They were wrong.
'Well said,' came a voice. And for the rest of the afternoon the
questions were not asked as from adult to child, from superior beings to
inferior, but as from man (and woman) to man. Sylviana could only watch
and listen, and tell herself in vain she didn't love him.
Because she had been stung by the affection he showed Kataya, and
refused to admit she was afraid of losing him.
Chapter 41
The next morning Kalus was woken by Kataya, who came to the secluded
clear space where he had made his bed on softer ground, with the
sleeping bag that Rawlings had given him. In the first light and waking
life of morning she was beautiful, and sad, and it was only with an
effort that he reminded himself he was not free, to take her then and
there, and make love among the sacred rites of Spring. But she showed
no such inclination, saying only.
'The Children will go North today, if Ishmael speaks the truth. I
want to say goodbye, and I want you to be there with me.'
Her tone was passive, and yet deeply serious. He couldn't fully
understand the reason, but consented, giving to her, unquestioningly,
the next hours of his life---giving as only the innocent can, without
exacting a price, or expecting anything in return.
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