Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick Page A

it! No matter what you say!' He stared at the forested hill as though he expected it to answer.
    Leith shook his head, unable to follow the meaning of the old man's words.

    * * *
    When Kurr handed the sheep over he received a perfunctory thanks and a few sharp glances.
    He patted Leith on the head and made his way back down the path towards the road. Leith looked after him until he was out of sight, a pathetic figure, a despised outcast. Perhaps a picture of himself in fifty years.
    'Leith! Leith!' came a shout from behind him. The boy turned sharply at the sound of the voice. A group of village elders walked over to where he stood.
    'You'll be pleased!' said a smallish, tousle-headed man.
    'Congratulations!' another said, and a third slapped him heartily on the back.
    'Did you hear who the Falla is?'
    'I suppose you know that Lanka from Brookside is the Snaer this year?'
    'You'll have to wear stilts to drive that one out!'
    'Have you tried the mask on yet?' The questions all came at once.
    The confusion on Leith's face made itself obvious to the men. 'Oh!' said Malos, the small man.
    'We thought—'
    'You'd better go home,' said another kindly. It was Rauth, a member of the Village Council.
    'You should make it back home in time. The Haufuth's gone to Brookside to tell Lanka that he's the Snaer tomorrow. You know you have to be home to receive the mask. If you're not there he'll go to the house of the chosen alternate.'

    For a moment Leith remained rooted to the spot. He was the Sumar! Marked for life! The prized central character of the Midwinter Play!
    'Go home! What are you waiting for? Hurry!'
    Leith took to his heels.
    'There you are! I was hoping you'd be home soon!' Hal greeted him excitedly as he burst through the door. 'Have you heard? The Haufuth came here soon after dawn, and that can only mean one thing!'
    'Oh,' said Leith. So the Haufuth had already called. The disap¬pointment would come later; he could still feel nothing as yet.

    Hal could read his brother's face. 'No, no!' he said. 'He'll call back. He was upset that you weren't here - he thinks highly of you, you know - and when Mother told him that you were out working for Kurr, he nodded and walked out. But I've been watching from the window -
    here, come and look - see, he's been walking up and down the road waiting for you. There he is, talking with Herza.'
    Leith looked. He could see the fat headman leaning over his staff, listening to the old woman.
    He imagined he could almost hear her voice.
    'Go out the front and stand around. He'll notice you and come over, I'm sure of it.'
    Leith went outside. After what seemed a long time, the Haufuth glanced in his direction, struggled to free himself from the garru-lous woman, then began, a slow walk in the general direction of the house. Leith hurried back into the house, relief pumping inside his chest.
    'I'm pleased they picked you,' his older brother said. 'Another year and you'll be too old.'
    Leith studied his brother's face. There seemed no trace of resent¬ment or animosity. Hal was genuinely happy for his younger brother. Crippled Hal had never been chosen to play the Sumar or the Snaer. What other things would he never do? Leith had not thought about it.
    What else would he not be able to partici¬pate in? Would he marry? Would he hunt? How could he work?
    A knock came at the door. Leith forgot about his brother.
    Midwinter's Day began early throughout the northern lands. Lamp after lamp was lit, child after child climbed sleepily out of bed, family after family rushed about busily dressing, feeding and milking animals, gathering food and donning boots and coats for the journey to the celebrations. The few who lived in the inter¬ior would often travel great distances for Midwinter, and these people were already at the site of the feast, having taken advan¬tage of whatever clear weather their lands had offered over past weeks. No one stayed at home unless they were ill or otherwise incapacitated;