Binabik sighed。 〃I hope you are right； but I am fearing that there will be no protection against this storm…or that the protection must be something other than forest trees or roofs。〃
〃Do you mean the swords？〃 Simon asked quietly。
The little man shrugged。 〃Perhaps。 If we are finding all three； perhaps winter can be kept at spear…length…or even pushed back。 But first we must go to where Geloe tells us。 Otherwise； it is only worrying about things we cannot be changing； that is foolishness。〃 He mustered a smile。 〃 'When your teeth are gone；' we Qanuc say； 'learn to like mush。' 〃
The next morning； their seventh on the Waste； came laden with foul weather。 Although the storm in the north was still only an inky blotch defacing the far horizon； steely gray clouds had gathered overhead； their edges stripped into sooty tatters by the rising wind。 By noon； when the sun had vanished from view entirely behind the dismal pall； the snow began to fly。
〃This is terrible；〃 Simon shouted； eyes narrowed against the stinging sleet。 Despite his heavy leather gloves； his fingers were swiftly growing numb。 〃We're blinded！ Shouldn't we stop and make shelter？〃
Binabik； a small； snow…covered shadow atop Qantaqa's back； turned and called back to him： 〃If we go a little farther； we will reach the crossroads！〃
〃Crossroads！〃 Sludig bellowed。 〃In this wilderness？！〃
〃Ride nearer；〃 Binabik cried。 〃I will be explaining。〃
Simon and the Rimmersman brought their mounts closer to the striding wolf。 Binabik lifted his hand to his mouth； but still the wind's roar threatened to carry off his words。 〃Not far beyond here； I am thinking； this Old Tumet'ai Road meets the White Way； that is running along the northern edge of the forest。 At the crossroad may be shelter； or at least the trees should be of more thickness there； closer to the woods。 Let us go riding on a while longer。 If there is nothing in that spot； we will make our camp there despite it。〃
〃As long as we stop well before dark； troll；〃 Sludig bellowed。 〃You are clever； but your cleverness may not be enough to make a decent camp in darkness in this blizzard。 Having lived through all the madness I have seen； I do not want to die in the snow like a lost cow！〃 Simon said nothing； saving his strength so he could more fully appreci… ate his misery。 Aedon； it was cold！ Would there never be an end to snow？
They rode on through the bleak； icy afternoon。 Simon's mare plodded slowly； ankling through the new drifts。 Simon leaned his head close to her mane； trying to stay out of the wind。 The world seemed as formless and white as the inside of a flour cask； and only slightly more habitable。
The sun was quite invisible； but a dimming of the already scarce light attested that the afternoon was fading fast。 Binabik； however； did not seem inclined to stop。 As they passed yet one more unprepossessing stand of evergreens； Simon could stand it no longer。
〃I'm freezing； Binabik！〃 he shouted angrily above the wind。 〃And it's getting dark！ There's another bunch of trees gone and we're still riding。 Well； it's almost night！ By God's bloody Tree； I'm not going to go any farther！〃
〃Simon 。。。〃 Binabik began； striving to assume a placating tone while yelling at the top of his lungs。
〃There's something in the road！〃 Sludig cried hoarsely。 〃Swear！ Something ahead！ A troll！〃
Binabik squinted。 〃It is being no such thing；〃 he shouted indignantly。 〃No Qanuc would be foolish enough to go wandering alone in such weather！〃
Simon stared into the swirling gray dimness before them。 〃I don't see anything。〃
〃As neither do I。〃 Binabik brushed snow from his hood lining。
〃I saw something；〃 Sludig growled。 〃I may be snow…blinded； but I am not mad。〃
〃An animal； that is most likely；〃 the troll said。 〃Or； if we are unlucky； one of the diggers as a scout。 Perhaps it is time to make shelter and fire； as you said； Simon。 There is a stand of trees that looks to make better sheltering just ahead。 There； over the rise。〃
The panions chose the most protected spot they could find。 Simon and Sludig wove branches among the tree trunks for a windbreak while Binabik； with the help of his yellow fire…powder； set flame to damp wood and began to boil water for broth。 The weather was so unremittingly foul and cold that after sharing the thin soup； they all curled up in their cloaks and lay shivering。 The wind was too loud for any but shouted conversation。 Despite the proximity of his friends； Simon was alone with his cheerless thoughts until sleep came。
Simon woke with Qantaqa's steaming breath on his face。 The wolf whined and nudged him with her great head； rolling him halfway over。 He sat up； blinking in the weak rays of morning sun filtering into the copse。 Snow drifts had piled against the woven branches； making a wall that kept the wind at bay； so the smoke from Binabik's campfire rose almost undisturbed。
〃Good morning； Simon…friend；〃 Binabik said。 〃We have survived through the storm。〃
Simon gently pushed Qantaqa's head out of his side。 She made a noise of frustration； then backed away。 Her muzzle was red…daubed。
〃She has been unsettled all the morning；〃 Binabik laughed。 〃I am thinking that the many frozen squirrels and birds and such who have tumbled from the trees have fed her well； however。〃
〃Where's Sludig？〃
〃He is seeing to the horses。〃 Binabik poked at the fire。 〃I convinced him to take them downslope in the open； so the horses would not be stepping on my morning meal or your face。〃 He lifted a bowl。 〃This is the last of the broth。 Since our dried meat is now almost finished； I suggest you enjoy it。 Meals may be scarce if our own hunting must be relied on。〃
Simon shivered as he wiped a handful of snow on his face。 〃But won't we reach the forest soon？〃
Binabik patiently offered the bowl again。 〃Just so； but we will be traveling along it rather than through。 It is a route more circuitous but less time…consuming； since we will not be cutting through underbrush。 Also； in this frozen summer there may be few animals who are not sleeping in their dens and nests。 Thus； if you are not soon taking this soup from my hands； I will drink it myself。 I am no more interested in starving than you； as well as a great deal more sensible。〃
〃Sorry。 Thank you。〃 Simon hunched over the bowl； enjoying a deep breath of the rising scent before he drank。
〃You may be washing the bowl when you have finished；〃 the troll sniffed。 〃A nice bowl is a luxurious thing to have on a journey of such dangerousness。〃
Simon smiled。 〃You sound like Rachel the Dragon。〃
〃I have not met this Dragon…Rachel；〃 Binabik said as he stood up； brushing snow from his breeches； 〃but if she was given charge of you； she must have been a person of great patientness and kindness。〃
Simon chortled。
They reached the crossroads in late morning。 The meeting of the two roads was marked only by a gaunt finger of stone set upright in the frozen ground。 Gray…green lichen； seemingly impervious to frost； clung to it grimly。
〃The Old Tumet'ai Road runs through the forest。〃 Binabik gestured to the barely distinguishable path of the south road； which coiled away through a stand of firs。 〃Since I am thinking it is nevermore used and likely quite overgrown； we should instead follow the White Way。 Perhaps we will find some deserted habitations where we may be finding supplies。〃
The White Way proved a slightly newer road than the one leading from the ancient site of Tumet'ai。 There were a few marks of recent human visitation…a rusted and broken iron wheel…rim dangling from a roadside branch； where it had doubtless been thrown by an irate wagon owner； a sharpened spoke perhaps used as a tent…spike； discarded by the shoulder； a circle of charred stones half…covered in snow。
〃Who lives out here？' Simon asked。 〃Why is there a road at all？〃
〃There were once several small settlements east of St。 Skendi's monastery；〃 Sludig said。 〃You remember Skendi's…the snow…buried place we passed on our way to the dragon…mountain。 There were even a few towns here…Sovebek； Grinsaby； some others； as I remember。 I think also that a century or so ago； people traveled