r tongue？ It could cause no harm that is worse than the trouble we are already brewing； you and I。〃
〃Trouble？〃 Confusion was piling on confusion； but Aditu had taken her odd stance once more。 He had a sudden feeling that he must speak quickly； as though a door were being closed。 〃Yes； please； in my tongue！〃
She settled on the balls of her feet； poised like a cricket on a branch。 After breathing measuredly for a moment； she again began to chant。 The song slowly became recognizable； the clumsy； blocky sounds of Simon's Westerling speech softening and turning liquid； the words running and flowing together like melting wax。
〃The Serpent's dreaming eye is green；〃 she sang； her eyes fixed on the icicles that hung like jeweled pennants from the branches of a dying hemlock。 The fire absent from the muted sun now burned in their scintillant depths。
〃His track is moon…silver。
Only the Woman…with…a…net can see
The secret places that he goes 。。。〃
Aditu's hand drifted out from her side and hung in the air for a long moment before Simon realized that he was expected to take it。 He grasped her fingers in his gloved hand； but she pulled free。 For a moment he thought he had guessed wrong； that he had forced some unwanted； oafish intimacy on this golden…eyed creature； but as her fingers flexed impatiently he realized in a rush of confusing feelings that she wanted his bare hand。 He pulled his leather mitten off with his teeth； then clasped her slender wrist with fingers warm and moist from their residence in the glove。 She gently but firmly pulled her wrist away； this time sliding her hand against his own； her cool fingers curled around his。 With a head… shake like a cat awakened from a nap； she repeated the words she had sung：
〃The Serpent's dreaming eye is green；
His trade is moon…silver：
Only the Woman…with…a…net can see
The secret places that he goes 。。。〃
Aditu led him forward； ducking beneath the hemlock bough and its burden of icicles。 The stiff； snow…salted breeze that clawed at his face brought tears into his eyes。 The forest before him was suddenly distorted； as though he were trapped inside one of the icicles； staring out。 He heard his boots crunching in the snow； but it seemed to be happening at a great distance； as though his head floated treetop…high。
〃Wind…child wears an indigo crown；
Aditu crooned。 They walked； but if felt more like floating； or swimming。
〃His boots are of rabbit skin。
Invisible is he to Moon…mother's stare；
But she can hear his cautious breathing 。 。 。〃
They turned and clambered down into what should have been a gulley lined with evergreens； instead； to Simon's misted eyes the tree limbs resembled shadowy arms reaching out to enfold the two travelers。 Branches swatted at his thighs as he passed； their scent spicy and strong。 Sap…covered needles clung to his breeches。 The wind…which breathed whisperingiy among the swaying branches…was a little more moist； but still shiveringly cold。
〃。 。 。 Yellow is the dust on old Tortoise's shell。〃
Aditu paused before a bank of umber stone； which thrust from the snow at the bottom of the gulley like the wall of a ruined house。 As she stood singing before it； the sunlight that fell through the trees abruptly shifted its angle； the shadows in the crevices of stone deepened； then overtopped their clefts like flooding rivers； sliding across the face of the rock as though the hidden sun were plummeting swiftly toward its eve… ning berth。
〃He goes in deep places；〃
she chanted；
〃Bedded beneath the dry rock；
He counts his own heartbeats in chalky shadow 。。。〃
They curved around the massive stone and suddenly found themselves on a down…slanting bank。 Smaller outcroppings of dusky rock； pale pink and sandy brown； pushed up through the snowy ground。 The trees that loomed against the sky were a darker green here； and full of quiet birdsong。 Winter's bite was noticeably less。
They had traveled； but it seemed they had also passed from one kind of day to another； as though they somehow walked at right angles to the normal world； moving unrestrainedly as the angels that Simon had been told flew here and there at God's bidding。 How could that be？
Staring up past the trees into the featureless gray sky。 Aditu's hand clutched in his； Simon wondered if he might indeed have died。 Might this solemn creature beside him…whose eyes seemed fixed on things he could not see…be escorting his soul to some final destination； while his lifeless body lay somewhere in the forest； slowly vanishing beneath a blanket of drifting snow？
Is it warm in Heaven？ he wondered absently。
He rubbed at his face with his free hand and felt the reassuring pain of his chapped skin。 In any case； it mattered little： he was going where this one led him。 His contented helplessness was such that he felt he could no more remove his hand from hers than remove his head from his body。
〃。 。 。 Cloud…song waves a scarlet torch：
A ruby beneath a gray sea。
She smells of cedar bark；
And wears ivory at her breast 。。。〃
Aditu's voice rose and fell； her song's slow； thoughtful cadence blending with the birdsong as the waters of one river would meld indistinguishably into the flow of another。 Each verse in the endless stream； each cycle of names and colors； was a jeweled puzzle whose solution always seemed to be at Simon's fingertips but never revealed itself。 By the time he thought he might be making sense of something； it was gone； and something new was dancing on the forest air。
The two travelers passed from the bank of stones into deep shade； entering a thicket of dark green hedges pearled with tiny white flowers。 The foliage was damp； the snow underfoot soggy and unstable。 Simon clasped Aditu's hand more firmly。 He tried to wipe his eyes； which had blurred again。 The little white flowers smelled of wax and cinnamon。
〃。 。 。 The Otter's eye is pebble…brown。
He slides beneath ten wet leaves；
When he dances in diamond streams；
The Lantern…bearer laughs 。。。〃
And now； joining with the rising and falling melody of Aditu's song and the delicate trill of birds； came the sound of water splashing in shallow pools； tuneful as a musical instrument made of fragile glass。 Shimmering light sparkled on melting snowdrops； as he listened in wonderment； Simon looked all around at the starry gleam of sun through water。 The tree branches seemed to be dripping light。
They walked beside a small but active stream whose joyful voice reverberated through the tree…pillared forest halls。 Melting snow lay atop the stones and rich black earth lay beneath the damp leaves。 Simon's head was whirling。 Aditu's melody ran through all his thoughts； just as the stream slid around and over the polished stones that made its bed。 How long had they been walking？ It had seemed only a few steps at first； but now it suddenly seemed they had marched for hours…days！ And why was the snow vanishing away？ Just moments ago it had covered everything！
Spring！ he thought； and felt a nervous but exultant laughter bubbling inside him。 I think we're walking into Spring！
They strode on beside the stream。 Aditu's music chimed on and on like the water。 The sun had vanished。 Sunset was blooming in the sky like a rose； singeing all of Aldheorte's leaves and branches and trunks with fiery light； touching the stones with crimson。 As Simon watched； the blaze flared and died in the sky； then was swiftly supplanted by spreading purple； which itself was devoured in turn by sable darkness。 The world seemed to be spinning faster beneath him； but he still felt firmly grounded： one foot followed the other； and Aditu's hand was firm in his。
〃。 。 。 Stone…listener's mantle is black as jet；
His rings shine like stars；
As she sang these words； a scattering of white stars indeed appeared against the vault of the heavens。 They blossomed and faded in a succession of shifting patterns。 Half…realized faces and forms coalesced； pricked in starlight against the blackness； then dissolved again jus