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Out of the corner of my eye； I saw Cassini rise as well； his bow clutched in his hand； but I thought nothing of it。 We joined Deoce beneath the tree。 The monkey leaped about； flinging itself from branch to branch。 We laughed at its antics。 〃Just the size for a fancy hat；〃 Cassini said。
I turned； puzzled。 〃What do you…〃 To my horror； I saw that he had the bow drawn and an arrow nocked。
Janos shouted； 〃Cassini。 No！〃 At that instant Cassini loosed his shaft。 For a moment I thought it would miss； for the little creature was in midleap from one branch to the next。 But good fortune rarely smiles on man or beast in such moments； and we watched helplessly as the arrow sped true。 It buried itself in the creature's breast； the monkey gave a cry of pain and terror so like a man…child's； you had to believe Cassini had just mitted murder。
The monkey plunged to Cassini's feet。 He picked it up； face lit with victory。 〃I didn't even use a spell on the arrow；〃 he boasted
Deoce stood there； eyes wide； mouth open in a tragic O。
〃Damn you； Cassini；〃 Janos shouted。 〃You broke the agreement。〃
Cassini shrugged。 〃So what？ It was a silly bargain。 And now I have the material for a lovely hat to shade my head。〃 Janos raised his fist； as if about to strike。 I saw Deoce clutch the haft of her knife。 In my own breast I felt hot fury pouring out； and if I'd had a weapon at hand； I would have attacked。 Then a great revulsion struck me； and I turned to spew my guts。 But a terrible scream sounded： a tiger howling for blood。 Someone cried out in terror； and we whirled to see men fleeing for their lives； a tiger bounding hot on their heels。
Janos raced for them； picking up a firebrand from the camp fire as he ran。 He flung it into the tiger's face； and the beast howled； leaped over the men； and disappeared into the trees。 But no sooner had that danger passed than we heard other roars of fury。
〃What is happening？〃 Deoce cried。 She yelped in pain as a missile was hurled from the tree； striking her a stinging blow on her arm。 That missile was followed by a dozen others； and then scores of hard objects were raining out of the trees。 We couldn't see our attackers； but we knew them by the angry monkey cries。 Hundreds were massing； so many； the trees bent under their weight。 We could hear the other beasts of the crater calling for revenge。 In the pond I saw the two big lizards swimming toward shore。 They were joined on the embankment by a pack of hyenas。 In moments the bank swarmed with carnivores gathering for the attack。
〃Flee for your lives；〃 Cassini shouted； and ran for the camp。 At that moment the skies opened up and a great deluge fell。 The rain was so heavy； it was difficult to draw a breath； but to our relief； we saw that it had stymied the animals as well。 Our new enemies took cover。 We knew； however； the respite would be brief。 When the storm was over； they would renew the attack。 There was no hope our band could stand against the united forces of the crater。
There was no conversation； no discussion of what we should do next。 As the lightning and thunder crashed and the rain poured out of the heavens； we jammed our gear into our packs； quicklashed them to the asses； and fled。
Deoce and I stopped at the top of the crater。 We turned for one last look at the place where our love had blossomed。 But there was nothing to be seen in the storm's fury。 Janos came up behind us。 He put a hand on each of us； a hand of fort。 The three of us stood there for a long moment； the rain beating down on our forlorn figures。
Then he said； 〃It is time to go； my friends。 e。〃 The three of us turned and stumbled out of paradise。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Wasteland
WE FLED THE valley into a wasteland： for leagues the land stretched； flat and studded with rocks and flint and shale。 The only plants we saw were gray； twisted trees that reached low along the ground like old men's fingers。 We saw no wildlife； and the only water we found was brackish and so deep； we had to dig for hours before the slightest moisture trickled out。
We were forced to wear our tattered footwear once more； and all too soon their soles were cut through。 We wrapped rags around our feet and cut canvas socks to ease the burden of the poor beasts who bore our goods。 Cassini must now have rued his insistence on having boots made before we entered the valley： his last pair wore through in less than a day； and there was nothing to make new ones from。 Not that anyone would have made them for him anyway…no one was speaking to the Evocator beyond the necessities of duty。 Our anger grew as he found it increasingly hard to cast his spells around the relict； and we depended more and more on navigating by the sun and taking star readings after nightfall for the next day's navigation。
We spoke to one another less and less； and then through sun…cracked lips； as if all of us were growing to hate each other。 At least there was no conflict between Deoce and myself； although we had so little energy； we rarely made love。 There were mutter…ings from some of the men； especially Lione； about the privileges of the rich； and how I was doing less work than any of them。 They chose not to notice that I had made myself the expedition's cook…not because of any particular talent or feeling for the art； but simply because I knew the truth of what my father had told me as a boy。 〃If you carve yourself the largest piece of the pie； you must also have done； and be seen to have done； more of that day's labor than anyone else。〃 Not that cooking was an onerous chore； requiring nothing more than putting water； some smashed corn； and dried vegetables and spices in a pot and shredding a bit of dried meat into the 〃soup。〃 No one … yet … mentioned killing the asses for food。
Another great absence we noted was the Watchers'。 I did not know whether to be relieved； fearful； or concerned that we had lost our way。 Even though we did not know whether their purpose was maleficent or benevolent； we had grown used to seeing the speck on the horizon or mesa top。
Then one night we made a dry camp； mechanically chewed what dinner we could stomach； and tried to sleep； each man curled into a hip hollow he'd dug。 I lay on my back； with my hand outstretched to touch Deoce。 It was not hot； not cold； the sky was very clear and very dark； and the stars seemed especially close。 Then I thought it grew hazy； as if a sandstorm was rising； but I did not move。 I was asleep； and I dreamed。
My dreams must have lasted all night； because when I woke； I felt sore in every muscle； as if I had not slept at all。 Deoce seemed just as tired： there were dark circles under her eyes。 I was foolish enough to mention her haggardness； and she snapped at me； then apologized。 Everyone in the party looked as wrung out as we did。 Wordlessly； we all began reassembling our packs for the day's journey。 Janos broke our stupor suddenly and ordered us all to assemble around him。
Without preamble； he began； 〃Cassini； I dreamed last night。〃 I expected a sarcastic retort from the Evocator； but Cassini just nodded； as if he knew just what Janos was talking about。
〃I think；〃 Greycloak went on； 〃that all of us did。 Am I correct？〃 Surprised nods； grunts；