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〃Did you brew up？〃
〃There's nothing left to burn。〃
〃And what's the weather like？〃
〃Don't ask。〃
〃That bad？〃
〃We should get a move on。 The thicker the snow gets； the more difficult it'll be to find the pass。〃
They roused the doeki； which made plain its disgruntle…ment at having to breakfast on words of encouragement rather than hay； and； with the meat Pie had prepared the day before loaded； left the shelter of the rock and headed out into the snow。 There had been a short debate before they left as to whether they should ride or not； Pie insisting that Gentle should do so； given his present delicacy； but he'd argued that they might need the doeki's strength to carry them both if they got into worse difficulties； and they should preserve such energies as it still possessed for such an emergency。 But he soon began to stumble in snow that was waist high in places； his body； though somewhat healed by sleep； not equal to the demands upon it。
〃We'll go more quickly if you ride；〃 Pie told him。
He needed little persuasion and mounted the doeki； his fatigue such that he could barely sit upright with the wind so strong； and instead slumped against the beast's neck。 He only occasionally raised himself from that posture； and when he did the scene had scarcely changed。
〃Shouldn't we be in the pass by now？〃 he murmured to Pie at one point； and the look on the mystif s face was answer enough。 They were lost。 Gentle pushed himself into an upright position and； squinting against the gale； looked for some sign of shelter； however small。 The world was white in every direction but for them； and even they were being steadily erased as ice clogged the fur of their coats and the snow they were trudging through deepened。 Until now； however arduous the journey had bee； he hadn't countenanced the possibility of failure。 He'd been his own best convert to the gospel of their indestructibility。 But now such confidence seemed self…deception。 The white world would strip all color from them； to get to the purity of their bones。
He reached to take hold of Pie's shoulder； but misjudged the distance and slid from the doeki's back。 Relieved of its burden the beast slumped； its front legs buckling。 Had Pie not been swift and pulled Gentle out of harm's way； he might have been crushed beneath the creature's bulk。 Hauling back his hood and swiping the snow from the back of his neck； he got to his feet and found Pie's exhausted gaze there to meet him。
〃I thought I was leading us right；〃 the mystif said。
〃Of course you did。〃
〃But we've missed the pass somehow。 The slope's getting steeper。 I don't know where the fuck we are； Gentle。〃
〃In trouble is where we are； and too tired to think our way out of it。 We have to rest。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Here；〃 Gentle said。 〃This blizzard can't go on forever。 There's only so much snow in the sky； and most of it's already fallen； right？ Right？ So if we can just hold on till the storm's over； and we can see where we are…〃
〃Suppose by that time it's night again？ We'll freeze； my friend。〃
〃Do we have any other choice？〃 Gentle said。 〃If we go on we'll kill the beast and probably ourselves。 We could march right over a gorge and never know it。 But if we stay here。 。 。 together。 。 。 maybe we're in with a chance。'*
〃I thought I knew our direction。〃
〃Maybe you did。 Maybe the storm'll blow over； and we'll find ourselves on the other side of the mountain。〃 Gentle put his hands on Pie's shoulders； sliding them around the back of the mystif's neck。 〃We have no choice；〃 he said slowly。
Pie nodded； and together they settled as best they could in the dubious shelter of the doeki's body。 The beast was still breathing； but not； Gentle thought； for long。 He tried to put from his mind what would happen if it died and the storm failed to abate； but what was the use of leaving such plans to the last？ If death seemed inevitable； would it not be better for him and Pie to meet it together…to slit their wrists and bleed to death side by side…rather than slowly freeze； pretending to the end that survival was plausible？ He was ready to voice that suggestion now； while he still had the energy and focus to do so； but as he turned to the mystif some tremor reached him that was not the wind's tirade but a voice beneath its harangue； calling him to stand up。 He did so。
The gusts would have blown him over had Pie not stood up with him； and his eyes would have missed the figures in the drifts but that the mystif caught his arm and； putting its head close to Gentle's； said； 〃How the hell did they get out？〃
