Riverworld, Day 46, Noon

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Shaka stepped to the center of the gathering, and began speaking, in
flawless English.  "Everyone, come gather around me and listen to my
tale.  You need hear nothing further to know what it is we must do."

Shaka waited, watching those from the River and those from Toyoda-san's party
especially. Soon they had all joined him and were listening
attentively.

"As you know," Shaka began, "twice have I died since being reborn here
on this world of the endless river.  The first time, the Lion God of
this world came to me and gave me a gift... the gift of the language
English, for surely I was meant to communicate with you all.  The Lion
God said I was to move to the north, to the home of the metal in the
scythe.  This I did, and was rewarded by being reunited with some of
my people.

"When my people had accepted me, you all were reunited with me again,
but Charles said it was not time!  And because of this, the treachery
of Pala, one of the Zulu men, overcame me!

"But this was not enough to stand in the way of destiny!  I was reborn
again... here!  Near you all.  Near Toyoda-san and his faithful,
industrious people.  Near Sid, who chose to die rather than go on
without me.  How can you doubt that these are signs that we are meant
to be together?  How can you doubt the Lion God?

"The answer is simple.  You cannot!  You must join me... we must band
together, and form an army large enough to wrest the mine of metal
from the treacherous Pala.  With the metal from the mine, and with
Toyoda-san's people working the metal, nothing could stand against us!
We would finally rule in heaven as it has been ordained!"

Shaka stopped, but raised his arms high above his head and began chanting a
Zulu war song, expectantly.

Robbie, confused, moved to stand beside Jean, while Benjamin muttered
loudly, "You can have Dominion and Rulership... anyone who wants to
lead men, deserves what he gets.  Just as long as we can bring
Industry to this land, I will be glad."

Shaw interrupted Shaka's chant more directly.  "What are your plans
for war Shaka? Many of us here are not strangers to battle and would
know how you would go about this conquest."

He paused for a moment, in thought.  "And I would also know what has
become of Louis."

"Shaka, the African man," Robbie whispered to Jean, "claims to know
where metal is. Iron! And iron means steel, and I know you know all
about steel good sir knight. Perhaps you can teach me a bit of sword
play, if we get swords. Should we follow him?"

"He is crazy." Charles stated flatly and unequivocally in Latin.

Without turning his back on Shaka, Charles spoke quietly to the lazari
who sailed with him. 

"We must decide if our quest is the same as what this madman raves
about.  I for one am not easy about marching willfully towards
death. Despite that this place promises reincarnation.  There may be
other ways to achieve our quest, without outright battle for it.  Many
of the victories, I had in my time, were won by armies, make no
mistake about that -- but many more were won without blood."

Charles tapped his temple and continued.  "We must Think -- it is
God's gift to us to think.  God put us here for some reason, I must
believe that.

"You have all followed me, or joined along the way.  I will not
blindly follow Shaka on a death march - unless you all believe that his
is the best way to fulfill our quest.  But be warned -- I see madness
in his eyes, and hear it in his words.  He has no regard for life, his
own or anyone else's.  He is not sane."

Benjamin nodded in agreement.  "I concur that an Invasion is not
likely to be called for, but we do not yet know what awaits us at the
Forge.  I think it is best not to decide now.  We will accompany Shaka
to the Forge, allowing him to guide us, and when we arrive, we can
assess what our Course of Action is.  If it be well guarded and
defended, and peopled by those who would not trade or use the Forge
for the betterment of all, perhaps War will be justified, even
inevitable.  This is not likely, but it boots nothing to tell Shaka we
are against it now, while we are yet uninformed, and thus lose our
only Guide who may know where the Forge is.  Wise Decisions are based
on Wisdom, Wisdom on Knowledge, and we are sorely lacking in Knowledge
of this Forge and those that hold it."

"If Shaka is able to take and hold this Forge," Shaw added, "and we
are not with him I doubt he would welcome our presence if we attempted
to join him, however if we are with him we may be able to influence
his actions some." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "And if
he does prove to be out of control then we will be in a position to do
something about him."

Charles turned toward the others and waited for their opinions.

Toyoda spoke for the Japanese village. "We will come with you in
search of iron," he said, "if you will agree to pay us in ore for the
ore we work for you."

Shaka mustered what patience he could to wait while Charles and his
group conferred.

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Louis nodded at the priestess.  "Yes, madam, perhaps I do take offense
quickly.  I have a well developed sense of propriety.  I have only
been fair...but, I might be belaboring the point.  We are, of course,
from very...different cultures."

Louis beamed a genuine smile.  "I would be honored to learn of your
people.  In song, no less.  How...quaint.  Tomorrow night, then.  A
bid you good morning, fair lady."

Louis walked outside, and returned to his duties in the camp. The Zulu
expected him to train with them, and with luck and skill he managed to
hold his own against one of the more powerful of the Zulu
warriors. The stalemated warrior grimaced, but joined the others
around the noon grailstone meal in congratulating Louis on his
prowess with approving nods.

After lunch, he found himself again with Moz, learning the Zulu tongue.
When their lesson concluded, Moz turned to Louis quizzically, and
pointed toward the huts of the Celts. 

"Louis sit with other-white-people," he noted. "What was talked
about?"