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crisscrossing it. We could see animals drinking by those streams, and in the dying light the sky was alive
with thousands of birds calling and swooping through dense clouds of fat insects.
Deoce gave a small cry of amazement and pointed to one of the pools of water scattered about this
pocket paradise. We all looked and saw a half-dozen slender antelope playing in the water. Among them
were two tigers. The tigers were splashing about and rolling on their backs, kicking claws in the air in
mock combat like kittens. They paid no attention to their natural prey. A wonderful feeling of peace and
joy spread, and I had a sudden urge to
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race to join them in play. Deoce drew smile lines on her face and said something in her language. I
smiled back into the sparkling eyes. "Happy," I said. "Very happy."
"Happy," she repeated. Then added, "Yes ... Happy. Deoce very happy." It was her first full statement
in Orissan.
Darkness and caution kept us from going further that night. It was too far and the footing along the
crater's rim was too dangerous. In the morning Maeen sent Lione and a few men to scout the area to
make sure no enemies lurked about. There was little conversation while we waited; all of us were content
to loll about and study the place at our ease. Deoce and I spent several hours adding words to our
dictionaries, pointing out different creatures and flowers and trees.
Lione returned just before nightfall. He and the other men were grinning and joking, behaving more like
gamboling lambs than soldiers. "The only trouble we'll have here, Cap'n," he said to Janos, "is gettin' up
enough foolishness to leave." He painted a wonderful picture of their day's adventure. There was life
aplenty: animals with hooves and paws, fur and scale; blunt-toothed grazers and fanged flesh eaters;
shade trees, fruit trees; and every variety of flowering plant, with accompanying sippers of nectar. "Near
as we c'd figger," Lione said, "only thing missin' is men. No sign of people ever bein' about. Oh, yeah.
One other thing. Big thing, really. Those tigers and deer we saw playin' yesterday?" Janos nodded. "It's
like that all over the valley. Things that oughta duck and hide walk 'bout bold as you please. An' things
that oughta be stalkin' and killin' pay never no mind."
"But how do they eat?" I asked the question for all of us.
Lione's eyes grew wide with wonder as he considered how to answer. "That's the craziest thing. It was
peaceful like I said, all day. But just 'fore we got back, every thin' changed. Deer spooked and bolted.
Tigers bolted a'ter 'em. Same with th' other critters. Things that make a good dinner started lookin' for a
place to hide, an' things that kills and eats for a livin' went lookin' for 'em. But oddest damn thing, was the
hunters seemed to take on'y what they could eat... 'n' no more. Then, all of a sudden, th' whole
commotion stops. An' things got all peaceful like before." He scratched his head, a silly grin pasted to his
face. "Now ain't that th' damndest thing you ever heard of?"
I looked at Cassini, a little uneasy at this peacefulness. "A spell?"
Cassini thought, then shook his head. "I have no feeling of another ... presence," he said. "But I do have
a sense of ... well-
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ness? Yes. That's it. Wellness. But what its source is, I cannot say. Although I suspect all the spells I
have been casting to assure our safety have finally come together to protect us." He gestured at the thick
walls of the crater. "Possibly the structure of this place has helped to concentrate my spells."
Janos snorted. "So all these creatures suddenly became tame when you stood upon the rim? Blessed in
the presence of the Master Evocator? Come now, Cassini. If that is the explanation, then I think your
superiors back in Orissa had better start rewriting the sacred texts."
Cassini's face darkened "Enough of this," I broke in. "Instead of questioning and arguing, I suggest we all
just enjoy what we have stumbled upon. We can rest here and recuperate for as long as it is necessary.
That is all I, for one, care to know."
"Here, here," Lione broke in. Maeen, who had been hovering at his side, glowered at him. "Sorry,"
Lione said. "Di'n't mean to poke my nose where it don't belong. But I b'lieve Lord Antero has a sensible
suggestion. There's plenty to enjoy. Come the morrow, you'll see for yourself."
The next day we got ourselves, our belongings, and the animals to the bottom while the dew was still
fresh on the ground. It was the sweetest air I ever breathed, and the music of the songbirds was sharp
and clear. Everything that Lione warranted was true. We barely set up a real camp that day, but freed the
asses of their burdens, and they bawled in delight, rushed off to a nearby pond, and plunged in with much
kicking and splashing. Two big lizards, each three times the length of a man, came out of the water to
watch them play, smiling toothy lizard smiles with mouths that gaped wide enough to swallow the asses
whole. The asses ignored them, somehow knowing they were safe, and a bit later we were among them,
shedding civilization along with clothes, acting like fools as the cool waters washed away the grime of the
long trek.
I dived deep, swimming like the river rat I was, feeling all that coolness caress my belly and flanks. The
water was so clear, I could easily make out the limbs of my comrades churning about, as well as the fat
bodies of the lizards, with their stumpy, powerful legs. To one side I saw a shaded inlet leading away
from the pond. I came up for air, dived down again, and swam along that watery avenue edged with
gentle, moss-covered banks. Every Orissan child is joined to our great river practically at birth. Toddlers
play in currents that strong men might fear in other parts. I was no different, and I had always particularly
enjoyed swimming underwater, holding my breath as long as I could, to seek out the
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many wonders that dwell there; so I had gone some distance down that avenue before I felt the need to
emerge for breath.
I kicked lazily, rising slowly to the surface. But as I rose, I saw slender limbs near the bank. Instead of
surfacing, I swam closer and saw those legs were the shapely limbs of a woman. They were light nut
brown, rising to a delicate smear of black where they joined. Above them was the flare of hips and a
narrow waist. I had not a thought or care in my mind as I let myself rise, immensely enjoying the view. I
broached the surface, opening my mouth to drag in a breath, and I heard a giggle, then a splash, and I
drew in water instead of air. Gasping and choking, I stumbled toward shore, trying to clear my lungs and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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