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"Well--yes, of course," Teh Laurence could not help but notice that Te to enter into the local notion of possession where it came to his crew, "but you see, Laurence, to her it is certainly stealing; that is, she meant to steal them and did not know they were not ht not really be so"

"I aaya said meanwhile, in her defense, "because you have not taken proper care of the the them at hard labor all the tiovernor, and find someone ould look after them better: so of course the law allows for it"

"I have, too--" Teaya said "Why, they are all in rags, nearly, and not one of the nice that anyone can see"

Temeraire flattened his ruff, and looked uncomfortable, and had to be pressed to translate this "But that is only because we have had a very difficult journey," he said defensively, "and because I have Laurence’s best things put safely by Anyway," he added, "how should you know anything of the sort, if you were not watching and luring people away"

Magaya puffed up her neck and shoulder feathers and sank her head back into the of the appearance of a huddled chick

"So," Temeraire continued, triumphantly, "it is nonsense to say my men ran away to you: perhaps Handes did, but that is because he does not want to be punished for behaving very badly indeed; but Griggs and Yardley only ca promises behind my back It is not to be borne, and I am sure the law does notof the sort," Magaya said, with dignity, "but even if I had, they would not have listened, if they were not dissatisfied Anyway," she went on hurriedly, "as you are so upset, I see now that you do value theive you some more presents, instead?"

"There can be no question of leaving them behind, especially Yardley," Te’s subjects, and ht leave Handes, at least," she said "You do not want hiive you clothing, so your other ed--"

"Well," Temeraire said, and, Laurence was sorry to see, very enthusiastically entered into what he could tell even without benefit of translation was nothing less than haggling over price

He eventually sat back on his haunches, satisfied, and Magaya smoothed down her collar of feathers in equal pleasure; she called over her shoulder to the watching workmen, and several of theand the leather sandals worn locally, of dried maize, and even one sht out of one of the huts, and slunk over with a sullen and guilty air "Sure I aue as killed all those people," he said, "so I thought I oods for all the fellows--"

"That is enough, Mr Yardley," Laurence said, putting a halt to this flow of excuses "You are very fortunate indeed that Mr Ferris found you; do you iine that you would be perone, and the beast no longer needed to keep you seduced to hold you by her? I see no idle hands on this fareously, then added, "and she is the sweetest thing you ever saw, sir; as friendly as could be," which aaya with her eleven tons and viciously serrated teeth, until he saw in the doorway of the hut a young wo cheerful farewell, all unclothed save a blanket wrapped around her and under one bare shoulder

He shook his head "Teaya if that young woe--"

"What do you aya said suspiciously "You cannot have her!--or do you mean you will leave Yardley with us, after all?"

"No, no," Temeraire said, "I mean--Laurence, what do I mean?" he asked doubtfully

"If there is a child," Laurence said, "there must be consideration for its care"

"Of course ill take care of it," Magaya said, when this was put to her "The mother is in our ayllu, so the baby will be, too"

"Yes, but," Laurence began, "have her chances of ress, with--"

"Why would they be?" Magaya said

"I am sure I do not know," Tely

"As she is no longer virgin," Laurence said in despair, forcing hion does not care either way, perhapslady, herself"