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wasps and bats and birds lived in plenty, more than enough to ensure thorough pollination of any plant
that desired to reproduce. The tree would, after all, not die without having given a part of itself over to
new life.
Renewed, the tree regretted only one thing, insofar as a tree could have regrets. Somehow, deep within
its heartwood, within the solitary spirit that was itself, it knew that everything that had happened, the silent
impossibility of it, was all tied in to the final, farewell hug that singular traveler had performed before he
and his companions had taken their leave. How mere contact could have initiated the remarkable
sequence of events that had led to the tree returning home the tree did not know, but it was the only
explanation.
Or perhaps it was not. Refreshed and renewed, it had plenty of time to consider the conundrum, to
stand and contemplate. It was the thing that trees did best, and this tree was no exception. If it came into
an answer, that would be a good thing. If it did nothing more than continue to stand and grow and put
forth leaves and seeds, that would be a good thing too.
It regretted only that it would never see that traveler again, and therefore could not give him a hug back.
XXVI
EHOMBA GLANCED OVER HIS SHOULDER, BUT THEY HAD BEEN walking for some time and
there was nothing to see behind them that was not also in front of them. Sand and rock, rock and gravel.
 I still cannot get over that tree. The herdsman stepped over a small gully.  Standing out there all by
itself, with nothing else growing around it, not even a blade of grass. And I have never seen that kind of
tree before.
 I have. Simna kicked at a small red stone, sending it skipping across the hardpan floor of the wadi
down which they were walking.  To the north of my homeland. There are lots of them there. They re nice
trees, and as you found out, their nuts are delicious.
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 They certainly are, the herdsman readily agreed.
Alongside him, still towing the remnants of their floating pond, Ahlitah snorted.  Omnivores! You ll eat
anything.
 Not quite anything, Simna shot back.  I find cat, for example, stringy and tough.
 But why was it there? Ehomba was reflecting aloud.  Obviously so far from where its kind of tree
normally grows, all alone on top of that small dune? It must have some important meaning.
 It means somebody else traveling through this Gholos-forgotten land dropped a seed or two, and
unlikely as it may be, one took root on that knoll. The swordsman was not sympathetic to his tall
companion s interest.  You ask too many questions, Etjole.
 That is because I like answers.
 Not every question has an answer, bruther. Simna avoided the disarticulated skeleton of a dead
dragonets. Fragments of wing membrane clung to the long finger bones like desiccated parchment.
Ehomba eyed him in surprise.  Of course they do. A question without an answer is not a question.
The swordsman opened his mouth, started to say something, then closed it, a puzzled look on his face as
he continued to stride along. It was early, the sun was not yet at its highest, and the increasing heat
disinclined him to pursue the matter further. Not wishing to clutter up the place with another of the
herdsman s inexplicable commentaries, he put it clean out of his mind, a process that with much practice
he had perfected some time ago.
Days passed without incident. Game began to reappear. Not in profusion, but sufficient to satisfy
Ahlitah s appetite as well as that of his less voracious companions. Standing sentinel over abating desert,
date, coconut, and ivory nut palms began to appear. Other, smaller flora found protection at the foot of
these taller growths.
When the travelers began to encounter otherwise dry riverbeds that boasted small pools in their depths
as well as more frequent traditional oases, Ahlitah kicked off the shackles he had been using to tow the
remnants of the floating pond. It was nearly drained anyway, and he was tired of the constant drag on his
shoulders. Despite the escalating ubiquity of freestanding water, the ever cautious Ehomba argued for
keeping the pond with them as long as it contained moisture. For once, Simna was able to stand aside
and let his companions argue.
Ahlitah eventually won out, not through force of logic but because he had simply had enough of the
ever-present pond. Simna watched with interest to see if the herdsman would employ some striking,
overpowering magic to force the big cat to comply, but in this he was disappointed. Ehomba simply
shrugged and acceded to the cat s insistence. If he was capable of compelling the litah, he showed no
sign of being willing to do so. Simna didn t know whether to be disappointed or not.
They continued on. Once, when water had been scarce for several days, Ehomba muttered something to
the big cat about performing reckless acts in unknown countries. Ahlitah snarled a response and moved
away. But this scolding ended the next morning when they found a new water hole. Fringed by bullrushes
and small palms, it offered shade as well as water once they had shooed away the small diving birds and
nutrias.
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