Riverworld, Day 47, Morning

As dawn neared, Ehrich moved to help with the wounded and to carry the
dead into the woods away from the clearing.  "They'll be vanished in
the morning, and resurrected somewhere else," he said. "But we needn't
view the gruesome sight until then." Josephine shuddered.

After allowing himself a handful of seconds to stand in shock,
Benjamin also swiftly moved to try to help the wounded, heedless of
the possibility of continued war between the Celts and Japanese, As he
moved across the battlefield, his body trembled delicately but
palpably.

Louis glowered at Shaka and pointed to Moz's body.  "Know your enemy.
He was a friend."

Shaw took his eyes off Shaka for a moment and glanced over at
Louis. He nodded and softly added, "And I think these Celts are
not. Watch yourself around them."

Shaka grimaced and seemed about to offer a sharp retort, when Charles,
who had been walking about the battlefield, spoke to him in a calm
voice.  "Shaka, this is not what was planned, nor what you envisioned.
Things are now changed.... What does your lion god tell you now?"

When Shaka did not respond, Charles spoke to the Celtic priestess.
"Priestess, I am Charles of Aachen.  We did not come to bring death
and war.  We came to share the metal resource offered by this spot.
As I said before, we were led here by visions in our dreams.  Since
our dreams are not our own, in a way, we have been led here.

"These people to the north of here," he indicated Toyoda's
villagers, "have begun some efforts at bringing civilization to our
new home here.  They would be most grateful for metal to work.  I have
seen mines for metal before and the work is difficult and requires
many hands.  I offer to you a solution: The land is yours, you stake
first claim to it, as is your right.  You will need help to defend it,
as you have just seen, and you will need help to work the metal from
the land.  Negotiate with these people, and you will build a great
industry here.  If you continue to refuse all intrusion and
assistance, then someday you will be taken by a greater force and you
will lose this all.  If you broaden your base of power, now, you will
be stronger, faster, and can hold what is yours.  Think on this, and
see that this is the best solution."

Charles stepped back and waited patiently.

The priestess regarded Louis, who added his words to Charles's.  "You
were reborn here, along this accursed River, as were we.  You told me
'the ground opened and revealed the cold metal to you.  Then the Zulu
came.'  Diana, we are not the Zulu.  What now...?"

Finally, Josephine, a smile pasted on her face, regarded the
priestess. The woman turned from the men to look at Josephine, and
spoke directly to her, in accented English. "Are you priestess for
these people? Can you vouch their words?" Her voice was proud and
steady, and the Celts calmed down and relaxed their belligerence at
the Japanese, who seemed relieved by this turn of events.

Josephine, however, was most struck by the priestess's English. Though
its accents were unusual, it was definitely of the modern American
English at heart.