fallen back to put the bulk of the creature between him and Fern. He was embarrassed. After having all but forced his friend to go to the island, it was he who had most wanted to flee and that after having behaved abominably. Now they were past the impaled man and among the baobabs, it seemed as if it had been someone else who had panicked.
A commotion was echoing from the crown of the knoll. Fern made the aquar stop. Carnelian continued walking and they looked at each other. Fern began running. Carnelian looked around, decided the aquar could look after herself and took off after him. He felt the creature's footfalls through the earth and looking back saw she was loping after them, the drag-cradle rattling after her, shedding waterskins. They slid, and bounced and burst open, splashing water everywhere. Carnelian grimaced, but turned his back on the debacle and raced on.
As he and Fern crossed the ditch into the camp, they saw the backs of Plainsmen who were focusing on something in their midst. Unable to make himself heard above their roar, Carnelian pushed his way through. Some responded violently, but sprang aside when they saw who it was. Silence spread through their ranks. A path opened to the centre of the crowd, where he saw a sartlar at bay, hair risen in a mane.
'Kor?' he said. 'What are you doing to her?' he bellowed, striding round the front row of men, shoving them aside. They drew back, awed by his rage. A growling made him turn. The animal sound was coming from the sartlar woman.
'Kor…' he said, gently, approaching her. The woman snarled at him and he pulled his hands up and stepped back to give her space.
'Have they hurt you?' he said, his voice slow, soothing.
Kor glared at him. Keeping a wary eye on her, he looked around. 'What's this about?'
'Salt,' one man cried, and many others took the word up in a chorus.
At first Carnelian did not understand, but then he noticed the snowy grains frosting the ground. Kor had more in her hands, more crumbled down her rags.
'She came with a great slab of it,' said Krow. 'She wouldn't give it to us, nor tell us where it came from.'
Avarice gleamed in every eye. Seeing Kor still looking hunted, Carnelian crouched beside her.
'It's all right now, little mother,' he said.
He continued talking until Kor relaxed, straightening up as much as she could.
They tore it from me, Master,' she said and indicated the salt strewn earth with her gnarled fists.
'It doesn't matter, Kor.'
He was trying to get close enough to lead her off before she said anything else but she backed away from him.
'I only came to ask the Master where he wants us to put the slabs we've cut.' Carnelian groaned.
Ravan broke through into the circle. There's more…?' he cried, staring at the sartlar.
'Caves of it,' said Fern. He stamped the ground. 'Here beneath our feet.'
The Plainsmen erupted. Carnelian glared at Fern, who grimaced. 'We have kept this from them too long.'
Carnelian gave a weary nod of acceptance.
Ravan's eyes burned with excitement as he looked out over the men. 'With so much wealth we could recruit a vast host' He raised his arms. 'We would become invincible.'
He turned on Carnelian.*Even against the Master and his Manila.'
'Do you imagine the Standing Dead would not notice the drying up of their recruits? How long do you think it would be before they came to punish your impudence?'
Ravan's lip curled up from his teeth. 'More threats, Master?' He stabbed a finger at Carnelian and looked round at the men. 'Does this one seem so terrifying that we must quake at the very mention of their retribution?' He circled Carnelian. 'Are these Standing Dead really so much mightier than us that we should obey them as if they were gods? What is the basis of their power except terror? I say that should we choose to be men and defy them, we will find their power is nothing more substantial than a mirage.'
Fern closed on his brother. The Master has possessed you as he has us all.' He surveyed the crowd. 'We have become murderers and thieves. He has made us forget our ancient ways, our humility, our honour and piety. He has made us give insult to the Mother.'
He looked at Ravan, shaking his head sadly. 'As for you, my brother, I do not hear wisdom but rather the bitterness of a lover spurned.'
Ravan clenched his fists and bared his teeth. 'You accuse me of that, you who are to him' – he pointed at Carnelian – 'in everything his wife.'
Fern swung and struck his brother a blow which made him reel but then return screaming. 'Do you want to hit me again? Come on, do you?'
Fern looked horrified. He seemed to become suddenly aware they had an audience. He threw himself bodily at the crowd, who made way for him.
Carnelian almost ran after him, but Ravan was staring, his face already bruising.
'Master, where shall we store the salt?' Kor asked.
Carnelian swung round and she cowered. 'Where do you normally put it?'
The sartlar angled her head towards the Isle of Flies.
'Store it in the caves.'
She fell into a prostration. As he looked at the white-flecked ground around her, he wondered if the creature could really have so little idea of how precious salt was that she innocently brought such a slab into the Plainsman camp.
He became aware of the men around him staring. 'Haven't you seen enough?' he bellowed. They ducked their heads and began dispersing. Carnelian asked Krow to look after Ravan and then he went to find Fern.
Carnelian found his friend standing at the chasm edge gazing across at the Isle of Flies. They stood side by side in silence.
'I couldn't bear to hear the Master's voice coming out of him,' said Fern at last. 'I know,' said Carnelian. 'It really is as if he is possessed.' 'In many ways he is.'
Water fell around the dark face of the Isle of Flies like hair. Carnelian felt the question forming on his lips as his heart pounded.
'Is that why you hit him?'
Sensing Fern turning towards him, Carnelian looked round and their eyes met with an intensity that snatched away his breath. Fern's irises were all black.
'He insulted us both.'
Carnelian controlled anger. 'Do men among the tribes never love each other?'
Fern looked pained. 'Boys do.' 'And when boys become men?'
'Once we are married, such feelings are discouraged. A man should love his wife and his children above all others.'
Carnelian saw the desire burning in Fern, but knew now he must not let it ignite his own. 'Perhaps Ravan was acting from fear. We must assure him we will not tell the Master of the… arguments we've had with him.'
Fern was looking at him very seriously. Carnelian made light of his feelings and laughed. He slapped Fern on the back.
'Come on, let's go and see if any of the water survived our return.'
Days later, shouting brought everyone in the camp running down armed towards the Ladder. As he ran to it with the others, Carnelian saw smoke wavering up from the chasm. His heart raced as he recognized Osidian's signal. He pushed his way through the Plainsmen to peer over the edge. Far below, from where the smoke was rising, a dark mass of men could be seen gathered at the base of the Ladder and others were already climbing it.
'Manila,' said Fern who was beside Carnelian.
They glanced at each other. Even at that distance, it was hard to believe these were all Oracles.
The Master's not there,' said Ravan.
'He must be,' said Carnelian. 'He told me he would send up smoke to signal his return.' 'I can't see him.'
