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studying the trees and sky just above it. The rest of the patrol gathered
around him. Then the veterans fanned out and rode slowly among the
trunks. Steve and Hunter followed Bedwyr.
 No birds have been disturbed, Steve quietly.
 I hear no signs of humans in these trees, Hunter whispered, leaning
close to Steve.  Of course, I cannot reveal that to them, but you may
know you are in no danger from Saxons right here.
Steve grinned.
Bedwyr led the patrol cautiously through the forest. When the patrol
became convinced that no Saxons were there to ambush them, they
looked carefully for tracks or firepits that would indicate a recent
presence. No one found any sign of them, either, but the patrol did
not relax.
As the day advanced, the riders ate from their pieces of mutton and
bread. The patrol could not trot or canter through the dense forest, so
their progress slowed for the rest of the morning. Shortly after
midday, Bedwyr turned his mount to face Steve and Hunter.
 Can you find your way back to the main column? Bedwyr asked.
 I suppose, Steve said in surprise.  You want us to go back?
 Have we made a mistake of some sort? Hunter asked.  We must
know.
 No, nothing like that. Bedwyr laughed.  You aren t being punished.
But it s time to send word back to Artorius that the way is clear this
far. Other advance patrols will report, too, and he will decide exactly
which way to go. But the column cannot come much farther than this
before it will be time to make camp again.
 It seems early to go back, said Steve, glancing up at the sun.  Only
half the day is gone.
 By the time you reach him, and the column advances to this spot, the
sun will be low enough, said Bedwyr.  I want to see how you two fare
on an errand alone.
 We will do it, of course, said Hunter.  We will find the main
column.
 Good! We ll patrol a short distance from here for most of the
afternoon. If Artorius decides to lead the column another way, then
we ll find the rest of you later. Bedwyr reined his horse around and
led his other men forward.
 This task will be simple enough, Hunter said quietly, turning his
own mount.  We will follow our own tracks back. At some point, I
should be able to hear the hoofbeats in the distance.
Steve grinned.  This is a job I could probably do without you, Hunter.
But I m glad I don t have to.
Jane dozed fitfully during the remainder of the night and woke up
tired. She had hoped that Hunter would swoop in during the night
and rescue her like one of the knights out of the Arthurian legend that
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r r
would grow out of all this in years to come. Since he had not, she felt
discouraged and wondered why he had not responded to her
shouting.
Wayne and Jane ate a cold breakfast of bread and mutton, the same
as dinner the evening before. Very little remained. Ishihara built a
small fire and boiled water from the river in it before allowing them
to drink it. Afterward, Wayne and Jane mounted the mule and
Ishihara jogged with them.
Though Wayne and Ishihara had not discussed any detailed plans in
her hearing, Jane understood that they had certain limitations. They
would either have to make an aggressive move to reach MC 6 this
evening, or else they would have to get more food. Ishihara would not
allow either human to go hungry and she doubted he would risk
trying to get food from the column itself. Because they did not have
the equipment necessary to hunt or fish, they would either have to
turn back or else abandon Emrys s mule and jump through time and
space with or without MC 6. Jane hoped she could get Hunter s
attention before Ishihara took one of those choices.
The day passed uneventfully. As before, the riders outpaced the
baggage train. Ishihara kept the end of the baggage train within his
own sight or hearing, but avoided drawing too close. He also stayed
clear of the camp followers.
Once the riders had left the baggage train behind, Wayne turned to
Ishihara.
 Hunter must have ridden on ahead by now. If MC 6 is in the baggage
train, then Hunter can t get him. We might be able to get MC 6 on the
march.
 I do not like our chances, said Ishihara, still jogging next to the
mule.  I dare not take Jane too close to the camp followers or near the
men in the baggage train. Also, I cannot allow you to approach them
alone. The wagon crews will consider all of us simply camp followers
and may be hostile. They will probably consider us potential thieves.
 Then you think of something, Wayne growled angrily.  This project
has to work somehow. And we haven t had many chances to get MC 6
while Hunter is too far away to interfere. Can t we take advantage of
this somehow?
 The only arrangement I can accept is one that keeps you and Jane
away from the camp. If I approach MC 6 without you, I will have the
force of the Second Law to order him to come with me as long as he
believes I am human. I can tell him to follow me unless he detects that
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