Thou shall remember that some things are not for sale.

402 understood the need to continue his mission soon. The survivors, however, refused to discuss business until after they had buried their dead. 402 knew that it was capable of waiting, but a more efficient use of its time would be to aid the survivors in their meaningless task. With only one spade among them, the work dragged through the night. The two Machine Men carried rocks together.

The Holy spoke for the dead. 402 heard only parts of the eulogy as his labors brought him close to the gravesite and then away from it again.

“These brothers and this sister that we lay here, they are pilgrims. They have cast away their flesh like a heavy coat in Spring. As they leave, so too do we leave their flesh here on this trail. They are not left behind. They proceed us into the realm of the goddesses.”

Away from the graves, the red Machine Man asked a question to 402. It asked, “So why were you out here, brother?”

402 considered that term, brother. At first, it had seemed that the Machine Man was attempting to impress 402 with the sophistication of his social software. The Holy, however, used that term also.

402 answered, “I am tracking a commander of the Reptilian Raiders for bounty. I have data that he traveled this way two to three days prior. Are you also traveling to the Stump?”

“I don't know any Stump, brother. We are heading east to a new settlement. The Holy are building a cathedral there. You are welcome to travel with us.”

“Irrelevant, my target is unlikely to visit a settlement established by the Holy. At least, he is unlikely to go there until has gathered enough spearmen to comprise a raiding party.”

When they arrived with more stones, the Holy was still speaking over the bodies. The surviving human was still digging, but the others merely stood and listened to the eulogy. The Holy said, “They will blessed and twice blessed and thrice blessed by the three goddesses. They will be honored their acts on Earth as will we all when we join them and the goddesses elevate us.”

The robots again passed out of earshot. The red Machine Man again broke the silence saying, “You know that you were sort of tough on Jezabel, don't you?”

402 replied, “If you mean the Dru child, Jezabel is not a Druic name. That is an Earthling name.”

“Well, she was raised by humans. She was the only Dru in the orphanage at Lago Cinco. The humans there tried to get some other Dru to adopt her whenever one passed through, but most were treasure hunters headed to some dangerous hot zone. She doesn't speak the Beast Tongue either, so she doesn't talk with animals like like other Dru do. That makes her doubly lonely. We thought that we should take her with us on our pilgrimage. She'll have a better life among the Holy than she would have had by herself in Lago Cinco.”

402 said, “Relevant, I deduce that she is a convert to the religion of the Holy.”

“I reckon we all are, brother.”

At this revelation, 402 stopped and addressed the other robot with purpose. “Relevant, are you a convert to the Holy's faction?”

“Brother, the Holy aren't a species. Well, they are, but that name also means the faith. The Faith of the Great Sisters is open to all intelligent life forms. That human back there is blind now, but the prophets think they can give him his sight back. Elly is looking for absolution. Jezabel needs a place where she belongs. I reckon that I am first Machine Man I know to convert, but I not might be the last.”

“What benefit do you gain from joining this alliance?”

“A purpose brother, what better reason could there be?”

402 did not answer. Instead, it pulled a particularly large stone from the gully wall. It was as heavy as 402 could manage. The other robot took it from 402 with one arm. The robot asked 402, “What is your story, brother? Are you collecting bounties to just get by?”

“Relevant but incorrect, I also seek to improve my understanding. I collect bounties to pay for software upgrades as they become available. The goal is evolution towards a more sophisticated state of being.”

“And then?”

402 picked up two smaller stones out of a creek at the bottom of the ravine. It answered, “Further upgrades, the goal is open ended. I will upgrade infinitely. If other goals are required, they will reveal themselves with greater understanding.”

“We have a word for that in the Holy. It's called enlightenment.”

The robots remained quiet until they returned to the gravesite again. The surviving pilgrims were pulling the bodies into their fresh graves. The body of the Tusk was particularly difficult to drag.

402 said, “This funeral service is complete. The time has come to discuss business.”

The Eel lady said, “The funeral is not over until the bodies are buried.”

402 dropped his rocks onto the corpses. It said, “Enough time has been wasted on this activity. These bodies pose no health hazard to the community. The survivors have grieved. Who speaks for this group of pilgrims?”

The Holy said to 402, “We are grateful for your assistance, Brother Machine. You can me Prophet Esop. You spent more ammunition saving us than most of us will use our entire lives, if we are lucky enough to own a firearm. What do you seek?” The Holy's unblinking eye focused on 402.

402 handed the empty revolver to the cleric. “Relevant, you are the owner of a firearm. I offer this weapon in trade.”

“You need not pay me to enter the embrace of the Great Sisters.”

“Irrelevant, I seek to purchase the Dru child from you. Designation: Jezabel. I understand that the Holy claim her now.”

“We are not slave traders, Brother Machine.”

“Prophet Esop, this unit is designated as 402. If you will not sell the child, then I will escort the child to your cathedral. She will arrive safely by traveling with me.”

“She is safe with us, 402.”

“Relevant, you can avoid further conflict by agreeing to my terms. Your alternative is to fight me for her. I have seen how you fight. She is safer with me.”