Page 178 of Circle of Days

“Just tell her that everyone is well, we’ve been delayed, but we’ll reach the Monument early tomorrow morning.”

“Early tomorrow morning.”

“But go carefully, don’t hurry, be safe.”

“I will.”

“Ani won’t mind being woken up.”

“Good.” Boli went off.

Joia lay down next to Dee. “Such a shame it’s ended this way,” she said dolefully.

“Don’t feel discouraged. You’ve done something remarkable. No one else could have even begun.”

“But I needed this to be a triumph. I’ve even planned my victory speech. Instead our lateness is going to be portrayed as a failure. You know how people talk.”

Dee reached out and took her hand. “I’m sorry I can’t cheer you up.”

“Thank you for trying.” Joia’s eyes closed and she fell asleep holding Dee’s hand.

Ani awakened in the middle of the night. Looking at her doorway she saw, outlined against the starry sky, the slim silhouette of thequickrunner Boli. “Oh, hello,” she said. Joia had failed to arrive yesterday, and she realized with a chill of fear that this could be bad news. “What’s wrong?”

“Joia says that everyone is well.”

“Thank the gods.”

“They’ve been delayed, but she wanted you to know that they will be here early in the morning.”

“Oh, good,” said Ani. “Early this morning. I’ll spread the word.”

Then she went back to sleep.

Joia awoke at first light. Worried that the volunteers might be slow to get up today, she went around waking them. They got to their feet and rubbed sore muscles.

There was no breakfast. All they had was water from the river. In consequence everyone was grumpy. “There’s beef waiting for us at the Monument!” Joia shouted. “We’re not far!” Some of them perked up. She kept her eyes peeled for deserters, but she saw none.

At sunrise they reluctantly picked up the ropes. “This is our day of triumph!” Joia shouted, but they did not respond. They just wanted to get this over, she guessed. “All right!” she yelled. “Ready… take the strain… heave!”

A slight downward slope enabled them to get the sled moving on the first try, and Joia was heartened.

Seft’s track followed a wide curve to the west, onto the Great Plain, then turned south to climb a gentle rise.

Joia heard a soft, distant noise that sounded vaguely like a crowd.

The volunteers leaned into the ropes as they hauled the stone up the rise. Joia was terrified that they would falter now, so close, but they kept on.

They breasted the rise, and ahead they saw the Monument. The volunteers made noises of relief and happiness, and Joia had to shout: “Keep going! Keep going! We’re nearly there!”

There seemed to be a lot of people gathered around the Monument and on the earth bank. As the stone moved closer, some of them began to run toward the volunteers. There was a sound of cheering. Joia’s spirits lifted. There was a welcome party, even though they were a day late.

In fact, she saw as she got closer, there were hundreds of people waiting to meet them, the entire population of Riverbend and more. It was almost too good to be true.

The advance guard of the welcome party reached the volunteers and wanted to kiss and hug them. “Don’t stop!” Joia yelled. “We’re not there yet!”

Some of the welcomers grabbed the ropes, trying to be helpful—or perhaps just wanting to tell the tale, one day, of how they had helped bring the stone to the Monument. Some volunteers gratefully stepped aside and let them take the strain. Joia had an anxious moment: the newcomers might not have the strength or stamina—or just the sheer grit—to do the job. But the stone did not stop.

She walked ahead along Seft’s track for the last hundred orso paces, holding her head high. She had made this happen, and she was proud. She led them through the entrance to wild cheers from the crowd.