〃Yes； yes； I did；〃 Killashandra said； surprised into a nervous response。
〃I'm so glad。 We don't have much here yet。 No call； with everyone making their own； and the Season not started。〃 She tilted her head； her long thick braid falling over her shoulder。 Her fingers moved to check the position of the blossom twisted into the end of the plait。 Her smile was luminous。 〃You've not been here before？〃 The question was asked in such a gentle voice that it was almost a statement of fact and not an intrusion on Privacy。
〃I just came in from one of the outer islands。〃
〃That's lonely。〃 The woman nodded gently。
〃Lost my canoe in that squall； 〃 Killashandra said and began to embroider slightly。 〃Came ashore with nothing to my name but my I。D。〃 She flashed her left wrist at the woman who nodded once again。
〃If you're hungry； I've fresh fish and greens； and there's whiteroot to make a good fry。〃
〃No； I couldn't；〃 Killashandra began； even as her mouth was watering。 When the woman tilted her head again； a broad smile spreading across her serene features； Killashandra added； 〃But I certainly would appreciate it。〃
〃My name is Keralaw。 My man is mate on the Crescent Moon； been gone four weeks and I do miss pany。〃 She rolled her eyes slightly； her grin twisting upward another fraction of an inch so that Killashandra knew very well what Keralaw missed。
〃My name is Carrigana。〃 Killashandra suppressed her amusement； the former owner of that name would be livid at her presumption。
Keralaw led her to the back of the shop； through the storage section to the living quarters in the rear： a small catering area； a small toilet room； and a large living room that was open on three sides； screened against the depredations of insects。 The furnishings consisted of low tables； many pillows and hammocks secured to bolts in the ceiling。 Of the modern accoutrements there was only a small screen； blank； with a fine coating of dust and a very primitive terminal。 On the one solid wall hung a variety of spears； their barbed heads differing in design and weight； a small stringed instrument； a hand drum that looked well used； four wooden pipes of different lengths and circumferences； and an ancient tambourine； its trailing ribbons sun…faded to shades of gray and beige。
Keralaw led her through this room； out the screened door to the rear and to a stone hearth。 Checking the position of the sun over her shoulder； Keralaw altered the arrangement of a mirror and a bright metal sheet to her satisfaction and began to arrange the fish and white root on the sheet。
〃Won't be long with the sun right in position。 Beer or juice？〃
〃Island brewed？〃
〃Best there is。〃 Keralaw's smile was proud。 She went to the heavy bushes growing beyond the solar hearth and； pushing them aside； disclosed a dull gray container a meter high and half that wide。 Lifting its heavy insulated lid； she extracted two beaded bottles。
〃Been a long time dry；〃 Killashandra said； receiving her chilled bottle with considerable anticipation。 She flipped back the stopper and took a swallow。
〃Whhhhoooee but it's good。〃 And it was … the equal of a Yarran！ But Killashandra stopped herself from making that parison aloud just in time； smiling instead at Keralaw。
Already the sun was broiling their lunch and the smell was a suitable acpaniment to the taste of the cool beer。 Killashandra began to relax。 Keralaw tossed the greens into a wooden bowl； slipped two wooden platters to the hearth side； along with two…tined forks and knives with intricately carved handles accentuating the natural dark grain of the wood； and divided the now pleted meal。
〃That was what I needed most；〃 Killashandra said； closing her eyes in a sincere appreciation for the simple but satisfying meal。 〃I've been living too long off the polly tree！〃
Keralaw chuckled fruitily。 〃You and your man farming？ Or are you fishing for the gray？〃
Killashandra hesitated； wondering what cover story wouldn't bee an embarrassment later。 She felt a curious reluctance to mislead Keralaw。
Keralaw reached over and touched Killashandra's forearm； just the barest touch； her mobile face suddenly expressionless。
〃Don't need to tell me； woman。 I been out in the islands and I know what can happen to humans out there。 Sometimes the credit ain't worth the agony getting it。 I won't pry。〃 Her smile returned。 〃Not my place to； anyhow。 You picked a good day to land on Angel Island。 Schooner's making port this evening！〃
〃It is！〃 Killashandra picked up the cue to wax enthusiastic。
Keralaw nodded； pleased to surprise。 〃Beach barbecue and a keg of beer for sure！ That's why the harbor's so deserted。〃 She chuckled again； an earthy rich laugh。 〃Even the little ones are out foraging。〃
〃Everyone contributes to the barbecue？〃
Keralaw nodded； her smile wide with anticipation。 〃How well do you weave polly？〃 she asked； tilting her head sideways。 When Killashandra groaned； Keralaw looked sympathetic。 〃Well； perhaps you cut and strip while I weave。 Chore goes fast in pany。〃
With fluid gestures； she collected a hatchet hanging from a nail under the eaves and a large cariall； which she handed to Killashandra。 With a grin and a jerk of her head； she indicated the way。
The expedition suited Killashandra in many ways： Keralaw could supply her far more information than any terminal； however well programmed； and the little one in Keralaw's shop was intended for tourists and had limited memory。 Killashandra could doubtless discover just how closely the Harbor Master stuck to the letter of the law in granting travel permits。 Just like the Optherians to need to know who went where and when。 Though why they bothered； since their citizens weren't allowed off the planet； Killashandra couldn't see。 She also needed more general information about the islanders and their customs if she was going to pass as one that evening。
For her purposes； the barbecue couldn't have e at a better time； with everyone relaxed by a full belly and plenty of beer； she could discover more about the islanders' politics and； just possibly； something about her abduction。
By the time they had returned from the polly plantation that evening； both laden with platters and baskets woven at speed by Keralaw's deft hands； Killashandra knew a great deal more about island life； and had tremendous respect for it。
The easygoing gentleness of the style would be abhorrent to the persnickety mainlanders。 In the early days of their subjugation of the islanders； the mainlanders had even tried to prohibit the use of the polly tree in their strict adherence to the letter of their Charter。 The polly tree itself worked against the restriction； for it grew with such rapidity and profusion that pruning back the plantations was absolutely essential。 The casual islander habit of cutting as needed to provide the essentials for daily life prevented overgrowth。 The vigorous polly tree would take root on even a square meter of soil； which accounted for its proliferation in the islands。
Killashandra had been hard pressed to cut and strip enough polly fronds to keep up with Keralaw's agile weaving but the crystal singer learned as she watched and； to support her adopted identity； wove a few baskets herself。 The manufacture； which seemed to be easy when one watched an adept； took considerable manual strength and dexterity； which； fortunately； Killashandra possessed。 Seeing the clever way in which Keralaw finished off her mats and baskets taught Killashandra the necessary final touches that spoke of long practice。
As they passed a small freshwater lake on their way back； Keralaw suddenly dropped her burden； shucked her clothing； and dashed into the water。 Killashandra was quick to follow。 Nudity was not； then； a problem。 And the soft water was refreshing after the concentrated work of the day。
The tantalizing aroma of roasting meat reached them as they neared Keralaw's dwelling。 She rolled her eyes and smacked her lips appreciatively。
〃Mandoll's the cook！〃 Keralaw said with satisfaction。 〃I can smell his seasoning anywhere in the islands。 Porson sure had better catch him a smacker to go with it。 Nothing better than long beef and smacker。 Oho； but we eat good tonight！〃 She rolled her