Part 21 (1/2)

Andreas smiled. What was the naive old saying? If a smile disfigures a man's face, then that man is bad.

The High Priest said: ”I am sure you will provide a suitable gift. There is no hurry about it, not now.”

”Very well.” Schoenberg glanced at those of his s.h.i.+pmates present. All watched him expectantly and appeared perfectly ready to be Thorun's guests. ”Just let me say a word to the people waiting at the s.h.i.+p.

Only take a minute.”

”Of course.” Andreas, n.o.ble savage, turned politely away.

Schoenberg took his communicator from his belt and spoke into it. Looking toward the s.h.i.+p he thought he could just see the head of Suomi, who must be sitting down in his sentry's position at the top of the climbing path.

It was Barbara who answered. ”h.e.l.lo?” Her voice was uncertain.

”Look, Barb, those of us down here now have been invited up to visit the Temple. A feast is scheduled.

I'm not sure when we'll get back to the s.h.i.+p. Tell Suomi to be sure to get inside before dark and b.u.t.ton the thing up. One of you call me if any problems should arise; I'll call you again when we're ready to start back. Okay?”

There was a little pause, and then she only said, ”Okay.”

”Everything all right?”

”Yes. Okay, Oscar.”

Just hearing about the Tournament and thinking about it must have upset her, he supposed. Probably she had been holding Suomi's hand while he recounted b.e.s.t.i.a.l horrors. Well, next trip he would choose his traveling companions more carefully. None of this bunch were exactly what he had hoped for.

Except next time he might be coming here alone, not expecting to return to Earth. He wondered if he could really teach himself, on Earth, to use edged weapons with real skill. He wondered if he would do better with sword or axe or spear. Tonight, if everything went well, he would have a chance to mention his plan to Andreas.

The little party of outworlders and their casual escort of a few soldiers began to climb the smooth-paved mountain road, Andreas and Schoenberg walking together in the lead. ”It is only a few kilometers to the top,” Andreas informed them. ”Perhaps an hour's walk if we take our time. Your hours on Earth are about the same length as ours, not so?”

When they had walked only about half a kilometer along the zig-zag climbing road they came to the place where, as Andreas pointed out, the ring was being prepared for the next day's fighting. Here the mountain was steeper, less level s.p.a.ce was available, and one side of the ring overlooked a bank that was almost a precipice. After another kilometer the switchback road pa.s.sed between twin stone watchtowers from which sentinels saluted the party crisply with their spears. Andreas returned the salutes.

They must be nearing the summit now. The slope of the mountain moderated again and the road wound through a park-like wood. Many of the trees bore fruit. The earth below them was hidden under a vine-like groundcover plant that put up leaves like blades of gra.s.s.

Presently the trees thinned out, the ground leveled and they came in sight of the citadel-city on the mountain's crown. As the road brought them near the city's bone-white walls, straight toward a yawning gate, Schoenberg glanced back once in the direction of the s.h.i.+p. He was developing a faint uneasiness that he found hard to shake. He could see only the top of the metal sphere above the trees before he pa.s.sed into the city.

Inside, there was at first little to be seen, except more walls of bright white stone. As they made their way in through the streets, Schoenberg found them narrow and busy. Gray-clad slaves, and carts pulled by multihorned draft animals, made way for white-robed aristocrats. Here and there an elegant woman eyed the visitors from a sedan chair or a grilled window. Windows were usually small, doors usually kept closed, walls invariably white. There was a deadly sameness to the architecture of the city. Catching Andreas's eye, Schoenberg asked: ”May we take pictures here?”

”Of course. You must take one of me, later. I shall treasure it.”

The white-garbed lords of the planet were lining the visitors' path now in considerable numbers, bowing lightly and courteously, showing somewhat more curiosity than Schoenberg had ever before seen displayed by Hunterians. Athena was smiling and waving to the women and children in white who were visible peering from windows or around corners. Those in gray, male and female, generally seemed too hurried to look up. It occurred to Schoenberg that there were no gray-clad children visible.

”The Temple of Thorun.” Andreas had stopped and was pointing to a pair of high gates of heavy metal grillwork that guarded the entrance to a courtyard lined on three sides by buildings of the ubiquitous white. These were somewhat taller than any the visitors had pa.s.sed on their way through the city.

”There we will feast tonight.”

Once the party had pa.s.sed through the gates, Andreas bade the visitors a temporary goodbye, and himself went on toward the building that Schoenberg took to be the Temple proper, the tallest structure, some twelve or fifteen meters high, with broad white steps and forbidding doors.

