"What are you talking about?" said Katerina. "I don't know these words."
"Modern things," said Ivan. "Weapons. Whatever we can learn how to make here, so we can teach the people how to make them and use them there."
"What weapons?" said Katerina. "You don't have swords - I've seen no one carrying them - and as for magic, most people have no idea."
"Oh, Katerina, you haven't seen weapons till you've seen what our civilization produces. Weapons that could destroy the whole world - though of course no one uses those. And weapons of disease - but we can't use those, because it would kill far more innocent people and might not reach the enemy at all. We need more sharply aimed weapons, right, Mother? Iron technology isn't at a point where we can make cannon, I don't think, not in the ninth century. Though they did cast early guns in bronze. That's worth a thought. What is gunpowder? I remember it has something to do with saltpeter... that's nitrate of something, isn't it? What about dynamite?"
"You're asking me?" said Mother.
Ivan laughed. "Oh, I know where to find it out. There've got to be wacko places on the Internet. If the government sees what I'm doing, they'll assume I'm a terrorist."
"Everything depends on what's available back then. Katerina has to help you with that," said Mother. "She'll know what can and can't be made there in her own village."
Katerina nodded. She prided herself on having a clear understanding of the work of every man and woman in Taina. She might not be able to do all the jobs - smiths and plowmen needed more strength and bulk than she would ever have - but at least she knew what they could do, and what they needed in order to be able to do it.
"And transportation," said Ivan. "We can't make cars, but maybe we can - what, I don't know, improve the cart?" He laughed. "Faster carts, that'll strike terror into Baba Yaga's heart."
Mother brought her hand down hard on Ivan's head.
"Ouch! What!"
"You said her name."
"We're not in Taina now," said Ivan, rubbing his head.
"It gives her the power to push past the protections of the house," said Mother.
"She's on the other side of the world, Mother."
"No," said Mother. "She's here."
Katerina at once grew alarmed. "Here? In this city?"
"A few days ago. Someone probed at the house. I felt it - no, I smelled her. Foul. Like... never mind what it was like. I went to the window. I couldn't see her - she had a glamour around her - but I could see where she was. Just across the street. Watching."
"Why didn't you say anything?" said Ivan.
"Because the house was sufficient to stop her. She's weaker here. I think she was angry to find that she couldn't get through our defenses."
"She knows where we are," said Katerina. "Oh, God help us now."
"Amen," said Mother. "But it doesn't change anything. You still have to learn whatever's worth learning, and you still have to go back."
"But with her at our tail," said Ivan.
"I've been thinking about ways to send her home," said Mother.
Katerina shook her head vigorously. "Don't think of it," she said. "You're very talented, but weak as she might be, you're no match for her."
"I think I might be, here on my own ground," said Mother.
"Don't try it, I warn you," said Katerina. "The very act of confronting her, that's pride, don't you see? It gives her power over you, because she rules through pride. You need to stay meek. It's the protection of Christ. The meekness of the obedient followers of Jesus, that protects us from the she-wolf."
"I'm not a Christian," said Mother.
"But you have never acted in pride before, have you? Never challenged a rival, have you?"
"No," said Mother. "I've never needed to."
"You don't need to now, either," said Katerina. "You must believe me. I don't know as much as you about these things, but I know more than you about the Widow. If you face her, challenge her, she has you then."
Mother shuddered. "Well, then," she said. "Well, then."
"Don't tell me you were looking forward to it," said Ivan.
"No, no, no," said Mother. "The opposite. And I'm relieved to think I don't have to. And frightened to think how close I came to trying it when I faced her there through the glass of our window. I came this close."
There was a greater sense of urgency now. No more time for desultory talks with Father and Mother, for