Riverworld, Day 46, Morning

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Josephine stood on the deck of the boat, watching the interactions for
a few moments, slipping back to the group so as to be unnoticed.
Moving to the side of Shaw, she casually slipped her hand into his,
not waiting for a response, but watching the reunion with Shaka.

Shaw, for his part, looked surprised to see Shaka.  "We were told by
two Zulu down river that you had been ambushed by the Celts and that
your dying words were that the metal was 10 grail stones further
on... What happened to Louis?"

Charles stepped forward and spoke some words to Shaka in Zulu.

"Shaka, warrior-king. Happy to see you," he said. "You have no
metal weapon..  Have you found its birthplace?"

He switched back to Latin, which Benjamin ably translated into English
and French for the others.

"It is good that we can be re-united, perhaps now we are nearing the goal
of our quest," Charles said. "These men now travel with us." He
indicated Jean, a tall white man with curly light brown hair, Robbie,
another tall white man with darker hair and deep brown eyes, and
Father Gregory, a shorter man with wild eyes, unkempt hair, and his
towels worn like robes.

"It will be good to find the source of this Metal," Charles continued,
"and then perhaps we can begin the act of civilization, that Benjamin
here is promoting.  I for one am looking forward to finding my lost
memories, I don't like to be denied things." He looked deeply at
Shaka, studying his face.

The Asian men also watched Shaka for his reaction.

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Louis smiled, genuinely charmed by the child-like woman.  "Madam," he
said, letting the final syllable trail off, a patronly note in his
voice.  "What worth am I to you?  I approached you in friendship and
camaraderie, and you return the favor with threats of death?  Now,
what basis is that for a relationship.  You are making it quite
impossible for me to _trust_ you.  For I fear that once I have
outlived my usefulness to you, you shall surely slit my throat."

She frowned. "We are not disloyal. If you join us, you become one of
us, and we protect our own."

Louis began pacing again, and with each step he drew nearer to the
towels.

"I have spent a great deal of time traveling with the Zulu chief.  He
has trained me in their ways, and partly in their language.  But this
is of no strategic value, unless I understand your ways.  The Zulu are
nothing like anything you have in your experience.  Their ways are
incomprehensible unless you have taken the time--like I have--to
attempt to _understand_ them."

Louis put a strong note of interest in his voice.  "Will you teach me?
It shall be worth your while."

The woman spoke briefly with the chief, and then nodded. "That is a
fair proposition. Sleep now, and tomorrow, when your duties with the
Zulu are done, come back."

This Louis did, and when he returned the next day, only the priestess
was in the hut. "Now," she said, "what would you have me teach you?"