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"A natural-born damned fool," he said, nodding agreement.
"Well, if you're going to be inspecting this afternoon, come inspect my Girl Scout troop. They're doing good work-"
"They are at that."
"-and they deserve to get a word for it."
He nodded, relaxing a little. "I think I'll do that, Martha."
"They're also making a picnic lunch of the edible greens," she said. "You're welcome to share it."
He smiled. "Bribery?" Fresh vegetables were already ru
"Consider it research."
They stood on the dock, acknowledging the greetings of the crews of the fishing boats; the first loads would be coming in soon, to add to the malodorous vats of fish offal that stood waiting to be dragged out to the fields.
"Be seeing you, then," Jared said, hitching at his belt and settling his shoulders like a man contemplating a hard day's work.
She stood for a moment more, looking eastward. History and archaeology were her hobby; one thing that had always impressed her was how thin the record of the past was, a thing assembled out of rubbish and broken pots and the chance survival of a few words. Whatever they found east over the sea, it would be surprising.
Martha smiled to herself. Life had ceased to be dull, at any rate. On the other hand, there was that old Chinese saying…
"Interesting times," she murmured to herself, drawing the jacket closer around herself against the chill spring morning. "Extremely interesting."
CHAPTER FOUR
March, Year 1 A.E.
Daurthu
The two great ships drawn up on the shore were another sign that his luck was good once more, his luck and the luck of his clan and tribe; he'd bargained for weeks to gain the help of the southron traders, offering goods and trading rights. Without them it would have taken a long time to get the whole of his people across the waters to the White Island, if it could have been done at all. As it was, most of the folk and their goods had come in canoes and rafts and coracles of ta
Their leader came toward him, a slight dark man in a tunic of fine Southland linen stained by the sea, with a cloak over his shoulder held by a golden brooch. A short bronze sword hung from his studded belt, and a knife; the men who followed him carried shield and spear, or bows. The traders traded where the local folk were strong, but they were ready enough to raid if the pickings looked good. The chariot chieftain had seen their men fight; they were well armed and well ordered, and their ships were wonders-sixty feet long, with a score of oars on either side and a square sail. Daurthu
"Diawas Pithair give you strength," he said politely, invoking the Sky Father who was the overgod of the Iraiina. "And the Horned Man ward the Night Ones from the paths of your dreams."
Isketerol of Tartessos inclined his head. "And the Lady of the Horses be gracious to you, chieftain, and make your herds fertile," he said with equal courtesy.
He spoke the tongue of the Iraiina people well, but with an accent and choice of words unlike anything Daurthu
"We have fulfilled our oath," the merchant went on. "All your people are here, safe and hale."
Daurthu
The Tartessian stepped up into the car; the wicker floor gave slightly under his weight, but the framework of light wood beneath was strong, and a chariot could hold three at a pinch. The driver chucked his tongue and leaned forward, and the shaggy ponies broke into a walk, then a trot. Daurthu
His driver drew rein before a rough pen of woven saplings. Inside were a score of captives; Earth Folk, natives of the island, taken prisoner in the month since the vanguard came ashore. Some of them bore wounds, but the invaders hadn't bothered to gather in any of the severely injured. Guards lifted their spears and cried Daurthu
"Good strong ones," he said to his ally. "The women are comely-I've had a few myself. They and the men will work hard if they're beaten well, and the children can be raised to any useful task. We've taken gold and copper, as well; hides, furs, grain. Your ships will not go empty from our new land."
Isketerol nodded, appraising the captives carefully through the bruises and dirt that were their only clothing. "The mines at home can always use more hands," he said.
Daurthu