ed up from contented
munching on a _krenoj_, obviously not listening to the argument. "Tell
me, what is your opinion? We are coming soon to a place where Snarbi
has friends, or people who will help him. What do you think he will
do?"

"Say hello to the people he knows? Maybe they will give him a
_krenoj_." She smiled in satisfaction at her answer and took another
bite.

"That's not quite what I had in mind," Jason said patiently. "What if
we three are with him when we come to the people, and the people see
us and the _caroj_...."

She sat up, alarmed. "We can't go with him! If he has people there
they will fight us, make us slaves, take the _caroj_. You must kill
Snarbi at once."

"Bloodthirsty heathen...." Mikah began in his best denunciatory voice,
but quit when he saw Jason pick up a heavy hammer.

"Do you understand yet?" Jason asked. "By tying up Snarbi I'm only
conforming to a local code of ethic, like saluting in the army or not
eating with your fingers in polite society. In fact I'm being a little
slipshod, since by local custom I should kill him before he can make
us trouble."

"It cannot be, I cannot believe it. You cannot judge and condemn a man
upon such flimsy evidence."

"I'm not condemning him," Jason said with growing irritation, "Just
making sure that he can't cause me any trouble. You don't have to
agree with me to help me, just don't get in my way. And split the
guard with me tonight. Whatever I do in the morning will be on my
shoulders and no concern of yours."

"He is returning," Ijale hissed, and a moment later Snarbi came up
through the high grass.

"Got a _cervo_," he announced proudly, and dropped the animal down
before them. "Cut him up, makes good chops and roast. We eat tonight."

He was completely innocent and without guile and the only thing guilty
about him was his shifty gaze which could be blamed completely on his
crossed eyes. Jason wondered for a second if his assessment of the
danger was correct, then remembered where he was and lost his doubts.
Snarbi would be committing no crime if he tried to kill or enslave
them, just doing what any ordinary, decent slave-holding barbarian
would do in his place. Jason searched through his tool box for some
rivets that could be used to fasten the leg irons on the man.

They had a filling dinner and the others turned in at dusk and were
quickly asleep. Jason, tired from the labors of the trip and heavy
with food, forced himself to re