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ed by the sun。
〃How did they die？〃
〃In dragon snow； as we call it on the Roof of the World…snow that freezes on its top； then breaks through without warning； jaws closing swiftly。 Like a dragon's jaws are closing。 As you know。〃
Simon scuffed at the ground with a stone； then looked up； squinting at the faint outline of Yamok in the cast。 〃Did you cry？〃
〃With certainty…but in my own secret place。 And you 。 。 。 but no； you were not knowing your parents； were you？〃
〃No。 Doctor Morgenes told me about them。 A little。 My father was a fisherman and my mother was a chambermaid。〃
Binabik smiled。 〃Poor yet honorable forebears。 Who could ask for more； as a place from which to make a starting？ Who would be born into the tight restricting of royal blood？ Who could think to be finding their true selves when all around are bowing and kneeling？〃
Simon thought of Miriamele； and even Binabik's betrothed； Sisqinanamook； but said nothing。
After a while； the troll stretched and pulled his pack closer。 He rummaged in it for a few moments； at last producing a clinking leather bag。 〃My knuckle bones；〃 he said as he spilled them gently out onto the stone。 〃We will be seeing if they are now a more truthful guide than at the last questioning。〃 He began humming quietly to himself as he scooped them up in his palms。 For long moments he held the handful of bones before him； eyes closed in concentration while he muttered a song。 At last he dropped them to the ground。 Simon could see no discernible pattern in the jumble。
〃Circle of Stones；〃 Binabik said； as calmly as though it were written on the bones' yellowed smoothness。 〃That is where we are standing； so to speak。 It means； I am thinking； a council meeting。 We are searching for wisdom； for help in our journeying。〃
〃The bones you ask for help tell you that you're looking for help？〃 Simon grunted。 〃That's not much of a trick。〃
〃Silence； foolish lowlander；〃 Binabik said mock…severely。 〃There is more to the bones than you understand。 The reading of them is not so simple；〃 He hummed and cast again。 〃Torch at the Cave…Mouth；〃 he said； but cast again without pause for explanation。 He frowned and sucked his lip as he surveyed the scatter。 〃The Black Crevice。 That is the second time only I have ever seen that patterning； and both have been in the time we have been together。 It is an ominous throw。〃
〃Explain； please。〃 Simon said。 He pulled his boots back on； resting his toes by wiggling。
〃The second throwing； Torch at the Cave…Mouth； means we must look for an advantage in the place we go…Sesuad'ra； I make that； Geloe's Stone of Farewell。 That is not proving we will find luck there； but it is our chance for advantage。 The Black Crevice； the last throwing； I have told you of before。 The third throw is that which should be feared； or that which we need being aware of。 The Black Crevice is a strange； rare pattern that could mean treachery； or could mean something ing from elsewhere 。 。 。〃He broke off； staring absently at the littered bones； then swept them back into his bag。
〃So what does it all mean？〃
〃Ah； Simon…friend；〃 the troll sighed； 〃the bones are not simply answering questions； even at the best of times。 At a troubled hour like the one we are living； the understanding bees more difficult still。 I must think long about these throws。 I must perhaps sing a song of slight differentness； then cast again。 This is the first throwing in a long while that I have not seen The Shadowed Path…but I cannot be thinking that our path is any less shadowy。 There； you see； is the danger of trying to take simple answers from the bones。〃
Simon stood up。 〃I don't understand much of what you're saying； but I wish we did have a few simple answers。 It would make things much easier。〃
Binabik smiled as one of his folk approached。 〃Simple answers to life's questioning。 That would be a magic beyond any I have ever been seeing。〃
The new troll； a stocky； tuft…bearded herder Binabik introduced as Snenneq； threw a distrustful look up at Simon； as though his very height was an affront to civilized behavior。 He conversed excitedly with Binabik in Qanuc for a short time； then trudged away。 Binabik sprang up and whistled for Qantaqa。
〃Snenneq says the rams are acting skittishly；〃 Binabik explained。 〃He wanted to know where Qantaqa was； if she had been at stalking their mounts。〃 A moment later the wolfs gray form appeared on a crag half a furlong away； head tilted questioningly。 〃She is down the wind from us；〃 the little man said； shaking his head。 〃If the rams are restless； it is not Qantaqa's scent that is so making them。〃
Qantaqa sprang down from the rocky outcropping。 A few moments later she was at her master's side； butting his ribs with her large； broad head。 〃She herself seems disturbed；〃 Binabik said。 He kneeled to scratch the wolfs belly； his arms disappearing into her thick fur up to the shoulder。 Qantaqa did indeed seem distracted； standing still only a moment before lifting her snout to the breeze。 Her ears flicked like the wings of an alighting bird。 She made a low rumbling noise before butting Binabik with her head again。 〃Ah；〃 he said； 〃a snow bear； perhaps。 This must be a season of hungering for them。 We should move to a lower place…we may be in less danger when we are leaving Sikkihoq's heights。〃 He called to Snenneq and the rest of his fellows。 They began striking the makeshift camp； resaddling their rams and stowing the drinking skins and food bags。
Sludig and Haestan approached。 〃Ho； lad；〃 Haestan said to Simon； 〃back to our boot leather again。 Now you know what's like t'be soldier。 March； march； march； 'til feet freeze and lungs go limp。〃
〃I never did want to be a foot soldier；〃 Simon said； shouldering his pack。
The friendly weather did not hold。 By the time they made camp that night near the edge of the long flat shelf； the stars had disappeared。 The pany's cookfires were the only light beneath a wild and snow…spread sky。
Dawn lightened the dark horizon to a stony gray that oddly mirrored the granite below their feet。 The traveling party made their way carefully down from the shelf and onto another series of narrow trails that wound back and forth across the mountain face in steep switchbacks。 By midday they had e to another relatively level place； a long； down…sloping talus hill； a vast refuse heap of boulders and smaller stones left by the passage of some ancient glacier。 The footing was treacherous： even the rams had to pick their way carefully； sometimes choosing to leap from one large stone to another rather than walk across the loose rubble。 Simon； Haestan； and Sludig followed behind。 Their trudging footsteps occasionally freed a fist…sized stone to bound down the slope； eliciting bleats and annoyed stares from the saddled rams。 Such terrain was also hard on the knees and ankles。 Before they had gone far down the slope； Simon and his panions stopped to wind rags about their boots for support。
Snow fluttered all around； not a heavy fall； but enough to dust the tops of the larger stones with pale powder and fill the crevices between the smaller rocks like mortar。 As Simon looked back up the long d