Riverworld, Day 45, Afternoon

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Robbie looked at Jean and spoke quietly.  "He would like to know who
we are as well as our intentions...  shall I...?"

Jean nodded, and kept alert for signs of trouble.

Robbie turned to the villager who addressed him, and in an educated
Scots accent, spoke.  "Good day sir! As for our identities, my
companion - who, lamentedly, has yet to learn English - is Gascon Jean
de la Valette Parisot. A French lord and Knight of the noble order of
Saint John. I am Robert Burns, farmer, poet an' Scotsman. Our
intentions are simple, to travel, explore an', most recently, if your
grace allows, to use ain o' your grailstones an' soon there after
dine."

In conclusion, Robbie smiled and bowed deeply.

"As for that," the villager said, "you're welcome to use our grail if
ye come in peace. These other strangers are also sharing our meal
tonight. I'm Henry Ford."

Josephine smiled at Jean and Robbie, and greeted them. She introduced
herself as Josephine Baker, and the others gave their names as Tom
Shaw, Ehrich, Father Gregory, Benjamin Franklin, and Sigmund
Freud. Their eyes widened as they met 'Jeanne la Pucelle' and Charles
of Aachen. 

They all put their grails into the grailstone and waited for the
night's explosion of blue fire. When it came, their repast was
revealed to be a sizzling steak, baked potatoes, bread and butter, and
a refreshing straw-colored ale. Jean and Robbie ate with Ford and the
other villagers, who were eager to hear their tales of travel. Freud
retired to the large boat to sleep, while the others sat apart and
spoke amongst themselves.

"It is, perhaps, true that this Competition between New Detroit and
the Toyota people is destructive and counterproductive," Benjamin
conceded, "but I am not sure that we need to stop our Quest just to
try to mend this Division, strong enough to carry over from our prior
Lives.  You may climb one Mountain without having to climb all the
others.  However, perhaps we can offer the same Agreement to both,
Unification?" 

He looked meaningfully at Charles, who frowned and spoke at some
length.

"I am concerned that we are losing the focus of our journey," Charles
began. "We must remember that many of us have lost memories, and have
been manipulated here for some unknown purpose.  We set out to find
those responsible for this trickery, and felt that we could do this by
finding the source of the finely worked metal.  The metal may serve
another purpose, but we must first remember why we were in search of
it."

Ehrich broke in. "If we do find this source of metalworking, we may
need scientifically and industrially oriented minds to understand it.
Ford would be an excellent person to have along for this reason.  He
has a practicality about him that can only be a boon."

Charles continued. "I am also concerned that we still are being
watched.  I am cautious as to why Freud was down with Shaw in the
boat, since we have no witnesses other than Freud himself, and a
sleeping Shaw.  I am bothered by this 'co-incidence'. "

"It would be best in my opinion to take a small party of scouts to the
Grailstone north, where Shaka led us to. and see what is there and how
it is defended.  From there we can return to 'new detroit' and make
sensible plans."

"I think I am in good company with you people," he concluded. "We have
traveled far together. It increases my honor to be counted among you."

"I think we seek this metal for different reasons, all of us," Jeanne
said. "There are those along this River that are happy to stay where
they are, putting down new roots. And there are those who are
compelled to travel, seeking a better weapon or the man that forged
it. Which type of man is this Ford?"

Josephine said nothing, quietly watching the others.

"I have thought on this as well, Charles," Benjamin said, "and it
seems to me that we can never hope to outmaneuver those who can give
us Dreams or Memories or Intentions or Thoughts without us knowing it.
The best we can do is do what seems appropriate for other reasons, and
hope that the Manipulations lead us where we need to go.  Perhaps that
is just the implanted Thoughts speaking, but so might be what you say,
or anything any of us says.  For me, I seek the Metalworking because
every Endeavour we, or anyone else here, undertakes, is hampered by
lack of Industry, and Metalworking could create Industry.  I hope to
bring Industry and its Fruits to as many as I can.  I am sure some of
us have other Reasons, though."

"Yes, Yes," Shaw agreed, "Whatever you think is best. There is no
metal here so I don't see any reason to stay any longer. I'll go check
out the ship and see that things are fine there. I will be ready to go
when you are." With that, he left and returned to the ship.

Josephine looked quizzically at the two newcomers, the question in her
eyes implicit.

Shaw began to search the ship from top to bottom, quietly so as not to
disturb Freud, who was sleeping in the cabin. He popped a cube of
dreamgum into his mouth and chewed slowly while he searched, his
saliva filling his mouth. He wasn't sure what he was looking for,
exactly, but had a strong feeling that he would find something.

It was Ehrich's spear that finally caught his attention. A thin crack
in the bamboo seemed to mar its upper length, and Shaw did not recall
seeing the flaw before. The spear would shatter if it was used, Shaw
was sure. His own spear seemed intact, and those of the others,
and...Charles' spear, while as solid as ever, had strange notches at
the base. What was Charles recording? Why hadn't he mentioned it? Or
had someone else made the notches - the same person who had damaged
Ehrich's spear? He glanced with suspicion at the sleeping form of
Freud, whose eyes were moving back and forth rapidly.

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Sly didn't wait for Shaka to respond, but turned suddenly and shook
his fist.  "Listen, Mate, know wot? Oi've had 'bout 'nuff of yer
bloody bullsh*t. You got 'bout two minutes to tell me why oi'm s'posed
ta foller ya, ya bloody tosser!"

He turned around in a circle then looked back at Shaka.  "Look around
mate! Oi'm the only bloody friend you have, ya bastard!"

Shaka regarded Sly incredulously.  "Why should you follow me?  Don't
you understand? I am Shaka, King of the Zulus on earth, and chosen of
the Lion God here in this place.  Even though you died, you were sent
to me, so it should be clear to you."

"There have been times that I have wondered about you," he continued.
"Why do you rage and act so stupidly?  At first I thought it that you
were simply mad, or perhaps that the whites from your part of the
world were all like that, but now I understand.  I understand it all.
You are to be one of my disciples.  You are a trial.  All of this...
my deaths, Pala, Temuchin, the iron one, Charles.  All are obstacles
made to make me stronger -- so that when I assume the throne in the
name of the Lion God, I will be worthy."

Shaka narrowed his eyes.  "Now, let us have an end to this ranting
nonsense and get on with our mission.  First we must raise an army
with which to destroy Pala and those who harbour the iron on this
world.  This lot, who resemble the faithful Mishima, appear
industrious.  They shall be the first conscripts.  Come, help me
recruit them, or I shall teach you the humility you deserve."

As the evening grail firing shot blue fire across the sky, Sly sneered
skeptically. "So much for tuck," he muttered, and then shrugged his
shoulders. It's this fool or another, he thought. "All roit, 'chosen',
wat d'we do?"

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Over supper, Louis attempted to find things in common with the chief -
names for trees, the river, the spear, the chief's knife - and say
them in French, encouraging the chief to say them in Gaelic. At the
end of dinner, the chief invited Louis into his hut. The woman with
them followed, and, within the privacy of the hut, spoke to Louis in
English.

"I am Diana, priestess of the Goddess to this tribe and consort of the
chief, who bids me speak to you. You are like us, not the dark ones,
though you speak some of their language. They are strong, but every
strength has a weakness. If you discover their weakness, we can
exploit it, drive them forth, and keep the riches of this land for
ourselves, which we will share with you."

The chief looked at Louis expectantly.