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‘No one’s denying that you will get so, ‘and, in this case, what you are getting is whatever won’t be happening with regards to your cheek’
That took a bit longer than I’d have thought
‘Beyond the potential hazards of this trade, both before and after you hypothetically launch your boat,’ Togu said, ‘there is the matter of expenses’
‘Expenses?’
‘Supplies? Food? Charts? These things we are in no certain supply of’ He shrugged, taking a long puff of his pipe ‘A difficult thing to ask’
‘Ah, of course,’ Kataria said, folding her ar lizard with a house full of garbage’
‘These,’ the king said, sweeping an arm about his collection, ‘are investments for when the hu post’
‘Was, yes,’ Togu said, nodding ‘Not so long ago, in fact, which would account for your infor over, groaning a s routes They had not expected to find partners, and we had not expected that ould enjoy their company But, like all trade, this was driven by necessity’
‘You see over the crowding collection, ‘andI need, no The humans came with food, food we desperately needed We found you in Teji’s jungles, yes? You saw’
Lenk furrowed his brow at that He had seen Teji’s jungles, and even through the fever that had swept over hireenery, leaves, wildlife There looked to be no shortage of food The an to say this, however, Kataria spoke
‘It’s a barren forest,’ she said, ‘lots of trees, but no fruit’
‘No nothing,’ Togu replied ‘Nothing but roots and tubers Food for the ed ‘Thus, when the huoher and more hardy … we traded From there, we continued to trade Our needs sated, we could take things anted: brandy, tobacco …’
And yet no one thought to trade for pants, Lenk thought sourly
‘Don’t u said ‘I was not made leader because they didn’t know any better I looked out for thee, the human ways’ His face seemed to melt with the heat of his frown ‘I learned they move on
‘And, as I said, I am no fool I knew you would have to leave, eventually, and I suppose my people did, too’ He tried to offer a s under the weight that stood upon him ‘But anted you to stay … if only so we could rearded the creature thoughtfully He tried his hardest not to be suspicious, and indeed, Togu’s story gave him no ready cause to be distrusted And yet …
So in the creature’s eyes, perhaps: a little too intent to be re, slow pause that followed: a moment intended to reflect the severity of the e their reactions? He distrusted the lizard, but, for the life of him, he couldn’t really think why
‘He’s a liar’
Oh, right … that’s why
Lenk wasn’t sure if the voice did have moods, but he suspected that none of them were of the kind to hureater vigour, greater ferocity
‘Surrounded by liars Everywhere He lies They lie You lie’
Me, he tried to think through the freezing throb of his head, what do you--?
‘Listen Listen to nothing else Only to us Only to ourselves Realise’
No, noThis is supposed to be over This is supposed to be--
‘THROUGH the lies! Do not be tricked! We cannot afford it! We need to stay! Need to fight! Need our sword! See through them! Do not listen! Do not trust!’
‘Not trust …’ he whispered, finding the words less reprehensible on his lips
‘Sou asked
‘What happened to the to Lenk’s lips easily, instinctually ‘Where are they?’
‘What?’ Togu’s smile was crushed under his sudden frown ‘Who?’
‘Lenk …’ Kataria placed a hand on his shoulder, but he could not feel it
‘The huo?’
‘They are’ – Togu’s lips tre for the words – ‘not here They …’ He sed hard, a sudden fear in his eyes ‘They are …’
‘Shi-i ah-ne-tange, Togu!’
The voice rang out through the hut like a thrown spear, its speaker following shortly through the front door While it was ied, tall and liave it his all
Lenk could only guess at the thing’s gender, of course, and that ca voice as he shoved his way between the two co and lean like a javelin, he thrust a finger at Togu, using the other hand to pat at a satchel strung about his torso
‘Ah-ne-anant glare for the Gonhich quickly shifted to Bagaga for air
‘Bagagaa far too rapidly to be discerned In response, the Gonwa stepped up the teh his words Togu tried to do over thereen li one?’ Lenk asked, glancing sidelong at Kataria
‘How a him with a very direct scowl ‘What was that?’
‘What hat?’
‘That What you just did’
‘I asked hi’
He strained to keep the shock beneath a stony visage hardened by denial She couldn’t have heard, she can’t hear that, her ears aren’t that long … are they?
The argument between the lizardu shouted so a scowl fro off to the back, Bagaga hirunted at the two non-scaly creatures in the rooive the interruption,’ he said as he disappeared into the gloo’
‘Huh,’ Lenk said They were gone, but their voices carried into the hut, only slightly diminished by the walls between theue about?’
He turned to her and saw her lunging toward him, hands outstretched Before he could even think to protest, question, or squeal and piss hiers fiercely against his te hi sound, but they were bound by shock and narrow-eyed anger, neithera move to resist
‘Stop,’ she said swiftly
‘What?’