To Your Scattered Bodies Go

Ruach replied for Burton. "Because he, as far as we know, was the only man to awaken in the pre-resurrection phase. Why he did is a mystery. But it’s evident something went wrong. It may also be a mystery to Them. I’d be inclined to think They’ve been discussing this and finally decided to come here. Maybe to kidnap Burton for observation — or some more sinister purpose."

"Possibly. They wanted to erase from my memory all that I’d seen in that chamber of floating bodies," Burton said. "Such a thing should not be beyond Their science."

"But you’ve told that story to many," Frigate said. "They couldn’t possibly track down all those people and remove the memory of your story from their minds."

"Would that be necessary? How many believe my tale? Sometimes I doubt it myself."

Ruach said, "Speculation is fruitless. What do we do now?" Alice shrieked, "Richard!" and they turned to see her sitting up and staring at them.

For a few minutes, they could not get her to understand what had happened. Finally she said, "So that’s why the fog covered the land, too! I thought it was strange, but of course I had no way of knowing what was really happening." Burton said, "Get your grails. Put anything you want to take along in your sack. We’re leaving as of now. I want to get away before the others awake."

Alice’s already large eyes became even wider. "Where are we going?"

"Anywhere from here. I don’t like to run away but I can’t stand up and fight people like that. Not if They know where I am. I’ll tell you, however, what I plan to do. I intend to find the end of The River. It must have an inlet and an outlet, and there must be a way for a man to get through to the source. If there’s any way at all, I’ll find it — you can bet your soul on that!’

"Meanwhile, They’ll be looking for me elsewhere — I hope. The fact that They didn’t find me here makes me think that They have no means for instantly locating a person. They may have branded us like cattle" — he indicated the invisible symbols on his forehead — "but even cattle have mavericks. And we’re cattle with brains." He turned to the others. "You’re more than welcome to come along with me. In fact, I’d be honored."

"I’ll get Monat," Kazz said. "He wouldn’t want to be left behind."

Burton grimaced and said, "Good old Monat! I hate to do this to him, but there’s no helping it. He can’t come along. He’s too distinguishable. Their agents would have no trouble at all in locating anybody who looked like him. I’m sorry, but he can’t"

Tears stood in Kazz’s eyes, then ran down his bulging cheekbones. In a choked voice, he said, "Burton-naq, I can’t go either. I look too different, too."

Burton felt tears wet his own eyes. He said, "We’ll take that chance. After all, there must be plenty of your type around. We’ve seen at least thirty or more during our travels."

"No females so far, Burton-naq," Kazz said mournfully. Then he smiled. "Maybe we find one when we go along The River." As quickly, he lost his grin. "No, damn it, I don’t go! I can’t hurt Monat too much. Him and me, others think we ugly and spry looking. So we become good friends. He’s not my naq, but he’s next to it I stay." He stepped up to Burton, hugged him in a grip that forced Burton’s breath out in a great whoosh, released him, shook hands with the others, making them wince, then turned and shuffled off.

Ruach, holding his paralyzed hand, said. "You’re off on a fool’s errand, Burton. Do you realize that you could sail on this River for a thousand years and still be a million miles or more from the end? I’m staying. My people need me. Besides, Spruce made it clear that we should be striving for a spiritual perfection, not fighting Those who gave us a chance to do so." Burton’s teeth flashed whitely in his dark face. He swung his grail as if it were a weapon.

"I didn’t ask to be put here any more than I asked to be born on Earth, I don’t intend to kowtow to another’s dictates I mean to find The River’s end. And if I don’t, I will at least have had fun and learned much on the way!" By then, people were beginning to stumble out of their huts as they yawned and rubbed heavy eyes. Ruach paid no attention to them; he watched the craft as it set sail close-hauled to the wind, cutting across and up The River. Burton was handling the rudder; he turned once and waved the grail so that the sun bounced off it in many shining spears.

Ruach thought that Burton was really happy that he had been forced to make this decision. Now he could evade the deadly responsibilities that would come with governing this little state and could do what he wanted. He could set out on the greatest of all his adventures.