ers play in currents that strong men might fear in other parts。 I was no different； and I had always particularly enjoyed swimming underwater； holding my breath as long as I could； to seek out the many wonders that dwell there； so I had gone some distance down that avenue before I felt the need to emerge for breath。
I kicked lazily； rising slowly to the surface。 But as I rose； I saw slender limbs near the bank。 Instead of surfacing； I swam closer and saw those legs were the shapely limbs of a woman。 They were light nut brown； rising to a delicate smear of black where they joined。 Above them was the flare of hips and a narrow waist。 I had not a thought or care in my mind as I let myself rise； immensely enjoying the view。 I broached the surface； opening my mouth to drag in a breath； and I heard a giggle； then a splash； and I drew in water instead of air。 Gasping and choking； I stumbled toward shore； trying to clear my lungs and my eyes at the same time。 I heard more splashing as someone waded for the bank。 By the time I could breathe and see again； the owner of those limbs was not in sight。 Not that I had any doubt to whom they belonged。
Deoce's face peered out through dangling willow branches。 〃I see Amalric；〃 she cried。 I caught a glimpse of a shapely breast tilting up through the willows。 She saw me looking and pulled the branches closer。 She made a face。 〃Amalric see Deoce； too。〃 She laughed。 〃Make Amalric happy； yes？〃
〃Very happy；〃 I answered； for the first time really appreciating Janos' ideas on language。 She pointed； and I looked down to see that I was standing naked in water that came only to midthigh。 〃Deoce very happy。 Amalric nice。〃
As I gawked； her face disappeared。 A moment later a much…patched； long…tailed shirt came sailing out of the willow。 I pulled it on； the shirt came to my knees。 〃Amalric e talk Deoce； now；〃 she called out。 I climbed out and found her sprawled on the embankment。 She'd washed and mended her costume so well； it was hard to imagine that not long ago it had been nearly reduced to rags。 She patted the ground beside her。 〃Talk to Deoce；〃 she said。 My lady ordered。 I could only obey。
My hopes were dashed； however； when as soon as I sat； she displayed the writing box。 〃Deoce learn very more 。。。〃 She frowned； searching。 She muttered an impatient mutter and grabbed a dictionary from the box。 She stuck a pretty little pink tongue out at the pad； then searched its pages。 〃Aha；〃 she cried； stabbing her finger at a squiggle。 〃Deoce learn very more 。。 。 words。〃 She smiled at me； eyes twinkling。 〃Yes？〃
〃Absolutely；〃 I said。 Remembering Janos' advice on anatomical lessons； I took a small toe in my fingers。 〃Toe；〃 I said。 〃Toe。〃 Deoce dutifully repeated； 〃Toe。〃 She scratched in the dictionary and handed it to me to put the Orissan word beside her own。 I let my hand trail up further。 〃Leg；〃 I said。 〃Leg。〃 Her eyes widened as she caught my intent。 Then they crinkled at the edges。 She gave a low laugh。 〃Leg；〃 she repeated。 My hand rose again。 〃Knee；〃 I said。 〃Knee；〃 she returned； but I felt muscles flex as she prepared to snatch the object of my exploration away。 Instead of going further in that direction； I touched her arm。 〃Arm；〃 I said。 She gave me an odd look as I changed my tactics。 〃Arm；〃 she replied； cautiously。 I leaned close to her； and she did not draw away。 〃Kiss？〃 I asked； and I moved my face closer still。 Her reply was a whisper。 〃Kiss？〃 Our lips brushed； and I trembled at the softness I found there。 I put my hand on the back of her neck to draw her nearer to drink more deeply of those lovely lips。 I felt a small hand on my chest； pushing gently away。 I obliged； gasping a little。 〃No more kiss；〃 she said； but I noted her voice was husky； and I saw a flush of passion rising from her neck。 〃Amalric teach Deoce words。 Not kiss；〃 she said。
I nodded and picked up the dictionary； my mind stumbling for balance。 Deoce noted my confusion and patted my hand。 〃Kiss nice；〃 she said。 〃Make Deoce happy。〃 She straightened her costume and sat up； prim。 'Teach kiss later；〃 she said。 And as my hopes leaped upon my features again； she laughed。 〃Very later；〃 she said。 Then； 〃Maybe 。。。〃
