The Asa Rule

onard contented himself with a bow. The brothers, glancing at each other, bowed back. One of them came close to Leonard and looked into his eyes. He said something to the other.

Lucy translated, "He says you have good eyes. They like you."

"Tell them," said Leonard, "that I am grateful. I would like to be able to visit them."

The brothers replied gravely that he might come whenever he liked.

They led the way to the center of the village, pushed up the flap of a tent, and conducted Lucy and Leonard down hardpacked earthen steps into a hemispherical chamber some ten feet below the ground. A wood fire smoldered in the center with a spicy smell. A couple of elderly men brougjht in bowls of what looked like curdled milk and flat meat cakes. The brothers each took a bowl. One, pouring drink into a cup, offered it to Lenoard.

"Kurdush-ve, im ve tver sukh'ma" he said.

The second brother offered the cakes and repeated the sentence.

Lucy whispered, "You must accept the f