They came to where the paths forked, the women turned off to the left, toward the lake. The lake of drowned women. They were drowned women all right... Again lies from everybody, everybody mixed up... They passed the place where Kandid had waited for Nava and eaten earth. That was long, long ago, thought Kandid, almost as long ago as the biostation... Biostation... He could scarcely plod along; had it not been for the deadling walking at his heels, he would probably have fallen behind by now. Then the women halted and looked at him. All around were Reed-beds, the ground underfoot was warm and squelchy. Nava was standing with eyes closed, imperceptibly swaying, while the women regarded him thoughtfully. Then he remembered.
"How do I get to the biostation?" he asked. Their faces expressed astonishment, and he realized that he had spoken in his native language. He was himself astonished: he couldn't now remember when he had last spoken that tongue. "How do I get to White Rocks?" he asked.
The pregnant woman said, grinning:
"So that's what our little lamb wants..." She wasn't talking to him, but to Nava's mother. "It's amusing how little they understand. Not one of them realizes. Imagine them wandering to White Rocks and suddenly finding themselves in the battle zone!"
"They rot alive there," said Nava's mother pensively, "they go about and rot as they walk and don't even notice that they're not going anywhere, just marking time... Well anyway, let him go, it can only help the Harrowing. If he rots, that's useful. Dissolves - useful again... But perhaps he's protected? Are you protected?" she asked Kandid.
"I don't understand," said Kandid, cheerlessly. "My dear, what are you asking him? How could he be protected?"
"In this world all things are possible," said Nava's mother. "I've heard of such things."
"Just talk," said the pregnant woman. She inspected Kandid carefully once more. "Now, you know," said she, "he could indeed be more use here. Remember what the Teachers were saying yesterday?"
"Ah, yes," said Nava's mother. "Indeed yes ... let him... Let him stay."
"Yes, yes, stay," said Nava suddenly. She was no longer asleep and also felt something untoward was taking place. "You stay, Dummy, don't you go anywhere, why should you go anywhere? You wanted to go to the City, didn't you, and this lake is the City, isn't it, mam? ... Or are you offended at mam? Don't be hurt, she's really kind, only she's in a bad temper today. I don't know why... Likely because of the heat..."
Her mother caught her by the hand. Kandid saw that a familiar little lilac cloud had condensed over the mother's head. Her eyes glazed for a second and closed. Then she said, "Let's go, Nava, they're waiting for us now."
"What about Dummy?"
"He'll stay here... There's nothing for him to do in the City."
"But I want him to be with me! Why can't you understand, mam, he's my husband, they gave him to me for a husband, and he's been my husband for ever so long..."
Both women grimaced.
"Let's go, let's go," said Nava's mother. "You don't understand things yet... Nobody needs him, he's superfluous, they all are, they're a - mistake... Come on now! Well, all right you can come to him afterward ... if you want to then."
Nava was putting up a struggle, doubtless feeling what Kandid was feeling - that they were parting forever. Her mother was dragging her by the arm into the reeds, while she kept looking back and shouting:
"Don't you go away, Dummy! I'll be back soon, don't you think of going away without me, that wouldn't be right, that would be dishonest! All right, you're not my husband, they seem not to like that, I don't know why, but I'm your wife all the same, I nursed you, so now you wait for me! Do you hear? Wait! ..."
He followed her with his eyes, waving his hand feebly, nodding agreement, and trying hard to smile. Good-bye, Nava, he thought. Good-bye. They were hidden from view behind the Reed-beds, but Nava's voice could still be heard, then she went quiet, the sound of a splash came back, and all was silent. He swallowed the lump in his throat and asked the pregnant woman:
"What will you do with her?"
She was still examining him closely.
"What will we do with her?" said she thoughtfully. "That isn't your worry, lambkin, what we'll do with her. At all events, she won't need a husband anymore. Or a father... But what are we going to do with you? You're from White Rocks, after all, you can't just be let go..."
"What do you want of me?"
"What do we want ... at all events, husbands we don't need." She intercepted Kandid's look and laughed scornfully. "Not needed, don't worry, not needed. Try for once in your life not to be a sheep. Try to imagine a world without sheep..." She was speaking without thinking, or rather, thinking of something else. "What else are you good for? ... Tell me lambkin, what can you do?"
