Write to me with ideas. :)

  Cixi, your move didn't give enough info about what exactly you'd
  say to Toyoda, so you get to do that in this move!

  A reminder: I'll be moving to Chicago on August 17, so expect
  a hiatus in the game. The August 11 Turn will be the last before
  the move, and I'd appreciate if you *don't* send moves after that
  Turn until I let you know (to avoid bounces while my workstation
  is in transit. Thanks!
]

Riverworld, Day 72, Evening

			      *  *  *  *

After Matoaka's departure, Benjamin returned to his immediate goal:
finding food sources that could make him free of the grails.  He
roamed east slowly, until he reached the towering cliffs that bordered
the valley, identifying a few shriveled fruits of a pulpy texture and
some other edible roots. It was clear that the for good nutrition, he
would have to supplement the produce with fish. He angled south,
resolving to skip meals until he could subsist on his own.

			      *  *  *  *

When Shaw joined her, he found her looking at a towel on the
ground. "It's Louis's," he said, recognizing the pattern.

Naked yet shameless, Matoaka reached for her towel and fastened it;
she picked up Shaw's, gave it to him looking at his body still
glistening with sweat, and smiled lightly.  Was this a joke or what?
Once more she had fallen pray to a British, but she did not seem to
mind this time. What were the consequences?

Shaw, still holding his towel in one hand took a few steps out into
the woods looking around for any sign of anyone, returning a few
seconds later, "Well, it looks like he has gone, and there isn't any
sign of anyone else around." Then, noticing he was still naked he
casually wrapped his towel on.  "Well, if there was a vision I didn't
notice it."

Matoaka's nose curled up at her own words.  "Perhaps the act in itself
was the vision, so to speak.  You see, it is rather ironic it should
have happened with you rather than anyone else considering my earthly
life.  I was kidnapped by a British and forced to do his every wish
including marrying him and following him all the way to the court of
England.  I was some sort of a trophy, flaunted at his court."
Matoaka repressed a smile.  "I am not implying by any means that you
forced me.  Do you have something in your life that you could
associate with this occurrence? Almost loosing her patience.  "Do you
make anything at all out of it?"

Shaw smiled and laughed quietly to him self, "Well, I am glad you
don't think I forced you. What is it about this world that.."
Shaw let his voice trail off as he shook his head, still smiling. "To
be honest I'm not quite sure what to make of this, maybe we should
experiment more."

Matoaka matched Shaw's smile and replied, "Perhaps we should."  As if
having a second thought, she looked at him sideways, her chin raised
forcing her to lower her eyes.  "By the way, when were you alive?  I
mean on Earth."

"1888 to 1935, you?"

Matoaka seemed somewhat relieved by his answer, "Ohhhh, me, 1596-1617.
I was too young to die.  It happened when I was traveling back to my
native land."  Deep sadness veiled her eyes for a moment.

"To young to die" Shaw said with a sigh, "Weren't we all?"

Forgetting about Louis for the moment, Shaw secured his towel, "Was or
was there not a God behind us making love?  If there was, they have a
great sense of humor, rather disturbing, I shall say.  It would just
confirm how they think of us: pawns."  

Thoughtfully, Matoaka added almost imperceptibly, "Truthfully the
burning desire was there to begin with."  Resuming a normal tone of
voice, "This makes it all the more interesting and me all the more
curious, wouldn't you say?"  Instinctively she said, "We should move
from here, others might come."

"Yes, let's go, but leave the towel as we found it. Let's not let on
that we know he was here."

Nodding, Matoaka dropped the towel where she found it.  "At least, I
can rejoice at the fact that he will have to explain his being half
naked if anyone sees him."  She softly laughed.

"Still, it would be interesting to see what would happen if we handed
him back the towel, in public, asking him if he knew he had lost it"
Shaw said with a grin.

