When we reached the threshold we patted Ruby Stone'swingstumps and placed him within but did not ourselvesenter.

"Behold, you will wait," we said together.

"I wiil wait, Beloveds."

Kwib and I faced one another. The humming ceased.We ignored the onlookers.

"Beloved, let us walk together," Kwib said.

"Yes, Beloved. We shall walk."

We turned and made our way past those who hadaccompanied us, moving into the solitude of the Wood. Fora long while we went in silence, taking care not to touchone another. We came at length upon a small glade,pleasantly shaded.

"Beloved, shall it be here?" Kwib asked me.

"No, Beloved," I said.

"Very well. Dear One." ^

We continued on, watching one another, moving in aleisurely fashion. The sun reached the overhead positionand began its descent.

After a time, "Beloved, do you wish to rest?" Kwibasked.

"Not yet, Beloved. Thank you."

"It occurs to me, Partner in Love, that we are headingtoward the place of Trader Hawkins. Would you wish tostop by there?"

"For what purpose. Fire of my Life?"

"A drink of the heating beverage. Love."

I thought about it. The effects of the heating beveragemight well serve to hasten things.

"Yes, Co-Walker in the Path of Bliss," I replied. "Letus visit Trader Hawkins first,"

We went on toward the foothills.

"Light of Love," I asked, "is it true that there is a matein a hole behind the Earthman's dwelling?"

"I have heard this. Love, and I have seen the place,but I do not know. I have heard that the mate is dead.""Strange, Dearest."

"Yes, Beloved."

We sat across from one another when we finally rested,watching. Kwib's dear form was sharp and supple is thedeepening shadows, and larger than my own. A moonclimbed into the sky. Another, far smaller, followed itlater. I had grown hungry as the day progressed, but Isaid nothing. It is better not to eat, and so it is betternot to speak of it.

We arrived at the foothills around dusk. Small lightsfrom the trading post were visible among the trees. Nightsounds had already begun about us. I smelled strangeodors on the breeze that came down from the mountains.

As we passed through the brush, I said, "Dearest Kwib,I would like to see first the place where the dead mate iskept."

"I will show it to you. Partner in Life."

Kwib led me around to the rear of the building. Aswe went, it seemed that I caught a glimpse of TraderHawkins sitting on the darkened front porch of thedwelling, gigantic in the moonlight, drinking.

Kwib led me to a huge plot of earth on which nothinggrew. At one end of it was set a stone with peculiar markings. A bunch of dead flowers lay at its base.

"The dead mate is under the ground, dear Kwib, underthe stone?"

"So I have heard. Light."

"And why are there dead plants, Love?"

"I do not know. Life."

"It is very strange. I do not understand. I—"

"Hey! What are you bugs doing out there?"

A light far greater than that of the moons had occurredatop a pole near the dwelling. The Earthman stood atthe door, one of me long fire weapons in his hands. Weturned toward him and advanced.

"We came to drink the heating beverage," Kwib said intrader talk. "We stopped first to see the place of the matewho is under the ground."

"I don't like anyone back here when I'm not around."

"We apologize. We did not know. You have the heating beverage?"

"Yes. Come on in."

The Earthman held the giant door open and stoodbeside it. We entered and followed the hulking formthrough to the front of the dwelling.

"You have the metal?"

"Yes," I said, taking a bar of it from my pouch and passing it over.

Two bowls of the beverage were prepared and I wasgiven more than three smaller bits of the metal in return.I left them beside my bowl on the mat.

"I will buy the next one. Beloved," Kwib said.

I did not reply but drank of the sweet-and-sour liquidwhich moved like fire through my limbs. The Earthmanpoured another beverage and perched with it atop a wooden tower. The room smelled strongly though not unpleasantly of odors which I could not identify. Tiny fragmentsof wood were strewn upon the floor. The chamber wasilluminated by a glowing jewel set high on the wall.

"You bugs hunting, or'd you just come up this way toget drunk?*' ..

"Neither," Kwib said. "We were married this morning."

"Oh," Trader Hawkins's eyes widened, then narrowed."I have heard of your ceremony. Only two go forth, andone remains behind...."

"Yes."

"... And you have stopped here on your way, for afew drinks before continuing on?"

"Yes."

"I am more than a little interested in this. None ofmy people ever witnessed your nuptials."

"We know this."

"I would like to see the fulfillment of this part of theceremony."

"No."

"No."

"It is forbidden?"

"No. It is simply that we consider it a private matter."

"Well, with all respect for your feelings, there aremany people where I come from who would give a lotto see such a thing. Since you say it is not forbidden, butrather a matter of personal decision on your part, I wonder whether I might persuade you to let me film it?"

"No."

"No, it is private."

"But hear me out. First, let me refill those bowls,though.—No, I don't want any more metal. If—now,just supposing—you were to let me film it, I would standto make considerable money. I could reward you withmany gifts—anything you want from the post here—andall the heating beverage you care to drink, whenever youwant it."

Kwib looked at me strangely.

"No," I said. "It is private and personal. I do not wantyou to capture it in your picture box."

I began to rise from my bowl.

"We had best be going."

"Sit down. Don't go. I apologize. I'd have been a foolnot to ask, though. I did not take offense at your lookingat my wife's grave, did I? Don't be so touchy."

"That is true, Beloved," Kwib said in our own tongue."We may have done offense in viewing the mate's grave.Let us not take offense ourselves from this request nowthat we have answered it, and so do ourselves shame."

"Soundly said, Beloved," I replied, and I returned to mybeating beverage. "This drink is good."

"Yes."

"I love you."

"I love you."

"Consider the ways of our dear Ruby Stone. Howdelicate he is!"

"Yes. And how graceful his movements ..."

"How proud I was when we bore him to the Home,"

"I, too. And the sky-dance was so fine... . You wereright about the stone. It shone gloriously in the sunlight."

"And in the evening its pale fires will be soft and subtle."

"True. It will be good."

"Yes."

We finished our drinks and were preparing to departwhen the Earthman refilled the bowls.

"On the house- A wedding present."

I looked at Kwib. Kwib looked at Trader Hawkinsand then looked at me. We returned to the mats to sipthe fine drinks.

"Thank you," I said.

"Yes, thank you," said Kwib.

When we had finished, we again rose to go. My movements were unsteady.

"Let me freshen your drinks."

"No, that would be too much. We must be on our waynow.""Would you wish to spend the night here? You may."

"No. We may not sleep until it is over."

We headed toward the front door. The floor seemedto be moving beneath me, but I plodded across it andout onto the porch. The cool night air felt good after thecloseness of the trading post. I stumbled on the stair. Kwibreached to assist me but quickly drew back.

"Sorry, Beloved."

"It is all right, Love."

"Good night to both of you—and good luck."

"Thank you."

"Good night."

We moved off through the hills, striking downwardonce again. After a time, I smelled fresh water and we"came to a Wood through which a stream flowed. Themoons were falling out of the sky, and there was aheaviness of stars within it. The smaller moon seemedto double itself as I watched, and I realized that thismust be something of the heating beverage's doing. WhenI turned away, I saw that Kwib had moved nearer andwas regarding me closely.