That night； Janos called a meeting of the expedition leaders。 〃I think it would be wise；〃 he said； 〃for us to agree to certain things。 How long we are going to stay here； for instance。 And how we are going to behave during this stay。〃
〃I know how anxious you are to move on； Janos；〃 I said； 〃but we need a rest before we strike out again。 I doubt the journey will get any easier； and the better shape we can get ourselves and the equipment into； the better chance we'll have against what is to e。〃
〃I will not quarrel with that；〃 Cassini said。 〃However； your mention of behavior is puzzling。〃
〃I am speaking of the pact the creatures who live in this crater seem to have made；〃 Janos said。 〃I think we should follow their rules； if that word applies； and limit our hunting as they do。〃
Cassini glared。 〃What makes you think dumb beasts can make such an agreement？〃 he scoffed。 〃The peacefulness you see is for our benefit； and our benefit alone。〃
〃Do you still think this is your doing？〃 Janos asked； not troubling to hide disgust in his tone。
〃What other logical explanation can there be？〃 Cassini said。 〃Since the moment we left Orissa； I have been casting spells to assure our safety and well being。 Plus we have the powerful blessing of the Council of Evocators。 Thus far； both these things have kept arrows from piercing our flesh； and found us water in the middle of a wasteland。 Now； they have given us respite。〃
Instead of a heated retort； Janos considered Cassini's words。 〃Help me； my learned Evocator；〃 he said； and both Cassini and I were surprised that there was no mockery in his tone； 〃see the wisdom of your logic。 Without revealing any deep secrets of your craft； how is it you choose a spell？ And how is it you know what that spell's ultimate effect may be？〃
〃It is very simple；〃 Cassini said； 〃for those who are blessed with an Evocator's powers。 We study all the spells that have been written； under the wise tutelage of a Master Evocator； and mit those spells to memory。〃
〃But there must be countless spells；〃 Janos said。 〃Even for an Evocator； wouldn't it be difficult to memorize them all？〃
〃Certainly；〃 Cassini answered。 〃And just as there are Evocators with greater or lesser degrees of power； so it is that some are better at memorizing。 I； for one； have an excellent memory。 This is not a boast； but an attribute pointed out by my first teacher when I was accepted by my brother Evocators。 However； for those not blessed； and even I find it hard to recall absolutely everything； we merely have to go to the archives where all spells are kept。〃
〃When you travel；〃 Janos pointed out； 〃you can't carry a library。〃
Cassini tapped his forehead。 〃I keep it here；〃 he said。 〃Which is one reason you are fortunate； Captain； that I asked to be included in this expedition。〃
〃Yes； I can see that we are；〃 Janos answered。 〃However； I just want to get one thing straight。 The spells you use； then； are recited from rote。 Wisdom； as they say； passed down over the ages in ancient texts？〃
〃Exactly；〃 Cassini said。 〃We know they work； because they have always worked。 It does not matter why。 For it is not possible for men to ever understand such a thing。 Only the gods can know why。〃
Janos stared at him。 Cassini flushed； realizing where the conversation had taken him。 But just to make sure； 〃Then we can't say the whys of this small paradise we have found；〃 Janos said。 〃Or am I missing something？〃 Cassini sputtered； but found no answer。 〃So we do not know；〃 Janos pressed on； 〃if the peace we find here is the doing of men； or the doing of 。。。 beasts。 True？〃
'True；〃 Cassini answered； hating it。
〃Then I suggest we do not second…guess the gods；〃 Janos said。 〃I suggest we abide by the rules we found here； just as if they were handed down by the gods themselves。〃
〃I think it's the safest thing to do；〃 I said； jumping strongly in on Janos' side。 〃Besides； if Janos is in error； there can be no harm。 And we can't possibly say what will happen if he is correct。〃
〃Very well；〃 Cassini said； teeth gritting。 〃We'll do it you