He knew she was dead when he saw the angle of her neck. But he did allthe things a person does to be sure, anyway, before he would let himselfbelieve it.

She had delivered the deathblow, crashing the sled into the creature,breaking its back. It had broken the sled. Herself, also.

He leaned against the wreckage, composed his first prayer, then removedher body.

The Redforms watched.

He lifted her in his arms and began walking, back toward theinstallation, across Deadland.

The Redforms continued to watch as he went, except for the one with thestrangely high brow-ridge, who studied instead the knife that protruded fromthe shaggy and steaming throat of the beast.

Jarry asked the awakened executives of December: "What should we do?"

"She is the first of our race to die on this world," said Yan Turl,Vice President.

"There is no tradition," said Selda Kein, Secretary. "Shall weestablish one?"

"I don't know," said Jarry. "I don't know what is right to do."

"Burial or cremation seem to be the main choices. Which would youprefer?"

"I don't--No, not the ground. Give her back to me. Give me a largeflier...I'll burn her."

"Then let us construct a chapel."

"No. It is a thing I must do in my own way. I'd rather do it alone."

"As you wish. Draw what equipment you will need, and be about it."

"Please send someone else to keep the Deadland installation. I wish tosleep again when I have finished this thing--until the next cycle."

"Very well, Jarry. We are sorry."

"Yes--we are."

Jarry nodded, gestured, turned, departed.

Thus are the heavier lines of life sometimes drawn.

At the southeastern edge of Deadland there was a blue mountain. Itstood to slightly over three thousand meters in height. When approached fromthe northwest, it gave the appearance of being a frozen wave in a sea too