But mulling it over, the stupid ox... How I promised to keep Sukey safe.

This one, Secco thought to himself, is a stupid ox.

They'd turned back then, but the stupid ox walked more slowly than ever, despite Noman's encouragement to it with the shaft of his spear and even the sharp end on occasion.

Come on, you stupid ox!

Yet they were not the eyes of stupid oxen; rather, they were the eyes of people wrapped in dreams.

What do you mean by saving your stupid oxen at the expense of my beautiful cow!