distracted them by making demands. One of the youths gave him some herbs. Carnelian watched them dig a pit, line it with fern fronds, lay the saurian joints over these, sprinkle the herbs on top, and cover it all with more leaves and a thin scattering of earth. It was on top of this that they arranged the dung and some kindling. Fingers clumsy with anxiety spun the fire-drill. At last, a teasing of smoke rose from the kindling which, when it was fed with crumbled dung, was soon followed by tongues of flame.
Chattering with relief, the Plainsmen squatted around the fire. Without trying to understand what they said, Carnelian enjoyed the murmur of their talk as he too drew comfort from the flames.
'It'll be ready soon,' said Fern to Ravan. 'Go and ask the Master if he wishes to eat with us.'
A while later, Ravan appeared with Osidian. Seeing him standing deathly white at the edge of the fire, Carnelian realized he had been deliberately putting him out of his mind. Carnelian tried a smile but it felt dishonest. As Osidian sat down beside him, Carnelian noticed the Plainsmen fell silent.
The night grew pitchy black. A bellow swelling from the far distance chilled Carnelian to the marrow. After that, only the fire spoke, its crackling enlivened by pops that shot sparks up into the air. Following these pinpricks of gold up in the smoke, Carnelian became lost in the Plainsman sky. It seemed to him a bleak god who lay behind such chill white stars. With a shudder, he pulled his gaze back down to earth and the comfort of their fire.
They must be done,' said Ravan.
It took some moments for his words to break their huddling circle. Carnelian felt he was coming slowly awake. With a broom they had improvised, the Plainsmen brushed the embers aside and then the smouldering earth. With much yelping and a jerking back of hands to lick burnt fingers, they plucked off the blackened fronds, releasing delicious steam. The youths produced a stack of little mats they had woven and with these to protect their hands, they fished out pieces of meat and passed them round. Ravan made certain it was he and not Krow who offered Osidian a portion.
Carnelian began eating with the others. Silence fell, interspersed with grunts of pleasure. Carnelian closed his eyes to better savour every mouthful.
'This must be the most delicious food I have ever tasted,' he said, the juices running down his chin.
When Fern translated what he said, Carnelian was rewarded with grins and looks of pride. He looked round and saw Osidian's food lying untouched in his hand and that he was squinting into the heart of the fire. When he spoke, everyone jumped.
'How do you plan to get to your homes?'
'We must go east until eventually -'
'On foot?’ said Loskai.
Fern looked grim. 'Have you a better idea?'
Loskai glared at Fern, who Carnelian could see was unhappy about the effect the confrontation was having on the others. He decided he would try to break the impasse.
'Fern, you were saying that if we go east we would eventually end up… where?'
His friend gave him a look of gratitude. 'At the Backbone, which we can follow to the Twostone.'
Krow looked up eagerly and Fern smiled at him. 'Once there, our kin tribe will lend us aquar to get us home.'
Krow smiled as he nodded, but then his smile fell away and Carnelian guessed the youth was imagining the day when he would have to tell his tribe about Cloud's death.
'… and, besides, they'll have news of our tributaries,' Ravan was saying and glanced over at Osidian.
'Describe this 'Backbone',' he said. 'It is the Mother's own that rises out from her earth.' 'Do you mean a basalt ridge running deep into the south?'
'Basalt?' Fern frowned at the strange word. 'Black stone,' said Osidian.
Fern broke into a nod. 'Yes, it runs straight and true further south even than our koppie.'
Carnelian saw the calculation in Osidian's eyes. 'You knew of this already?'
Barely glancing at him, Osidian momentarily dipped his chin, then turned his fiery eyes upon Fern. 'Your destination lies near this Backbone?' He waited just enough time for Fern to nod before continuing his interrogation. He wanted to know how long the Plainsmen took, once they had descended from Makar, to cross the Leper Valleys to the Earthsky and, from there, how long a ride it was to the koppie of the Twostone. The other questions Osidian asked, Carnelian deduced, must be designed to determine the pace at which these journeys were carried out.
Osidian smiled. 'Why then not go directly to the Twostone koppie?'
'Because, Master, we have no idea how far south we are,' said Loskai, triumphantly.
'Can you not judge by looking at the cliff of the Guarded Land?' asked Carnelian.
Fern shook his head. This part of the Earthsky is foreign to both the Ochre and the Twostone.'
'I shall need two spears,' said Osidian.
They stared at him, recognizing the tone as that of their guide through the madness of the forest. They had grown used to obeying it.
When Osidian had his spears he laid them across his knees and, taking a blade from Ravan, began to gouge regularly spaced notches along their lengths. Carnelian could only stare with the rest. No better than they could he imagine what Osidian had in mind.
When Osidian walked off into the darkness carrying the two notched spears, Carnelian followed him. Hearing footfalls, he turned to see Ravan silhouetted against the fire.
Til go with him. There's no need for you to come.'
'You don't understand the dangers, Master,' said Ravan.
The youth had a point. Glancing round, Carnelian saw Osidian was already far enough away to be almost invisible in the night.
He turned back to Ravan. 'We'll be all right. You stay here.'
Sensing that the youth was on the verge of rebellion, Carnelian considered explaining to him that Osidian was in a dangerous mood. A stubbornness in the set of Ravan's shoulders suggested he would not be amenable to argument.
'Do what you're told,' Carnelian said, more harshly than he intended, causing the youth to shrink back. Carnelian would have apologized except he feared he would end up trapped in a discussion. Instead, he turned his back on Ravan and set off after Osidian.
When he caught up with him, Osidian was working one of the spears into the ground.
'What are you doing?' Carnelian asked.
Osidian looked up. 'Good. You can help me.' He walked around the spear adjusting it slightly. He looked at Carnelian.
'Is it vertical?'
Carnelian moved round it. 'Seems to be.' Osidian pointed to a point halfway up the spear. 'Hold it here.'
When Carnelian hesitated, Osidian, stooping, took hold of his right wrist. Carnelian allowed his hand to be positioned on the spear. 'Make a fist about it.'
Carnelian complied. Osidian took some steps away, lifted the other spear, rested its haft on Carnelian's fist and asked him to hold it in place. Osidian held the other end and raised it until it was level.
There should be a gouge near your fist.'
Carnelian searched for it and found it; one larger than the others. Osidian slid the spear towards Carnelian until the gouge lay above his fist.
'Is it a perfect cross?' Osidian asked.
The spears intersected at Carnelian's fist. After some adjustment, Carnelian declared they met at right angles. Being careful not to move the spear out of alignment, Osidian crouched and looked along it.
'What are you doing?' asked Carnelian, increasingly exasperated.
'Sighting the horizon.'
Carnelian turned and looked to the north where the starry sky ended in blackness. 'Why?' 'Let your fist slide down a little.' Carnelian complied.
Osidian nodded. 'That's good. Now with your other hand, hold the top of the spear.'
As Carnelian did this, Osidian continued to speak. 'I am trying to determine the height of the axis stars.'
Carnelian stared up at the sky. The axis stars?'
