file:D|Documents%20and%20SettingsharryDesktopNew%20FolderSamuel%20R.%20Delany%20-%20The%20Towers%20of%20Toron.txt by Delany Samuel R

Author:Delany, Samuel R.
Language: eng
Format: epub

"You'll see," Illu repeated.

They entered a clearing among the cabins. A post was stuck in the ground at the centre. As they approached, Tel saw that there was a sign nailed to it, pointing into the fog: 96

THE TOWERS OF TORON

THE TOWERS OF TORON

97

TOROMON—THIS WAY HOME

"The Scout put this up," Illu said.

"The Scout?" asked Tel. "Who's that?"

"A forest guard in our cabin, named Quorl," Illu said. "He's the guy who came in just before I did." He looked at the sign. ".Doesn't it make you feel better?"

Tel was puzzled. But Lug put his ham-like hands against the post arid growled with satisfaction.

"Ummm," he said, looking from Tel to Ptorn. "Now we know which way home is. That means we know where we are< That makes me feel better."

Illu grinned. "I told you. We show it to all you new people."/

"Qujerl put this up?" Lug asked. He thought for a moment. "That's likfe Quorl. Back in the forest, a lot of times he made me feel better. Why is he so funny acting though?"

Illu shrugged. "A lot of people act funny out here. After a while you just sort of accept it, when you've been here long enough."

"How long have you been out here?" Lug asked.

"Aw . . . too long." He spat in the mud. "You knew the Scout back home, huh? Tell me what's happening back home."

"It's all crazy," Lug said. "All everybody talks about is the war. Nothing but war."

Illu nodded. "And now you're in it yourself. The Scout is a pretty important guy up here. Tell me about Quorl when you knew him back in the forest."

"Well," said Lug, "he was certainly different from now . . ." And the two neanderthals, having struck up a friendship, wandered off together, leaving Ptorn and Tel. fc

"I wonder how he figured it out?" Tel said, looking at the sign up close.

"He must know his math," Ptorn said.

The split plank that formed the post was grey and weathered, and the grain was separating. The nails had rusted quickly in the damp, leaving brown rings around the heads, like the nails in the weather-beaten boards of his father's boat-house. He was about to say something, but before the words formed in his mouth, Ptorn nodded his head and said, "Yes, it does."

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When they got back to the barracks, most of the beds were taken with soldiers already in the regiment.

In the lightless cabin, the figures looked like shadows through the thick mist hanging even inside. lei went to his bed. As he sat down, the figure on the bed next to him suddenly rolled over. "Hey, you're one of the new guys that's come to fill up the holes."

"What holes?" asked Tel.

"You know; replacements."

Tel couldn't make out the face and for a passing moment was reminded of one of the featureless Voices that had issued from the loudspeakers during basic training.

"What happened to the others, the ones we're replacing?" Tel asked warily.

"You really want to know?" responded the shadow.

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