Part 2 (2/2)
Stark stood up and stretched. The pod had broken up again, and the woman Breca was missing, presumably on watch.
”Now then,” said Yarrod brusquely, ”we have a decision to make.”
They all considered Stark.
”You believe that he is the Dark Man?” This was the big Irnanese who had spoken before with doubt.
”I think it likely. Gelmar appeared certain.”
”But suppose he is not the Dark Man. Suppose we rush back to Irnan only to learn that. Then all our work is wasted and our mission is thrown away for nothing.”
There were mutters of a.s.sent.
”That's possible, Halk. What do you suggest?”
”That we let him get to Irnan by himself. If he is truly the Dark Man, he'll make it.”
”I don't particularly want to go to Irnan,” said Stark, with a certain dangerous cheerfulness. ”Ashton's not there.”
”And well we know that,” said Yarrod. ”Where is he?”
”The Citadel of the Lords Protector, at Worldheart, wherever that is.”
”North, in any case,” said Yarrod. ”And in any case, you must go to Irnan.”
”Why?”
”So that Gerrith, the daughter of Gerrith, may say if you are truly the Dark Man of the prophecy.”
”Oh. Gerrith had a daughter.”
''All wise women have daughters if they can possibly manage it. Otherwise the precious genes are lost. And you see, Stark, we must know, or we cannot follow you. And without us and our help, you'll find it hard to do what you've come for.”
”He'll find it hard anyway,” said Halk, ”but he might as well cooperate.” He smiled at Stark. ”You can't get away from Skaith now. Not through the starport. And there is no other way.”
”I know that. Since I have no wish to leave, it scarcely matters, does it?” Stark turned to Yarrod. ”Perhaps I can solve the immediate problem. Obviously you couldn't have come here to rescue me, so you must have had another reason. What was it?”
Yarrod fairly snarled. ”We of Irnan are no longer allowed to travel without a special permit from the Wandsmen, and we didn't think they'd give us one for this journey. That's why we're flapping about in this silly disguise, so that we could come to Skeg and perhaps find out what the Galactic Union intends to do about us, if anything. I don't suppose they told you that at Pax? They seem to have told you everything else.”
”As a matter of fact, they did.”
The whole group moved a step closer.
”What will they do? Will they send someone?”
”They have sent someone,” Stark said. ”Me.”
There was a sort of stunned silence. Then Halk asked, ”Officially?” The sneer was audible.
”No. They've tried officially to reopen contact with Skaith, and got nowhere.”
”So they sent you. Who is your master, then?”
Stark took Halk's meaning and grinned. ”No one. I'm a mercenary by trade. Since I was coming anyway, the Minister asked me to find out what I could about matters here and report to him-if I survived. I take no orders from him, and he takes no responsibility for me.”
”Then,” said Yarrod, ”that is the best we can hope for?”
”Short of an invasion, yes. And the Galactic Union dislikes force. So if you want freedom you'll have to fight for it yourselves.” Stark shrugged. ”You must have realized that Skaith is not the most important planet in the galaxy.”
”Except to us who live on it,” said Yarrod. ”Very well, then. We go back to Irnan. Agreed?”
Even Halk had to admit that, satisfactory or not, they had got what they came for.
”We mustn't go too quickly,” said Yarrod, frowning. ”That would give us away. Gelmar will expect me in Skeg tomorrow, and he'll surely keep some sort of watch on this side of the river.”
Halk said, ”What about Stark? We can hardly add him to the pod.”
”He must go on ahead of us, tonight. He can wait at the-”
Breca came quickly through the vines, motioning for silence. ”I hear them, coming this way.”
”Stark-”
”Not in that hole again, thank you, though it was a good hole and welcome at the time. Did they search the roof?”
”They did.” The pod began organizing itself, soundlessly and in haste.
”Then they'll likely not bother again.” Stark went out through the rearward arch, letting the vines fall back quietly into place. He stood for a moment, head c.o.c.ked. He could hear people moving about, some distance away. If they thought they were being stealthy they were much mistaken. The beautiful sky glowed with its islands of milky fire. In the cl.u.s.ter-light, Stark studied the broken masonry of the vault and then began to climb.
5.
The top of the vault offered reasonable cover, with crumbling bits of wall still standing above the edges. Stark was not so much concerned now, since the main body of Farers had gone, but it would be wiser to avoid being seen.
He had no more than settled himself when Baya and two others came in view. Gelmar might have left them behind on purpose, after the search had failed, in the hope of catching somebody off guard. Or perhaps this scheme had been Baya's idea.
She was leading the other two, both men, who were obviously very bored and as pettish as babies. One was tall and spindly, totally naked except for body-paint that looked as if he had rolled in it. His hair and beard were full of rubbish. The other man was shorter and fatter, and that was all Stark could see of him because he was completely wrapped about with lengths of bright cloth that covered even his face. The folds were stuck full of flowers.
”Let's go back now, Baya,” said the tall one, turning toward the ford. ”You've seen there's no one here.”
”The Dark Man died in the sea,” said the shorter one, his voice squeaking impatiently through his veils. ”The Children shared him. How could it be otherwise?”
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