Tanajin frowned. “There is no easy way. The trail goes across the river. It leads from the country of the Amber People to the country of your people, Nia. Before I came, travelers had to camp at the edge of the river and cut down trees. They made rafts to carry them across the river and then had to leave the rafts behind them to rot. A waste of good timber!

“And they did not know what to do, once they were on the water. They drifted downriver. They got caught on snags. Lizards came after them. I heard about this.

“I thought—here is something I can do which is useful. Here is a gift that people will appreciate.

“There is no trail that goes along the river. The way is hard. There are marshes and bogs. It will take you many days.”

Derek said, “We have to get there soon.”

“It cannot be done.”

Derek leaned forward. “This is important. We are meeting with people. We have promised to be there.”

Tanajin drank beer. She handed the jug to me, then wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the fire. “I could take you downriver on my raft. But I’d lose it. The current is too strong. I could not get the raft back upriver. And there is a place where the water goes down rapidly. You could get through in a boat. But I am not certain that a raft could make it.” She paused. “Let me think. Maybe in the morning I will know what to do.” She stood up. “I told you I had blankets. They are piled outside my door. Rest well.”

Tanajin went in the tent. I took a blanket, too exhausted to examine it, though I noticed—lying underneath—that it was heavy and warm.

“Lixia?” It was Derek.

“Uh?”

“I called the ship.”

I lifted my head. He was sitting by the fire. The ruddy light outlined a cheekbone and made an eye gleam.

“Yes?” I said.

“We aren’t going to get our conversation with a doctor.”

“What? You had it figured out. You were certain.”

“Uh-huh.” He smiled. I saw the corner of his mouth curl up. “Ivanova decided it would hurt their position if they voted for any kind of intervention before the big meeting. And the Chinese abstained. Every one.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask me. I haven’t the first idea.”

“Do you really care so much?”

“Lixia, you will never get anywhere until you understand the importance of politics.”

“Huh,” I said and lay back down.

“One other thing,” he said.

“Yes?”

“Gregory has been pulled out. He wasn’t learning enough, sitting alone in his cabin, and the cabin stank, and the food was boring. We are the only people left on this continent.”

“Eddie still wants us to leave?”

“He wants the option. If his side wins, he intends to quarantine the planet.”

“Shit.”

Derek smiled. “Yvonne is going up to join his faction in the big fight. Santha and Meiling are staying where they are, for the time being.”

“Huh,” I said again.

I woke at sunrise, stood and stretched, then walked down the bank till I found a cluster of bushes, peed, and washed my hands in the river. There was a flock of birds on the nearest island, roosting in the trees. They were large and white. They kept moving, flapping from one tree to another or leaving the island entirely, flying out over the river. One went over me. It was high enough up to be in sunlight. How splendid it was! How brilliantly white!

I went back to camp. Derek was gone—off to check the animals, most likely. The oracle lay wrapped in his blanket. Nia was going through one of the saddlebags, and Tanajin sat by the fire. A metal tripod stood over it. A pot hung suspended, flames licking around it. I looked in. Gray mush.

Tanajin said, “I have thought some more about your need.”

I made the gesture that meant “go on.”

“There is no quick way through the marshes. I told you that before. There is no safe way, either. The big lizards like to sun themselves on the banks of the river, and they hunt in the shallows. They are hungry this time of year. They know they must eat well, before they start the trip south.

“There are other animals that are dangerous. The killers of the forest. The little mathadi.They are no bigger than my hand. But their bite is poisonous. You must go on the river.”

“How?” I asked.

“There is a man who lives near here. Like me, he comes from the south. He used to be a great hunter of the umazi.He knows the river—all of it. After we eat, I will build up the fire and signal him. If he is in the area, he will come. Maybe he will take you to the lake.”

I made the gesture of gratitude. She gave the mush another stir. “You will have to leave the animals here. They will not fit in the boat.”

I made the gesture that meant “no matter.” “Would you like them? We owe you a gift in return for your help.”

Tanajin frowned. “I do not travel on land. Not any long distance. I can walk to anyplace I want to visit.”

Nia came over. She looked angry. “What are you saying, Li-sa? How can you offer the animals to this woman?”

I looked up, surprised. “She has found a way to get us to the lake.”

“You will meet your friends and go off with them. That is your plan, isn’t it?”

“I’m not certain. Maybe.”

“If you do, what about me? What about the oracle? What will happen to us? We will be left alone in the middle of the plain.” She squatted down and stared at me. “I do not want to go to the Amber People. I do not think the Iron People will make me welcome. We need those animals! We are going to have to travel a long distance before we find anyone who will give us through-the-winter hospitality.”

“What have you done?” asked Tanajin.

“We’ve had bad luck,” said Nia. She sounded curt.

“Worse than most, from the sound of it,” said Tanajin. She took a bowl and filled it with mush. “I have heard of people who make one village mad at them. But two! That is something!”

“I wasn’t thinking,” I said to Nia. “You’re right. You’ll need the bowhorns. We’ll have to find another gift for Tanajin.” I paused. “You don’t have to come with us the rest of the way to the lake. You could stay here.”

“Is that what you want?” asked Nia.

“No. I want you to come. It won’t be easy to leave you or the oracle. I don’t want to do it now.”

Nia made the gesture of assent. “I will go with you the rest of the way. Until you meet your friends.”

I looked at Tanajin. “Will you take care of the animals till Nia and the oracle return?”

She handed me the bowl of mush, then made the gesture of assent.

I made the gesture of gratitude and tried the mush. It had a gritty texture. The flavor was nutty and sweet. Not bad.

“There is beer to drink,” said Tanajin. “We’ll eat, and then I’ll build up the fire.”

Nia woke the oracle. Derek returned. I explained our plan between mouthfuls of mush.

He made the gesture of agreement, then looked at Tanajin. “How safe is the river? I need to take a bath.”

“The current is strong here. The lizards do not really like fast water. They are not likely to hunt in this area. You can go into the river, but stay close to shore and keep your eyes open. Those animals do not always do what is expected.”

“Okay,” said Derek.

Tanajin frowned.

“All right,” said Derek in the language of gifts.

“I’ll go with you,” I said and stood.

“You need a something,” said Tanajin.

“What?” asked Derek.

“Let me show you.” Tanajin rose and went in the tent. She came out with an object about the size of a baseball. “This.”

I took the object. It was yellow and felt oily. “We have nothing like this,” I said.

“No wonder you look dirty and stink.”

Derek said, “We have nothing like this with us. We have it at home. And we use it.”

“Well, use it now,” said Tanajin.

We went upriver till we were out of sight of the tent, stripped, and waded in. The water was lukewarm, about the same temperature as Tanajin’s native beer. Even close to shore I could feel the current. I dunked down till the water covered me, then stood and rubbed myself with the yellow ball. It foamed. Wonderful!