The Follower's left their lodging early the next morning to meet Scott at the trading post. It was the third of the month and he had always been there for the last 2 years.

"Calli", Stew asked quietly, "Why do you keep doing this? You really don't owe them anything. It's not your fault their brother was killed."

Calli considered this. "I find it fun", she finally answered. Stew sighed. Sometimes his boss had a perverse sense of humor.

Scott was already at the post in conversation with a barkeep. The Disciples politely waited a short distance away until they had finished their business. Scott looked over at the cloaked figures.

"Hey Disciples", he called in greeting. He grinned. "How's my favorite Initiate today?"

Calli inclined her head and said in a soft voice "We do well Mr. Halliday. How is trading? I see you have a new cow. Is business picking up then?"

Stew was glad the long hood hid the expression on his face. He could tell she was enjoying herself.

Scott laughed, a truly pleasant laugh. "Not as quickly as I'd like, but we're getting better fed these days thanks to you. Do you have any more of that lovely cloth? I've brought plenty of wine this time."

Calli pulled off her pack and took out a length of the soft material, dyed in lovely shades of reds and blues. Scott took the length in his hands, trying to hide his glee at the prize. With what he thought was a poker face, he said, "I'll give you 3 bottles of wine."

The soft voice rejoined, "The wine and 6 beer, not a bit less."

Scott nodded, "Done" he said, holding out his hand. Calli placed her small one in his and solemnly they shook hands.

"Any news from the North, Trader Halliday?", Calli asked in her soft initiate's voice.

"Well, I did hear there was a new Enclave position somewhere in the northeast, but the Brotherhood's moving that way. They're likely to clash around Canterbury Commons, I expect. And Calli was spotted over in the North just before that big ruckus broke out. I figure that was her doing, that one's always causing trouble, but she was gone by the time I got there. Have you heard anything?"

"Oh, just the usual rumors you pick up in the bars. I don't believe most of them. I see you have a new helper with you today," she said, motioning toward the boy standing quietly by the cow, examining a small wound on her flank.

"I don't think you've met my brother have you? Hey, Nathan, come over here.", Scott called, motioning to the boy.

He looked up and ambled over, checking out the hooded figures curiously.

"Nathan, say Hey to the Disciples.", Scott prodded.

"Hey, Disciples", the boy said politely. He vaguely remembered having seen a Follower before, at his home, but that was a long time ago.

"Hey Nathan, I am pleased to greet you", the small one said, smiling at the tall, lanky boy with the big, brown sparkling eyes. Nathan gravely repeated the greeting, shaking her small hand.

Nathan motioned toward the big, silent Follower. "Doesn't he talk?", he asked.

The girl laughed pleasantly. "Yes, but not when his initiate is trading. I am supposed to be on my own, but they wouldn't really leave us alone in the wasteland, you know?"

The lanky youth nodded sagely. "Good idea", he agreed, and Scott laughed.

"OK, son, you can go take care of the cow now." , he said.

Calli watched the boy move off, remembering a skinny 10 year old holding a scrawny, underfed puppy, feeding it part of his own meager meal when she had visited the Hallidays shortly after the debacle with the Enclave. Scott had been on the road trading but she had had a pleasant and informative visit with the mother.

"Wait a minute, Nathan", she said. "Do you like to read?"

"Does he!", snorted Scott. "It's all he'd do if he could." Nathan nodded mutely.

"Well", Calli said, pulling a large medical tome from her pack. "One of the Brothers found this a while back, and didn't want it, so I've been trying to look at it but I think it's beyond me. Would you like to have it?" Nathan stared at the book with wide eyes.

"Would I ever", he said, "but I don't have anything to trade."

"Oh that's all right, it's not worth anything and it's been getting kind of heavy to carry around. If you don't want it I can just throw it away.", she said gravely.

"No, no" Nathan said quickly, then added gallantly "I would be happy to take it off your load." Scott guffawed as the boy went off with his prize.

"That one's more interested in tending the cow than trading I'm afraid. Still he's a damn fine shot and has as much guts as any man.", he said proudly.

Calli nodded, "A fine boy, sir, I'm sure he'll be a fine trader like his brother. I've enjoyed our trading, but I'm afraid I won't be meeting you anymore. I'll be taking my Novitiate soon."

"Well, well, congratulations, girl. I'm going to miss our talks though. Who's going to take over trading for the Disciples?", he asked.

"I'm sure the Council will select another initiate. I hope they're as good at trading as I am.", she said seriously.

Stew choked, turning it into a cough, glad for the covering hood to hide his expression. Scott broke into loud guffaws of laughter.

"Me too, girl, me too", he chuckled. "Good travels Disciples."

Calli inclined her head. "Trade well, Mr. Halliday", she responded, picking up the wine. Stew picked up the beer and, nodding at the trader, turned to lead the way back toward lodgings.

"I thought that barkeep was going to fall over laughing at you.", he said. "You just traded 300 caps worth of cloth for less than 40 caps worth of alcohol. And you know darn well you could have gotten 100 caps for that book at the library."

