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〃Deoce。〃
Then we went on into the desert； the last flames from the nomads' camp lost in the glare of the rising sun。
CHAPTER TEN
Deoce
DURING THE NEXT few days； Deoce and her panions had cause to regret their rescue。 The desert nights were so cold； our bones ached； and the days so opposite we begged for the fort of night。 It was impossible to keep the fast pace Janos desired； so we were grateful the slavers had evidently decided not to follow。 And as the sun beat down and the asses bawled their misery； and we wished for tears enough to weep； we realized only a fool would pursue us。 For we were all clearly doomed； as would be anyone who followed。 Still； there were beasts about…although I cannot attest they were of this world。 At night we heard them howling for the wetness of our blood； during the hot day we could sense them snuffling； just out of view； on our scent。
On the third dusk of our ordeal； Cassini's divining rod finally gave a weak twitch； and we all fell to the sand and began to scrabble and dig like dogs。 I growled with satisfaction like the others when my fingers found wet sand。 I scooped up the wetness and stuffed it into my mouth； sucking eagerly on the grit； spitting it away when it was dry； and grabbing up another handful。 When I was nearly satiated I looked up； munching on sand as if it were sweet sherbet； and saw Deoce。 Her face was filthy； and when she grinned at me； sand clung to her teeth。 She laughed at my own look； and when I laughed back at her own poor state； she found greater amusement； laughing even louder。
Deoce had a lovely laugh。 I can hear it now as I write these words and struggle for descriptive powers。 It wasn't musical or bell…like； or any of those 〃winds in a sacred grove〃 parisons。 She laughed from the toes up； a deep； heartfelt laugh that tickled the spirit of anyone in her pany。 Soon we were all laughing； and it took little encouragement from Janos to get the men busy widening and deepening the hole and helping the animals get a drink。
I am not saying we were as good as new that night； or even refreshed； but our spirits were much lighter。 When one of the beasts howled； Lione mocked it with a howl of his own； and soon all the men were howling； until the only sounds we heard in the desert were our own。
Deoce sat near me as we ate； and after a time we attempted conversation。 She pointed at me； said my name； and gestured about She repeated my name； but this time with a question to the tone。 〃Ah；〃 I said。 〃You want to know where I e from。〃 I pointed west。 She frowned at this and shook her head； as if this was not possible。 So I nodded； firm； and pointed west once again。 As she thought on this； I spoke her name； and gestured about as she had。 Where did she e from？ She pointed south and flashed her fingers at me several times； indicating much distance。 I raised both hands in a question； pointed south again； then back to where we had encountered the nomads。 〃What happened？〃 I asked。 〃How did you e into their pany？〃 Deoce shook her head； puzzled at my meaning。 So I pointed at her wrists； mimed manacles and chain； and again lifted my hands in question。 Her lovely eyes cleared as she understood。 She chattered heatedly in her own language； then frustrated； she made walking motions with her fingers in the sand。 Her face took on the look of blissful innocence； and she hummed as if she hadn't a care in the world。 She was acting out the beginning of her journey； making motions to indicate many panions and a strong guard。 Then she suddenly took the part of the nomads； face crafty； evil； lurking。 And I realized the nomads were lying in ambush when her party went past Then she mimed a leap forward； made noises of battle； took on the roles of soldiers waging a fierce fight and then threw her arms about herself to indicate her capture。 She tapped both wrists to indicate the manacles and made motions of walking again。 This time with a look of terrible despair。 She sighed； acted out a stifled sob。 Deoce pointed east This was the direction the slavers were taking her。 She made motions of a purse full of coin exchanging hands。 I understood she was to be taken to some far place to be sold。
Even in the baggy trousers and puffed shirt； with a thin line of sand about her lips； Deoce was a remarkably beautiful woman。 She would have fetched a handsome price for that nomad chieftain。
We were silent for a time； as each of us struggled to think how to continue our conversation。 〃Perhaps I can help； my friend；〃 Janos said。 I hadn't heard him approach and looked around with mild surprise。 He handed me a small； wooden writing box and crouched by my side。 〃I have some experience in these matters； if you recall。〃
