“No,” Rejji responded. “I only survived because I was not here. I was getting a few more fossils before you were scheduled to arrive. The girl is not from the village and hid in the well. Everyone else is dead. Will you help us bury them?”

“What will you do now?” Brontos asked, ignoring the question asked of him. “Do you have anywhere to go?”

Rejji had not thought past burying the villagers and the question struck him like the fall off a cliff. He slumped back down against the well and buried his head in his hands. He had nowhere to go, he realized. No family. No friends. He felt the girl’s arm lay hesitantly across his shoulder.

“You can come with me if you want,” she offered softly. “I don’t have anything to offer, but I will be your friend.”

“Both of you will come with me,” stated Brontos. “At least until we are far enough away from this village that you will be somewhat safe so you can decide what you want to do with your lives. Scrounge what you can from the remains of the village. These poor people have no further need of whatever is here.”

“I can’t take things from the villagers,” Rejji shook his head. “Even with them dead, it would feel like stealing.”

“I’ll look around,” offered the girl as she rose. “There may be some things we can use for the journey.”

A slight smile rippled across Brontos’ lips as he nodded. “And Miss,” he stated sternly, “you take anything of mine when we journey together, and I will leave you strung up to a tree. Understand?”

The girl nodded slightly and went in search of salvageable items.

“How did you know about her?” asked Rejji.

“Lad,” smiled Brontos, “I have been a merchant all my life. If I couldn’t spot a thief when I see one, I would be out of business. I have a good feeling about her though. I don’t think she likes being a thief. I think she does it because she has to in order to survive. I can hardly blame her for that, but I can let her know that I won’t stand for it. Go give her a hand. You know this village much better than she does.”