The women stood a hundred yards from them。 Their feet were touching the snow but not impressing themselves upon it。 Their bodies were wound with cloth brought from the ice； which billowed around them as the wind filled it。 Some held treasures； claimed from the glacier： pieces of I their temple； and ark； and altar。 One； the young girl whose corpse had moved Gentle so much； held in her arms the head of a Goddess carved in blue stone。 It had been badly vandalized。 There were cracks in its cheeks； and parts of its nose； and an eye； were missing。 But it found light from somewhere and gave off a serene radiance。
〃What do they want？〃 Gentle said；
〃You； maybe？〃 Pie ventured。
The woman standing closest to them； her hair rising half her height again above her head； courtesy of the wind； beckoned。
〃I think they want us both to go；〃 Gentle said。
〃That's the way it looks；〃 Pie said； not moving a muscle。
〃What are we waiting for？〃
〃I thought they were dead；〃 the mystif said。
〃Maybe they were。〃
〃So we take the lead from phantoms？ I'm not sure that's wise。〃
〃They came to find us； Pie；〃 Gentle said。
Having beckoned； the woman was turning slowly on her toe tips； like a mechanical Madonna that Clem had once given Gentle； which had played 〃Ave Maria〃 as it turned。
〃We're going to lose them if we don't hurry。 What's your problem； Pie？ You've talked with spirits before。〃
〃Not like these；〃 Pie said。 〃The Goddesses weren't all forgiving mothers； you know。 And their rites weren't all milk and honey。 Some of them were cruel。 They sacrificed men。〃
〃You think that's why they want us？〃
〃It's possible。〃
〃So we weigh that possibility against the absolute certainty of freezing to death where we stand；〃 Gentle said。
〃It's your decision。〃
〃No； this one we make together。 You've got fifty percent of the vote and fifty percent of the responsibility。〃
〃What do you want to do？〃
〃There you go again。 Make up your own mind for once。〃
Pie looked at the departing women； their forms already disappearing behind a veil of snow。 Then at Gentle。 Then at the doeki。 Then back at Gentle。 〃I heard they eat men's balls。〃
〃So what are you worried about？〃
〃AH right！〃 the mystif growled； 〃I vote we go。〃
〃Then it's unanimous。〃
Pie started to haul the doeki to its feet。 It didn't want to move； but the mystif had a fine；turn of threat when pressed； and began to berate it ripely。
〃Quick； or we'll lose them！〃 Gentle said。
The beast was up now； and tugging on its bridle Pie led it in pursuit of Gentle； who was forging ahead to keep their guides in sight。 The snow obliterated the women pletely at times； but he saw the beckoner glance back several times； and knew that she'd not let her foundlings get lost again。 After a time； their destination came in sight。 A rock face； slate…gray and sheer； loomed from the murk； its summit lost in mist。
〃If they want us to climb； they can think again；〃 Pie yelled through the wind。
〃No； there's a door；〃 Gentle shouted over his shoulder。 〃See it？〃
The word rather flattered what was no more than a jagged crack； like a bolt of black lightning burned into the face of the cliff。 But it represented some hope of shelter； if nothing else。
Gentle turned back to Pie。 〃Do you see it； Pie？〃
〃I see it；〃 came the response。 〃But I don't see the women。〃
One sweeping glance along the rock face confirmed the mystifs observation。 They'd either entered the cliff or
floated up its face into the clouds。 Whichever； they'd removed themselves quickly。
〃Phantoms；〃 Pie said； fretfully。
〃What if they are？〃 Gentle replied。 〃They brought us to shelter。〃
He took the doeki's rein from Pie's hands and coaxed the animal on； saying； 〃See that hole in the wall？ It's going to be warm inside。 Remember warm？〃
The snow thickened as they covered the last hundred yards； until it was almost waist deep again。 But all three… man； animal； and mystif…made the crack alive。 There was more than shelter inside； there was light。 A narrow passageway presented itself； its black walls encased in ice； with a fire flickering somewhere out of sight in the cavern's depths。
Gentle had let slip the doeki's reins； and the wise animal was already heading away down the passage； the sound of its hooves echoing against the glittering walls。 By the time Gentle and Pie caught up with it； a slight bend in the passage had revealed the source of the light and warmth it was heading towards。 A broad but shallow bowl of beaten brass was set in a place where the passage widened； and the fire was burning vigorously in its center。 There were two curiosities； however： one； that the flame was not gold but blue； two