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rare slab of meat on the plate。 Dirk stepped back； found a convenient log； sat down； and tore into the food。
After the fourth bite； when his mind had room for other matters； he looked up and surveyed the camp； chewing thoughtfully。 The huge fire was the only light； aside from a sprinkling of starshine。 The outlaws were gathered around the huge blaze in groups of four or six； notching arrows with crow feathers； making bows； sharpening arrowheads； and the women； scraping hides； patching garments； grinding mealor； men and women alike； simply sitting and gossiping； while a few children ran about with bubbling laughter and joyful shrieks。
Beside him； Hugh was explaining to Gar； 〃Lapin escaped from the Houses some years ago and came here alone。 The few outlaws in the wood gathered about her…then a few more； and a few more； there are always a few who escape the Estates。 But； about a year ago； they began to e in greater numbers； and more frequently； till now we have twelve…score here in our pleasant forest hideaway。〃
Dirk frowned。 〃How e the sudden increase？ Did they say？〃
Hugh turned to him； grinning。 〃Oh aye； it was they who brought us the news…that the Wizard is abroad in the land again； to bid all churls to make ready。〃
Dirk choked on a piece of gristle。
The life is not easy；〃 Hugh went on explaining to Gar while he pounded Dirk on the back。 〃There is constant toil； and always the danger of Soldiers。 But there is no need to bend our backs to any man。 And； though there is little enough to feed on； we all share equally in what we have； no man holds back the bulk for himself； as the Lords do。 No one starves。〃
Gar nodded slowly。 〃Then no one owns anything； but all of you own everything。〃
Dirk glanced at him； irritated； and Hugh looked puzzled。 〃Why； what nonsense is this？ Every man owns his clothes and his weapons； each woman her clothes and the goods of her household。 These they have made for themselves； who is to gainsay them？ Do you think we are lordlings？〃
At least Gar had the grace to look embarrassed。 But he plowed on： 〃The women own the goods of the household？ Not the men？〃
Hugh cocked his head to the side。 〃How could they？ Would they know how to care for such things？ I do not understand your questions； Outlander。〃
But Dirk suddenly did。 The outlaws were a free churl society； the only one on the planet。 Their economy and social organization would be the template for whatever grew up after the Lords were thrown out Of course Gar was curious。
And； e to think of it； so was Dirk。 Let's see…economy； a form of socialism。 Sex roles clearly defined； but with equal rights under custom…which would； presumably； grow into law。
But what about government？
Suddenly Dirk was very curious about the power structure in this outlaw band。
〃I notice everybody seems to take orders from Lapin；〃 he said slowly。
Hugh turned to him； more puzzled than ever。 〃She is Keeper here； aye。〃
〃I thought you said no one bent their backs to anyone else。〃
For a moment； he thought Hugh was going to hit him。 But the big Tradesman set his jaw and visibly forced himself to unclench his fists。 He took a deep breath； turning his face toward the fire。 〃Lapin governs； but only by the approval of the whole band。 When they do not like what she wishes them to do； they plain and protest； bitterly and loudly…and if enough join in the protest； Lapin gives way； and forgoes her wish。〃
Dirk nodded； and Gar rumbled； 〃What if enough of them wished someone else to lead？〃
〃There are those who have wanted to lead；〃 Hugh said slowly； 〃and the band has discussed it； and wrangled； and argued； but in the end； all but a few called for Lapin。〃
〃But if it went the other way around？〃 Dirk pressed。
〃It has not happened。〃 Hugh gave him a very cold stare。 〃But I believe in Lapin。 She would step down。〃
〃Would she have a choice？〃
Hugh watched for a moment。 Then he began to smile； shaking his head slowly。 〃Perhaps not。 As I said； none here bow their backs。〃
〃And I'll wager they are on the watch； to be certain no man asks them to。〃 Gar put down his plate； still chewing； and rose； wiping his hands with a tuft of grass。 〃I have a sudden desire to speak with this paragon of yours； Hugh。 Take me to her； if you will。〃
The big Tradesman looked up； startled。 Then he grinned； and rose。 〃Aye； gladly！ This should be worth the watching … if you seek to match wits with Lapin！〃 He looked back at Dirk。 〃Will you e？〃
〃No；〃 Dirk said slowly； 〃I don't think I'd learn anything new。〃
Hugh frowned。 〃How's that again？〃
〃Nothing。 But tell me this； Hugh。。。 from whom does Lapin take orders？〃
〃Why； no one。〃 Hugh grinned。 〃Till DeCade arises。〃
Dirk nodded sardonically。 〃That's what I'd thought； somehow。 No； I think you can get by without me。〃
Hugh shrugged。 〃As you wish。〃 He turned away and led Gar off around the fire。
Dirk sat watching them go； chewing the last mouthful。 There was no point in talking to Lapin； he was looking for the top rebel leader； and she wasn't it。 No one was。
Except DeCade。。。
〃Good evening； Ouuander。〃
Dirk looked up； instantly wary。
A lean old man with a tonsure and a monk's robe sat down beside him； turning a friendly smile toward him。 In spite of himself。 Dirk smiled back。 〃A good evening it is。 But I'm not an outlander。〃
The smile was still friendly； but the monk shook his bead with certainty。 〃There is the touch of the alien in the way you say your words； in the way you bear yourself…a thousand small things。 Any man can see it…you are not pletely one of us。〃
Dirk bit down on bile and nodded reluctantly。 〃You're right。 Tm a churl…but I'm a churl from the skies。〃
〃Ah。〃 The old man nodded； satisfied。 〃From the Wizard's towers。 Yes； there would be strangeness in the way you say your words…and the words themselves strange； I should think。〃
〃Strange words？〃 Dirk frowned。 〃Oh…you mean words like 'molecular circuit；' 'monofilament；' 'nuclear fusion。'〃
〃Exactly。〃 The old man smiled； pleased； but there was a watchful look in his eyes。 〃Words of wizardry； I fancy。 Surely you who have followed the Wizard into the skies would have far more such surface wisdom than any others of our people。〃
Dirk frowned。 〃'Surface' wisdom？ How do yon mean？〃
〃No doubt these words give you great powers。〃 The old man smiled gently。 〃But will that help you live your life more fully and happily； my friend？ To understand the Riddle of Life。〃
〃I suppose not；〃 Dirk said slowly。 〃I take it any other kind of wisdom is 'surface'？〃
The monk shrugged。 〃By my beliefs； at least。〃
〃And you may have a point；〃 Dirk admitted。 〃At least； that kind of wisdom is about all that could let these people stand to live at all； let alone happily。 I was wondering how a guerrilla army could manage having children around； when they have to be ready to split up and run any minute。〃
The monk nodded。 〃But the children understand it as a fact of their life and dismiss it as easily as the adults do…more easily perhaps。〃
〃When they have