〃You see I have a prentice；〃 said the Smith。
〃He looks like a big one；〃 said Taleswapper。
〃Getting on；〃 the Smith agreed。 〃Ain't that right； Bosey？ You ready to go on your own？〃
Bosey smiled a bit； stifled it； nodded。 〃Yes； Sir；〃 he said。
〃I'm not an easy master；〃 said the Smith。
〃Alvin's a good…hearted boy。 He'll work hard for you。〃
〃But will he obey me？ I like to be obeyed。〃
Taleswapper looked again at Bosey。 He was busy scooping snow into the barrel。
〃I said he's a good…hearted boy；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃He'll obey you if you're fair with him。〃
The Smith met his gaze。 〃I give honest measure。 I don't beat the boys I take on。 Have I ever laid hand on you； Bosey？〃
〃Never； sir。〃
〃You see； Taleswapper； a prentice can obey out of fear； and he can obey out of greed。 But if I'm a good master； he'll obey me cause he knows that's how he'll learn。〃
Taleswapper grinned at the smith。 〃There's no fee；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃The boy will earn it out。 And he gets his schooling。〃
〃No need for a smith to have letters； as I should know。〃
〃Won't be long before Hio's part of the United States；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃The boy's got to vote； I think； and read the newspapers。 A man who can't read only knows what other folks tell him。〃
Makepeace Smith looked at Taleswapper with a grin half…hid on his face。 〃That so？ And ain't it you telling me？ So don't I only know this cause other folks； namely you； is telling me so？〃
Taleswapper laughed and nodded。 The smith had shot the head clean off the turkey with that one。 〃I make my way in the world telling tales；〃 said Taleswapper； 〃so I know you can get much with just the sound of a man's voice。 He already reads above his years； so it won't do him harm to miss a bit of school。 But his ma is set on him having letters and ciphering like a scholar。 So just promise me you won't stand between him and schooling； if he wants it； and we'll leave it at that。〃
〃Got my word on that；〃 said Makepeace Smith。 〃And you don't have to write it down。 A man who keeps his word doesn't have to read and write。 But a man who has to write down his promises； you got to watch him all morning。 I know that for a fact。 We got lawyers in Hatrack these days。〃
〃The curse of civilized man；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃When a man can't get folks to believe his lies anymore； then he hires him a professional to lie in his place。〃
They laughed together over that one； setting there on two stout stumps just inside the door of the forge； the fire smoldering in its brick chimney place behind them； the sun shining on half…melted snow outside。 A redbird flew across the grassy； trampled； dunged…up ground in front of the forge。 It dazzled Taleswapper's eyes for a moment； it was such a startlement against the whites and greys and browns of late winter。
In that moment of amazement at the redbird's flight； Taleswapper knew for certain； though he couldn't say why； that it would be a while yet before the Unmaker let young Alvin e to this place。 And when he came he'd be like a redbird out of season； to dazzle folks all hereabouts； them thinking he was just as natural as a bird flying； not knowing what a miracle it was every minute that the bird stayed in the air。
Taleswapper shook himself； and the moment's clear vision passed。 〃Then it's done； and I'll write to them to send the boy。〃
〃I'll look for him the first of April。 No later！〃
〃Unless you expect the boy to control the weather； you'd best be flexible about the date。〃
The smith grumbled and waved him away。 All in all； a successful meeting。 Taleswapper left feeling good he had discharged his duty。 It'd be easy to send a letter with a westbound wagon several groups passed through the town of Hatrack every week。
Though it had been a long time since he passed through this place； he still knew the way from the forge to the inn。 It was a well…traveled road； and not a long one。 The inn was much larger now than it had been； and there were several shops a bit farther up the road。 An outfitter； a saddler； a cobbler。 The kind of service traveling folk could use。
He hardly set foot on the porch when the door opened and Old Peg Guester came out； her arms spread wide to embrace him。 〃Ah； Taleswapper； you've been away too long； e in； e in！〃
〃It's good to see you again； Peg；〃 he said。
Horace Guester growled at him from behind the bar in the mon room； where he was serving several thirsty visitors。 〃What I don't need here is another teetotaling man！〃
〃Good news； then； Horace；〃 Taleswapper answered cheerfully。 〃I gave up tea as well。〃
〃What； do you drink water？〃
〃Water and the blood of greasy old men；〃 said Taleswapper。
Horace gestured to his wife。 〃You keep that man away from me； Old Peg； you hear？〃
Old Peg helped him strip off a few layers of clothing。 〃Look at you；〃 said Old Peg； sizing him up。 〃There ain't enough meat on you to make a stew。〃
〃The bears and panthers pass me by in the night； looking for richer fare；〃 said Taleswapper。
〃e in and tell me stories while I fix up a mess of supper for the pany。〃
There was talk and chatter； especially once Oldpappy came in to help。 He was getting feeble now； but he still had a hand in the kitchen； which was all to the benefit of those who ate here； Old Peg meant well and worked hard； but some folks had the knack and some folks didn't。 But it wasn't food that Taleswapper came for； nor conversation either； and after a while he realized he'd have to bring it up himself 〃Where's your daughter？〃
To his surprise； Old Peg stiffened； and her voice went cold and hard。 〃She ain't so little no more。 She's got a mind of her own； she's the first to tell you。〃
And you don't much like it； thought Taleswapper。 But his business with the daughter was more important than any family squabbles。 〃Is she still a〃
〃A torch？ Oh； yes； she does her duty； but it's no pleasure for folks to e for her。 Snippy and cold； that's what she is。 It's got her a name for being sharp…tongued。〃 For a moment Old Peg's face softened。 〃She used to be such a soft…hearted child。〃
〃I've never seen a soft heart turn hard；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃At least not without good reason。〃
〃Well； whatever her reason； she's one whose heart has crusted up like a waterbucket on a winter's night。〃
Taleswapper held his tongue and didn't sermonize； didn't talk about how if you chip the ice it'll freeze up again right away； but if you take it inside； it'll warm up fresh as you please。 No use stepping in the middle of a family squabble。 Taleswapper knew enough of the way people lived that he took this particular quarrel as a natural event； like cold winds and short days in autumn； like thunder after lightning。 Most parents didn't have much use for a halfgrown child。
〃I have a matter to discuss with her；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃I'll take the risk of having my head bitten off。〃
He found her in Dr。 Whitley Physicker's office； working on his accounts。 〃I didn't know you were a bookkeeper；〃 he said。
〃I didn't know you held much with physicking；〃 she answered。 〃Or did you just e to see the miracle of a girl who does sums and ciphers？〃
Oh； yes； she was as sharp as could be。 Taleswapper could see how a wit like that might dismode a few folks who expected a young woman to cast down her eyes and speak softly； glancing upward only now and then under heavy…lidded eyes。 There was none of that young ladyness about Peggy。 She looked Taleswapper in the face； plain as could be。
〃I didn't e to be healed；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃Or to have my future told。 Or even to have my accounts added up。〃
And there it was。 The moment a man answered her right back instead of getting his dander up； why； she flashed a smile fit to charm the warts off a toad。 〃I don't recollect you having much to add or subtract anyhow；〃 she said。 〃Naught plus naught is naught； I think。〃
〃You've got it wrong； Peggy；〃 said Taleswapper。 〃I own this whole world； and folks haven't been keeping up too well on the payments。〃
She smiled again； and set aside the doctor's account book。 〃I keep his records for him； once a month； and he brings me things to read from Dekane。〃 She talked abo