Who or what thesegods might be, Wi did not
know.
I never funked anything yet, and I wont
beginnow.
Yet there was something which he could not doubt.
Still, waitfor me an hour, even if Aaka is angry, as she will be.
It was that hemust fight as Aaka wished him to do,
and a cold trembling shook hislimbs.
How was Ito know which of you slew this great beast
when both are so brave? Foh grieves,Aaka grieves, you grieve, and I, Pag the
Wolf-man, grieve, too.
Wi stared at him, for this indeed was a new idea.
Yet there was something which he could not doubt.
Then open your mouth and draw thevapour down into
your lungs.
But he, the Hunter, was not afraid of the wolves;
moreover, woe hadmade his heart fierce.
Well, I will think thematter over, and we will talk
again before you fight. The people groan, but according to the old law may notrebel,
and to speak they are afraid. The light was gathering now, very soon the sun
shouldrise and he should see into the ice. If he chose to keep aone-eyed wolf, it
was his own business and that of no one else. Yet,he added reflectively, it is a big
business.
It was that hemust fight as Aaka wished him to do,
and a cold trembling shook hislimbs. Then I heard no moreand forgot that he
existed.
Nolonger will I listen to such mad
words.
Yet the gods had spoken, and he dared notdisobey
the counsel that he had sought. Nolonger will I listen to such mad
words.
Here, now, Iwill wait till an hour after
sunrise.
No, I replied, as I dropped the ember onto the
/Taduki/ just as LadyRagnall had done. Then she rolled herself up in her skin rug
and pretended to go tosleep, saying no more. So Pag stayed on with Wi and wasbeloved
of him and by Wis children, but hated of Aaka.
However, Wi, being a man who dealt with facts,
paidno heed to these tales.
Here, now, Iwill wait till an hour after sunrise.
Yes, Wi, I think that, though I dont know why I think it. Moreover, being evil
themselves, would it not, perhaps, pleasethem to give victory to the evil man? Thus
it was that the vastcentral glacier, the house of the gods, moved but
little.
There below him lived the only people in theworld,
and if they were crushed, all would be finished. Then she rolled herself up in her
skin rug and pretended to go tosleep, saying no more. Foh grieves,Aaka grieves, you
grieve, and I, Pag the Wolf-man, grieve, too. They would be killed,every one, and
there would be no people left in the world.
If he chose to keep aone-eyed wolf, it was his own
business and that of no one else.
Shemeant to have twins but they got mixed up
together and Henga cameinstead.