Riverworld, Day 46, Evening * * * * Benjamin watched the others planning war, and moved aside, finding someplace to sit, suddenly weary. He muttered to himself. "Even here... even here. I was wrong. Death is not certain; where is its Sting? The only certain things are War and Taxes." He shook his head. "I hope Charles and Jeanne are right." Some of the group suggested leaving immediately, and Shaka agreed, anxious to get underway, but Toyoda-san demurred. "Give us two hours, and they will pose no problem for us." The others, too tired to ask what he meant, followed his instructions. Most chose to stay as guests in the villagers' huts, although Shaw and Josephine retired to the boat for their nap. Benjamin and Charles, assigned to a hut together, spoke briefly before they slept. "Shaka is set on an Invasion," Benjamin noted, "convinced that this Pala will not speak to us. Even if he is truthful, Pala may be more reasonable than Shaka is. Will you send a diplomatic Contingent ahead first? I have some small experience as a Diplomat; I would be deeply honored to act as your Ambassador, or to lead a Delegation, or simply to be part of one, as you choose. Perhaps this Delegation should be prepared and sent ahead to attempt to establish Relations before you and Shaka bring an army to their Door? I can be ready to leave immediately, or whenever you wish." Charles thought for a time. "It would be prudent. But you would have to leave now, tonight." "I am prepared to do that. I will see if Shaw and Josephine will take me on the boat." Benjamin replied, and at a final nod from the once-monarch, he slipped from the hut. Shaw and Josephine boarded the boat and headed for the cabin, each keeping their own counsel. With Josephine's back momentarily to him, Shaw found an opportunity to slip a cube of dreamgum from the folds of his towel and hold it in his mouth while he lay on his bunk. He sank into a slumber alternately restful and vaguely anxious. When Josephine finally spoke, she discovered that Shaw was asleep on his bunk, and obviously dreaming. With a sigh, she prepared her own bed, and then was startled by the approach of footsteps. Benjamin came down the steps into the cabin of the boat, his finger over his lips. He looked a bit surprised to see Shaw already asleep, but found Josephine awake, watching him alertly. "Charles had sent me on to serve as an Ambassador to Pala. I do not see why we should not attempt a diplomatic Advance before a military one, whatever Shaka may think. I thought that you and Shaw and I would make a strong Embassy; with the boat, we could arrive before morning, before the others set out." Josephine nodded thoughtfully. "All right," she said. "Help me wake him, and we'll set off. You stay hidden down here - it won't look strange for Shaw and I to seek some privacy on the waters." She shrugged and added with an ironic inflection, "Though as you can see, he hadn't planned on much for tonight." It seemed a very long time before Shaw came awake under the urgings and shaking of Josephine and Benjamin. His eyes glassy, he finally startled and awoke, scanning the room for danger. Josephine explained Benjamin's plan for the three of them to serve as an advance diplomatic and reconnaissance force, and, yawning, Shaw stood up and came on deck to help Josephine unmoor the boat. Quietly, they sailed downRiver until they were out of site of the Japanese village, and Benjamin could safely join them above. The trip was short, and uneventful. About 7 Stones downRiver, they saw the watchlights of an armed encampment, and made for them. They were greeted by a mixed group of guards: three Zulu men, and two men and a woman with pale skin that had been crudely tatooed. Shaw and Josephine remained on the boat, while Benjamin disembarked and came to meet the guards, his hands held open and apart. None seemed to speak English, Benjamin noted; indeed, the Zulu and the Caucasians did not seem to share a common language and regarded one another with what might be suspicion or uncertainty. Each group discussed his presence with they own members for some time, while Benjamin stood silently. Then, looking across at the other, each seemed to jointly come to a decision. Gesturing with their spears, some of the guards led Benjamin toward the center of the encampment, while one Zulu man and the pale-skinned woman went to huts at either end, returning with two more Zulu men, and another white man and woman. And from another hut, a familiar face appeared. A commotion outside had caused Louis to stir from his sleep. He walked out of his hut just in time to see Moz and Pala, on one side, and Diana and the Celtic chief, on the other, coming together in the center of the village, lit by the torches of the Riverguards. They stood loosely around Benjamin, who was showing his open hands to those gathered. "Louis?" Benjamin asked. "Benjamin!" Louis cried, smiling. One of the Zulu newcomers, standing subserviently next to the other, asked Louis a question in the Zulu tongue. On his other side, the newly-arrived woman, arrayed carefully in towels and with a majestic bearing, echoed the query in English, "You know this man?" * * * * Two hours later, much refreshed, the Japanese villagers called together the others under the clear dark sky of the Rivervalley. "We can set out now," Toyoda explained. "And we can help you." He waved one hand, and the other villagers wheeled forward a large bamboo contraption. They had attached four pedal-carts to a central platform, and atop the platform was a sight that infected Charles and Jeanne with a nostalgic enthusiasm. The original catapult, traditionally ascribed to Dionysius of Syracuse, used tension to drive a javelin forward with great power, much like a large crossbow. That design had to be modified somewhat for the Rivervalley, where horn and gut were not prevalent. The Japanese, however, have historically made bows from bamboo, a material well-suited for bending and tension, and Toyoda and the others had combined the features of both designs. Two horizontal bamboo "bows" with vertical bracing between them comprised most of the weapon; threads from the almost but not quite indestructible towels formed the strings, and perhaps two dozen sharpened bamboo shoots lay on the platform to use as projectiles. Four of the strongest villagers took their seats on the pedal carts, and Toyoda invited Shaka and Charles to join him on the platform. As the catapult began to roll southward along the grassy plain, the other lazari, and the Japanese men and women were forced to jog alongside it to keep up. All but Shaka noticed that Shaw, Josephine, and Benjamin were not present; the boat was no longer docked at the village. Some looked questioningly toward Charles, but he shook his head to discourage a public inquiry. After traveling south for five Stones, the carts slowed to a halt, and Toyoda turned to Shaka. "From your words, they are at the next stone. How should we proceed?"