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“Oh, that one. You say it very nicely, Jo
“It’s my fault,” said Jo
“There's that whole great plain out there. Weeks of riding on it, I am sure. And they say man once lived in a big village out there.”
“Oh, no, Jo
“You've seen the shiny flashing things that sail overhead every few days.”
“Oh, those. The sun and moon sail overhead too. So do the stars. And even shooting stars.”
Chrissie was frightened suddenly. "Jo
“I am. With first light I am going to ride out and see if there really was a big village in the plains.”
Chrissie felt her heart contract. She looked up at his determined profile. It was as though she was sinking down, down into the earth, as though she lay in today's grave.
“Please, Jo
“No, you stay here.” He thought fast, something to deter her. “I may be gone for a whole year.”
Water got into her sight. “What will I do if you don't come back?”
"I'll come back.”
"Jo
"Jo
“You'd be killed out in the plains. The pigs, the wild cattle...”
“Jo
“You think I’d just wander off and never return?”
“That's what I will do, Jo
Chapter 5
The first dawn light was painting Highpeak rose. It was going to be a beautiful day.
Jo
Some wisps of smoke were coming from the breakfast fire of the Jimson family nearby. They were roasting a dog. Yesterday at the funeral feast nearly a score of dogs had gotten into an idiot fight. There had been plenty of bones and meat as well. But the pack had gotten into a fight and a big brindle had been killed. Looked like the Jimson family would have meat all day.
Jo
Brown Limper Staffor was also there, idling about in the background. He had a clubfoot and should have been killed at birth, but he was the only child the Staffors had ever had, and Staffor was parson after all. Maybe mayor, too, since there wasn't any now.
There was no affection whatever between Jo
Brown Limper stood crookedly, a faint blue bruise on his cheek, watching Jo
Jo
He gave a start. He hadn't realized Chrissie had come within a foot of him.
He hoped he wouldn't have to talk.
Blackmail, that's what it was– plain as possible and all bad. If she'd said she would kill herself if he didn't come back, well, one could have put that down to girl vaporings. But threatening to follow him in a year put another shadow on it entirely. It meant he would have to be cautious. He'd have to be careful not to get himself killed. It was one thing to worry about his own life; he didn't
care a snap for risk or danger. But the thought of Chrissie going down on the plains if he didn't come back made him snow-cold at the pit of his stomach. She'd be gored or mauled or eaten alive and every agonizing second of it would be Jo
She was holding something out to him. Two somethings. One was a large bone needle with a thong hole in it, and the other was a skin awl. Both were worn and polished and valuable.
“They were mama's,” said Chrissie. “I don't need anything.” “No, you have them.” “I won't need them!”
"If you lose your clothes,” she wailed, “how are you going to sew?”
The crowd had thickened. Jo
Chrissie stood more quietly. Jo
Jo
Jo
“Now look,” said Jo
She made a careful effort to control her voice. "If you don't come back in a year, I will. By all the gods on Highpeak, Jo
He looked at her. Then he beckoned to Windsplitter, who sidled over. With one smooth spring he mounted, the lead rope of the other horse gripped in his hand.
“You can have my other four horses,” said Jo
Chrissie hung on to his leg for a moment and then she stepped back and sagged.
Jo
At the entrance to the defile he looked back. About fifteen people were still standing there watching him go. They all looked dejected. He used a heel signal to make Windsplitter rear and waved his hand. They all waved back with sudden animation.
Then Jo
The rest of the people drifted off.
Chrissie still stood there, hoping with a wild crazy hope that he would ride into sight, returning.
Pattie tugged at her leg. “Chrissie. Chrissie, will he come back?”
Chrissie's voice was very low, her eyes like ashes in a dead fire. “Goodbye,” she whispered.