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a word。 I didn't need a dictionary。 The only word it could be was 。。。 red。
As Janos strode into the darkness he called back； 〃I don't know why you thought you had to use a love potion on the fair Melina； Amalric。 That fiery hair of yours is potion enough for most women。〃
Deoce patted my hand for attention。 〃Me…li…na？〃 she asked。 〃Melina？〃 She made motions for me to write the word on the pad。
I shook my head。 〃Let's leave Melina for another lesson；〃 I said。 〃Much later。〃
Gentler country greeted us at the end of the next day's trek。 We found a creek slashing through a narrow gully； with trees and brush forming a thin line on either side。 Later； the creek grew into a stream； with thicker vegetation to soothe us。 The water came from a great solitary butte； which lifted from the plains。 The maps showed the butte with a heavy X marked in its center； possibly and hopefully indicating a place to rest。 We were all too trail weary to question the logic of finding fort in such a place。 Even with water tumbling from the rocks； the butte seemed as desolate as the plain。 Janos put Maeen and his men at the ready in case the butte was occupied； and as the sun dipped for its dark coverlets； we struggled to the top。
A marvel awaited。 The butte was hollow in its core； with thick walls to protect everything within from the outside elements。 The crater was filled from wall to wall with trees and flowering plants； with streams crisscrossing it。 We could see animals drinking by those streams； and in the dying light the sky was alive with thousands of birds calling and swooping through dense clouds of fat insects。
Deoce gave a small cry of amazement and pointed to one of the pools of water scattered about this pocket paradise。 We all looked and saw a half…dozen slender antelope playing in the water。 Among them were two tigers。 The tigers were splashing about and rolling on their backs； kicking claws in the air in mock bat like kittens。 They paid no attention to their natural prey。 A wonderful feeling of peace and joy spread； and I had a sudden urge to race to join them in play。 Deoce drew smile lines on her face and said something in her language。 I smiled back into the sparkling eyes。 〃Happy；〃 I said。 〃Very happy。〃
〃Happy；〃 she repeated。 Then added； 〃Yes 。。。 Happy。 Deoce very happy。〃 It was her first full statement in Orissan。
Darkness and caution kept us from going further that night。 It was too far and the footing along the crater's rim was too dangerous。 In the morning Maeen sent Lione and a few men to scout the area to make sure no enemies lurked about。 There was little conversation while we waited； all of us were content to loll about and study the place at our ease。 Deoce and I spent several hours adding words to our dictionaries； pointing out different creatures and flowers and trees。
Lione returned just before nightfall。 He and the other men were grinning and joking； behaving more like gamboling lambs than soldiers。 〃The only trouble we'll have here； Cap'n；〃 he said to Janos； 〃is gettin' up enough foolishness to leave。〃 He painted a wonderful picture of their day's adventure。 There was life aplenty： animals with hooves and paws； fur and scale； blunt…toothed grazers and fanged flesh eaters； shade trees； fruit trees； and every variety of flowering plant； with acpanying sippers of nectar。 〃Near as we c'd figger；〃 Lione said； 〃only thing missin' is men。 No sign of people ever bein' about。 Oh； yeah。 One other thing。 Big thing； really。 Those tigers and deer we saw playin' yesterday？〃 Janos nodded。 〃It's like that all over the valley。 Things that oughta duck and hide walk 'bout bold as you please。 An' things that oughta be stalkin' and killin' pay never no mind。〃
〃But how do they eat？〃 I asked the question for all of us。
Lione's eyes grew wide with wonder as he considered how to answer。 〃That's the craziest thing。 It was peaceful like I said； all day。 But just 'fore we got back； every thin' changed。 Deer spooked and bolted。 Tigers bolted a'ter 'em。 Same with th' other critters。 Things that make a good dinner started lookin' for a place to hide； an' things that kills and eats for a livin' went lookin' for 'em。 But oddest damn thing； was the hunters seemed to take on'y what they could eat。。。 'n' no more。 Then； all of a sudden； th' whole motion stops。 An' things got all peaceful like before。〃 He scratched his head； a silly grin pasted to his face。 〃Now ain't that th' damndest thing you ever heard of？〃
I looked at Cassini； a little uneasy at this peacefulness。 〃A spell？〃
Cassini thought； then shook his head。 〃I have no feeling of another 。。。 presence；〃 he said。 〃But I do have a sense of 。。。 wellness？ Yes。 That's it。 Wellness。 But what its source is； I cannot say。 Although I suspect all the spells I have been casting to assure our safety have finally e together to protect us。〃 He gestured at the thick walls of the crater。 〃Possibly the structure of this place has helped to concentrate my spells。〃
Janos snorted。 〃So all these creatures suddenly became tame when you stood upon the rim？ Blessed in the presence of the Master Evocator？ e now； Cassini。 If that is the explanation； then I think your superiors back in Orissa had better start rewriting the sacred texts。〃
Cassini's face darkened 〃Enough of this；〃 I broke in。 〃Instead of questioning and arguing； I suggest we all just enjoy what we have stumbled upon。 We can rest here and recuperate for as long as it is necessary。 That is all I； for one； care to know。〃
〃Hear； hear；〃 Lione broke in。 Maeen； who had been hovering at his side； glowered at him。 〃Sorry；〃 Lione said。 〃Di'n't mean to poke my nose where it don't belong。 But I b'lieve Lord Antero has a sensible suggestion。 There's plenty to enjoy。 e the morrow； you'll see for yourself。〃
The next day we got ourselves； our belongings； and the animals to the bottom while the dew was still fresh on the ground。 It was the sweetest air I ever breathed； and the music of the songbirds was sharp and clear。 Everything that Lione warranted was true。 We barely set up a real camp that day； but freed the asses of their burdens； and they bawled in delight； rushed off to a nearby pond； and plunged in with much kicking and splashing。 Two big lizards； each three times the length of a man； came out of the water to watch them play； smiling toothy lizard smiles with mouths that gaped wide enough to swallow the asses whole。 The asses ignored them； somehow knowing they were safe； and a bit later we were among them； shedding civilization along with clothes； acting like fools as the cool waters washed away the grime of the long trek。
I dived deep； swimming like the river rat I was； feeling all that coolness caress my belly and flanks。 The water was so clear； I could easily make out the limbs of my rades churning about； as well as the fat bodies of the lizards； with their stumpy； powerful legs。 To one side I saw a shaded inlet leading away from the pond。 I came up for air； dived down again； and swam along that watery avenue edged with gentle； moss…covered banks。 Every Orissan child is joined to our great river practically at birth。 Toddlers play in currents that strong men might fear in other parts。 I was no different； and I had always