。 It was time to close the sale。 〃Certainly； he would；〃 I said。 〃And I can see that great good will e from all this。 For now we Orissans and the Shore People have finally e together。 All our gods are sure to bless such a joining。 And there can be much profit as well； for both our people。 Friendship and trade will blossom on these bountiful shores。〃
I lifted my hand in formal greetings。 〃I am Amalric Emilie Antero。 Son of Paphos Karima Antero； the greatest merchant prince in all Orissa。 And in his name； I offer you the friendship of our noble house。〃
The warrior； too； raised a hand。 〃I am Black Shark； shaman and chief of the Shore People。 Wele； men of Orissa。 Wele。〃 As his hand dropped； he thrust a chin at the corpses。 〃And we owe you thanks as well for capturing their ghosts。 We did not know they were demons when we began to eat them。〃
'Think nothing of it； Black Shark；〃 Janos said。 〃Now； if it wouldn't be too much trouble 。。。〃 He pointed at the tattered Kittiwake and our forlorn rades； who peered out at us from the wreck。 〃Perhaps we could organize a party to fetch those people ashore？〃
Black Shark smiled。 It was meant to be gentle； but was spoiled by the filed teeth。
〃Don't forget the cargo；〃 I said。
〃Right；〃 Janos said。 〃Could you take off the cargo as well？〃
〃It will be done before the tides turn；〃 Black Shark said。 He barked orders in their native tongue； and while I was congratulating myself for being alive； the cannibals of the Pepper Shore laid down their weapons and swarmed out to the Kittiwake to help our friends。 True to his word； Black Shark plucked everyone off and salvaged our gear before the tides covered the reef。 By nightfall they had helped us erect shelter in their village； which was hidden in a nearby cove not far from the mouth of a river； and Janos； Cassini； Captain L'ur； and I were sitting about a driftwood fire； sucking the meat out of roasted crab claws。
The human toll had been light； except for Crop Ear and his poor sailor friends； only one other fellow was dead…and he was a sailor as well。 Black Shark and his people had easily accepted our assurances that these Lycanthians…L'ur included…were of that new and astonishing breed； Reformed Lycanthians； like the Holy Crop Ear。 The soldiers had suffered only small injuries； and Sergeant Maeen was tending to them as we sat by the fire and reconsidered our future。 But I was not totaling my good fortune as I sat there finishing my meal。 Instead I gloomed into the fire； contemplating disaster。 〃Can you build another ship？〃 I asked the captain。
〃Aye；〃 he said。 〃It can be done。 Nothin' like the Kittiwake； a course。 But it'll be a sound craft。 Got a whole forest of pepper trees about； and that's prized timber for ship building。 I'll not have time to age the wood； but it's more'n sturdy enough green for our needs。〃
〃I'm sorry about Kittiwake；〃 I said。 〃But I'll make it up when we get back。〃 L'ur smiled； relieved； which had been my intention。 I needed his full support。 〃How long will it take to build a new ship？〃
〃Two； maybe three months；〃 L'ur said。 〃These be per'lous waters…as we've all witnessed。 So we must take a care in the buildin'。 The new craft'll need to be better'n just seaworthy if we're to make Redond。〃
〃That is not so long a trial；〃 Cassini said。 Under the circumstances he seemed oddly cheery。 〃We'll be home soon enough； with all of Orissa to praise our names。〃
〃How can you say that？〃 I cried。 〃We've been wrecked before I've even begun my Finding。〃
〃Oh； I think the oracle was clear when it foretold our troubles；〃 Cassini said。 〃But it also hinted at success。 And here we are； on the Pepper Coast； where no Orissan has ever gone。 You said yourself the trade opportunities are fabulous。 The captain has just spoken of the worth of the timber。 And there'll be precious metals and we've seen wonderful animals and birds to delight the people at home。 You've found your fortune； my friend； Amalric。 There is no need to search further。〃
〃But 。。。 the Far Kingdoms 。。。 they're lost to us；〃 I said。 〃I can't guarantee my father will fund another expedition。 And I doubt your superiors will approve another。〃
