11[from Angel Queen}                                             Prize Catch

Long after Gregory, Noil and the old man left, the brawny fisherman, Jud, re-entered the empty, quiet alehouse. Gently rubbing his jaw, which was now swollen, he approached the bar-bench. Zillah's head was down into her folded arms. She fell asleep, waiting for Naamah whom she had not seen since before the drunken nobles left. He lightly tapped the bar. "You awake, Zillah?"

She raised a sleepy, squinting face. "What are you doing back?" Thought you'd be back out by now."

“Yea, but I've been gone for so long, along with drowning the pain in my jaw, I wanted to do some serious drinking without the bedlam and also buy a small keg from you." He dropped a money pouch on the bar.

“I guess, you're doing all right for yourself," she said, eying the stuffed pouch.

"Yea, and expect to do even better this time."

"Wish I could say the same. That damn trader took off on me before I could get to him. Only the devil knows when he'll be back."

“No? You mean he's off again to Raoz?" he queried. "He usually stays around longer."

"Can't figure how anyone could be anxious to deal with those sleazy Malsi bandits."

"Well, there the ones with the money," Jud reminded her, sneaking his hand up to his jaw to rub. "Besides he's half them, anyway."

"I thought the Jews had all the money—Jesus, I hate to have to go to them. Get a farthing from them and they want a tuppence back."

"If money's what you need I'll lend it to you," Jud offered.

"Lend me! You mean pay me back for all the times you've been with Naamah," she carped, then laughed.

"Aw, go on, with all the times I've been round this island, how could I manage that." He coughed up.>

> One of them bellowed a laugh to the others. “Careful with a fish?...The first mate must be getting sea-happy.”

Then the murderer pulled himself onto the ladder and with his foot pushed the fishboat off to drift. He craned his neck up above the sail at the dark, rolling clouds riding the gusty winds. He smiled. When he climbed aboard he ordered the sails hoisted, and all fifty of the single bank oarsmen heaved until out to sea. He cleared the loaders away from the catch and took it below to his cabin.

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