The outworlders were guided by bowing young priests into another nearby building and there shown to individual rooms, all of which were out of sight of the street, opening onto a kind of formal garden in an enclosed court.

Led into his room by the obsequious manservant a.s.signed to him, Schoenberg found it a small but pleasant place. The small window was protected by an ornamental grill, soft rugs covered the floor, and there was a comfortable-looking bed. An invitation to stay overnight seemed to be in the cards. His manservant was laying out white garments produced from somewhere, and through the open door other servants were visible, carrying in haste what appeared to be a bathtub.

A little later, getting his back scrubbed-hardly necessary, but let them do things their way-he found that the unexpected degree of hospitality had to some extent allayed the unease that had begun to nag him. Now, though, he suspected that Andreas was going to ask him some rather large favor before they parted. What could it be? Probably to smuggle in some outworld weapons, something needed to reduce some particularly troublesome adversary.

The swift tropical Hunterian night had come on by the time he had finished bathing and dressing. A young priest was promptly at hand to conduct him to the feast; it seemed that everything was running on a smooth schedule.

With a word to his guide he stopped at Athena's room, next to his, and found her ready to join him, as prompt as when they went off on a business trip. Her guide had told her that De La Torre and Celeste, whose rooms were next along a covered walk, had already gone on ahead.

Joking a little about what sort of merchandise they might hope to sell to their new client Andreas, Schoenberg and Athena followed their guides from one courtyard and cloister to another without being brought again in sight of the city's streets. Evidently the Temple complex was extensive.

At last they entered a small door in the flank of the tall building Schoenberg recognized as the Temple itself and were led down to a large room a short distance below ground level. It was refres.h.i.+ngly cool after the day's sunlit warmth.

Already at table were De La Torre and Celeste, also garbed in white, De La Torre with a leafy garland on his head like some ancient Roman. With them sat the High Priest, and half a dozen other men all of the highest rank. Some of these had accompanied Andreas on his first welcoming visit to the outworlders'

s.h.i.+p.

Servants moved quietly and efficiently about. The banquet room was large, pleasingly decorated with fine hangings, softly lit with well-placed candles. All was as it should be.

”Our host has been telling me about Thorun's great hall,” said De La Torre, after greetings had been exchanged.

”So?” Schoenberg moved a hand around in an inclusive gesture. ”Is this the place?”

One of the Inner Circle priests grinned, broadly and cynically. ”No, Thorun's is really quite a different world from ours. Or yours.”

As at the Tournament, Schoenberg, when seated, found himself between Athena and Celeste. Here, despite the outwardly pleasant surroundings, not only Celeste but Athena kept drawing close to him, as if unconsciously. Not only were there no other women guests this evening, but Schoenberg had the feeling that there might never have been any in the history of the Temple. Andreas and the other Hunterian leaders never spoke to Athena unless she asked them a direct question, which she did of course from time to time to show her nerve. Celeste, being a good playgirl, knew when she was expected to keep quiet. If the Hunterians knew her real status, Schoenberg supposed, they would be outraged.

No doubt about it, his party was being accorded extraordinary treatment. He would have to at least appear to agree to their request when it came, whatever it might be.

The feast was elaborate and very good, though Schoenberg with an apologetic explanation to Andreas advised the other outworlders not to partake of certain dishes, nor of the fermented milk that was brought before them in great bowls. ”It will be better for our Earthly stomachs if we drink clear water here, if Thorun does not object.”

Andreas waved a negligent hand. ”Thorun is largely indifferent to such matters. Clear water is always a good warriors' drink.”

Schoenberg sipped his water, from a golden cup. ”I look forward to seeing the next round of the Tournament.”

”I, too. I am delighted that our interests coincide. Unfortunately business has prevented me from seeing any of the earlier rounds.”

”I know what the press of business can be like.”

Celeste's foot was tapping under the table. Dancers had come on the scene and she was watching them with professional interest. They were good, girls and youths dancing together, the show very crude by Earth standards of course, and too bluntly erotic in places, but well practiced and full of energy. The Hunterian men at table watched the show with somewhat grim expressions, or did not watch it at all.

Schoenberg wondered if priests here were supposed to be celibate. He would get around to asking that later, if at all. s.e.x on any planet was likely to be an even more sensitive subject than religion, which these religious leaders did not appear to take too seriously.

All was new and interesting to the outworlders and the evening pa.s.sed quickly for them. The night was well advanced, the candles burning low, and the dancers literally collapsed from exhaustion, when Schoenberg suggested that the time had come for him and his party to return to their s.h.i.+p.

Andreas made a gesture of polite disapproval. ”Your beds here have been prepared. One of the dancing girls yonder will share yours with you if you like.”