Page 101 of Circle of Days

Pia accepted that. Han was the herder.

They set off around the island. It was small, and they got back to their starting point in the time it took to boil a pot of water. There were no signs of human habitation, and Pia guessed that for most people the river, and the need to cross it to go anywhere, would have spoiled the island as a home.

But for two fugitives it was perfect.

There were no deer, but there were pigeons in the air, squirrels in the trees, and hares under the bushes. There were also hazel trees, heavy with nuts at this time of year, nuts that would keep through the winter.

They found a spot in the middle of the island where they could build a roof up against the wide trunk of an oak tree. Han said: “I’ll get some timber from that derelict house.”

“Do it tomorrow,” Pia said. “The main thing we need today is fire.”

Together they collected dry twigs and dead leaves for tinder, then some larger pieces of dead wood. Han found an abandoned wasps’ nest that would blaze up in no time. They struck a spark and started the fire.

Thunder caught a hare. They cleaned it and skinned it and roasted it over the fire. They gave the bones to the dog.

When evening came they built up the fire for the night, then lay down together. They made love in the dusk, firelight painting their bodies, and it seemed especially exciting because this was the first time Pia had done it in freedom.

Afterward they pulled their coats over themselves to keep warm, and soon they fell asleep.

Stam turned up at Yana’s house after a long absence. He was weary and disgruntled. She knew where he had been: everyone did. He had been looking for Pia.

As soon as Yana saw him she knew he had failed to find her. His expression was defiantly sulky. She felt relief and triumph in waves. Hiding her feelings, she said: “What happened?”

He said: “Give me something to eat.”

She put soft cheese in a big bowl and mixed it with chopped crab apple. He ate rapidly and became less irritable.

Yana wanted to know more about Stam’s search. She said: “Why did you go alone? I would have thought you’d take some of the Young Dogs with you.”

“They make too much noise,” he said. “It would give warning that they’re coming. On my own I can be silent.”

“But you still didn’t find anyone.”

“I know where Pia and Han are,” he said, sounding defensive. “Roughly where they are, anyway.”

She suppressed her loathing to talk to him. She wanted more details. “How did you manage that?” she said. “No one can find them.” She knew he would be flattered.

He looked smug. “I followed the cow pats. No one takes cattle to the hills, especially at this time of year. And anyway, there were only enough pats for one cow. They must be in the area where the pats ran out. I searched, but I couldn’t find them.”

They had hidden themselves well, Yana thought. Good for them.

“I ran out of food,” Stam said. “I killed a pigeon, but I couldn’t cook it, because I forgot to take a firestone. Raw pigeon meat is really sickening. I had to give up.”

“What did your father say?”

“He was displeased. He’s always displeased.”

“Well, we can forget about them now. They’ve gone, and that’s the end of it.”

“No, it’s not,” he said spiritedly. “Next spring, when the weather gets warmer, I’m going again. I haven’t given up.” His expression became cruel. “Pia thinks she can defy my father’s authority and outwit me. But she can’t. She’s just a little girl who needs to be taught a lesson. I’m going to find her, and I’m going to show her who is the master.”

Shortly before the Midwinter Rite, Joia and Seft went to Stony Valley. The weather was mild, and there was little rain: the drought still had not broken. They arrived in the early dusk of a winter afternoon.

They were both still determined to rebuild the Monument in stone. They understood the difficulties; they just refused to believe the problems were insoluble.

Joia was surprised to see several houses where there had been none last time she visited. Seft’s second-in-command, Tem, was living here with his partner, Vee, who was Joia’s old friend. Several other cleverhands had moved here with their families, bringing half a dozen cattle and a few pigs to feed everyone. The place was now a small village. Joia had not been aware of this. Seft had done it quietly.

Joia and Seft ate with Tem and his family, sitting around a blazing fire. Vee said that Hol, the smelly shepherd at the top of the hill, was grateful to them for burning so much dead wood, saying it allowed more grass to grow for his sheep to graze.