"Such, you fear, might linger in the area?" I asked.

"Sometimes they are even left behind," said Grunt, "to track survivors who mighthave hidden in the grass."

"But we were not of the attacked parties," I said.

"One might hope, of course," said Grunt, "that they would be sensitive to suchdistinctions."

"We have not broken the laws," I said.

"We are white," said Grunt.

"I must move eastward," I said. It was important for me to determine the fate ofthe Kurii who had been with the mercenaries.

"Grunt," I said.

"Yes," he said.

"It is my understanding, gathered along the perimeter, that you are unusualamong traders, that you, of all of them, have penetrated most far into theBarrens, and know them best of white men."

"Perhaps," said Grunt. "It is hard to tell about such things."

"It was for this reason that I sought you out," I said.

He regarded me, not speaking.

"I have something among my stores, which I would show you," I said. "I suspectthat it is something which you have seen, or that you have seen similar thingsand are familiar with their origins."

"I shall be pleased to look at it," he said.

I returned to the fire in a few moments, and, on the dirt, in the light of theflames, spread the hide which Samos and I had obtained in the ruined tarncomplex some four pasangs from the northeast delta gate of Port Kar.

"It is a story hide," said Grunt.

"Can you read it?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"But you are not reading it," I said. I noted that he did not, with his eye orfinger, trace the spiraling account painted on that almost-white, softly tannedsurface.

"I have read it," he said. "Where did you get it?"

"Near Port Kar," I said.

"Interesting," be said.

"Why?" I asked.

"It is so far away," he said. "It is in the delta of the Vosk."

"This hide, I gather," I said, "has passed through your hands."

"Last fall," he said, "I obtained it from Dust Legs. They, in turn, had it fromKaiila."

"Do you know from what band of Kaiila?" I asked.

"No," he said.

"To whom did you sell the hide?" I asked.

"To Ram Seibar, in Kailiauk," he said.

"It all fits!" I said.

"You are not a trader," said Grunt. "What is your true business in the Barrens?"

I pointed to the painting of the two feathers near the beginning of thenarrative. "The painter's name," I said, "seems to have been Two Feathers." Irecalled that Kog had surmised this, in his interpretation of the hide.

Grunt shrugged. "That is not necessarily the case," he said, "at all. The twofeathers may be a talisman, or a luck sign. They may indicate a place. Theycould even indicate that the hide's painter has two coups, each coup beingmarked by one feather."

"I see," I said. This was indeed unwelcome news. Suddenly my task, and theBarrens, seemed far more formidable.

"It is easier to interpret sign, which can occasionally be difficult, than tointerpret a story hide. The conventions on the hide, and its meanings, are oftenmore idiosyncratic, more personal."

"Do you often deal in story hides?" I asked.

"No," said Grunt. "To encounter one among trade goods is quite uncommon."

"Ram Seibar paid well for this, did he not?" I asked.

"He paid a double tarn, of gold," said Grunt.

"He seemed anxious to obtain it?" I asked.

"He did not even bargain," said Grunt. "Yes."

I nodded. For such a coin one might easily buy five girls.

"What is your business in the Barrens?" asked Grunt.

"Do you see this beast?" I asked. I pointed to the image on the representationof a shield, that painted at the conclusion of the hide's account. It was theimage of a Kur, the left ear half torn away.

"Yes?" Grunt.

"I seek it," I said.

He regarded me.

"No," I said. "I am not mad."

"That is a beast of a medicine vision," said Grunt. "It is not a real beast."

"It is real," I said. "I do not know, beyond that, whether or not it occurred ina medicine vision."

"I have never seen such a beast," said Grunt.

"They are not indigenous to the Barrens," I said.

"You think it is now in the Barrens," said Grunt.

"I am sure of it," I said. "And I think, too, that there may be several others,as well." I did not know what had been the fate of the Kurii who had been withthe mercenary captain, Alfred, of Port Olni. It was possible, of course, thatthey had been destroyed in the attack on his column and the wagon train.

"Are you a hunter?" asked Grunt.

"In my way," I said.

"The Barrens are large," said Grunt.

"Do you think the hide is Kaiila?" I asked.

"I obtained it from Dust Legs, who obtained it from Kaiila," he said. "Whetheror not it is originally Kaiila, I do not know."

"I must venture to the country of the Kaiila," I said. "To do so, you will haveto pass through Fleer country, and the lands of Sleen and Yellow Knives," hesaid.

"As far as I know, I have not broken their laws," I said.

"You are white," said Grunt. "You may be attacked at their pleasure, whether ornot you have broken their laws."

"I understand," I said.

"You are leaving in the morning?" he asked.

"Yes," I said.

"You understand the dangers?" he asked.

"I think so," I said.

"I will accompany you," he said.

"You need not do so," I said.

"It is already summer," said Grunt "I did not come this far to turn back."

"You, too, would go eastward, then?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Is it your intention to go to the land of the Kaiila?" I asked.

"Yes," said he. "I have business there. I was there last summer."

"Have you a bargain to keep?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, "and it is important that I keep it. It is important that Imaintain my integrity with these people, that I speak, as it is said, with astraight tongue."

"When are you to be there?" I asked.

"In Kantasawi," he said, "the moon when the plums are red." This was the moonfollowing the next moon, which is known variously as Takiyuhawi, the moon inwhich the tabuk rut, or Canpasapawi, the moon when the chokecherries are ripe.

"Will this give you time to return to Kailiauk?" I asked. Otherwise he wouldhave to winter in the Barrens. The red savages themselves sometimes found itdifficult to survive the long and severe winters, particularly if the huntingwas poor.

"Two moons will be sufficient to return to Kailiauk," said Grunt, "If one doesnot stop for trading." The two moons he had in mind, as I later learned, wereCanwapegiwi, the moon in which the leaves become brown, and the moon knownvariously as Wayuksapiwi, the Corn-Harvest Moon, or Canwapekasnawi, the moonwhen the wind shakes off the leaves. The autumnal equinox occurs in Canwapegiwi.

"What is important about Kantasawi?" I asked.

"It is the moon during which the Bento herd enters the country of the Kaiila. Itis a time of the gathering of the Kaiila, of great hunts and dances."

"I would welcome your company," I said. I did not question him further on thenature of his business with the Kaiila.

"It is then decided," said Grunt. "We shall leave, and together in the morning."

"Good," I said.

The girls, in their neck shackles, of course, did not know of our decision, norof what might be involved in it. This was appropriate, for they were merelyslaves.

"On the way to the country of the Kaiila, I would like to examine the field ofthe killings, the massacres," I said.

Grunt looked at me, puzzled.

"I have determinations to make there," I said.

"It is not far from here," he said.

"I thought not," I said.

"It will not be pleasant," he said.

I nodded. Yet I must determine if Kurii were among the fallen, and, if possible,their number.

"Tonight," said Grunt, getting up, "you may use Priscilla, if you wish."