Riverworld, Day 69, Evening

			      *  *  *  *

In response to Charles' inquiry about military knowledge, Louis spoke
up. "In my time I was both a politician and a soldier," Louis
offered. "I commanded the Second Unit of the French Militia at
Bl'rancourt and routed the Austrians at Fleurus.  And now look at
me...a man with but one arm."  Louis sighed and looked down at the
remaining stump.  "Such as it is," he said, firming himself up, "I am
re-training myself to use my off hand."

Cixi immediately stepped up, "What we need is leaders and structures
in an army.  One studied in a skill is best suited to lead.  I have
only heard of one, Shaw and propose he lead.  But since he go
diplomat, I can humbly try to fill his shoes while gone. I am not as
good as he, but have run armies before.  Army will bring order to
barbarians.  When the house is in order all is well."  Cixi takes in a
deep breath and seats herself down on the edge of her seat.  She
watches all others carefully for their reactions.

"That would be for the best I think, I do have experience in leading
armies, but I'm sure you have much more in bringing order to
barbarians." Shaw says with a smile.  "Remember though," he added
quietly to Cixi, "the barbarians here do outnumber us by quite a lot,
and are much more experienced at this type of warfare than either of
us. I would suggest not trying to bring them to much order at once."

Jeanne looked at Cixi with new respect and interest, after this. Her
gaze was clearly reassessing the woman. She waits to see if others
reply to the question posed, not wanting to interrupt anyone with her
answer.  "I, too, led an army in my previous life. Give me a sword,
and I will do so again. We drove the English from Orleans and restored
the throne to the Dauphin."

Matoaka looked at Shaw and curled her upper lip, her nostrils flaring
and her eyes growing shiny.  She turned to direct her gaze at Cixi and
Jeanne and spoke passionately, "You speak of sword, order, of spilling
blood, but I do not see someone to march on.  I understand being ready
to defend ourselves, but you almost sound like tyrants.  Maybe they
are barbarians, but they seem peaceful and mind their own business.
We are getting carried away.  What is it, greed for more land to
command, more _Christians_ to fill your church with, power, or is it
just blood you want?"

Benjamin demurred. "I left such Matters to others in my prior Life and
I would be loath to break that Tradition now. Robbie suggested we
build a water-wheel, and I am eager to begin. Is anyone here familiar
with the Design of mills?"

No one had more expertise than Benjamin. At the mention of the
water-wheel, however, Charles became visibly excited.  "Benjamin, If
you would and can spare the time, I'd like you to accompany Shaw to
Ford's 'New Detroit'.  Together you can present a united front and a
plan to help unite all the resources here.  Though I consider a group
of guards for defense, necessary, I think this is no time for war
mongering or hoarding of resources.  You and I both know that small
groups fester -- we need to enlarge this group, to include diverse
villages, if we are to achieve civilization again.  Hold off on the
building of the wheel, for one more day, and travel to Ford's village.
See what they are willing to offer / trade for iron, and what ideas
they have..... If you can, speak with Toyoda-san before going - see if
you can understand what drives these two camps apart so that we might
remove this impediment from our great mission of civilization. I look
forward to your reports."

Benjamin agreed. "I had planned to go there first thing on the morrow,
Charles, to ask them about the Wheel.  I will not be ready to begin
constructing it for some time to come, so no delay is needed.  But I
think it's premature to try to establish a larger Union or Agreement
with them or with Toyoda-san.  It would be better for us to use this
Wheel as a chance to discover how they do business.  This will create
a trading Relationship, one with some History, on which we can build a
future Agreement.  Without it, we would just be guessing, and an
Agreement founded on Ignorance is not likely to serve our needs the
best it could."

Cixi listened to talk of the water-wheel with little outward interest
showing. but frowned when Benjamin and Charles discussed seeking
assistance from the other communities. At a questioning look from
Matoaka, she spoke up.  "I know of some of those type.  They are not
to be trusted."  She spats off to the side before drawing her mouth
downward to say, "They are lower than a dog sleeping in its own feces
and smell worse than an old woman's foot wraps."

"What do you mean?" Matoaka asked.

Cixi sighed as she looked downwards, her shoulders sagging to steal
from her the air of defiance and strength.  She looked sidelong at
Matoaka, "You.  I know of your people.  They belonged to the land as
mine did."  Cixi licked her lips lightly before continuing, "When I
was but a child, stories lived of monsters that rose up from the sea.
They rob children from their beds and break grandmother's hearts."

A rigidity returned to Cixi's stance as she continued, "In my time, a
demon arose from the east.  It stomped on my people.  Killing all
that it contacted.  It raped our woman.  It used our people as shields
against their brothers.  It joined with a white devil and thought only
of ruling the world."

