ahl； and I defeat him； I will e back； and 。 。 。〃 He pulled his finger across his throat in a quick gesture that needed no translation。
The Bird Man sat stone…faced； no quick retort at hand。 〃We wish only to be left alone； 〃 he said at last。
Richard shrugged； looking down at the ground。 〃I can understand that。 I too wished only to be left alone。〃 His eyes came up。 〃Darken Rahl killed my father； and sends evil spirits that haunt me in my father's guise。 He sends men to try to kill Kahlan。 He brings down the boundary； to invade my homeland。 His minions have struck down my two oldest friends。 They lie in a deep sleep； near death； but at least they will live 。 。 。 unless he is successful the next time。 Kahlan has told me of many he has killed。 Children； stories that would make your heart sick。〃 He nodded； his voice soft； hardly more than a whisper。 〃Yes； my friend； I too wished only to be left alone。 On the first day of winter； if Darken Rahl gains the magic he seeks； he will have a power no one can stand against。 Then it will be too late。〃 His hand went to his sword。 Kahlan's eyes widened。 〃If he were here； in my place； he would pull this sword and have your help or have your head。〃 He took his hand away。 〃That； my friend； is why I cannot harm you if you choose not to help me。〃
The Bird Man sat quiet and still for a while。 〃I can see now that I do not want Darken Rahl for an enemy。 Or you。 〃 He got up and went to the door； casting the hawk into the sky。 The Bird Man sat once more； sighing heavily with the weight of his thoughts。 〃Your words seem to flow true； but 1 cannot know for sure yet。 It would also seem that although you want us to help you； you also wish to help us。 I believe you are sincere in this。 It is a wise man who seeks help by helping； and not by threats or tricks。 〃
〃If I wanted to get your help by tricks； I would have。 let you believe me to be a spirit。〃
The corners of the Bird Man's mouth turned up in a small smile。 〃If we had held a gathering； we would have discovered you were not。 A wise man would suspect that too。 So which reason is it that made you tell the truth？ You did not want to trick us； or you were afraid to？〃
Richard smiled back。 〃In truth？ Both。〃
The Bird Man nodded。 〃Thank you for the truth。 〃
Richard sat quietly； took a deep breath； and let it out slowly。 〃So； Bird Man； I have told you my tale。 You must judge it true or not。 Time works against me。 Will you help？〃
〃It is not that simple。 My people look to me for direction。 If you asked for food； I could say ‘Give him food；' and they would do so。 But you have asked for a gathering。 That is different。 The council of seers are the six elders you spoke to； plus myself。 They are old men； firm in the ways of their past。 An outsider has never been given a gathering before； never been permitted to disturb the peace of our ancestors' 。spirits。 Soon these six will join the ancestors' spirits； and they do not want to think they will be called from the spirit world for an outsider's needs。 If they break the tradition； they will be forever burdened with the results。 I cannot order them to do this。 〃
〃It is not only an outsider's needs；〃 Kahlan said； telling them both her words。 〃Helping us also helps the Mud People。〃
〃Maybe in the end； 〃 the Bird Man said； 〃but not in the beginning。 〃 〃What if I were one of the Mud People？〃 Richard asked； his eyes narrowing。
〃Then they would call the gathering for you； and not violate the tradition。 〃
〃Could you make me one of the Mud People？〃
The Bird Man's silver…gray hair glistened in the firelight as he considered。 〃If you were to first do something that helped our people； something that benefited them； with no advantage to you； proved you were a man of good intentions toward us； doing so without promise of aid for your help； and the elders wished it； 1 could。 〃
〃And once you named me as one of the Mud People； I could ask for a gathering。 and they would call it？〃
〃If you were one of' us； they would know you had our interests in your heart。 They would call a council of seers to help you。 〃
〃And if they called the council； would they be able to tell me where the object I seek is located？〃
〃1 cannot answer that。 Sometimes the spirits will not answer our questions； sometimes they do not know the answers to our questions。 There is no guarantee that we could help you； even if we held a gathering。 All I could promise is that we would try our best。 〃
Richard looked down at the ground； thinking。 With his finger； he pushed some dirt into one of the puddles where the rain dripped。
〃Kahlan；〃 he asked quietly； 〃do you know of anyone else who would have the power to tell us where to look for the box？〃
Kahlan had been giving this consideration all day。 〃I do。 But of all the ones I know of； I do not know of any who would be any more eager to help us than the Mud People are。 Some would kill us just for asking。〃
〃Well； of the ones who wouldn't kill us just for asking； how far away are they？〃
〃Three weeks； at least； north； through very dangerous country controlled by Rahl。〃
〃Three weeks；〃 Richard said out loud with a heavy tone of disappointment。
〃But Richard； the Bird Man is able to promise us precious little。 If you could find a way to help them； if it pleases the elders； if they ask the Bird Man to name you one of the Mud People； if the council of seers can get an answer； if the spirits even know the answer 。 。 。 if； if； if。 Many opportunities for a wrong step。〃
〃Was it not you who told me I would have to win them over？〃 he asked with a smile。
〃It was。〃
〃So； what do you think？ Do you think we should stay and try to convince them to help； or we should go to find the answers elsewhere'？〃
She shook her head slowly。 〃I think you are the Seeker； and you will have to decide。〃
He smiled again。 〃You are my friend。 I could use your advice。〃
She hooked some hair behind her ear。 〃I don't know what advice to give； Richard； and my life； too； depends upon you making the right choice。 But as your friend； I have faith that you will decide wisely。〃
〃Will you hate me；〃 he grinned； 〃if I make the wrong choice'？〃
She looked into his gray eyes； eyes that could see into her； eyes that made her weak with longing。 〃Even if you choose wrong； and it costs me my life；〃 she whispered； swallowing back the lump in her throat； 〃I could never hate you。〃
He looked away from her； back down at the dirt awhile； then once again up to the Bird Man。 〃Do your people like having roofs that leak？〃
The Bird Man raised an eyebrow。 〃Would you like it if water dripped on your face when you were asleep？〃
Smiling； Richard shook his head。 〃Then why don't you make roofs that don't leak？〃
The Bird Man shrugged。 〃Because it cannot be done。 We have no materials at hand to use。 Clay bricks are too heavy and would fall down。 Wood is too scarce； it must be carried long distances。 Grass is all we have； and it leaks。 〃
Richard took one of the pottery bowls and turned it upside down under one of the drips。 〃You have clay from which you make pottery。〃
〃Our ovens are small； we could not make a pot that big； and besides； it would crack； then it too would leak。 It cannot be done。 〃
〃It is a mistake to say something cannot be done simply because you don't know how to do it。 I would not be here otherwise。〃 He said this gently； without malice。 〃Your people are strong； and wise。 I would be honored if the Bird Man would allow me to teach his people how to make roofs that do not leak； and also let the smoke out at the same time。〃
The Bird Man considered this without showing any emotion。
〃If you could do this； it would be a great benefit to my people； and they would give you many thanks。 But I can make no promises beyond that。 〃
Richard shrugged。 〃None asked for。〃
〃The answer may still be no。 You must accept that； if that is the answer； and bring no harm to my people。 〃
〃I will do my best for your people； and hope only that they judge me fairly。〃
〃Then you are free to try； but I cannot see how you wil