“No,it’s not.”
“Yes,it is.”
“Thatis not at all what you said.”
“I’mnot seeing the difference.”
“Oh, yes,”Isaac said, rising to an elbow, “what is the difference between a figure ofspeech and a dining instrument?Surely, it’s a riddle of the ages.”
“Perhapsyou’d explain, then.”
“Explainthe—gods above, have you evenseena metal fork?”
“Oh,look at the lord,” Zaria drawled.“All fancy silver at the table.I expect youbeat your cock to ink and circles, as well.”
“Well,”Isaac replied, sitting up, “maybeyoushould try beating yourself with acouple tomes, just so the knowledge might get absorbed by sheer osmosis.”
“Nowyou’re just making up words.”
“Osmosisis the spontaneous diffusion of water.It is exactly why that bread gets soggy,you utterly simple—”
Hepaused, halfway to his feet.She was failing to hide her grin.
“Oh,”he said.
“Hadyou going there.”
“Maybe.”
“Quitewell, I’d say.”
He satdown, crossing his legs.“You’ll excuse me if your illiteracy sometimes leavesme appalled.”
“Youget my meaning, though?”She stirred the broth, bouncing the meat and bread.“Making the best of bad situations?”
“Oh,yes.Yourmetaphorwas quite profound.”
“Gladto hear.A smith of words, I am.”
Shehanded him the bowl.He stared down at the thin offerings.There was a ravenoushunger inside him, but, at the same time, the feeling was distant and dull, andthe thought of eating any more of their dry, flavorless rations made him feelsick.
Hemissed the meals he would have after the training sessions.There would alwaysbe bread, sometimes hot from the oven, and stews made with barley and onion andpork, entire plates full of olives and peas, mashed potatoes thick with butter.
“Isaac.”
He tookhis gaze off the stew.
“We gotsome hard climbing ahead,” Zaria said.“Gonna take us a day or two to get outthis pit.You’ll need to stuff your gullet.”
Thebowl was cold.He knew the meat would be leathery.The bread would still behard in the center.
He wasclose to sobbing again.
“Hey.”She leaned in.“Please.”
Helooked at her, looked down at the bowl, and slowly began to drink.
Soon,the sun was gone, and they could glimpse the stars through the cracks in therocky ceiling.At night, the ships inside the ossein canopy took on a sinisterappearance, like wild beasts lurking through the gloom of a forest.The airgrew rapidly cool.Isaac knew from experience how chilly the desert could be,and he could guess that the depths of the cavern would provide a basin for the falling air, which would only worsen the dropin temperature.
