first beast seized his hand in its paws and forced the bottle to his own lips. It seemed it would drain its contents, what little there was. Tyrtaios yanked back the bottle, and a bit of the beverage splashed free. A howl of rage came from the second beast, but the first regarded Tyrtaios with fury. Tyrtaios then handed the bottle to the second beast, who with one motion threw the contents down that open, dark, fanged, spread maw. Both beasts then leapt into the air, and then crouched down, eyeing one another. The long tongues moved about their jaws. The bottle lay on its side, in the dirt, empty.
“They left none for their fellow,” observed Tyrtaios.
“Let us leave,” I said.
“Where is the third?” asked Tyrtaios.
“Out there in the darkness, guarding the trail,” I speculated.
“No matter,” said Tyrtaios. He loosened his dagger in its sheath.
“We need a lamp,” I said.
“There is light enough,” he said. “We need only reach the river.”
We then left the small clearing.
I looked behind us, and noted that the small fire had been extinguished. I gathered that it had served its purpose, marking their campsite, and that the beasts had little need of its illumination.
“When the fee was cast to the ground,” I said, “it was no test.”
“Certainly not,” said Tyrtaios. “It was a gesture of contempt, a transparent sleight, an obvious insult.”
“But the beast,” I said, “then need retrieve it himself, and did so, seething with fury.”
“We permitted it to save face,” said Tyrtaios, “pretending to accept the matter on the leader’s vaunted terms, as a test of our pride, and probity.”
“Do you think he was fooled?” I said.
“Of course not,” said Tyrtaios.
“He is dangerous,” I said.
“They are all dangerous,” said Tyrtaios.
“I do not understand the business of the certification,” I said.
“It certifies,” he said, “that the cargo was placed on the ship of Tersites, as was intended.”
“That much I gathered,” I said, “but what is involved here, what is the cargo, what is afoot?”
“I know very little about it,” said Tyrtaios, “and I gather that that is for the best.”
“Doubtless the messenger, he who delivered it to your superior, would know,” I said.
“I think not,” said Tyrtaios. “And the messenger is dead, as the others before him.”
“I do not understand,” I said.
“The certification, which was to be delivered only when the cargo was placed on the ship of Tersites, has come from faraway, perhaps from as far away as the Voltai range, and has passed from one messenger to another, each one of whom was killed after delivering it to the next.”
“They expected nothing, and were unconnected, the one with the other?” I said.
“A useful procedure for ensuring security,” said Tyrtaios.
“You delivered it boldly,” I said.
“I am needed for the success of their venture, whatever may be its nature,” said Tyrtaios.
He then, with his dagger, parted the strings which held the wallet to his belt, and cast the wallet into the brush.
I did not understand why he did this. He did not resheathe his dagger.
“Let us continue on,” I said, uneasily.
“No,” he said, “we are waiting here.”
“I do not like this business,” I said.
“It pays well,” he said.
“Why are we waiting?” I asked.
“There is no point in going further, not now,” said Tyrtaios. “It would be foolish to do so.”
“I do not understand,” I said.
“The fire at the campsite is out,” said Tyrtaios. “That will doubtless inform our third friend that we have left the site, and are on the trail.”
“So?” I said.
“So our friend will be expecting us, and, when we do not appear, he will investigate.”
“I would suppose so,” I said. “I am not eager to encounter him.”
“Unfortunately I must do so,” said Tyrtaios. “He was not with the others. I think that had not been anticipated. But no matter.”
“I understand nothing of this,” I said.
“You do recall,” said Tyrtaios, “that the beast with the speaking machine claimed to know the contents of the cargo.”
“Yes,” I said.
“The other two, as well, would be likely to know,” said Tyrtaios.
“I suppose so,” I said.
“Our friend is approaching,” said Tyrtaios.
And surely, a darkness amongst darknesses, but a moving darkness, was moving toward us, a large darkness. Then the thing was before us. It stopped. It seemed uncertain. Perhaps it was puzzled, that it had not been joined on the trail. In any event, it had now retraced its path, and it stood, looming, before us. How large the thing was, and, in its way, how terrible. It growled, softly. There was no device, no speaking