Page 161 of Circle of Days
She felt they were getting excited.
She said: “It will be hard work. Only healthy and strong people should volunteer. No one lazy. No one who would prefer to doze in the sun. No one who gives up easily. Only people with enthusiasm and a love of adventure!”
Now some of them were putting their hands up.
“Are you with me?”
A cheer went up.
“Spend today trading. Feast with us this evening, and hear the poets. Do whatever you like tonight. And if you are brave and strong, come here to the Monument tomorrow at dawn. Will you come?”
There was a shout of assent.
“Don’t be late!” she cried. “We leave at sunrise!”
She clambered down from the lintel. “What do you think?” she said to Sary.
Sary was flushed and breathless. “They love you!” she said.
“But will they still love me tomorrow?”
“Oh, yes,” Sary said, in the tone of one who makes a vow.
“I hope you’re right,” said Joia.
Outside the Monument, as Ani was watching the trading begin, she was accosted by Scagga. His face was red and his eyes were bulging. He was so indignant that he spat saliva as he spoke. In an angry, challenging tone he said: “How many volunteers do you expect Joia to take to the North Hills?”
Several people nearby looked up to see what the fuss was.
Ani said quietly: “Really, Scagga, you can’t speak to me like that. I won’t be bullied and interrogated by you or anyone else. Where are your manners? Speak to me politely, or don’t speak to me at all.”
“Look here—”
“What do you normally say when you meet someone?”
He looked impatient and irritated, but he said: “May the Sun God smile on you.”
“And on you, Scagga. Now tell me, calmly, what’s on your mind.”
“The number of people Joia is going to take on this mad mission of hers.”
“If this is business for the elders, there should be more than two of us.” Ani was not going to let Scagga pick people off one by one. “Let’s bring Keff in, at least.” Keff was not far away, talking to an arrow maker. His belly was growing again, Ani thought; a sign of the improved weather this summer. She caught his eye and waved him over.
Keff said: “What is it?”
Scagga said to him: “When we elders discussed Joia’s scheme, how many volunteers did you imagine she would take to the North Hills?”
“I’m not sure I had a definite idea,” Keff said. “Why do you ask?”
“Come on, you must have had a notion.” Scagga showed both hands, pointed to both feet, and showed both hands again. “That many?”
“More,” said Keff.
“Twice that many?”
“Perhaps.”
“Three times?”
