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e thing we were； not balanced enough to draw my sword； shouting to Cassini to crawl； man； crawl； and he was scrabbling upward； I wading after him； and I thought I heard a great hiss from behind me； like the creature was being cheated； and from the Up of the hole spears came down； arcing just over my shoulder； and the hiss became a shrill； and I was staggering up； sliding back down 。。。 and Janos was beside us； somehow able to walk in this dry mire； and then we were out of the creature's den； diving away from its edge。 Deoce and Maeen ran up； stringing bows； each of them holding arrows in their bow hands。 But there was nothing to shoot at。
The sides of the pit were still sliding； as the sand resought the cone's natural perfection。 There was nothing at the bottom of the pit。 No creature； no ass； no treasure chest。 I thought I could see a gleam that might have been a few of the coins。 Unless the creature had power to make itself invisible or was a demon from some unknown hell； it must have reburied itself。 I had time to think of each of the pits we had passed； each housing such a monster； and refused the abominable thought Then we realized one of the soldiers… Aron…was missing。 We never saw his body； and I ordered our party to march on before the creature in the pit had time to drain his juices and cast his body among us。 Cassini was glowering at Janos； who avoided his gaze； but still we marched； on and on。
That night I woke and saw a bulky form that could only be Janos sitting just beyond our party。 I rose silently and joined him。 〃By rights；〃 he said softly； 〃you should reduce me to the ranks and put Sergeant Maeen in charge。 I failed today。〃
I had just about enough of what I perceived to be Janos' plete inability to recognize his own humanity and flaws。 〃The mighty Greycloak； afraid；〃 I said as sarcastically as I could manage。 〃The stars fall from their courses； the earth shudders； and there is blood on the moon。 As if a damned great monster like that would not have sent shudders through any of the heroes of old。〃
〃It wasn't fear；〃 Janos said； and I knew he spoke the truth。 〃No one who is a soldier can allow his fear of death； which we all share； to paralyze him as I was。〃
〃So you let yourself wish Cassini dead。 Dammit； I have no idea what sent me after him； considering the number of times I've wished him to contract some dread plague。〃
〃My feelings for Cassini also had nothing to do with it And I will add now that no matter how much we dislike him； we cannot do without him。 We will need all of his Evocatorial skills to enter the Far Kingdoms； and I feel we are very； very close now。〃
〃Then what？〃 I asked； impatient。
〃As I said； the Far Kingdoms；〃 Janos went on。 〃The thought came on me； just as I saw Cassini floundering like some beached carp； how imbecilic it would be for me to die 。。。 here 。。。 now 。。。 within reach of my life's dream。 To achieve that dream； I would have let Cassini be sucked of his juices。〃
I should not have asked； but I did。 〃Suppose； Janos； that it had been me； there？ Slipping into those jaws。 Would you have still played statue？〃
A long silence； and I began to grow angry。 Then； 〃I do not think so； my friend。 Or perhaps； I hope I would not have。 No。 I would have helped。〃 But the questioning note remained。
I returned to my blankets and Deoce and tossed and fretted over what had happened。 As my memory flees back to that night to coax words for the lines required to describe my youthful thoughts； I realized now that I felt hurt…betrayed by my friend。 But I can also see from this great distance what I could not understand then。 For I can look ahead； whereas the young Amalric could not。 In the days that followed； Janos' attitude toward me made a subtle shift。 He seemed 。。。 easier in my pany； somehow。 As if a barrier had been lifted and a strong bond formed。 And that bond was this： until that day I had been Janos' friend； there was no questioning that； but he had not really been mine。 After the pit Janos Greycloak was truly my friend…or； as much a friend as he could be to any man or woman。
The next morning Janos showed me the figurine of the dancing girl。 I gasped at the sight of it： she gleamed as if a silversmith had been working long hours with his polishing rouge； and even more startling； the figurine had partially re…formed。 Before； it had been broken off at the hips； and now it was plete down to the ankles。 The woman's hand now held a silvery feather； and the scarf I'd thought to be part of the original casting was gossamer and 。。。 alive。 At that moment I had no doubt we were closing on the Far Kingdoms！
A day later Deoce was first to notice that the horizon was a darker blue。 We prayed that blue meant we were approaching mountains。 If that was what they were； they seemed to be many leagues and days distant from us。 The question was whether we had the strength to reach them。 I thought we did not。 The best I could imagine was that we might find another oasis； one with game and fish。 We must rest and recover…the sickness was getting worse。 Perhaps； if we could stop moving； the curse that dogged us might pass on； and Cassini's powers would return。
Lione was walking at the head of the column； I was about a spearcast behind him。 The ground had bee low rolling hills。 I came over one crest…just ahead of us； no more than a few minutes' walk； opened a narrow valley： a great cleft in the ground that looked as if a giant had dug both hands into the soil and pulled them apart。 I saw； just below the vertical rim； deep green that could only mean well…watered trees。 I shouted to Lione； who was pacing on straight for the cleft； as if he intended to walk into it。 He looked at me； puzzled； then came back。
I asked him； 〃Why didn't you shout when you saw it？〃
〃Saw what？〃
I thought the soldier was being obstinate； then realized he'd been stricken by the sickness。 I motioned。 He turned； and it was as if a veil was lifted。 〃It 。。。 it 。。。 wasn't there。 I 。。。 just saw 。。。 hills；〃 he managed。 〃I was about to e back and say I thought we should take another heading。〃