〃No；〃 Cassini said。 〃I am sure they won't。 To go further； they'll say； would be to defy the oracle。 But don't you see？ We no longer have need of the Far Kingdoms。〃
I didn't answer。 Yes； there was much profit to be had on these shores。 Exclusive profit and fame of sorts for the Anteros。 Although our journey had not been pleted； this was the first new area opened to Orissa in many a year。 But this meant nothing to me。 All I could think of was the flash of golden sunlight that beckoned from beyond the black fist。 Beckoned me still to the Far Kingdoms。
〃You can keep your gold； Cassini；〃 Janos rasped。 〃And you can keep all the huzzahs from the good folk of Orissa。 I； for one； intend to go on。〃
Although I knew he was behaving like a fool； my heart jumped into the light when I heard Janos speak。 〃It is not for you to decide； Captain Greycloak；〃 Cassini said。 〃This expedition cannot continue without my blessing； even if it were possible。 Which it most definitely is not。〃
Janos was so angry； I thought he was going to draw his knife。 I quickly broke in。 〃Hold on； Janos。 And you； too； Cassini； if you please。 There's no need for hard words between us。 Just as there is no need for a quick decision。 Why don't we consider for a few days 。。。 when our condition will be clearer。〃
〃I have no need for further clarity；〃 Cassini said； refusing to let it drop。
〃Oh； you don't； do you？〃 Janos retorted。 〃Well； let me ask you this。 How do you propose we feed ourselves for three months？〃
Cassini began； 〃The Shore People…〃
〃Manage quite well； thank you；〃 Janos interrupted。 〃And they have a little extra to spare； besides。〃 He indicated the remains of the roasted crab。 〃But these are fisherfolk。 Actually； not even that。 They live on what they can pluck from the rocks； or dive for beneath the surf。 They plant a little grain here and there and harvest a bit of fruit and nuts。 But that is not near enough to feed us all for three months or more。〃
〃We have our supplies；〃 Cassini protested。
Janos snorted。 〃Dried goods。 And a few treats from home。 But that was just to stretch things。 We were going to live off the land； remember？ And don't say we can do the same here； because we can't。 With all of us added to their numbers； the shore's bounty will soon bee scanty。 And you will notice the fruit and nuts don't grow in orchards； but are scattered thinly about the forest… which is the way of all life in these climes。 Plus hunting will make scarce return as well after a month or so。 The Shore People will soon find us poor guests。 The presence of the seamen might be borne； because they can help with the fishing。 But the three of us； and the soldiers； are hardly famous hunters who can provide more than we would consume。 Mark my words； they'll kill us rather than face famine。〃
〃How can you know all this？〃 Cassini sputtered。 〃We have only been here a few hours。 It is not possible to make such an assessment。〃
I leaped in before the quarrel could continue。 〃I asked you both to let a few days pass；〃 I said； making sure I spoke with force。 〃This is still my Finding。 Financed by my father。 And I insist on that time to contemplate。〃
〃I won't…〃 Cassini began； but I cut him off with an impatient wave of my hand。
〃I trust you enough to know you will do what is best at the time；〃 I said。 〃So leave it be。〃
Both men remained quiet after that。 Cassini drew into a corner of the tent to brood； while Janos went outside to count the stars； perhaps。 Or consult with Maeen。 I stayed by the fire with L'ur； realizing now was not a good time to reason further with my friend。 L'ur fell quickly asleep after the argument； and there was a smile pasted on the sleeping face。 He mumbled things； like 〃board feet。〃 And 〃mind the mast〃 A happy craftsman； contemplating the work ahead。 Ah； well； at least he had a goal： to build a ship in three months。 L'ur was the only happy man that night。
After a time my own thoughts drove me out。 I found Janos hunched on a rock； listening to the lonely surf pound the shore。 I made no greeting； but sat beside him； haunted by my o