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ecause they tried to do what was right。 Where were those powers that should protect such innocents？
〃And Sisqi？〃 Simon asked； suddenly remembering the troll maiden。 He scanned Binabik's face anxiously； but the troll showed only a distracted smile。
〃She has survived； and with only small wounding。〃
〃Can we take Haestan down off the mountain？ He wouldn't want to be left here。〃
Binabik reluctantly shook his head。 〃We cannot carry his body； Simon。 Not on our rams。 He was a man of largeness； too much for our mounts。 And we still have a dangerous way to go before we are on flat land。 He must stay here； but his bones will he in honor with the bones of my people。 He will be with other good and brave warriors。 That is； I think； as he would be wishing。 Now； you should sleep again…but first there are two who would speak with you。〃
Binabik stepped back； Sisqi and the herder Snenneq were there； waiting at the cave…mouth。 They came forward to stand beside Simon。 Binabik's intended spoke to Simon in troll speech。 Her dark eyes were grave。 Beside her； Snenneq seemed unfortable； shuffling from foot to foot。
〃Sisqinanamook says she is sorrowful for you in the losing of your friend。 She also says you showed rare bravery。 Now all have seen the courage that you showed also on the dragon…mountain。〃
Simon nodded； embarrassed。 Snenneq made a throat…clearing noise and began a speech of his own。 Simon waited patiently until Binabik could explain。
〃Snenneq； herd…chief of Lower Chugik； says he； too； is sorry。 Many good lives were lost yesterday。 He also wishes to give you something back which you lost。〃
The herder produced Simon's bone…handled knife； passing it to him with a show of reverence。
〃It was taken from the neck of a dead giant；〃 Binabik said quietly。 〃The gift of the Qanuc has been blooded in defense of Qanuc lives。 This means much to my people。〃
Simon accepted the knife； sliding it back into the decorated sheath on his belt。 〃Guyop；〃 he said。 〃Please tell them I am glad to have it back。 I'm not quite sure what 'defense of Qanuc lives' means…we all fought the same enemy。 But I don't want to think about killing just now。〃
〃Of course。〃 Binabik turned to Sisqi and the herder； speaking briefly。 They nodded。 Sisqi leaned forward to touch Simon's arm in wordless miseration； then turned and led awkward Snenneq from the cave。
〃Sisqi is leading the others in building the cairns of stone；〃 Binabik said。 〃And as for you； Simon…friend； there is nothing more to be done by you this day。 Sleep。〃
After tucking the cloak carefully around Simon's shoulders； Binabik disappeared out through the opening of the cavern； stepping carefully around the sleeping forms of the other wounded。 Simon watched him go； thinking of Haestan and the rest of the dead。 Were they even now traveling the road toward the plete stillness that Simon had glimpsed？
As he fell asleep； he thought he saw his Erkynlandish friend's broad back vanishing down a corridor into white silence。 Haestan； Simon thought； did not seem to walk like a man who bore regrets…but then； it was only a dream。
Next day the noon sun pierced the mists； splashing light on Sikkihoq's proud slopes。 Simon's pain was less than he had thought it would be。 With Sludig's help； he was able to limp down from the cave to the flat shelf of rock where the cairns were being finished。 There were ten； nine small and one large； the rocks carefully piled so that no wind or weather would shift them。
Simon saw Haestan's pale face； blood…striped； before Sludig and his troll helpers finished winding the guardsman's cloak about him。 Haestan's eyes were shut； but his wounds were such that Simon could not maintain any illusion that his long…time panion only slept。 He had been killed by the Storm King's brutal minions； and that was something to be remembered。 Haestan had been a simple man。 He would appreciate the notion of vengeance。
After Haestan had been laid away and the stones fitted atop his cairn；。 Binabik's nine tribesmen and tribeswomen were lowered into their own graves； each with some article particular to him or her…or so Binabik explained it to Simon。 When this was done and the nine cairns were sealed； Binabik stepped forward。 He raised his hand。 The other trolls began to chant。 There were tears in many eyes； both male and female； one glimmered on Binabik's own cheek。 After some time had passed； the chanting came to a halt。 Sisqi stepped forward； handing Binabik a torch and a small bag。 Binabik sprinkled something from the bag on each grave； then touched the flame to it。 A thin coil of smoke rose from each caim in his wake； quickly shredded by the mountain wind。 When he had finished the last； he handed the torch to Sisqi and began to sing a long string of Qanuc words。 The melody was like the voice of the wind itself； rising and falling； rising and falling。
Binabik's wind…song came to an end。 He took torch and sack and raised a plume of smoke on Haestan's barrow as well。
〃Sedda told her children；〃 he sang in the Westerling speech；
〃Lingit and Yana；
Told them to choose their way
Bird's way or moon's way
'Choose now；' she said。
〃Bird's way is egg's way
Death is a door then
Egg…children stay behind
Fathers and mothers go beyond
Do you choose this？
〃Moon's way is no…death
Live always under stars
Go through no shadowed doors
Find no new land beyond
Do you choose this？
〃Swift…blooded Yana
Pale…haired and laughing…eyed
Said： 'I choose moon's way。
I seek no other doors。
This world is my home。'
〃Lingit her brother
Slow…footed； dark…eyed；
Said： 'I'll take bird's way。
Walk under unknown skies
Leave world to my young。'
〃We children of Lingit all
Share his gift equally
Pass through the lands of stone
Just once； then we are gone；
Out through the door
〃We go to walk beyond
Search for stars in the sky
Hunt the caves past the night
Strange lands and different lights
But do not return。〃
When he had finished singing； Binabik bowed to Haestan's cairn。 〃Farewell； brave man。 The trolls will remember your name。 We will sing of you in Mintahoq a hundred springs from now！〃 He turned to Simon and Sludig； who stood by solemnly。 〃Would you like to be saying something？〃
Simon shook his head unfortably。 〃Only 。 。 。 God bless you； Haestan。 They will sing of you in Erkynland； too； if I have my way。〃
Sludig stepped forward。 〃I should say an Aedonite prayer；〃 he said。 〃Your song was very good； Binabik of Mintahoq； but Haestan was an Aedonite man and must be properly shriven。〃
〃Please；〃 Binabik said。 〃You have listened to ours。〃
The Rimmersman took his wooden Tree from beneath his shirt and stood at the head of Haestan's caim。 The smoke continued to waver upward。
〃Our Lord protect you；〃 Sludig began；
〃And Usires His only Son lift you up。
May you be carried to the green valleys
Of His domains。
Where the souls of the good and righteous sing from the hilltops；
And angels are in the trees；
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