I would go to Victoria," I said. That was the next town west on the river. "You are an honest fellow, are you not?" asked the captain. "I think so, reasonable so," I said warily, "Why?" "If you are an honest fellow," said the captain, "why would you wish to go to Victoria?" "Surely there are honest doings in Victoria," I said. "I suppose so," said the captain. "Is it a dangerous place?" I asked. "You must be new on the river," he said. "Yes," I said. "Avoid Victoria," he said. "Why?" I asked. "Are you a slaver?" he asked. "No," I said. "Then avoid Victoria," he said. "Why?" I asked. "It is a den of thieves," he said. "It is little more than a market and slave town." "There is an important slave market there?" I asked. "You can sometimes get cheap prices on luscious goods there," he said. "Why are the prices sometimes so cheap?" I asked. "Girls who cost nothing can be sold cheaply," he said. "The marketed girls are then primarily captures?" I asked. "Of course," he said. "I do not understand," I said. "It is well known on the river," he said. "What is well known?" I asked. "That Victoria is one of the major outlets for the merchandise of river pirates." "I must go there," I said eagerly. "I am going to Tafa," he said. "I will not put in at Victoria." "Let me row for you to the vicinity of Victoria," I said. "Then put me ashore. I will find my way afoot into the town." "It will be useful to have another oarsman," he said, "even as far as Victoria, and we wil have the current with us." "Yes," I said. "Perhaps, too," he said, " we could pick up a new oarsman west of Victoria." "Perhaps," I said. He looked at me. "You need pay me nothing," I said. "I will draw the oar for free." "You are serious?" he asked. "Yes," I said. He grinned. "We leave within the Ahn," he said.
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