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 own thoughts。 〃Thank you 。。。 for the delayed decision；〃 Janos finally said； with effort。 I made no answer； because the reprieve was false。 When the time came there would be few choices for the picking。 Then he asked； 〃I wonder what your father would say； if he were here？〃
〃Go back； I expect。 My father usually takes the long view。〃
〃Not always；〃 Janos said。 〃He still regrets listening to his own father； and not seeking the Far Kingdoms himself； long ago。〃
〃He had no choice but to obey；〃 I answered。
Janos sighed。 〃Your father is a much better man than I will ever be。 He said it would make him happy if he went to his grave knowing his own son achieved what had been denied him。 For me； that would be no satisfaction at all。〃 He gave me a grim smile。 〃I would curse him because I was not first。〃
〃What will you do；〃 I asked； 〃if 。。。 our worse fears e true？〃
Janos hesitated； then； 〃I'd rather not think on it just now；〃 he said。 〃But I must warn you。 I will not give up easily。 Give me half a chance and I'll carry this expedition on my own back if I have to。〃
〃Be careful with Cassini；〃 I warned。 〃He can do us much harm。〃
Janos patted his knife。 〃Not as much as I can do him；〃 he said。 His words chilled me。 This was not meaningless angry talk； to be forgotten on the morrow。
〃You won't hear an Antero defend an Evocator；〃 I said。 〃But you should know that Cassini is only trying to put a happy mask on our failure。 He needs a victory。 He's practicing what he'll say in Orissa。 Remember； his own career is at stake here。〃
〃Careers be damned；〃 Janos snarled。 But he seemed to instantly regret the outburst and fell silent for a moment。 Then he asked； 〃What about you； Amalric？ What of your own career？〃
〃I feel much as you do；〃 I said。 〃Yes； there are riches here。 And yes； I could put a happy mask on as well and boast of this success before all Orissa。 But 。。。〃 My voice trailed off。
A bark of harsh laughter from Janos。 〃You've been bitten as well； haven't you； my friend？ Afflicted with the Far Kingdoms disease。 Before long； you'll be sorry we ever met。〃 The moon broke from behind a cloud； bathing Janos in an unholy glow。 〃There is no cure for this malady；〃 he said。 His finger stabbed out。 〃Except one。〃 I didn't need to look。 He was pointing east to the Far Kingdoms。
Black Shark came to us the next day。 He wore no armor； but instead was dressed as a mon man in a plain； brown tunic of bark cloth。 The only mark of office was a shaman's eye daubed on his forehead。 He was nervous； humble； almost； if such a fierce man could ever be humble。
There was no preamble。 〃I have e to ask a great boon for my people；〃 he said。 〃We have no right to ask it。 For our trouble is of our own doing。 An unpardonable sin mitted by us long ago。〃
I could not imagine what sin might trouble cannibal folk； but I made appropriate noises about the great service they had performed for us； and promised we would do what we could。 Black Shark turned to Janos。 〃You have shown much skill with ghosts；〃 he said。 Cassini coughed at this； but Black Shark didn't appear to notice。 〃We thought that skill might help us。〃
〃Please go on；〃 Janos said。 〃Although I must beg your understanding that it was his〃…he motioned at Cassini…〃enchanted net I threw。 However； as outsiders we might have a clearer view of the causes of your misfortune。〃
Black Shark was pleased by Janos' modesty。 He called for pillows of sea grass and shells brimming with some heady liquid for our refreshment。 We settled down to hear his tale。 〃It was in my grandmother's time；〃 Black Shark began。 〃She was a young woman and had not yet delivered her first child。 We were a happy people then； and the sea blessed us with its bounty； and the forests 〃 delivered much fruit as well； so there was always plenty for the Shore Folk to eat and drink their fill。 The world was a kindlier place in that time； and our enemies were few。 Then one day the Shaman； who was her father； called the people together in this very place〃…Black Shark's hand indicated the spot where we sat…〃and warned them there were ill omens bubbling in the village cooking pot。 The odor was not right； he said； and when he poked into the pot with a stick； a two…headed seal pup came to the top。
〃How it got there； no one could say。 But they all agreed it could not have been placed in the pot by one of us； because who would wish such a thing on their own folk？ People were afraid and cried out for the Shaman to tell them what they must guard against。 He could not say； for the bad magic in that foul pot had confounded his powers of vision。 People fell to guessing what manner of ill to expect。 Some said it would be a fierce storm that would leap upon us。 Others said we should see to our weapons； for it could only mean an attack from our enemies…the Dalree… who dwell not many leagues from here。〃
Black Shark gave us a look of deep sincerity。 〃You should know you are most fortunate to have e to our shores；〃 he said。 〃The Dalree are evil folk who care nothing for a stranger's life。 They are fierce men and will not even honor those they have killed by eating their flesh。〃
Cassini coughed again。 It might have been a laugh。 I refilled Black Shark's shell； so he wouldn't notice any rudeness。
〃But it wasn't the Dalree we had to fear； although my grandmother said precautions were taken and offerings made。 The tide returned and departed many times over until even the Shaman had nearly forgotten the omen。 One morning； just before the sun drove the fog spirits from the beach； the village heard a loud thundering。 It was the storm； they thought； e at last。 Not the Dalree。 Everyone rushed out to shriek； wail； and whirl about as the Shaman had instructed。 This way； he said； the storm would believe its brother was attacking us； and would seek out others to make miserable。 Such as the Dalree。〃
Out of the corner of my eye； I saw Cassini nod in appreciation。 Rare approval from an Evocator of Orissa。 〃But there was not a cloud in sight； and my people soon realized the thunder was not the drumming of a storm。 And the sound didn't e from the sea； but from the land at our backs。〃
Black Shark gestured； and we all turned to look at the high bluffs beyond a stand of trees。 〃To the east；〃 he said； 〃just past those bluffs； there is a canyon。 An abyss with no known bottom。 And behind that canyon； there is a cliff so steep； that not even a devil could climb it。 From thence； my lords； came the sound。
〃The Shaman ordered the warriors to gird for a fight； and he sent a party of our bravest men to learn the nature of the threat。 When they came to the abyss； they saw no one about； and the thunder had ceased。 Everyone marveled at the mystery and made ready to return。 Before they could； alas； the drumming started up again。 They saw nothing at first； then one of them gave a shout and pointed to the cliff。 They saw metal flashing from atop that cliff。 The cliff； as I said； no man could climb。 But there were men there just the same…as that flash of metal will witness。 Men； and horses as well。〃
Janos leaned forward； brow furrowed in concentration； and I suddenly remembered the tale he had told of his own childhood encounter with ghostly horsemen。 Black Shark noticed。 〃You know of men like this？〃
〃I am not certain；〃 Janos said。 〃Were they armored？'
〃Yes； they were armored。 Both the men and the horses they sat astride。 The helms were oddly shaped； the witnesses said。 Like this 。。。〃 With a finger； Black Shark traced a high…roached helm in the air。 Exactly like the helms Janos had described。
〃What happened？〃 I asked。
〃Nothing at first；〃 Black Shark said。 〃They seemed to be just watching； or at least that is the way it was reported later。 Most of the men had sense to know sorcerers when they saw them； so they flung themselves on the ground and made abasement。 Then they fled before their presence could anger those mighty horsemen。 But； alas； one man was not so wise。 My grandmother said he was one of the older warriors； who was jealous of the success of the younger men。 Instead of ab