Riverworld, Day 45, Evening

			      *  *  *  *

Charles glanced over at the boat as Shaw boarded, and turned quickly
to Josephine.  "Josephine, we wish we could believe Freud, but at this
point, I must trust my intuition and ask you to go check on Shaw and
Freud -- try to watch but stay clear -- scream for help and we shall
come running...

"We will rest here tonight," he added, "then continue our search after
the breakfast firing tomorrow.  I wish only a small group.  Us, and a
few of Ford's People... The Metal shall be ours and perhaps the
solution to what is plaguing us...."

Josephine nodded, and walked casually to the boat.

Ehrich agreed, and motioned to the two newcomers to join them, as well
as a couple of Detroiters. None of the latter, however, seemed anxious
to go, despite Ehrich's assurance that "we should be back before
anyone gets homesick."

After dinner, Robbie made some mention to the New Detroiters of his
adventures with Jean along the River, but soon the conversation
wandered, and so did Robbie.  He excused himself, again thanking
Mr. Ford for his kindness, and walked along over to the other group.
He waited for a lull, not wanting to interrupt, and finally, when one
came he came forward and spoke to Benjamin.

"Mr. Franklin?, if I may ask you a small question - Ye wouldna be th'
same Benjamin Franklin that was sae important in th' American
Rebellion would you? Because if that be th' case i would be very
honored to shake your hand sir. You lads really did stick it to those
bloody English you did!"

He extended his hand to Benjamin, who took it and shook it
firmly. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mister Burns."

"By th' by," Robbie added, "did General Washington have a chance to
read my Poem i wrote him for his birthday?"

"Indeed he did," Benjamin replied, "and he was much taken with it."
Robbie beamed.

Jean meanwhile, was very happy to speak to his countrywoman, Jeanne.
"Bon soir Madame, I come from Provence but I only spent my younger
years there.  The rest of my life was devoted to the Order of St. John
outside of France.  And you?  Where abouts do you hail from?"

"Well met, brother," Jeanne replied.  "I was born in Domremy. Did you
build your boat yourselves? How did you come to be with your
companion?" The two spoke quietly in French for a time, and it was
clear that both Jean and Robbie were interested in joining the others
on their travels.

			      *  *  *  *

As Josephine entered the boat, she watched saw Shaw approach Freud,
who seemed to be asleep.

Shaw stood and watched for a moment, and then slowly squatted down
near the sleeping man.  He quietly leaned forward.

He attempted to listen to anything Freud might say in his sleep, but
the doctor's snores yielded no intelligible language. Then he noticed
that Josephine was standing in the doorway.

Shaw looked over his shoulder at Josephine, and motioned her to be
silent as he continued to watch Freud. The doctor, for his part,
continued to sleep.

For a moment, Josephine caught a glimpse of something wild in Shaw's
eyes.

			      *  *  *  *

As twilight spread across the Rivervalley, Ehrich stood up.  He bowed
to the villagers and winked at his friends.  "In exchange for your
hospitality, it is only fair to provide some entertainment in return."

At this, Ehrich showed both sides of his hands and arms, which were
bare and not covered by any towels.  Then reaching out in front of
him, he proceeded to cause five spoons of the sort found in that
night's grail meal to appear as if pulled out of the air.  After
flourishing them, he caused them to vanish once more.

"Normally, I would be using cards, coins or balls, but try as I might,
I haven't been able to make any of those appear here on the river.
One makes do though."

Ford grinned widely and many of the villagers applauded. Their eyes
fixed on Ehrich, watching him with a deep hunger; the need for
entertainment, amusement, and mystery had been reborn along with their
bodies, and they had found only little so far. Jeanne's eyes also
fixed on Ehrich, with rather another look, startled and agitated, as
he reached down and picked up a rope made from woven towel threads
near the grailstone.

"If I could have two stout gentlemen assist me, I'll attempt to
provide a bit more diversion.  Unfortunately, I've also found there
to be a lack of handcuffs, safes, and milk jugs on the river, so
this rope will have to make do.  If you gentlemen would be so kind
as to tie me up securely, hands behind my back to this tree?"

The New Detroiters responded eagerly, and fastened the knots as
tightly as they could manage. Ehrich smiled and his face fell into a
look of deep concentration for about 30 seconds. Then he removed his
hands from behind the tree, holding the rope.  "An excellent job of
knot tying, gentlemen, my thanks," he concluded, to massive applause
and considerable amazement.

Jeanne muttered to herself and then cried out to Father Gregory,
"Merde! I knew they were evil!" 

			      *  *  *  *

From outside, Shaw and Josephine heard Jeanne shout "Merde!" loudly
enough to wake Freud. While the three rushed out to see what had
caused the commotion, Shaw murmured to Freud, "Did you have an
interesting dream, doctor?" Freud mumbled sleepily that he didn't
remember any dreams.


Shaw, Josephine, and Freud emerged from the boat to hear Jeanne almost
yelling at Father Gregory.  "It is magic, I tell you!" she
continued. "How else can it be explained? I knew I should never have
stayed with these people!"

"Jeanne," Charles said, "We must try not to judge everyone through the
filter of our times.  Erich is a good man, he was trying to be a
jester, and we see that as witchcraft or sorcery -- We can mention to
him, that such trickery bothers us, and ask him not to practice such
arts around us."

With once glance at Ehrich, holding some ropes in his hand, Josephine
instantly apprehended what had occurred.

			      *  *  *  *

Louis smiled his politician's smile at the chief, and turned back to
Diana.  "Madam, you honor me with your privilege.  But the Zulu are no
band of men to trifle with.  How strong is your army?"

"Our tribe is not to be trifled with either," Diana replied
proudly. "We are fierce fighters and number nearly as many as the
Zulu, else they surely would have tried to conquer us. If we attack
when the Goddess wills, the men will fight to the death."

"And what exactly would it be we would be fighting to keep...?" Louis
inquired.

"Perhaps you have noticed that there is no metal on this world - no
other metal, that is. For we have found a source of iron beneath the
earth."

The chief grunted, and Diana concluded. "What say you?"