Max finished his cigarette and looked regretfully at the empty pack he and Skull had been smoking vigorously for the last two hours. Skull noticed his gaze.
"Cheer up, bro. I still have some," he smiled, pulling a new pack of Camel from his bosom.
"I've been meaning to ask—where did you get them?" Max laughed, taking another cigarette offered by Skull.
"The same old monks. The bastards know what people want!" Skull snorted. "They brought us six crates for the latest batch of slaves…"
Max's expression changed and he looked at Cherep with his unpleasant, piercing gaze. Cherep looked down, embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, brother," he begged sincerely. "I lived among this for eight years. Maybe I didn't do everything right, but what happened, happened."
"You know, Skull," Max replied after a mo
