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.Well, we were trying to teach the kid about life and such, so I might as wellcontinue the lesson."Equipment," I said to Ahira."Tell him what I think we'll bring."He nodded, and beckoned Jason over, whispering in his ear.Actually, this might be a bit tough."Okay," I said."Figure one flatbed wagon and a team to draw it." That waseasy; everybody knows Iprefer a padded bench to a hard saddle."Rations, and standard road gear justgrab a couple of packs in the stables.But we'll take a quick run up to thesupply closet and grab one net hammock each." They were of elven silk, lightas a feather and strong.Given the right geometry, I'd much rather sleep a fewfeet off the cold, cold ground than on it.Or in it, for that matter."Signalrockets, five fast horses just in case.Boar spears, grenades, shotguns plus personal weapons for all.But I bet heforgot the sprouting box."Page 36ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlAhira's smile widened."A lot you know.I told him two.""Fine." One of my less-than-crazy theories is that for people eating peasantfood anywhere which is largely pick-your-starch-and-beans taking some of thosebeans and sprouting them is going to increase the nutrition they're gettingsignificantly, at little effort and no extra cost.Hence the sprouting box.Johnny Appleseed, eat your heart out."That isn'tall.""So I told him." Ahira laughed."Go on.""All that's too utilitarian you told him to be sure to throw a couple of extrablankets in the flatbed, so Idon't have to rest my tender butt on a hard bench.Add a clean teapot, andsome tea.And a bottle ofRiccetti's Best." I don't tend to get drunk on the road, but an occasionalswig of good, smooth corn whiskey before bed cuts the dirt real well.Ahira nudged the boy."See?"Jason frowned.I think he was looking for the trick, but there wasn't one,other than twenty years of being friends.I'm tricky, honest, but I hadn't setthis up.Tennetty snickered.The peasant wasn't following any of this, which was reasonable a lot of theconversation had been inGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlEnglish, and he probably only spoke Erendra.Jason turned to him."You can show us where?""Yes, Lord, I think certainly come daylight."Jason beckoned to Durine."Find Maduc dinner, and a place to sleep for thenight, see that he's fed and ready to leave at dawn.""Yes, Baron Fur Cullinane.""Yup," Jason said, with a smile."Baron Furcullinane, that's me.Your othercow? How do you know it's safe?"A good deduction: the peasant, young or old, wouldn't leave his only other cowendangered for the day and a half it had taken him to walk in."My father keeps it in the hut with them, Lord."Ahira looked at me, spreading his hands.Durine led the peasant away."You'd better go get some sleep, Jason," I said."Going to be a long day foryou, tomorrow." Andrea was busy sneaking up behind us in the dark, trying notto be noticed, so I didn't notice her.Let her have her fun."You, too."Ahira shook his head."Nope.It's a bright enough night.Walter and I areheading out now.""Missing a night's sleep," I said.He shrugged."Won't be the first time.We'll say good night to the family andbe off." He turned toTennetty."You coming along?""Sure." Tennetty sighed."Probably won't be anything to kill." She turned tome."How do you expect to find it in the dark?"Ahira shrugged for me."We won't be there before dawn, and by then it'll bewell marked.Buzzards."He thought about it for a moment."The three of us ought to do."Jason cleared his throat."And how about me?"I smiled."But you're leaving tomorrow, aren't you?"He spread his hands."Fine.I'm being taught a lesson.May one inquire as towhat it is?""I thought it was obvious." Ahira sighed."When we're here, you are Baron Cullinane, and we're guests in your house.Fine.No problem.But once we step outside that house, or even plan on doing it, we're not yourguests, or your servants, or anything less than your partners.""Make that 'senior partners,' " I added."And add 'teachers.' The dwarf and IPage 37ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmldon't just have a few yearsGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlon you; there's a lot of experience, too."He stood silent for a moment, and I honestly wondered how it would go.I mean,when I was seventeen, I didn't take being chastened in public all that well.Come to think of it, I still don't.I don't even much take to being correctedin private."Have a good trip," he said, turning and walking away.Tennetty spat on the ground."Asshole." I was curious about whether that wasaddressed to Jason or toAhira and me, but I didn't ask.Don't ask a question if you don't want to hearthe answer."Not fair," Andrea Cullinane said from behind me."But thank you."I jumped a bit, as though she had startled me.Tennetty cocked her headsuspiciously, and Ahira didn't have to.I chuckled."I didn't do it so you could have him around a bit longer [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]