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.The soil is better and the north-facing slopes get more sun than we do on this side.Thecoming fall we ll harvest our first wheat from the southern fields.And we think they ll be goodfor grapes and other fruit, and so we ve begun to plant them with rootstock from the Valley ofWomen.It will take a few years before we see the results but you have to plan for the longterm. Jon followed Alf s concerns, but they seemed events on the other side of the world.Still,he enjoyed hearing about them, if only because the sound of Alf s voice was comforting.But Alf hadn t been his only visitor.One day Naxa and Phillipa appeared at his cell, andwith them came Dan.Jon knew Alice and David were here, but he hadn t asked Alf about Danit would only lead the conversation in a direction he didn t want to pursue.But now his questionwas answered. Only one person was allowed to meet with him at a time, and his guards enforced the rulerelentlessly, so he spoke first to Naxa, who told him about their house and garden and thefurniture they were making.Then Phillipa came.She said little about herself, but she told Jon shewas sure he wasn t guilty of the things they were saying, which pleased Jon more than he mighthave thought.By the time Dan appeared, the visitation hour was nearly over. You ve gotten yourself into some real shit, he told Jon. Now you know what it s like,friend. The idea that Jon was in trouble with the authorities appeared to give Dan considerablepleasure.He saw the reversal of their situations as a sign of justice. How do you like it here? Jon asked him. It s OK but I ve gotta go now.The guard s giving me the evil eye.And jails kindamake me uncomfortable. And without saying anything more he left.Then, one afternoon several weeks later, Lyla paid him a visit. They took the knife you gave me, Jon told her. What else would you expect? Men under lock and key are not generally provided withweapons. I d always kept it with me, and I d hoped that someday you d tell me about it. She shrugged her shoulders. What s there to tell? I bought it on my travels a long time ago. It was made in Kar, wasn t it? I think it was at least that s where I found it in an old shop crammed full of junk.Itwas covered with grime.That s why I could afford it.I don t think the shopkeeper realized itsvalue.He was interested in glassware, and he had quite a collection I thought he d never shutup about it.Your knife was in a bin of miscellaneous items in a far corner of the shop thingshe d been forced to buy because they came along with the glass he was interested in.I startedlooking through the stuff to make him stop talking about his glassware.Still, I don t know why Ibought it an impulse, maybe. I know the kind of shop you re talking about.They still have them all over the city.What else did you do in Kar? It was easier for both of them to talk about these memories than to address the present. The usual things.We stared at the palace for a long time.We looked at the bridges andthe walls.We ate the food. The food in Kar is pretty good. Yes, it was pretty good food spicier than the food here.It didn t always agree with meat first, but I grew to love it. So did I. She smiled. And the wine? he asked. Ah, yes, the wine of Kar. For a moment, Lyla seemed lost in thought; then she took his hand and held it in her own. I m sorry it s come to this, Jon.I don t know what happened after you left us, butunexpected things occur and a man or a woman s choices may have reasons that another personcan never understand. Do you want me to tell you the reasons? Jon had asked.She sighed. No, I don t want you to tell me not today, at least.I didn t come here to hear aconfession or a defense.I came here to tell you that I care about your fate
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