Part 88 (1/2)
CELADEYR: Only according to orthodox Tanu belief, son. The Firvulag have convinced themselves that Nightfall will bring victory to one faction: themselves. And there is a dim justification for the notion in our sacred writings, given a fast and loose interpretation.
KUHAL EARTHSHAKER: Trust the Firvulag to do just that.
OCHAL THE HARPER: We have confidence that the s.h.i.+ning One will forestall Night!
AIKEN: I'm going to do my d.a.m.nedest. We're outnumbered, but we've got discipline in our metaconcert-and a much more efficient program that yields more watts per mind. We've also got the Spear, a good supply of sophisticated weapons, and the Royal Flying Corps-which you saw in action this afternoon.
(Admiration) SUGOLL: Are all the flying machines armed, as was your flags.h.i.+p?
AIKEN: We're working on it. Refitting a rhocraft is tricky because of the reticular field that covers the skin. With luck, most of the fleet will be zapper-equipped by tournament time.
MORNA-IA KINGMAKER: Woe! O G.o.ddess forfend! That I, a First Comer, should live to see a renewal of those dread hostilities from which Brede s.h.i.+pspouse sought to save us!
CELADEYR: A pity we only have Elizabeth ...
AIKEN: You have Me.
ALL: Yes.
SUGOLL: And there is also the time-gate.
(Consternation.) CELADEYR: No true warrior of Tana's battle-company would turn tail and flee the Foe!
AIKEN: There are worse perils than the Little People. [Image.] KATLINEL THE DARKEYED: In my veins runs Tanu and human blood, and my heart is linked to the Firvulag race of my husband. Well do I recall the words of that spokesman for peace, Dionket Lord Healer, when he bade Sugoll and me to be a bridge. We will willingly undertake a mediation role, and pursue it from now until the Grand Tourney. If Tana wills, we may move the hearts of the Little People, dissuading them from war. Night may not fall.
SUGOLL: But if it should, our people claim the option proffered by King Aiken-Lugonn in exchange for our fealty: If doom cannot be averted, our Howler and human subjects will seek sanctuary in the Milieu.
CELADEYR: Galloping G.o.ddess-what if the d.a.m.n time-gate device is finished before the Tourney?
AIKEN: Not fewkin' likely. There's a snag. I'm going to look into it later today.
KUHAL EARTHSHAKER: Sisters and brothers, let us gratefully accept the offer of the Lord and Lady of the Howlers to mediate with the Firvulag, their kin. At the same time, let us prepare for the worst, marshalling all stalwart torced minds under the executive of the s.h.i.+ning One, following him without hesitation or question. This has not been our Way in the past, for we are a proud and stiff-necked people, loving turmoil and glorying in contention. Now we must act in concert or perish. And I remind the pious that if Night falls, it will be the hand of the Adversary that brings it to pa.s.s rather than Tanu or Firvulag.
He is the true Foe.
(Silence.) AIKEN: Thanks for meeting Me here today. I'll see you all in Nionel, at the games.
Swollen by the heavy rains in the jungles to the south, the River Nonol ran deep and swift beneath the Rainbow Bridge.
Upstream the watercourse was crowded with small boats, carrying sports lovers of three races to the landing stages at the Field of Gold. But the tiny dock at the foot of the bridge's rightbank abutment pier was deserted except for a laden decamole canoe that strained at its painter and two people standing in the afternoon shadows beside it, their minds linked by the fellows.h.i.+p of the golden torc. One was a splendidly dressed hybrid woman, Tanu in every feature except for her brown eyes. The other was a ma.s.sive Native American with straggling iron-grey hair, wearing only a breechclout, moccasins, and an elaborate wrist navigation unit.
Misgiving tinged the hopeful mind-veneer of Katlinel the Darkeyed. ”I wish we had one of the sigma-field devices to give you in addition to the weapons, Chief Burke.”
He smiled, radiating ironic rea.s.surance. ”If it's really Marc Remillard in that schooner I'm hunting, a little sigma-s.h.i.+eld would be about as much protection as a sheet of durofilm. Not to worry, Lady Katy. Us Redskins are just naturally adept at lurking and sneaking-and my training as a lawyer makes me wilier than most. I'll take care that the gang on Kyllikki don't spot me, a.s.suming she is sailing up the Seine.”
”The King thinks it most likely. He did an inconclusive scan from his aircraft.”
”I call it weird,” Burke said, ”that with all the high-powered minds and contraband gadgetry at the King's disposal, he can't track this boat except with a pair of tired old human eyeb.a.l.l.s.”
”Nevertheless, that seems to be the case. It does seem terribly unfair that you must undertake this scouting mission now, risking your life and perhaps your chance to pa.s.s through the time-gate ... ”