She paused, letting the words sink in, "This demon went under the
banner of a red sun and called themselves descendants of the gods.
This demon was called Japanese."  With a large inhalation, Cixi
concluded her story.  A weight seemed to almost lift from her
shoulders.  She said no more, pretending instead to prepare to leave
the gathering.

Startled by what she just heard, Matoaka called out to Cixi, "Your
story...  My people had similar story... much pain...  You say white
devil, what you mean by that?"

Cixi paused for a moment.  She said quietly to Matoaka, "Our devils
are the same."  A twang of sadness laced with anger seemed to enter
into her voice. She shook her head gently from side to side.

Cixi's eyes were dull and withdrawn.  Matoaka said, hopefully,
"Perhaps, you care to continue later."

Charles did not seem to know what to make of Cixi's reaction. After a
moment's hesitation, he continued, turning to look at Shaw.  "I would
like you to work on assembling a defense guard, when you return from
Ford's group... It would be best if Ford agrees to join us in normal
trade, but if this breaks down, it would be very advantageous to know
his strengths.  I think you are the best person to judge these things.
I do not wish to wage war. I prefer peace.  but we must be prepared
for these eventualities..."

His next words were addressed to Jeanne.  "I would like to begin
holding daily services in your most holy Chapel.  Perhaps a short
service in the morning and a more formal service at dusk ?  Have you
been met with any other Christians here, who would partake of such
service?  While he have no shriven priest, and deeply mourn the
passing of Father Gregory, That should not stop our worship.  Will you
ask anyone who is interested to join us?  I will lead the service as
best I am able."

"I did not build the chapel simply for my own peace of mind, Charles,"
Jeanne replied.  "Naturally I am willing to hold more formal
services. Since we have no priest we cannot consecrate any hosts. We
might do better to follow the way of the monks."  She counted off, on
seven fingers.  "Vigils, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and
Compline.  Though I hardly think it necessary that we begin as
rigorously as they. Perhaps the dawn service -- Lauds -- would be a
good way for us to begin our days. No doubt you know appropriate
psalms and prayers, though it is a pity we have no scripture to read
from.  Vespers would be the appropriate evening service. I will begin
inviting people to join us."

Charles nodded, approvingly, and turned to Ehrich.  "Would you work
with Diana, and perhaps Culwyn, and any of the Japanese with Toyoda-san
to assess what skills we have in this village?  We have a need for
carpenters of a sort, for constructing huts, buildings and possible
some fortifications.  Are there any metalworkers, or former Mine
workers here?"

"Aye," said Robbie. "I've some smithing experience, as ye ken."

Dinner complete, the gathering broke up into smaller groups for the
rest of the evening.

Louis asked Jeanne if she would care to continue their lesson. She
assented eagerly. He used the time to practice writing in the
sand/dirt with his left hand, as well as instructing Jeanne in both
printing and script.  "You are very patient with me, Louis," Jeanne
said. "I know I am not the smartest pupil.  You are very kind."

Benjamin walked along the river to try to select a spot for the water-wheel.
He asked Matoaka to accompany him, and she agreed.

He soon found a suitable spot, where the edge of the land up against
the River was steep and rocky, a few feet above the water.  He had
hoped to find a narrower section of the River, where the water might
flow more quickly, but no such section was within a mile of the
village's Grailstone.

Along the way, Matoaka pointed to the surrounding vegetation, the
river, and other things they encountered, naming them in her language.
The pronunciation was difficult for Benjamin; Matoaka had him repeat
words over and over. Fortunately, Benjamin was an experienced student
of language and quite patient.

As she taught him, he began to name the words in English for her.
He soon discovered that she needed little help with most words.
She picked up on her errors very quickly, even too quickly, once
pointed out. 


			      *  *  *  *

Matoaka awoke early, as was her wont, and slipped silently out to the
River for her morning ablutions. Her fishing was rewarded immediately
with a half-dozen good-sized fish, which she brought back to the
entrance of her hut.

Using a sharp stone, she skinned the fish and started scraping the
hide to smooth it. When she finished, she hung the hide to dry.

Robbie happened by, and introduced himself more formally.  "Hallo
lass, I am Robert Burns of Scotland. I lived in the late 1700s and so
I have read a great deal about your people but never had th' pleasure
of meeting one."

He extended his hand.  Matoaka looked at it, and at him, and then held
out her own hand. In response to his brisk handshake, Matoaka shook
her arm like the branch of a tree on a windy day. Robbie smiled. The
idea of kissing her hand had crossed his mind, but the fish guts
seemed to dissuade him.

"I Matoaka.  Scotland.  I heard of it, but not met anyone from it. You
speak odd English."  She smiles as if she suddenly understood
something.  "You not English."  She trails off. 

"You're damn right I'm na' English!" Robbie agreed, emphasizing his
burr.

Matoaka raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice, "You not like
English?" Without waiting, she continued, "You read about my people?
What you know?"  She stares at him, surprised.

