Part 35 (1/2)
He hesitated so long that she thought he was going to refuse, but at last he conceded, ”If that is what you truly prefer.”
”You sound disappointed. You really want want to throw him overboard, don't you?” to throw him overboard, don't you?”
”I want matters clearly resolved.”
”Maybe we can sic the captain on Oonuvu tomorrow.”
”Perhaps. In the meantime there's no lock on your door, and he could come back.”
”I don't think he will.” Even to herself she sounded feeble. ”Anyway, I'll be all right, I still have the pistol.”
”I will sleep in the corridor before your door,” he announced as if she had not spoken.
”Please don't. It's unnecessary, and too formerly-Exalted for human tolerance.”
”Wholly selfish, I a.s.sure you. I wish only to set my own mind at rest.”
”What about my mind? How do you think I'll feel, knowing that you're so uncomfortable because of me?”
”Our respective discomforts should balance nicely, then, thus satisfying your keen appet.i.te for equality.”
”I've a better idea. Take one of the empty hammocks, and sleep in here.” His brows arched, and she added, ”It's the most practical and sensible thing to do.”
”Wonder if your father would agree.”
”He'd probably fear for your reputation.” She saw him waver, and added, ”I'll feel safer if you're in here.” This was both truthful and effective. He nodded and, without further argument, stretched himself out in the hammock nearest the door.
Luzelle returned to her own interrupted repose, or tried to. For what seemed an eternity she lay with her eyes closed, her muscles conscientiously relaxed. But she was thoroughly wakeful and likely to remain so; attuned to the motion of the s.h.i.+p at anchor, alert to every creak and rustle, and above all aware of Girays's nearness. Not that he was making any noise. No coughing or snoring, certainly no attempted conversation. Eyes still closed, she listened intently, but caught no sound of his breathing, whose quality might have told her if he slept. For some reason it seemed immensely important to know whether he shared her insomnia.
The minutes pa.s.sed. She opened her eyes, watched the ceiling, and listened to the Blind Cripple. Blind Cripple. At last, very slowly, she turned her head to risk a surrept.i.tious peek over the edge of her hammock. At last, very slowly, she turned her head to risk a surrept.i.tious peek over the edge of her hammock.
Girays lay with his face turned away from her. She could see a patch of his dark hair, the pale angle of his cheekbone, and a portion of a khaki-clad shoulder; the curve of the canvas sling in which he lay obscured the rest. If his eyes were open, he would be gazing straight out the porthole at the night sky. She had only to whisper his name to find out, but somehow could not. Nor could she seem to turn away from him, but lay there wide awake, silently watching and wondering.
MORNING CAME and the and the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple resumed progress. For hours Luzelle sat up on deck watching the ferociously green, orchid-spangled Forests of Oorex glide by. The heat and humidity were oppressive as ever, but Urq's Universal Unguent furnished some relief from the insects. There was no sign of Oonuvu-perhaps he had received orders to stay out of sight, or else he was busy below-and she did not try to a.n.a.lyze, but simply enjoyed his invisibility. She had a book that Girays had lent her, one of his historical treatises-not what she would have chosen, yet unexpectedly palatable. The time pa.s.sed slowly, but it pa.s.sed. resumed progress. For hours Luzelle sat up on deck watching the ferociously green, orchid-spangled Forests of Oorex glide by. The heat and humidity were oppressive as ever, but Urq's Universal Unguent furnished some relief from the insects. There was no sign of Oonuvu-perhaps he had received orders to stay out of sight, or else he was busy below-and she did not try to a.n.a.lyze, but simply enjoyed his invisibility. She had a book that Girays had lent her, one of his historical treatises-not what she would have chosen, yet unexpectedly palatable. The time pa.s.sed slowly, but it pa.s.sed.
Shortly before noon the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple docked at Pijji Camp, and all aboard were freed for the s.p.a.ce of an hour. No use complaining about the loss of time. Captain Jhiv-Huze was jovial but adamant; certain supplies were required, and the delay was necessary. docked at Pijji Camp, and all aboard were freed for the s.p.a.ce of an hour. No use complaining about the loss of time. Captain Jhiv-Huze was jovial but adamant; certain supplies were required, and the delay was necessary.
Luzelle went ash.o.r.e to explore the primitive little makes.h.i.+ft quasi-village where, as Girays had predicted, she found Ygahris willing to sell or barter ointments guaranteed to repel the most voracious of insects. She was surprised and a little uneasy to discover how easy it was to communicate with the natives in broken Grewzian. Most of them knew at least several phrases and some were decidedly fluent. The Grewzian presence, so prevalent along this stretch of the river, was much in evidence at Pijji Camp, whose inhabitants flaunted Grewzian cigarettes, jewelry incorporating the amber gla.s.s fragments of Grewzian ale bottles, and small medals stamped with the likeness of the Grewzian imperior.
