The next morning, the Gypsy band was obviously getting ready for the road. While the women packed up the laundry and pots and pans, the older children scattered the campfires. The young children carried in weeds and small branches to spread around the small clearing. Chief watched with interest. These people knew how to hide out from the world.
One of the boys had already driven off in their car, barely able to see over the steering wheel. Casino was indignant, but Actor told him to consider it a payment for the Gypsies' hospitality.
The men were busy lashing barrels and metal containers to the sides of the wagon. Goniff wandered over in curiosity, and came back with a brimming cup.
"Cider. They been cookin' up some hard cider….Not bad," he said after a judicious sip. "Bit yeasty, but it takes a few days for it to cure proper."
Casino grinned at his expression. "We'll be with them for a few days, right?"
By mid-morning, the horses had been hitched up and the small train was ready to roll. Simzo invited Chief to join him in the lead wagon. Bishidka was sitting on the seat of the wagon behind them, a younger man driving the team. Garrison's sick wagon was third in line, followed by the two others. Some of the kids sat on the horses' backs, but most of the clan was on foot. The other Gorillas had been given seats as well. Actor was chatting up the middle-aged driver on the third wagon.
They were headed north, all right, on a small track running roughly parallel to the river. As they turned a sharp corner, Chief glanced back at the spread-out train. The last two wagons were pulling something behind them. He looked harder. The last wagon had some small bushes dragging on the ground. The next one up had a small log rolling behind the wheels. Covering their tracks, he thought. These people knew a lot of tricks.
Close to noon, they stopped for a break. Chief helped the boys carry buckets of water to the horses. The other Gorillas had stepped down to stretch their legs, and the women passed out sandwiches. Before they started again, a boy walked out of the brush to join them. It was the kid who had driven the car away.
"Stashed it somewhere, I guess," said Casino. "Well, maybe they'll need it some day."
As they rolled on that afternoon, the trail virtually disappeared, but Simzo seemed to know where they were going. Skirting the edges of some harvested fields, Simzo turned his team west across one of them. Seeing Chief's raised eyebrows, he pointed to the ground just behind them.
"Vurma du Kore," he said. "Kore, he leave signs for the Rom. See rocks?"
Chief saw it, a small pile of three rocks. Interesting. A short time later, he spotted a strand of string hung up on the fence wire. He pointed at it, "More signs there?"
"Yes, good." Simzo nodded. "Dark string is Kore." Ahead of them was a small stand of trees, and Simzo pointed again as they drew closer. Chief scanned the trunks and saw nothing; then he got it. Several small branches at their eye level had been broken and were all facing the same direction.
"We turn north now, right?" He waved his hand in that direction.
Simzo chuckled and made the turn, but under the shelter of the trees. "Good, good. Kore not far, I know this place."
There were no more signs that Chief could find, but Simzo seemed relaxed and confident. As the afternoon wore on, there was more chatter in the train behind them. A couple of the boys ran out ahead, disappearing in the brush. Soon enough, they drew up to a small cluster of wagons. No clearing here, the wagons were scattered among the trees. A tall Gypsy was standing towards the front, and raised his hand in greeting.
Simzo jumped down and the two men talked quietly in their Gypsy language. The other Gorillas came up to join Chief by the first wagon.
"Is this our meet?" asked Casino.
Chief nodded. "Yeah, this must be that Kore. We were followin' his trail of breadcrumbs."
The two Gypsies approached and led them towards the third wagon. "We talk now," said Simzo.
Garrison was already easing himself out of the wagon door, and waved off Goniff's helpful arm. "I'm fine," he said testily.
Simzo made the introductions, and the three men conversed in French. The Gorillas waited not too patiently for Actor's translation.
"It seems they are each satisfied with the other's bona fides, " Actor told them. "Kore's papers are a list of detainees at the Coudrecieux internment camp. Some are Gypsy, but they are mostly French and English inmates. They want to send all these names out to the wider world."
Kore had pulled a battered silver cigarette case out of his pocket, and was showing the contents to Garrison.
"Ah, the names are written inside the cigarette papers, certain ones only. Very clever."
The men shook hands, and Garrison walked over to the cons. He seemed pretty steady on his feet.
"Kore will take us to our contact in Margaux. Tomorrow." He frowned down Actor's objection. "Another night's rest and I'll be all right. The Gypsies are also leaving here tomorrow, so this is our best option….Plus we've imposed on these people enough."
Luludja was approaching them with a cup in her hand. Garrison sighed. "And here comes that woman with another vile potion for me."
The campfires were tamped down early that night, and Garrison was sternly sent off to rest by the old woman. The Gypsies stayed gathered in a large circle long after dark. Chief nudged Actor, who was contentedly puffing his pipe.
"Any idea what they're talkin' about?"
Actor shook his head. "I know only a few words of their language. It is based on Sanskrit, you know. But from the intonation, I would guess they are reciting historical tales or poems."
Casino rolled his eyes. "Well, it's enough to put this boy to sleep. I'm off to bed."
"Me, too," said Goniff. "But first, I gotta stop this little bugger." He grabbed the arm of the boy trying to pick his pocket and held it up for them to see. The boy grinned unashamedly.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGG
In the morning, Simzo and Bishidka came to see them off. They shook hands all around, and Bishidka pulled Chief aside.
"You are all Romani Gaje now," he said. "Friends to the natsia, our people. Learn these words, and speak our names if you need."
"Romani Gaje," Chief repeated, with one of his rare smiles. "Romani Gaje."