"Could we go to the sea instead?"
"My turn for a 'why'?" Jon asked.
"Because Tel told me all about it last night. He said it was fun. He said there were rocks all different colors. And in the morning, he said, you can see the sun come up like a burning blister behind the water. He told me about the boats, too. I'd like to work on a boat. I really would. They don't allow me to do anything at home. Mother says I might get hurt. Will I get a chance to work someplace?"
"Maybe," Jon said.
"Tel had some good stories about fishing. Do you know any stories?"
"I don't know," Jon said. "I never tried telling any. Hey, come on. We better get started."
"I like stories," Let said. "Come on. I'm just trying to be friendly."
Jon laughed, then thought a minute. "I can tell you a story, about a prison mine. Do you know anything about the prison mines beyond the forest?"
"Some," said Let.
"Well, once upon a time, there were three prisoners in that prison camp." They started out in the hall. "They'd been there a long time, and they wanted to get out. One was ... well, he looked like me, let's pretend. Another had a limp ..."