"The artisan will get full value for her cloth.", Calli said primly."That's part of the fun of being rich, you can afford your little jokes."

"Why did you tell Scott you wouldn't be back? You made up this whole thing about initiates having to learn to trade, their Masters not allowed to interfere, just so you could play with Scott, and now you're quitting?", he asked curiously.

"Yes, I am.", she said firmly. "But the rules stay. We'll send a new initiate out with you. There are a lot of young people in Arhome to expose to the wasteland. And make sure Scott gets more than fair deals, but do try to teach them how to trade properly with the others. We don't want to keep losing money. Anyway, I have a mission. I'm going to be gone for a while. I'm meeting Hawk in Rivet City in 2 days' time. Let Arhome know, will you? And find out what the Council of the Disciples of the One have been up to. I think I've created a monster."

Stew groaned. "Aileen is so going to kill me."

Calli hailed the Tradewind from the dock in Arhome bay.

"Hey, Aaron", she called.

"Calli! Hawk", he called back." "Great to see you, hey, come on aboard." Aaron was surprised when she took him up on the invitation. She had avoided the ship since Jack's death, having Aaron come into her home in Arhome to go over the books.

They were in Aaron's private quarters aboard the Tradewind, the cabin that had once been Jack and Calli's. Calli looked around and nodded approvingly. She had removed her helmet and placed it on the desk. Aaron was one of the few outsiders allowed to see Calli.

"This looks nice, Aaron", she said. He smiled.

"I hope you don't mind I made some changes", he said.

Calli looked at him a little surprised. "No, why would I?", she asked. " She's just a ship," she said. "The Tradewind I remember is in here", she pointed to her head, "in my memory, and in here" placing a hand over the bent circle ornament embedded over her heart, "with Jack. This ship isn't ours anymore."

"Yes, well," Aaron said, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "I got that thing for you."

Calli smiled. "You found it then?"

Aaron nodded eagerly. "I'm sure she'll just love it. It took a while but we were finally able to find the vault. We used the code you gave us to get in. How did you know about that vault?", he asked curiously.

"I found a reference to it awhile back", Calli replied vaguely. "But you have it, right?" He pulled the small item from his pocket. Calli took the music player from his hand and examined it. "Solar powered, too, one of the later models" she marveled. "Does it work?"

Aaron shrugged. "I didn't want to mess with it 'cause I was afraid I'd break it."

Calli smiled. "Good. You men have earned a big bonus on this trip." She pocketed the little device and pulled a manifest from her pack. "Now, let's take a look at the books. I brought the manifest for the products we're loading today." Aaron pulled out the books and they began going over them.

Although the shipyards were in Baton Rouge most of the work of running the business was done by Calli and Aileen from Arhome. Each fall Aileen would give Joe and Mattie a break for a couple of months by taking all the children and making a trip to Baton Rouge, where she would inspect the shipyards and books and confer with Zach and Gerald. Jack's mother was always happy to see them. She liked Aileen and was glad Calli no longer made the trip since she blamed her for Jack's death. Aileen would return to Arhome on the last ship before the winter set in.

Calli was helping Aileen to prepare the noon meal.

"I saw Jason over at the barracks this morning.", she said. "How's he doing?"

"He's doing great. He was a little nervous about moving into the common house last week, though.", she smiled.

"Yeah,", Calli laughed. "Thirteen year olds are in such a hurry to grow up, but they're still hesitant to leave home, aren't they? I remember how nervous the twins were last year. Not like he's gone far though, he can still come over when he has free time. I'm so glad you adopted him, Aileen. I would be dead if it wasn't for him, you know. I think being a guard was a good choice, he was always such a strong boy. How is little Rina doing? Does she still sing like a bird?"

"She's growing like a weed. I can hardly believe how tall she's gotten this last year. She was so small when you brought her in, it was hard to believe she was nearly 7. She has the most wonderful voice, Calli. Have you heard her sing lately? "

Calli smiled. "I heard her singing to Jason's playing last time I was here. He sure took to that guitar I brought him, didn't he? They make a good pair." Aileen smiled at her.

"I've brought something for her." Calli said, pulling the small machine from her pocket. "I tried it out. You can record anything you want on it, and play it back. I thought she would like to record her songs. Her and Jason. I know you've taught her some of the old ones from the before time, and so have some of the others, and they might like to have them recorded so they don't get lost. Don't worry", she grinned, "I didn't sing." Aileen laughed. Calli really couldn't sing. "It's more than just a recorder like a holo recorder though. It picks up radio too so she can listen to it when she wants. It's also got a lot of songs already on it from the before time."

"I don't know how you do it, Calli. Where do you find these things? There isn't anything she would like more. Rina may only be 11, but I'm sure she'll take very good care of it. Why don't you give it to her yourself? You can show her how to operate it. "

"I'll give it to her tonight after dinner if her parents don't mind. Hawk and I will be leaving early tomorrow."

Aileen smiled. "We'll drop in on her Mom after lunch." she said. "Do you think you'll be back soon?" Calli shrugged. She had noticed Aileen hadn't asked if she'd be back for the anniversary next week.