6

"I hope that isn't all you packed."

"Not all," he says. "I mean, it's mostly whiskey, but I got a bit of grub, too. And clean pants."

He flops to the ground, falling off his struggling yak with all the grace of a drunken elephant, and then holds out the bottle to you.

Stevo stares at you for a few seconds. You make no response except to glower.

Eventually, he shrugs. "Suit yourself," he says, taking another swig.

He takes the reins of his yak and starts leading the animal, waddling up the pass on his own two legs. He finally seems aware of just how far ahead Zhu and the guides have gotten.

"Here's something I've been meaning to ask you," he says. "And this is important. What should I call you?"