Riverworld, Day 46, Morning


Robbie whispered quietly to Shaw.  " Did I hear someone say th' large
negro man, Mr. Shaka I believe, was a Zulu? I remember reading
somethings about the Zulu in my time.  An exceptional command of
English for an African wouldn't you say?"

Benjamin, overhearing the question, whispered back.  "Shaka didn't
know English at all when we met him, but once when he died he was
restored with a thorough Understanding."

Shaw looked momentarily annoyed, but added, with a smile, "Yes, he
says a Lion God taught him, you know."

Josephine flashed Benjamin a smile and whispered to Shaw herself,
considerably more quietly.

"I think perhaps I will look around this village and keep an eye on Freud?"

Shaw nodded. "Good idea."

"Now that most of us are here," Ehrich asked, "shall we revise our
plan, and travel together, or keep to separate paths?"

Charles stared at the silent Zulu.  "Shaka, you have not answered any
of the questions put to you.  We seek the end of this quest, the
knowledge of our lost memories, and perhaps most importantly the
gathering of a society here, in what has become out home."

While Charles spoke, Josephine slipped from the group and moved toward
the villagers to the right of the others.

"Join us, if you wish," he concluded, "or share what knowledge you
have, but we are moving on to the Grailstone you told us about
previously, to the North of here."

Josephine listened to the conversation as she watched the
villagers. The Asians did not seem either particularly fond of Shaka
or particularly wary of him, but seemed to accept him as an
equal force. Men and women populated the area, though the women
remained closer to the huts. Freud made no suspicious moves, and
Josephine began to wonder if her doubts about the man were really
well-deserved. 

			      *  *  *  *

"Little else to say?" Louis asked, annoyed. "Madam, if you do not wish
to converse with me about yourself and your people, then I would have
to say that all you see me as is a source of intelligence."

He stood up.  "I am offended.  I sought an exchange of information,
but this has become quite one-sided.  I sought you out as friends, and
here I am, being abused."

"I take my leave, Madam," he concluded, bowing graciously.

"You are quick to take offense," the priestess replied, before he
could leave the tent, and Louis turned to listen. "I did not wish to
bore you with our time on the River, which has been uneventful until
the opening of the Earth and the coming of the Zulu horde. If you
truly wish to hear the stories of our people on Earth, come here
tomorrow night and we will sing them for you," she finished, as Louis
left the tent.