Return to Eden

termination of past difficulties. I would speak of the Daughters of Life whom I call the Daughters of Death. Will you hear me?"
    Saagakel's body writhed with anger, as did Vaintè's in instant sympathy. There was hatred as well, and there can be no greater bond than hatred shared.
    "Speak," Saagakel commanded, "for I can see that we are as one in this. Tell me what you know—and what you can do. Rid me of the burden that possesses my days and you will clasp my right thumbs as highest in all things. Speak!"
    Vaintè signed gratitude and submission. "I must tell you of things past that bear on things present. We are born into an efenburu. We do not choose it. I had an efensele whom I now reject. I wish her dead. Her name is Enge and she leads others in the Daughters of Death."
    "An Enge came to this city, was imprisoned by me for she talked sedition. She talked of it to a respected scientist of advanced years named Ambalasei. What she said turned her from the natural way. She freed all of those deadly creatures and took them from here in one of my uruketo. They have not been seen or found since that day."
    "Strong hunter Fafnepto talked to me of this, asked for any intelligence on the matter that I might have.
    We talked and with our joint knowledge concluded that facts of importance should be presented to you. I do that now because all others have been forbidden to speak of the matter."
    "With reason. Anger without object present destroys."
    "I know—for I have felt that way.
    "Tell me all that you know."
    "The uruketo left here and has not been seen since. No city in Entoban* knows of it."
    "Then they are dead?"
    "I think not. This Enge has been to Gendasi* and survived the destruction of Alpèasak. If she were not a Daughter of Death she has the ability to rule as an eistaa. It is my thought that she has taken the uruketo beyond your reach. For now."
    "To Entoban*? Is this possible?"
    "Possible and probable. No city in Gendasi* would accept their cargo of death—and no city has seen them. But Entoban* is large, most of it unknown to us, warm and filled with good meat. She has gone there, your uruketo has gone there, the traitor Ambalasei has gone there. I have not seen this, know none who have seen this. But I feel it so strongly through my body as I say it that it must have happened in just that way."
    Saagakel could not be still; she walked the length of the clearing, then back. Her muscles knotted and moved, her jaw snapped so hard that her teeth clashed together, but she was unaware of it. "What can be done?" she called out loudly. "You have been thinking of this—what can be done?"
    "A search must be made. I know the land of Entoban* well for I have tracked and pursued the killer-ustuzou there. And killed them. There are Yilanè of science present in Alpèasak who have ways of searching and finding. Until now they have only looked for ustuzou—but they can find Yilanè just as well."
    Saagakel was calmer now, drained by her fury. "I must think about this and make decisions. I am glad we talked, Vaintè, for I can now do something about the anger that is sealed within me. Go now and speak to Ostuku. Tell her to tell the others that in the morning we will discuss matters no longer forbidden. It will be like cleansing a wound, purifying it. We will, together, take action on this and there will be deaths. I was too kind."
    "I as well. I treated them as Yilanè once, not the danger they were. They merit only death."
    CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
    Hoatil ham tina grunnan, sassi peria malom skermom mallivo.
    Tanu saying
    Anyone can bear misery, few are the better for good times.
    The hillside above the spring was steep, the grass slicked by the afternoon rain. Kerrick missed his footing, skidded and fell, slid helplessly down the slope into a tangle of berry bushes. The thorns clung to him as he used the butt of his spear to clamber to his feet, ripped his skin as he pulled himself free. His thoughts had been on Nadaske before he fell, thinking that he should visit him on his solitary island, thinking in Yilanè of course. It was far better than Marbak for expressing dissatisfaction so now he writhed and verbalized disgusting descriptions of the thorny growths as he tore at their restraint. It was a fitting end to a depressing day. Heavy rain had interrupted the hunt, driven the game to cover. The few creatures they did disturb had easily avoided his arrows to be killed by others. Once free of the thorns he went