off a storm of conversation among the two younger of the three tribal leaders. The oldest sat calmly and drank his own drink as if nothing had happened.
Hunter tried his best to follow what he thought was an argument, but eventually gave up. "Will, what are they saying?"
William's eyes darted between the two arguing men, desperate to follow the rapid exchange. "Ah think the one asked us somethin' pretty blunt, but ah don' know the words. The other one there? He's got his boiler in a burn cause he's thinkin' the first was rude. Ah get the thought that they're supposed ta be polite ta strangers. Like what ah said before about them wantin' ta treat strangers with respect."
"Good for us then in a way, it confirms we won't be harmed soon. What about now?"
"They're just talkin' too fast for me Cap'n. Ah don' know some of those words ... Ah'm learnin' as fast as ah can suss 'em out."
Hunter was about to say something himself when the last elder spoke.
"Owajila."
Immediately the other two Yeti fell silent. Hunter himself had paused but quickly recovered.
"William, tell them if you would ..."
"Silence ... please."
Hunter stopped in mid-sentence at the graveled voice. The elder, who had been quiet through everything, spoke. He was careful with his words, as they were obviously not his native language, but words he had an acceptable command of, at least.
"The boy ... does not have to speak for you. I know some of your words."
William sat back in surprise. Hunter checked his own comment before he said it and instead cleared his throat.
"Well that puts a new spin on things. If I may, your grasp of them is quite good, Sirrah."
"Your people have come to here before. One stayed some time. A man of learning." The elder sipped his drink then set his cup down. "I am called Utawah."
"I am Anthony Hunter. This is one of my crew, William Falke."
William inclined his head in greeting. "Sirrah."
Utawah watched them both a moment before he replied. "Good meeting. I must be ... forward. My companions wish to know when will your people stop attacking?"
William's mouth fell open. "Tain't us! We been shot up and shot at and chased about like rabbits!"
Hunter waved William quiet. "Utawah, it has been none of my people that have harmed yours. Myself and my crew are recent visitors, Sirrah. We have no reason to cause injury."
The chieftain leaned forward, the light of the fire cast lurid shadows along his weathered face. "So say you. My people suffer many burns and cuts. Some have lost arms and fingers with your attacks. We just want it to stop. We will give you what we can, but know we will fight you."
Hunter shook his head. "Utawah, those vile creatures are not of my crew. My own country would have dealings with them if they knew what they were about. This I assure you." At the elder's unconvinced look, Hunter paused and took a different approach. "Very well, if we were one group and the same, why would we be here if we could simply attack you again as you say we already have?"
"This we do not know. That is why you and your followers have been brought here. We are curious as to why."
Sitting quietly next to Hunter, William had managed to restrain himself for as long as he could. "Because we tain't with 'em!"
"Will!"
"Cap'n, sorry for the disrespect, but they tain't payin' attention!" William returned his frantic look to Utawah. "If'n we were in with them pirates, why'd we drag one o' our own over the snow and ice when he's so bad hurt? Why'd them pirates in the steambats try and bury us in half the bloody mountain?"
Utawah smiled slightly, "I agree with what you say. It is my companions that are more ... suspicious. I will relay your words."
Hunter sat forward. "Utawah, if you would, please relay this. We are being hounded by the same men that hunt your people. They seek two children in our care for reasons I believe are quite dire. I fear for the children's safety more than I do ours. The longer we argue, the longer we
Hunter tried his best to follow what he thought was an argument, but eventually gave up. "Will, what are they saying?"
William's eyes darted between the two arguing men, desperate to follow the rapid exchange. "Ah think the one asked us somethin' pretty blunt, but ah don' know the words. The other one there? He's got his boiler in a burn cause he's thinkin' the first was rude. Ah get the thought that they're supposed ta be polite ta strangers. Like what ah said before about them wantin' ta treat strangers with respect."
"Good for us then in a way, it confirms we won't be harmed soon. What about now?"
"They're just talkin' too fast for me Cap'n. Ah don' know some of those words ... Ah'm learnin' as fast as ah can suss 'em out."
Hunter was about to say something himself when the last elder spoke.
"Owajila."
Immediately the other two Yeti fell silent. Hunter himself had paused but quickly recovered.
"William, tell them if you would ..."
"Silence ... please."
Hunter stopped in mid-sentence at the graveled voice. The elder, who had been quiet through everything, spoke. He was careful with his words, as they were obviously not his native language, but words he had an acceptable command of, at least.
"The boy ... does not have to speak for you. I know some of your words."
William sat back in surprise. Hunter checked his own comment before he said it and instead cleared his throat.
"Well that puts a new spin on things. If I may, your grasp of them is quite good, Sirrah."
"Your people have come to here before. One stayed some time. A man of learning." The elder sipped his drink then set his cup down. "I am called Utawah."
"I am Anthony Hunter. This is one of my crew, William Falke."
William inclined his head in greeting. "Sirrah."
Utawah watched them both a moment before he replied. "Good meeting. I must be ... forward. My companions wish to know when will your people stop attacking?"
William's mouth fell open. "Tain't us! We been shot up and shot at and chased about like rabbits!"
Hunter waved William quiet. "Utawah, it has been none of my people that have harmed yours. Myself and my crew are recent visitors, Sirrah. We have no reason to cause injury."
The chieftain leaned forward, the light of the fire cast lurid shadows along his weathered face. "So say you. My people suffer many burns and cuts. Some have lost arms and fingers with your attacks. We just want it to stop. We will give you what we can, but know we will fight you."
Hunter shook his head. "Utawah, those vile creatures are not of my crew. My own country would have dealings with them if they knew what they were about. This I assure you." At the elder's unconvinced look, Hunter paused and took a different approach. "Very well, if we were one group and the same, why would we be here if we could simply attack you again as you say we already have?"
"This we do not know. That is why you and your followers have been brought here. We are curious as to why."
Sitting quietly next to Hunter, William had managed to restrain himself for as long as he could. "Because we tain't with 'em!"
"Will!"
"Cap'n, sorry for the disrespect, but they tain't payin' attention!" William returned his frantic look to Utawah. "If'n we were in with them pirates, why'd we drag one o' our own over the snow and ice when he's so bad hurt? Why'd them pirates in the steambats try and bury us in half the bloody mountain?"
Utawah smiled slightly, "I agree with what you say. It is my companions that are more ... suspicious. I will relay your words."
Hunter sat forward. "Utawah, if you would, please relay this. We are being hounded by the same men that hunt your people. They seek two children in our care for reasons I believe are quite dire. I fear for the children's safety more than I do ours. The longer we argue, the longer we
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