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that looked too far away。
He should really stop at Ardneh's temple； he told himself； and make some thanks…offering for prayers very recently answered。 He certainly would do that； if he had anything left to offer； but he was practically naked as he was。 On second thought he would stop； and try to beg some clothes。 Also； now that he thought about it； a little food。 Yes； definitely； food。
Less than an hour later； a white…robed acolyte of Ardneh was ushering Ben up a long flight of white steps。
When Ben emerged from Ardneh's temple a short time later； he was dressed in warmer garments。 They were third… or fourth…hand pilgrim's garb； and patched； but they were clean and dry。 And he was no longer ravenously hungry。 But he was very tired； and frowning thoughtfully。
Again he strode along the road； still heading south。 He'd have to stop somewhere soon and get some sleep； but right now he wanted to make distance； to get as far from the Blue Temple as he could。 He had a better knowledge now of where he was； and he'd known all along where he was heading for。
Sometime this month the carnival that he and Barbara had been with ought to be making a spring move to Purkinje Town； if it kept to the old schedule。 If she was still with it； he would find her there。
Ben made the long journey almost entirely on foot。 It took him approximately a month； so spring in these parts was well advanced when he arrived。 And the journey was not without adventure； though if Blue Temple were on his trail； as he thought they must be by this time； he saw no signs of them。 Gradually his fears receded； and he began to believe that they thought him dead。
By the time Ben reached Purkinje Town； or rather the place outside the town's crumbling walls where the small carnival was encamped； he'd worn out and replaced his sandals； and had had to replace some of his pilgrim's garb as well。 He had also begun a beard； which was ing in a dull； bleached brown to match his hair。 He had acquired as well one of the packs and something of the appearance of an itinerant peddler he'd fallen in with early in his journey。 The peddler； once convinced that Ben meant him no harm； had been glad to have the strong man as an escort； had cut a sturdy quarterstaff for him to carry； and had rewarded his panionship with food and clothing。
But their paths had diverged； many kilometers back。 Ben was alone when he arrived outside Purkinje's half…tumbled walls toward evening on a clear； late spring day。 Those walls were no longer a very impressive defense。 The city； though； was still flying its own flag of orange and green； evidently still managing to maintain a measure of independence from the brawling warlords whose armies endlessly came and went across the land。
The carnival still looked independent too； though in the past year it had grown even shabbier than Ben remembered it。 The tents and wagons that Ben could recognize had endured another year of wear and tear； and he found it difficult to discover among them any traces of repair； new paint； or fresh decoration。 And there were now a couple of wagons that he did not recognize。
The crude painting on the cloth side of one of these vehicles caught Ben's eye； and he paused to look at it。 Large； somewhat uneven lettering proclaimed Tanakir the Mighty。 Tanakir's painted portrait showed him expanding biceps and chest to break great iron chains that might have held a drawbridge。
Ben delayed only for a moment to look at this。 Then； with a strange feeling inside his own chest； he went on to Barbara's recognizable small tent。 As usual she had the tent set up beside her wagon。 If she was keeping a small caged dragon inside her conveyance as usual； it was hidden by cloth coverings； and made no sound at Ben's approach。
The flap of her tent was closed； but Ben could see that it was not tied shut。 Ben threw down the wooden staff that the peddler had given him。 Then； obeying the traditional rules of courtesy； he cleared his throat and scratched on the tent wall near the flap … there was of course no way to knock。 He waited a few decent seconds then； and when there was no response he lifted the fabric gently and stepped in。。。
At a small table near the center of the tent sat Barbara； wrapped in the shabby familiar robe that she often wore around camp。 Despite the poor light in the tent she was trying to do something to prettify her fingernails。 She looked up sharply at the intrusion； her small； spare body coiled like a spring。 Between the two black sheaves of her hair； her round； expressive face showed anger； even before she had time to recognize Ben and be surprised … she had been keeping her anger ready； he thought； for someone else。
〃You've got a look in your eye； Ben。〃 That was how she greeted him after a year's absence； uncoiling the spring of her body slightly。 Barbara was very nearly the same age as Ben； though not much more than a third his weight。 They had known each other for a number of years。 He saw now that her straight black hair had been allowed to grow a little longer since he'd left。 Otherwise she looked just about the same。 She went on： 〃Fuzz on your chin and a look in your eye。 What are you up to now？ I don't suppose you rode back here in a golden coach pulled by six white showbeasts？〃
〃Thinking；〃 he replied； choosing to answer the one halfway sensible question in her speech； letting the rest of it go by。 It was a way he had。 He thought it was one of the things that she did like about him。
〃Thinking about what？〃
〃About certain things that I've found out。〃 Ben slid off his peddler's pack； looked about for a place to put it； then dropped it on the floor and kicked it under the small table； conserving floor space。
〃It sounds like you've managed to addle your mind somehow； whatever else you've done。 I suppose you're hungry？〃 Barbara gave up the pretense of continuing to fuss with her nails。 She turned to give him her full attention and frank interest。
Ben crouched and reached under the table to get something from his pack。 His hand rejected a half…loaf of bread that was going stale； and pulled out some good sausage。 〃Not really。 I have this； if you'd like some。〃
〃Maybe later； thanks。 Did you go to the Blue Temple and enlist； as you were saying you'd do？〃
〃Didn't you get either of my letters？〃
〃No。〃
That was hardly surprising； Ben supposed。 〃Well； I wrote twice。 And I did enlist。〃 He took a bite off the end of the sausage himself； and offered it again。 〃Ever hear from Mark？〃
〃Not； since he left。〃 This time Barbara was not so reluctant。 Chewing； she regarded Ben for a little while in silence； while he stood there unable to keep himself from smiling at her。 He could； as always； see thoughts ing and going in her face； though he was hardly ever sure of what they were。 It sounded simple； but it was one of the things about her that gave Ben a sensation of enchantment。
At last Barbara said to him： 〃There's more on your mind than Mark； or bringing me sausage。 I suppose you've deserted。 Is that the big secret I can see in the back of your eyes？ A Blue Temple enlistment should run for four or