He sighs and nods, "Ayuh. Hard work stayin' in one place at the best of times for most of us. Carnival's made to wandah. Made for open roads. An' aftah everythin' that's been going on...It's strange. But we could have ended up in much worse towns."

"Excolo is, in some ways, more open-minded than many others," I nod, understanding. In some of the towns I have lived in, I could hardly wander out of the house by myself. It is better here, much better.

Then he smiles, and again I am surprised at just how much this warms me. He has a very fine smile, strong white teeth in his dark face. "You heah shopping some someone? Got a Valentine?"

"No...yes." I say, and shake my head at my foolishness. Silly woman, letting language get away from you. "I have a lover, yes, but I was not shopping for him. In my culture, this is not truly the day for love; that comes in the summer, or earlier, near the beginning of the year." I hesitate before telling him what I do next, but I feel that I can trust this man. His eyes are kind. "I was visiting Reed, the...the employee and friend who led the mob. I was relieving her of her employment." Ah, but it hurts even to speak those words.