Matoaka raised her eyes to look at Shaw.  "Either way, it all depends
whether or not we wish for him to know that we know he was here.  The
other thing we could do is just wait for him to come back and get it
later on.  We can question him at that time.  However, is he coming
back?"  Matoaka shrugged, then deviously, "Let us embarrass him in
public."  Matoaka motioned to pick up the towel once more and put it
in her bag.

"I wonder how long that weasel had been here listening and watching.
What will he do with whatever information he has gathered from us?"
Matoaka's expression gave away a hint of hatred.  "What do you know of
him and what do you suggest we do about him?  Can he be trusted?  But
if he could then why was he hiding in the bushes?  That coward."

"Well, I know of him more than I know him, if you understand my
meaning.  I would say he could be very loyal to a cause, if not the
people in the cause. If we know what his cause was we could know what
he was up to. Let's wait and see what he does. I played my hand
too early with Freud, I won't make that mistake again."

Matoaka nodded. "Anyhow, if Louis becomes a hindrance, I have ways to
deal with his kind."

Shaw nodded silently.

She could not help but lightly smile again.  "Freud.  I mentioned I
would bring up the subject before our, hrmm, little escapade."  This
time, she walked around the few bushes, beating them with a branch she
had just picked up to make sure nobody was eavesdropping on them.

Once more serious, she stood close to Shaw and whispered, "I would
like to set up a watch on him around the clock.  It is an impossible
task by myself, but in two we could actually achieve it.  We may be
able to gather some evidence of his... "  She searched for words,
"...duality, I suppose.  Would you help me?"

"Yes, we must be sure that he doesn't know we are watching. You
mentioned Benjamin earlier. Do you think he would be willing to help
us?"

"No, I do not believe he would.  He has made up his mind that the
world is a better place if you are alone.  He believes that this way,
whoever is manipulating this world and what is in it will not be able
to achieve its design."  After a moment of reflection, "Perhaps, that
_is_ their design.  I must say that we are trapped no matter what we
endeavor to do."  She sighed, "However, if you wish, I can guide you
to him.  Otherwise, we should get back to the village and eat with the
others this evening.  It would be the perfect opportunity to confront
Louis."

"No, I don't think we need to find him, I doubt he will stay away for
long, he's to much of a doer. I think he will find things rather dull
after a few days alone in the forest."

They hiked back toward the village together.

			      *  *  *  *

When Cixi returned from the forest, she headed straight for Toyoda's
hut. Her hair was slightly bedraggled, her skin damp. She rapped on
the doorway with her knuckles and waited to be let in. Toyoda opened
the door and ushered her inside.

"How can I help you?" Toyoda asked. Outside they heard the sound of
the grailstone firing, but Toyoda made no move to retrieve his grail.

			      *  *  *  *

Robbie looked at Freud. He pointed to his whiskey as he spoke. "I do
not think this clouds one's mind. At least not mine. But I do agree
with your vision of what may happen if this 'Dream-Gum' becomes part
of normal life, we all remember those first few days after we were
resurrected when all the world, rather, all this world went mad on the
stuff."

Freud stroked a phantom goatee, then nodded in agreement.  "Yes,
alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation, but as with opium and cocaine,
it is all or nothing quite often."  Freud looked the man over.
"Perhaps it is wise for you to dispose of your dream gum, and not hand
it over to those who desire it.  As will I."

Matoaka, emerging from the wilderness, caught Freud's words and gave
the two men a reproving glance.

All but Cixi and Louis gathered for the evening's repast from the
grailstone. They found their grails filled with a savory lamb stew,
flat bread, and rice. Beer and whiskey rounded out the meal, along
with the inevitable tobacco, marijuana, and cube of dreamgum.

Matoaka sat next to Shaw, cut her meat in small pieces, one by one, and
ate them slowly.  After swallowing her last morsel and washing it down
with some water, she looked at Shaw, who was also eating slowly, his
eyes moving around the group. She whispered to him.

"Where could that weasel be?"

Then, her eyes shifted to the others, and she inquired, "Has anyone
see Louis?"

The group looked around and at one another. Shaw shrugged. "Not since
earlier today," offered Josephine, with a look at Shaw.