edhervoidefense."Nobodyquestionstherules...oryourleadership."

    tinuingtomakehismap,Smaolachspokesosoftlyastoalmostnotbeheardatall."Iammerelyshowingmyfriendshereournewposition,asIestimateitfromthetimetraveledandbycalculatiarsinthesky.Youhaveearherighttobeourleader,andtotelluswheretogo."

    Withagrunt,BékatookOnionsbythehandanddisappearedintothebrush.Smaolach,Luchóg,Speck,Chavisory,andIhuddledaroundthemapastheothersdispersed.Idonotremembereverseeingamapbefore.Curiousastohowitworkedandwhatallofthesymbolsrepresented,Ileanedforwardandexamihedrawing,dedugatothewavylioodforwaterways—theriverandthecreek—butwhattomakeoftheperfectlystraightlicrossedtheriver,thebunchesofboxesarrangedinagrid,andthejaggededgebetweenonelargeovalandanXinthesand?

    "ThewayIseeit"—Smaolachpoiherightsideofthemap—"thereiswhatsknownandwhatsunknown.Totheeastisthecity.AndIlyguessthatthesmelloftheairmeayisheadingourway.Eastisout.Thequestionis:Dowecrosstherivertothesouth?Ifso,wecutourselvesofffromthetown."Hepoihthesticktothesetofsquares.

    "Ifwegosouth,wewouldhavetocrosstheriveragainandagainforsuppliesandclothesandshoes.Theriverisadangerousplace."

    "Tellthat,"Chavisorysaid,"toOscarLove."

    Luchógofferedaive."Butwedontknowthataownmightbesomewhereovertheotherside.Noonehaseverlooked.Isaywescoutforaplatheothersideoftheriver."

    "Weobehewater,"Ivolunteered,andputmyfihewavylines.

    "Butno