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en willing to accept Buck's dominance。 Buck was ready to fight it out； but Smith did not let the old mule risk it； he needed Buck's brain and judgment； and would not risk Buck's spirit being broken by losing to a younger stallion…or take a chance that Buck might be injured。
In real trouble more reins would not help。 If the mules panicked and ran…unlikely but possible…two humans could not hold them； even with a double handful of reins。 Smith was ready at any instant to pick off his lead pair； then hope that not too many mules would break legs stumbling over the corpses and pray that the wagons would not overturn。
Smith wanted to reach their destination with all his livestock； he hoped to get there with about 80 percent including a breeding pair of each sort…but if they arrived with enough draft animals to pull the wagons （including at least one breeding pair） plus a 'pair of goats； he could consider it a conditional victory and they would make their stand； to live ortodie。 ' …
How many mules were 〃enough〃 was a variable。 Near the end of the trip it could be as low as four…then go back and get the second wagon。 But if the number of mules dropped below twelve before they conquered Hopeless Pass…turn back。
Turn back at once。 Abandon one or both wagons； jettison' what they could not salvage； slaughter any animals that could not make it without help； travel light with any extra mules trailing along； unwittmg walking larders。
If Woodrow Wilson Smith limped back into Separation on foot； his wife riding…miscarried but still alive…it still would not be defeat。 He had his hands； he had his brain； he had the'
。； 0'T
strongest of human incentives： a wife to care for and cherish。 In a few years they might try Hopeless Pass again…and not make the mistakes he had made the first time。
In the meantime he was happy； with all the wealth any man could hope for。
Smith leaned out of the wagon seat。 〃Hey； Buck！ Suppertime。'
〃Shupper dime；〃 Buck repeated； then called out； 〃Shupper dime！ Shirko nigh！ Shirko nigh！〃 The lead pair turned left； started bringing the train around in a circle。
Dora said； 〃The Sun is still high。〃
〃Yes；〃 her husband agreed； 〃and that's why。 The Sun is high； it's very hot； the mules are tired and sweaty and hungry and thirsty。 I want them to graze。 Tomorrow we'll be up before dawn and rolling at first light…make as manykilometers as possible before it gets too bloody hot。 Then another early stop。〃
〃I wasn't questioning it； dear； I simply wanted to know why。 I'm finding that being a schoolmarm hasn't taught me all I need to know to be a pioneer wife。〃
〃I understood； that's why I explaind。 Dora； always ask me if I do anything you don't understand； you do have to know 。 。 because if something happens to me； then it'll be up to you。 Just hold your questions until later if I seem to be in a hurry。〃
〃I'll try； Woodrow…I am trying。 I'm hot and thirsty myself； those poor dears must be feeling it dreadfully。 if you can spare me； I'll water them while you unharness。〃
〃No； Dora。〃
〃But… Sorry。〃
〃Damn it； I said always to ask why。 But I was about to explain。 First we let them graze a？ hour。 That will cool them down some in spite of the Sun； and； being thirsty； they'll look for short green stuff under this tall dry stuff。 They will get a little moisture out of that。 Meantime I'm going to measure the water barrels 。 。 but I know that we're going on short water rations。 Should've yesterday。 Dorable； you see that patch of dark green way up there below the pass？ I think there is water there； dry as it's been 。 。 and pray hard that there is； because I don't expect to find water between here and there。 We may have no water at all the last day or so。 It doesn't take a mule long to die without water and not much longer for a man。〃
〃Woodrow 。 。 is it as bad as that？〃
〃It is； dear。 That's why I've been studying the photomaps。 The clearest ones Andy and I made a long time ago； when we surveyed this pla…but in early spring for this hemisphere。 The shots Zack took for me aren't much； the 'Andy I。' isn't equipped as a survey ship。 As may be； I took this route becadSe it looked faster。 But every wash we've crossed the past ten days h；as been bone…dry。 My mistake and it may be my last one。〃
〃Woodrow！ Don't talk that way！〃
〃Sorry； dear。 But there is always a last mistake。 I'll do my damnedest to see that this is not my last mistake…because it must not happen to you。 I'm simply trying to impress you with how carefully we must conserve water。〃
〃You've impressed me。 I'll be most careful with cleaning up and so forth。〃
〃I still haven't made it clear。 There will be no washing at all…not a face wash； 'not even a hand wash。 Pans and such you'll scour with dirt and grass and put them in the sunshine and hope they sterilize。 Water is only for drinking。 The mules go on half water rations at once； and you and I； instead of the liter and a half of liquid each day a human is supposed to need； will each try to get by on a half liter。 Uh； Mrs。 Whiskers will get a full ration of water； she has to make milk for her kids。 If it gets too tough； we slaughter the kids and let her dry up。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃
〃We may not have to。 But； Dora； we aren't even close to last extremities。 If the going gets really tough； we kill a mule and drink its blood。〃
〃What！ Why； they're our friends！〃
〃Dora； listen to your old man。 I promise you that we will never kill Buck； or Beulah； or Betty。 If I must； it will be a mule we bought in New Pittsburgh。 But if one of our three old friends die…we eat him。 Her。〃
〃I don't think I could。〃
〃You will when you're hungry enough。 If you think about the baby inside you； you'll eat without hesitation and bless your dead friend for helping to keep your baby alive。 Don't talk about what you can't do when the chips are down； dear… because you can。 Did Helen ever tell you stories about the first winter here？〃
〃No。 She said I didn't need to know。〃
〃Could be she was mistaken。 I'll tell you one of the less
grisly ones。 We placed…i placed…a heel…and…toe watch over the seed grain； with orders to shoot 'to kill。 And one guard did。 A drumhead court…martial exonerated the guard； the man he killed was clearly stealing seed grain…his corpse had halfchewed grain in its mouth。 Not Helen's husband； by the way； he died like a gentleman…malnutrition and some fever I never identified。〃
Smith added； 〃Buck's got us hauled around。 Let's get busy。〃 He jumped down； reached up to help her。 〃And smile； baby； smile！…this show is being 'transmitted back to Earth to show those poor crowded people how easy it is to take a new pla…courtesy of DuBarry's Delicious Deodorants； of which I need a bucketful。〃
She smiled。 〃I stink worse than you … do； my lcive。〃
〃That's better； darling； we'll make it。 it's just the first step that's a dilly。 Oh； yes！ No cooking fire。〃
〃'No f……' Yes； sir。〃 …
〃Nor any u