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joined her by the fire. “You wouldn’t, and anyway, no victim would be that passionate.”
    â€œHer culture requires rape, so we played at it,” he said. “But we must not say that openly.”
    â€œShe seems competent. But you know it’s not binding by our culture. What made you decide to have sex with her?”
    â€œShe wanted me so much, it made me want her. And she does have a good body.”
    â€œI saw her showing you her cleft. I know that’s pretty exciting for you.” She was alluding to an episode with another girl, who had exposed her genital region and let him penetrate her while others watched, in a kind of game. She was right: even as a game, it was immensely compelling. Women might mock the reactions of men, but the reactions were nevertheless real, and women took free advantage of them to get their way. Women never showed more than they were prepared to have touched, because of the force of male reactions. “Well, go and have at it again, before we have to travel.”
    â€œBut I don’t know if I should marry her. How could I let our people think I raped her?”
    Haven pursed her lips. “I see the problem. Maybe she’ll agree to shut up about that aspect.”
    â€œI’m not sure. She’s very insistent.”
    â€œWell in any event, you can have her now without rape. You had better do it, lest you lose the chance.”
    He smiled, and went inside. Crenelle was stirring. He lay down beside her and stroked her flung hair.
    â€œI was afraid you would run away and desert me,” she said. “I know you have doubts.”
    â€œNot without telling you.”
    â€œYou didn’t come back just for more sex?”
    He was embarrassed. “Not just for that.”
    She laughed. “Take it.”
    He did, half afraid she would protest or resist, but she was fully cooperative. She had evidently meant it when she promised never to resist him again.
    â€œWest,” she said as she embraced him. “Across the mountains and the lakes. I have heard there is land there that no one occupies. Wide land, so far across that no one knows its end. Much game. I know a route.”
    That was not what she had said before. But he could not blame her for not telling everything to strangers. “How can you know it, if you haven’t traveled?”
    â€œMy father went there once, and told us all about it. I know I can guide you there.”
    His passion was spent, but something new was rising in him. “Thank you, Crenelle,” he said, kissing her again.
    â€œWell, I said I would be good for you.”
    She had indeed. “But this business of saying it was rape—”
    â€œYou and I know the truth, Hero. Does it matter what others think?”
    â€œWhy not let them think there was no rape, then?”
    She shook her head. “Please, Hero. My people will not recognize it as marriage otherwise. They will say I wantonly wasted myself, and am unfit for marriage.”
    He appreciated her point, but still could not admit to the lie. She had indeed been somewhat wanton, but it was in her effort to persuade him to marry her.
    They went outside, where they ate more of the roast. Then Crenelle prepared to go. “I will leave a message for my brother,” she said. “So he will know.”
    â€œA message?”
    She went inside, and emerged with two cunningly made doll figures. One was male, with a little stick for a penis; the other was female. She set them together, facing each other, and looped a length of tendon around them so that they would stay that way. She arranged them so that the male doll’s arms were clasping the other close, while the female’s arms were stretched out at wild angles, as if helpless to defend herself. She laid them on her mat. That seemed clear enough.
    But it reminded him once again of the lie. “Crenelle, I can’t—”
    Crenelle faced him, her face