Maybe someone intended him to think that； I considered。 Trying not to look like a war party； but with bows and spears ready for use； we moved slowly toward the cliff edge。 By the time we reached it； two men and a woman were waiting。 Since the woman was in front； I thought her to be their leader。 They held out empty hands； palms up。 All three of them were dressed as if for a festival； in colorful； loose； silk…looking garments。 None of them appeared to be armed。 The woman spoke a sentence。 I did not understand it…but yet I did； much like one half remembers a familiar face or a dream on sudden wakening。 Deoce drew her breath in surprise。 〃They are speaking my tongue；〃 she said。 Then； in her own language； 〃Are you of my people？〃
The woman smiled and chattered； and then I could pick out a word here； a word there。 Deoce was frowning； trying to follow。 She held up a hand； and the woman stopped。 〃The language 。。。 is not quite mine；〃 she said； carefully finding the exact phrases。 〃She speaks like old people 。。。 no； that is not the word 。。。 like wise men say my people spoke once； long years gone。〃
Deoce introduced us： the two men were Morning Fog； their shaman； and Harvester； the woman； Dawnhope； and she was their chieftain。 She addressed me； speaking slowly； and I could now pick out the sense of her remarks； so similar was her language to Deoce's。 〃We have been seeing you for two days。 We hoped you would see us。〃 I understood her words； but not their meaning； and begged her to explain further。 With Deoce's help； she did； and I learned why Lione had not seen the valley。 I was told there was a mighty； protective spell cast on the valley。 No one intending harm or evil could see the Rift； but would sight only more rolling hills…hills they would be impelled to turn away from without knowing why。
Cassini heard the translation。 〃There are indeed great Evocators in this land；〃 he said； half in fright； half mournfully； and I felt a flicker of sympathy。 Cassini was like a man whose life and work depended on keen vision； but who'd been suddenly blinded。 It was a flicker of passion； but no more。 I still remembered the paradise he'd lost for us。 Besides； I was now busy with the standard greetings and small…present exchanging mon to any traveler meeting a new； friendly people。 We were invited to share their land and home for as long as we wished； and were asked only to follow their customs and laws； which； Harvester； their Giver of Laws； said were no more than mon sense and hardly onerous。 I reserved judgment…the Shore People felt cannibalism was a perfectly natural custom。 But I felt no threat or challenge yet from these friendly people。 They led us to the cliff's edge； where a carved stone stairway zigzagged down the rock face to disappear into the trees below。 I could see the gleam of a lake down there and smell fragrant wood smoke。 Nearby； a small waterfall ran down the rocks to the valley floor。 We blindfolded our asses； who found strength to bray protest until they smelled the water； and started down。
We had gone but a dozen steps when I heard a shout from Cassini and whirled； hand touching sword。 He stood mazed； tottering； as if about to faint。 One of the men steadied him； but Cassini seemed not to notice。 〃My powers 。。。 my magic 。。。 they have returned！〃 I looked quickly at Janos； and from the smile beaming through his beard； knew Cassini was not deluding himself。 The Rift Tribe had powerful Evocators indeed if their spell could not only blind enemies who were physically present； but mask the eyes of sorcery as well。
All of the tribe was waiting in the village； which was made up of several central buildings； a feasting area； and cottages flung； seemingly at random； around the main gathering places。 There was a feast prepared； but I'm afraid none of us did it service and might even have shamed our hosts。 We were taken to huts； and men and women of the tribe offered us fresh clothing。 Other members of the tribe helped our sick undress and put them into waiting hammocks。 These nurses told us they already had potions and remedies ready to treat them。 It was obvious we were not the first to encounter the Rift； nor the first to stumble across that horrible wasteland。
Deoce and I bathed in the lake； changed； and feeling like the walking dead； forced ourselves to the feast。 Only a few of us… Deoce； Janos； Sergeant Maeen； and Lione among them…were around the great circular table。 I ate but little； feeling I might bee sick if I stuffed myself。 Lione and Maeen did get sick； but our hosts paid no mind。 Finally； staying awake became too torturous； and we made excuses and tottered to our huts。 I remember little of the next few days； beyond waking； eating； bathing； and making sure my men were taken care of。
But eventually I returned to my usual self； and in a shorter time than I would have thought。 Again and again in my life I've been reminded how much punishment this animal body can absorb and recover from； and never cease to marvel how some beings can let life slip away so easily。 Here in the valley was the first time I observed this。 One of the men we'd rescued from slavery died； and then a second。 In spite of the best incantations and herbs provided by Cassini and Morning Fog； the sickness seemed to cling to our people and keep them enfeebled。 Only Janos； Cassini； Deoce； Sergeant Maeen； and I had not fallen ill； and Lione refused to admit he had been taken by the disease。
As I recovered I began asking about the Rift Tribe。 There were perhaps two hundred of them living in this valley。 They tended to live long； peaceful lives。 New blood came to the tribe as wandering refugees or； very occasionally； traders who decided to retreat from the world。 The people cheerfully gave up their huts and moved in with friends because of the new stories they would hear of the world beyond。 The tribe's people lived on the crops planted farther up the valley； where the forest was thinner。 They used long； hollowed gourds for piping to run water from springs or creeks to their fields。 They hunted the abundant game as carefully as any herdsman decides which animal can be slaughtered without impairing the herd。 Once they had kept goats； but they had died a generation ago。