, but neither, it seemed, as far as we could tell, had pondered escape.
'Oh!' cried Hurtha.
'Wait!' I said to Mincon.