〃I'm not sure that you can help；〃 I said。 〃Our languages seem to have no similarities that I can grasp。〃
Janos laughed。 〃I told you once before； my dear Amalric； that the best dictionary is one that you can bed。〃
I was shocked at this suggestion。 〃Oh； e； now； Janos。 I wouldn't take advantage of the girl。 She is obviously from good family。 As good； or better than my own； I warrant。 And she is clearly a virgin。 It would be wrong for me〃。
〃It would be wrong for you to act as if you were home in peaceful； dull Orissa； just now； Amalric。 This is life。 Real life。〃 He gestured about the wilderness。 'Take it as you find it； my friend。 Or you will regret it the rest of your days。〃
I wanted to protest； but Janos turned to address Deoce。 〃My friend thinks you are a most lovely woman； lady；〃 he said in our tongue。 〃He believes you are a princess。 And； perhaps you are。 Amalric is almost a prince； so you would make a good match。〃
Deoce frowned a little at the mystery of his words； but she smiled and nodded as he spoke； chattering back in her own language。 She pointed at the writing box； and Janos opened it to display clean pads of linen and writing implements。 Deoce laughed and drew them out； quickly catching on to his intent。 She plucked at her sleeve； said a word； then repeated that word 。。。 slowly 。。。 and wrote it down on the linen。 She handed it to me； motioning for me to do the same。 〃Sleeve；〃 I said。 〃Slee…〃
〃Don't be so single…minded； my merchant friend；〃 Janos admonished。 〃She obviously means the whole garment。 If you go on like that； you'll be all night discussing small parts of clothing。 From stitch to cuff to collar。〃
〃You think she means the whole shirt？〃 I asked； feeling foolish。
〃Count on it；〃 Janos said。
Deoce was looking back and forth as we debated。 She seemed impatient。 She tugged at the front of her shirt and said the same word she'd said before and pointed at that word on the linen。 〃Shirt；〃 I said。 〃Shirt。〃 I wrote the word down。 Deoce clapped her hands in delight。 She grasped a leg of her trousers。 'Trousers；〃 I said。 And Deoce repeated after me 。。。 'Trousers。〃
Janos got up。 〃It gets even more interesting；〃 he said； 〃when you get past clothing 。。。 to anatomy。〃
I blushed like fury； sure Deoce could understand the tone of his ment。 I turned； thinking of some way to apologize for my friend's lusty remarks； but found a look of wonder on Deoce's face。 Her fingers rose； tentative； and touched my hair； my face。 She said a word。 I didn't need a dictionary。 The only word it could be was 。。。 red。
As Janos strode into the darkness he called back； 〃I don't know why you thought you had to use a love potion on the fair Melina； Amalric。 That fiery hair of yours is potion enough for most women。〃
Deoce patted my hand for attention。 〃Me…li…na？〃 she asked。 〃Melina？〃 She made motions for me to write the word on the pad。
I shook my head。 〃Let's leave Melina for another lesson；〃 I said。 〃Much later。〃
Gentler country greeted us at the end of the next day's trek。 We found a creek slashing through a narrow gully； with trees and brush forming a thin line on either side。 Later； the creek grew into a stream； with thicker vegetation to soothe us。 The water came from a great solitary butte； which lifted from the plains。 The maps showed the butte with a heavy X marked in its center； possibly and hopefully indicating a place to rest。 We were all too trail weary to question the logic of finding fort in such a place。 Even with water tumbling from the rocks； the butte seemed as desolate as the plain。 Janos put Maeen and his men at the ready in case the butte was occupied； and as the sun dipped for its dark coverlets； we struggled to the top。
A marvel awaited。 The butte was hollow in its core； with thick walls to protect everything within from the outside elements。 The crater was filled from wall to wall with trees and flowering plants； with streams crisscrossing it。 We could see animals drinking by those streams； and in the dying light the sky was alive with thousands of birds calling and swooping through dense clouds of fat insects。
Deoce gave a small cry of amazement and pointed to one of the pools of water scattered about this pocket paradise。 We all looked and saw a half…dozen slender antelope playing in the water。 Among them were two tigers。 The tigers were splashing about and rolling on their backs； kicking claws in the air in mock bat like kittens。 They paid no attention to their natural prey。 A wonderful feeling of peace and joy spread； and I had a sudden urge