Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick

Author:Russell Kirkpatrick [Russell Kirkpatrick]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780730491354
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

The Fodhram leader returned to find the coastlanders practising enthusiastically with tumplines and bales. All except the Storrsens contented themselves with two bales: while heavy, the weight did not seem unmanageable. They walked bent under the load, as though they were about to topple forward with every step. Once they had got under way, the weight of the bales actually kept them going. Round and round the ruins of Fort Brumal they paraded—all except the Haufuth, who excused himself by patting his huge stomach and complaining that he was already carrying more than the rest of them. So he sat on a slab of stone, saying nothing, seemingly unmoved by the hilarious antics of his countrymen as they jerked about under their loads of pelts.

‘Excellent, excellent!’ Leader boomed. ‘We’ll make Fodhram of you before we’re finished!’ The Fodhram laughed together at the thought of coastlanders working the fur trails, and the Company laughed with them. Then they collapsed on to the snow-covered ground, sloughing off their burdens and laughing for the sheer exhilaration of it all. The good humour of the Fodhram seemed to be infectious; none of the Company really knew why they laughed. But it was some time before the Fodhram leader could continue.

‘The Hermit has agreed to the trade,’ he reported. ‘On one condition. He wants to see our party before he will give us his provisions.’

‘Why?’ Farr asked, outraged. ‘Wasn’t giving him Wisent enough?’

‘Don’t worry,’ the Fodhram leader responded quickly. ‘We’d all have to help with the provisions anyway, and his abode is hardly out of our way. And,’ he added, ‘you never know—he might have something to our advantage.’

‘What could an old hermit possibly offer us?’ Leith whispered to his brother.

‘Nobody said he was old,’ Leader replied.

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