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had been twisted and contorted; waterless, where all others had been wet. And Nukurren understood,
then, that the words the Mother of Demons had just spoken were words she had torn from her own
soul's despairing grasp.
"I will return," she said. "First, I must think."
Once outside the command circle, Nukurren found a number of gukuy waiting. For her, she realized.
And one demon.
Most of the gukuy present were barbarian tribespeople, but there were three Pilgrims, as well, and one
she thought was a swamp-dweller. She recognized one of the Pilgrims, although she did not know her
name. Long ago, the Pilgrim had been a warrior in the Anshac legions, and Nukurren remembered seeing
her from time to time in the Warrior's Square.
She made the gesture of recognition, and apologized for not remembering the Pilgrim's name.
"I am Rurroc, Nukurren."
"When did you leave the legions?"
"Not until we sought refuge in the Chiton. But I had long been a follower of Ushulubang. Since shortly
after you and Dhowifa fled Shakutulubac."
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"Why did you become a Pilgrim?"
"Because of you."
For a moment, Nukurren'sshoroku almost wavered.
"Because ofme? "
The gesture of assent. "Yes, Nukurren. Many warriors joined the Pilgrims after you fled. At least
double-eight that I know of." Sensing Nukurren's puzzlement, Rurroc continued: "It was because we
thought it was very unjust."
"Why? I was a deserter. And I stole one of the Paramount Mother's husbands."
The gesture of dismissal. "Not that. Everything that went before."
Nukurren was silent for a moment. Finally, she said, "I had not realized anyone cared."
"Many cared, Nukurren. But it was impossible to tell you, then. You were not easy to approach."
Nukurren thought back to the past, and, grudgingly, admitted to herself that Rurroc was possibly right.
She had, perhaps
One of the Kiktu whistled amusement. Nukurren stared at her. She had recognized the warrior at once,
of course.
"What do you find so humorous, Kokokda?" she demanded, speaking in Kiktu.
"You! There you are, pondering Rurroc's words. `Perhaps I was a mite touchy.' `Possibly I was, just a
tiny bit' what is a good Enagulishuc word, Dzhenushkunutushen?"
The demon laughed. "How about `prickly'?" The demon explained the term, while all the warriors
practiced pronouncing it. Their efforts were made difficult by the fact that most of them were whistling
gleefully.
Throughout, of course, Nukurren maintained hershoroku. But, at the end, she too joined in the humor.
"I suppose I have been, perhaps, just a trace purrikkulai."
She made the gesture of welcome to Kokokda.
"I am pleased to see that you have survived."
"I owe it to you, Nukurren," replied Kokokda. There was no trace of humor in her tone now. "Had it
not been for the lesson you gave me long ago, I would also have become as foolish as the clan leaders. It
was a hard lesson, but well worth it."
"Hard?" demanded Nukurren. "Foolish sp what is the Enagulishuc word for `spawn'?"
"Child," replied Dzhenushkunutushen. "The plural is children. Boy, if male. Girl, if female."
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"Foolishdzhiludh . Very stupidgurrul . That lesson was not hard. The beaks of Utuku at the victory
feast are hard. The flail tips of Anshac legions are hard. Helotry is hard. Slavery is hard. Life is hard. The
universe is hard."
Again, the group of warriors whistled. When the humor died down, Nukurren scrutinized them carefully.
Nukurren knew one of the other Kiktu personally. She had spent a pleasant afternoon in Ipapo's
company, long ago, during the time when she and Dhowifa lived in exile among the Kiktu. She made the
gesture of recognition, which Ipapo returned.
Nukurren now examined Aktako. She had seen the Kiktu warrior, but had never spoken to her.
Dhowifa said she was Kopporu's lover as well as the chief of her personal guard. Aktako was the oldest
gukuy present, and not particularly large. But Nukurren sensed instantly that she was a deadly warrior.
Aktako stared back at her, and the two veterans exchanged an unspoken, ungestured, recognition.
Whether she knew them personally or not, they all had one thing in common, which was immediately
obvious to Nukurren's experienced eye. They were the toughest veterans at Kopporu's disposal.
Tough enough, I think. Aktako certainly. And, of course, Ipapo. And Kokokda as well, if she has
truly learned her lesson. Which she must have, or she would not be here. The others? Yes, I believe
so.
She was silent, thinking. Those thoughts, at first, moved far away from the gukuy before her. But, after a
time, her thoughts returned and settled upon them. Throughout her long silence, they had squatted
patiently. Now, returning her gaze, they remained still and motionless.
Nukurren understood, and appreciated, and then accepted, their own acceptance of her. And she
thought that perhaps the Mother of Demons was right, after all. She was still skeptical, but the eyes
were there, after all, staring back at her unflinchingly. The eyes of outcasts, refugees, exiles, with nothing
in their gaze but confidence and trust.
"Do you think it can be done?" Nukurren asked. She was looking at Aktako, but it was Kokokda who
answered.
"Train a new army? Yes, Nukurren, it can "
"That is not the question," interrupted Aktako. "She knows the answer to that question."
Aktako made the gesture of bemused uncertainty.
"Who knows, Nukurren? I did not think we could cross the swamp. But I was determined not to give
that muck the satisfaction of my defeat. And, after a time, we were through the swamp. Then, we met the
Utukuogghoxt . I did not think we would survive the battle. But I was determined not to give the
cannibals the satisfaction of a meal. Then the demons came, and destroyed the Utuku. And perhaps that
is what you need to ask yourself."
Aktako gestured toward the young demon.
"I think there is more to this world than we know, Nukurren. So I think we should not assume the world
will always defeat us. Did not this same world allow demons to exist? And who knows what can happen
to a world which has demons in it?"
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