"I dinna Kenn much, just when the whites Came to America, you lot were
there first. But I would care to learn more..."

"What Kenn?" Matoaka asked. At his explanation of the word, she nodded
and inquired, "What you want to know about my people?"

"I was hoping you would know how I could make some dye, colors, for my
kilt." He indicated the towel about his waist, and described the
blue, green, and black plaid of Clan Campbell, to which Clan Burns was
a sept.

"They mean something?" Matoaka asked. While Burns spoke a bit about
his family's history, Matoaka showed him where he could find the
herbs, roots, bark, and berries that could achieve the colors he
sought. He thanked her profusely and returned to his hut to stain his
towel.

Matoaka returned to the center of the village, where she found
Benjamin preparing to swim to New Detroit to speak with Ford.  She
asked his intentions.  "Where you going?" 

She asked Benjamin to wait, and she disappeared down the River. She
returned in a canoe, paddling upRiver. She found that Shaw had joined
Benjamin on the Riverbank. When she learned that Shaw hoped to come
with them, she assented, offering him the middle position on the
canoe, and taking the rear. Benjamin gingerly boarded the front of the
canoe, taking the last remaining space and the other oar. He praised
the sturdy little boat, and asked Matoaka if she had built the canoe
or found it.

"I made canoe, er.., the canoe," Matoaka explained. "Friend help me."
Matoaka's face contorts, "He dead."  She lowered her head, and they set
out for New Detroit.

After a few minutes, Matoaka asked, "Who Ford and Toyoda-san?"

Benjamin, never reluctant to talk to Matoaka, gladly told her the
story of the group's prior visit to New Detroit, the village run by
Henry Ford and dedicated to the manufacture of wheeled transport
vehicles using the limited technology available on the River; and
about the city run by Toyoda-san across the River, inhabited by Asians
bent on the same task; and about the curious rivalry between the two
cities.

"Are Toyoda-san people like the one here you call Japanese?" Matoaka
inquired.

Shaw laughs at hearing this, "Yes, they are quite a lot like the ones we
call Japanese, in fact they are them." He popped a cube of dreamgum
into his mouth, and promptly fell fast asleep.

Matoaka glanced at Shaw's sleeping form and cast a worried look at
Benjamin.  "I worried about Shaw's words during seance, maybe not wise
to harness river."  She quotes, "...the river and the reins..." and
looks at Benjamin expectantly.

"Hmmmmmmmmm... that is one of many Possibilities, but I don't think we
can allow this Trance to stop our Enterprises, even if it was a true
Seeing and not a Prank or Hoax.  The Words were so broad that many
things we might seek to do could be construed as having been warned
against, and we would be trapped by our own Fears doing nothing."

Shaw awoke as they approached New Detroit, and were hailed by Ford and
the Detroiters. They beached the canoe, which Matoaka would not let
out of her sight.

"Well, it isn't Ben Franklin, Tom Shaw, and, well, a modern
Sacajawea," Ford bellowed. "Good to see ya again! Did you find the
metal you were looking for?"

Benjamin smiled and nodded, and spoke about their plans to build a
water-wheel, asking if any of Ford's people had experience with such
equipment. He offered use of part of the wheel's energy in exchange
for help building it.

"Sure, sure," Ford agreed, "we can build something like that. It's a
damn good idea, too, especially if you can make metal gears. I'll have
my Model-R Ford yet!" He smiled and winked, and spoke more loudly, his
voice carrying to the New Detroiters. "And with any luck, long before
Toyota gets even close. We Amer.., er," he looked at Shaw and Matoaka,
"...Westerners can't let them Japanese get ahead of us, can we?"


			      *  *  *  *

After Benjamin, Shaw, and Matoaka had left, Jeanne and Charles held
their first Lauds in Jeanne's chapel. None of the Celts or Japanese
chose to attend, and Diane gave the two a funny look but said
nothing. Louis joined in, at Jeanne's request, however. After the
prayers, Jeanne mentioned the seance litany to Charles. "Maybe it
represents the people in our group?" she suggested.

"Veins -- perhaps a physic among us?

"Planes -- a carpenter?

"The tree -- didn't Diana say all trees were special to her people?

"The river -- aside from the obvious River, who do we associate with
the river? Shaw taught us to build boats.

"I am not sure who the reins are, or the others. But it is a start."

Charles nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps," he said. He waved to the other
lazari as they approached. "A new and beautiful day, by the grace of
God. Hopefully, Benjamin will secure the cooperation of Ford..."

He was interrupted by the approach of Toyoda, who addressed the group
diffidently. "Apology for overhearing, but to invite Ford may not be
wise. His people do not like ours, and your people and ours have
already made a compact, if his people join you, they will be forced to
live and work alongside us."

			      *  *  *  *