Maya looked away from Berne. “Do not worry, Ali,” she said. “I will make sure little Mari understands the serious nature of our project before we leave.” Something in her tone sent another icy shiver down Mari’s back. Ali didn’t look wholly convinced, but he let the matter drop.
Not long afterwards, Maya picked up her fringed and beaded bag. She drew out of it a small carved soapstone pipe. “It’s an old custom of our people,” she said, smiling. “Smoke the peace pipe to seal the bond.” She took out a leather pouch and poured from it enough fine green leaflets to fill the bowl of the pipe, tamped them down, lit it, and took a deep draw. She let the smoke seep out slowly through her nostrils as she handed the pipe to Ali.
He had not touched the liquor, although everyone else except Mari had
