Page 11 of Circle of Days
“Go on, then.”
He turned and strode away.
He did not know whether to rejoice or not. He had made love with the girl he adored, and it had been wonderful—then she had told him she was not sure she wanted to spend her life with him. Worse, it seemed he had a rival, a tall, confident man called Enwood, who was older than Neen, whereas Seft was younger.
Tomorrow he would have to leave with his family, and would not see her until the Autumn Halfway. Enwood would have a quarter of a year to woo her with no rival in sight.
But tonight Neen would be with Seft, not Enwood. Seft had one more chance to make it permanent.
Outside the Monument, crowds of people were already bargaining, offering their wares and asking for what they wanted, arguing about the relative values of flint axes, flint knives, stone hammers, pots, hides, ropes, bulls, rams, bows and arrows.
He found his family. He expected Olf and Cam to ridicule him about where he had spent the night, making obscene suggestions and trying to turn his love affair into something sordid. But they sat side by side on the ground, looking at him, as if waiting for something to happen.
That was ominous.
His father was turned away, talking to Ev and Fee, the ropemakers, and Seft waited for the conversation to end.
After a few moments Cog turned around and said: “Where were you last night?”
Seft said: “All the work was done before I left, wasn’t it?”
“As it happens, yes, but I might have needed you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“Anyway, I’m worried about leaving our pit unattended. I don’t trust that Wun.”
This was going to be bad news, Seft felt. “What do you imagine Wun is going to do? He’s here.”
“He’s got a big family, and he probably left some of them behind.”
“And what will they do, steal our shovels?”
“Don’t make jokes, or I’ll knock your stupid head off.”
Cam laughed loudly at that, as if it was the funniest thing he had ever heard.
Seft said: “I’m only wondering what the danger is.”
“The danger is that some of Wun’s people spend three days taking flint in a pit they didn’t have to dig, because we dug it.” He pointed a finger at Seft. “There, clever boy, you didn’t think of that, did you?”
“True.” Seft thought Cog’s whole idea was unlikely, but there was no point in arguing with him.
His father said triumphantly: “That’s why you’re going back to guard the pit.”
“When?”
“Today. Now. And you can clean it up before I get back. The floor of the pit is filthy.”
Seft took a step back, paused, and said: “No.”
“Don’t you dare say no to me, boy.”
“I’ve met a girl—”
Cam and Olf jeered.
“Tonight I’m going to her house, and her mother is going to make us dinner. I’m not going to miss that.”
