Page 55 of Circle of Days
Cam said: “We need you to help us.”
So that’s it, Seft thought. He said: “In the name of the gods, why should I help people who terrorized and persecuted me for years?”
Olf adopted a threatening tone. “You have to save us. You’re our brother.”
Seft said sharply: “I don’thaveto do anything for you, Olf, so you’d better drop that attitude right now.”
Olf looked away and said no more.
Neen told the children to take the bowls to the river and wash them. Seft stood up and said to Neen: “Come and talk with me.” They stepped away from Olf and Cam and stood where they could not be overheard.
Seft said: “They just need me to teach them how to find a seam of flint.”
“I think it’s outrageous. After all they put you through.”
“You don’t think I have a duty to help them?”
“Certainly not! They haven’t even said they’re sorry.”
“They may starve to death. Or they might try to steal one of our cattle, and get shot by a herder with a bow.”
“Would you care?”
Seft hesitated, feeling again the sense of loss at his father’s death. “I don’t know,” he said. “They’re vile, but they are my brothers.”
Neen was thoughtful for a few moments, then she said: “I would never try to stop you doing something you saw as your duty.”
Was it his duty? He was clear about his duty to Neen and his children, but not to his brothers. He needed time to think.
He returned to the brothers and said: “Go away and don’t come back until sundown. We’ll give you a small supper and you can sleep in the house tonight. I’ll tell you my decision in the morning.”
Olf said: “Where are we supposed to go all afternoon?”
Seft said impatiently: “I don’t care. Go and look at the Monument. Just stay away from my house until suppertime.”
They got up grumpily and walked away.
Seft said to Neen: “I’ll go and see how Tem is getting on.”
“Thanks for getting rid of those two,” she said. “I’m not comfortable with them hanging around.”
“They’ll leave tomorrow, with or without me.”
“Good.”
Seft left her and walked to the river. The cleverhands had stopped to eat their midday dinner, but they were getting on well, and they might finish in another two or three days. He sat beside Tem and said: “I may have to go away for a few days.”
“Why? Where?”
Seft told him the story of the destitute brothers.
“Well,” Tem said, “not many people would be so forgiving. Half of me admires you and the other half thinks you’re a fool.”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“Yes, you have,” said Tem.
It took them a day to walk to the northern edge of the plain. On the following morning Seft told them how to find a flint seam.
