Riverworld, Day 45, Evening

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Robbie gazed at the endless shore all the while humming the tune of an
old Celtic folksong somewhat out of key. He just reached the refrain
when he noticed the large black man on the shore.

"My, have you ever seen such a large Negro before today, Jean?" he
said in French. "On earth I had only seen drawings and here I've only
seen a few. Such a noble race..."

Jean did not reply, but quietly followed the larger boat, guiding them
to a safe landing.

			      *  *  *  *

As the boats approached, Sly laughed to himself and said to Shaka,
"Well, Chosen One, looks loik step one of the miracle mile 'as
begun. Not only am I stuck with you, mate, but we're back wit' some
wankers you knows frum before. Now lessee if them wankers wanna follow
you to yer bloody Pussycat God."

Looking sternly at the incoming boats, Shaka frowned. "This is could
be an unwanted complication.  If the others do not fall into line with
the plan, then we must take control.  Are you with me?"

Sly shrugged and nodded. "More wit' you than them."

			      *  *  *  *

Josephine turned in the direction that everyone was pointing and
nodded as she recognized Shaka.

Jeanne peered at the Zulu on shore in surprise. "But how did he come
to be here? The others told us he was dead, but what a coincidence
that he would wake but a few grailstones away." She frowned, as
something more occurred to her. "Perhaps he was resurrected at the site
of the scythe's production, and is working his way south. Oh, we
must speak with him!"

Keeping an eye on both Shaw and Freud, Josephine excused herself from
the inevitable meeting and secluded herself on the boat.

The two boats landed, and the sailors disembarked and waited together
for a short time before walking from their crafts. Shaka saw Jeanne,
Ehrich, Benjamin, Charles, Freud, and Shaw, as well as three men he
did not recognize. Next to Shaka, the rivergoers saw, was Sly. Jeanne
explained to Robbie and Jean that Shaka had been a member of their
band who, along with some others named Mishima, Louis, and Sly, had
preferred not to travel by water, but had instead chosen to walk along
the Riverbank looking for the source of metal.

Shaka strode forward to meet the others on the boat.  To Jeanne and
Charles, his smile was broad, though he seemed a bit surprised not to
see Josephine. To the others, his countenance was neutral, but he
greeted them all warmly, speaking in perfect English.

"My friends, we have been too long apart and too much has happened.
Once again, I have died and been returned to complete the mission of
the Lion gods. Come, and we can speak of plans.  This is Toyoda-sama,
the leader of this place.  He is a wise man who can help us greatly.
Together we can all advance to greatness!"

			      *  *  *  *

Aboard the ship, Josephine went to the weapons that remained on the
boat and examined them with her well-trained eyes, looking for flaws
or imperfections as she might have gone over fine jewels in her
previous life. She noted the thin cracks that Shaw had found in one of
the spears, and the strange notches in the other. A quick search of
the cabin revealed no hiding places or secret areas, but as her eyes
alighted on the grails, she realized that every man and every woman
carried a private safe with them. On the handle of Freud's grail, she
saw small notches, not unlike those on the spear, but not identical
either. Everyone marked their grails in some way or another, though.

She was torn by Freud's accusation. If, indeed, Shaw was addicted, she
would be partially responsible since she has been blithely handing
over her dreamgum with each grail firing.  She resolved to watch both
Shaw and Freud closely over the next few days.

			      *  *  *  *

Louis sighed and ran his hand through his hair.  A sneer of
frustration washed over his face then just as quickly passed.  He
smiled, disarmingly. "Madam, death means nothing here along this
accursed River.  If you kill me, I will simply be reborn in another
place.  You do not have the luxury of killing me.  I know more about
the Zulu, and worth more to you alive, than dead."

Louis stood to the side of the two of them, allowing them the freedom
to talk if they wished it. His eyes fell on a small stack of towels at
one end of the room which might offer him some use if it came to a
fight.

"Explain to us then," the priestess said, "how you are worth anything
to us? What do you know about the Zulu?"