MD3PAD 631-633

[Toby G Levy]

        Zhang admits to still desiring Eliza Fields, but she makes him
think of his enemy, the Wolf of Jesus.

        Mason and Dixon return to the Harlands' farm and return to
working on the Degree of Latitude (does this equate to "checking their
work" or is it something else?) while waiting to hear from the royal
agent for indian affairs William johnson to see if they can continue the
line west of the Alleghenies.

        As advent begins, a group of people gather every night in the
horse barn to discuss aspects of Christ's birth.  Zhang and Wicks are
regulars. Mason and Dixon attend sporadically. Mason and Dixon are most
interested in interpreting the star of the Magi. THey also debate the
actual year of Christ's birth.  Dixon makes a sarcastic comment but
imitates Mason's voice so the others think Mason said something mildly
blasphemous.

        Chapter 66 begins on page 633. It's spring and the scene is the
inside of Stig's tent. Mrs. Eggslap asks Stig to tell her a story.
According to the Hyperarts Mason and Dixon alpha "The story that Stig
tells Mrs. Eggslap about the first American murder at the beginning of
chapter 66 is straight out of The Greenlanders' Saga, the story of the
Norse settlement of Vinland, written down in the 12th century." It
relates the first murder in America, which came about from a fight over
ownership of a weapon between the Greenlanders and the Native Americans.

Toby