〃Is he sick？ Binabik； it's Simon！ Why don't you answer me？〃
〃He is sick in his heart； I think；〃 Sludig said。 〃He looks as he always did…thinner； perhaps； but so I am； too…but he acts like one already dead。〃 There was a scraping noise as Sludig； or someone； moved in the depths； 〃Jiriki says they will kill us；〃 the Rimmersman said a moment later； his voice flat with resignation。 〃The Sitha spoke for us…not with heat or anger； as far as I could tell； but he spoke for us all the same。 He said the troll people did not agree with his arguments and were determined to have their justice。〃 He laughed bitterly。 〃Some justice； to kill a man who never did them harm； and kill one of their own as well； both of whom have suffered much for the good of all folk…even the trolls。 Einskaldir was right。 But for this silent fellow beside me； they are all hell…wights。〃
Simon sat up； holding his head in his hands。 The wind blew uncaringly about the heights。 Helplessness spread through him。
〃Binabik！〃 he cried； leaning over once more。 〃Qantaqa waits for you！ Sludig suffers at your side！ No one can help if you don't help yourself Why won't you speak to me？！〃
Only Sludig answered。 〃It's no good； I tell you。 His eyes are closed。 He does not hear you； will not speak at all。〃
Simon slapped his hand against the rock and cursed。 He felt tears start in his eyes。
〃I will help you； Sludig；〃 he said at last。 〃I do not know how； but I will。〃 He sat up。 Qantaqa nosed him and whimpered。 〃Can I bring you something？ Food？ Water？〃
Sludig laughed dully。 〃No。 They feed us； although not to bursting。 I would ask for wine。 but I do not know when they e for me。 I will not go with my head foggy from drink。 Only pray for me； please。 And for the troll； too。〃
〃I will do more than that； Sludig； I swear。〃 He stood up。
〃You were very brave on the mountain； Simon；〃 Sludig called quietly。 〃I am glad that I knew you。〃
The stars glittered coldly above the pit as Simon walked away； fighting to stand straight and cry no more。
He walked a while beneath the moon； lost in the swirl of his distracted thoughts； before he realized that he was again following Qantaqa。 The wolf； who had paced anxiously beside the edge of the pit while Simon talked to Sludig； now trotted purposefully along the path before him。 She did not allow him a chance to catch up as she had on their outward journey； and he was hard pressed to keep to her pace。
The moonlight was just bright enough for Simon to see where he was going； the trail just wide enough to allow for recovery from the occasional misstep。 Still； he was feeling decidedly weak。 He wondered more than once whether he should just sit down and wait until dawn came； when someone would find him and return him safely to his cave； but Qantaqa trotted on； full of lupine determination。 Feeling that he owed her a sort of loyalty； Simon did his best to follow。
He soon noted with more than a little alarm that they seemed to be climbing above the main trail； angling up Mintahoq's face along a steeper； narrower pathway。 As the wolf led him ever upward； and as they cut across more than a few horizontal paths； the air began to seem thinner。 Simon knew he had not climbed so far； that the sensation was due instead to his own flagging wind； but he nevertheless felt himself to be passing out of the realms of safety into the upper heights。 The stars seemed very close。
He wondered for a moment if those cold stars might somehow be the airless peaks of other； incredibly distant mountains； vast bodies lost in darkness； snow…capped heads gleaming with reflected moonlight。 But no； that was foolishness。 Where could they be standing； that they would not be visible in daylight beneath the bright sun？
In truth； the air might have been no scarcer； but the cold was certainly growing； undeniable and intrusive despite his heavy cloak。 Shivering； he decided he should turn around and make his way back down to the main roadway； no matter what moonlight pastime Qantaqa found so enticing。 A moment later； he was surprised to find himself stepping up off the path and following the wolf onto a narrow shelf in the mountainside。
The rocky porch； dotted with patches of dimly gleaming snow； stood before a large； black crevice。 Qantaqa jogged forward and stopped before it； sniffing。 She turned to regard Simon； her shaggy head tipped at an angle； then barked once inquiringly and slipped into blackness。 Simon decided there must be a cave hidden in the shadows。 He was wondering whether he should follow her…letting a wolf lead him on a foolish hike along the mountainside was one thing； but letting her lead him into a lightlcss cavern in the middle of the night was another thing entirely… when a trio of small dark shapes appeared out of the blackness of the cliff face before him； startling Simon so badly that he almost stepped backward off the stone porch。
Differs！ he thought wildly； scrabbling on the barren ground for some weapon。 One of the shapes stepped forward； raising a slender spear toward him as if in warning。 It was a troll； of course…they were quite a bit larger than the subterranean Bukken； when calmly examined…but still he was frightened。 These Qanuc were small but well…armed； Simon was a stranger wandering about at night； perhaps in some sacred place。
The nearest troll pushed back a fur…ringed hood。 Pallid moonlight shone on the face of a young woman。 Simon could see little of her features but the whites of her eyes； but he was sure her expression was fierce and dangerous。 Her two panions moved up beside her； muttering in what seemed like angry voices。 He took a step backward down the pathway； feeling carefully for a safe foothold。
〃I'm sorry。 I'm just going；〃 he said； realizing even as he spoke that they could not understand him。 Simon cursed himself for not having Binabik or Jiriki teach him some words of troll speech。 Always regretting； always too late！ Would he be a mooncalf forever？ He was tired of the position。 Let someone else take it on。
〃I'm just going；〃 he repeated。 〃I was following the wolf。 Following。。。 the 。。。 wolf。〃 He spoke slowly； trying to make his voice sound friendly despite his tightened throat。 One misunderstanding and he might be plucking one of those wicked…looking spears out of his midsection。
The troll woman watched him。 She said something to one of her panions。 The one addressed took a few steps toward the shadowed cave…mouth。 Qantaqa growled menacingly from somewhere within the echoing depths and the troll quickly scuttled away again。
Simon took another step back down the path。 The trolls watched him in silence； their small dark forms poised and watchful； but they made no move to hinder him。 He turned his back on them slowly and helped himself down the trail； picking his way among the silvered rocks。 After a moment the three trolls； Qantaqa； and the mysterious cave were all out of
sight behind him。
He made his way downslope alone in dreaming moonlight。 Halfway back to the main trail he had to stop and sit； elbows on trembling knees。 He knew that his exhaustion and even his fear would eventually recede； but he could imagine no cure for such loneliness。
〃I am truly sorry； Seoman； but there is nothing to be done。 Last night Reniku； the star we call Summer…Lantern； appeared above the horizon at sundown。 1 have stayed too long。 I can remain no longer。〃
Jiriki sat cross…legged atop a rock on the cave's vast porch； staring down into the mist…carpeted valley。 Unlike Simon and Haestan； he wore no heavy clothing。 The wind plucked at the sleeves of his glossy shirt。
〃But what will we do about Binabik and Sludig？〃 Simon flung a stone into the depths； half…hoping it would wound some fog…hidden troll below。
〃They'll be killed if you don't do something！〃
〃There is nothing I could do； in any circumstance；〃 Jiriki said quietly。 〃The Qanuc have a right to their justice。 I cannot honorably interfere。〃
〃Honor？ Hang honor； Binabik won't even speak！ How can he defend himself？〃
The Sitha sighed； but his hawkish face remained impassive。 〃Perhaps there is no defense。 Perhaps Binabik knows he has wronged his people。〃
Haest