Her bag of raisins, an exotic rarity to the locals, purchased her a supply of evil-smelling ointment wrapped in the leathery leaves of some nameless native shrub. Mission accomplished, she reboarded the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple and soon Captain Jhiv-Huze did likewise. The alteration in his demeanor caught her attention at once. Gone was the joviality. The captain's footsteps dragged. The set of jaw and shoulders communicated resentful despondency. He glanced at her briefly in pa.s.sing, but did not trouble to acknowledge her existence. She gazed after him with a frown. and soon Captain Jhiv-Huze did likewise. The alteration in his demeanor caught her attention at once. Gone was the joviality. The captain's footsteps dragged. The set of jaw and shoulders communicated resentful despondency. He glanced at her briefly in pa.s.sing, but did not trouble to acknowledge her existence. She gazed after him with a frown.
The Blind Cripple Blind Cripple departed Pijji Camp. Luzelle smeared Ygahri ointment over her face, neck, hands, wrists, and exposed forearms, then returned to her reading. The hours pa.s.sed. The ointment fulfilled all promises, and the insects left her alone. departed Pijji Camp. Luzelle smeared Ygahri ointment over her face, neck, hands, wrists, and exposed forearms, then returned to her reading. The hours pa.s.sed. The ointment fulfilled all promises, and the insects left her alone.
Twice Girays approached to converse with her briefly, and she found herself curiously self-conscious in his presence. He was altogether amiable-he even affected a polite unawareness of her a.s.sertively scented native salve-but she was uneasy all the same. It had started last night, she realized, and it was absurd, but she could not banish the memory of lying wide awake in the moonlit cabin, watching him as he slept or pretended to sleep.
And what of the night to come? And the night after that?
She let nothing show on her face. She chatted brightly and lightly. After a while he went away.
In the midafternoon the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple docked again at a bend in the river where the jungle growths gave way to a sorry little collection of leaf-thatched huts that reeked of impermanence. docked again at a bend in the river where the jungle growths gave way to a sorry little collection of leaf-thatched huts that reeked of impermanence.
Another delay. Why? Scowling, Luzelle set her book aside and watched as Captain Jhiv-Huze disembarked alone. He hurried toward the huts, and soon the flimsy walls hid him from view. Rising from her chair, she paced to and fro. Forty endless minutes elapsed before he reappeared. Head and shoulders adroop, he shuffled back aboard. The gangplank rose and the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple steamed off. steamed off.
At this rate they would never overtake the Water Sprite. Water Sprite. Luzelle fumed helplessly. Girays's book no longer held her attention. Luzelle fumed helplessly. Girays's book no longer held her attention.
Four hours later when the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple paused once again, this time at a tiny village with an unp.r.o.nounceable name, her temper flared. Confronting the captain, she complained bitterly. paused once again, this time at a tiny village with an unp.r.o.nounceable name, her temper flared. Confronting the captain, she complained bitterly.
He did not bother to answer. Plodding by as if blind and deaf to her presence, he made his way ash.o.r.e. Luzelle glared after him, but her indignation veiled rising trepidation. There was something disquieting in his expression, something wrong about the eyes; a glazed, empty, almost lifeless look. She had seen such eyes staring down at her from stuffed animal heads mounted on walls.
Was Jhiv-Huze sick? Fever, perhaps? If so, could he pilot the Blind Cripple Blind Cripple on toward Jumo? A thoroughly selfish concern, she knew. Once she would have been ashamed of herself, but not now. on toward Jumo? A thoroughly selfish concern, she knew. Once she would have been ashamed of herself, but not now.
An hour pa.s.sed and the captain returned, dully morose as ever. The Blind Cripple Blind Cripple steamed south for a few scant miles, then dropped anchor at sunset. Jhiv-Huze retired to his own quarters. The engine fell silent. Sultry darkness descended. steamed south for a few scant miles, then dropped anchor at sunset. Jhiv-Huze retired to his own quarters. The engine fell silent. Sultry darkness descended.
”I wonder if we'll eat tonight,” Luzelle worried aloud.
”Can't face the captain's cooking?” Girays inquired.
”It's just barely preferable to starvation. But he's been so-what should I call it-distracted today that I think he may forget to feed us.”
The two of them stood at the rail watching the moon rise over the Forests of Oorex. A thin mist diffused the pallid light. The night birds hooted, the insects hummed, the frogs sang, and Luzelle's stomach rumbled emphatically. She colored and wondered if he had heard.
”I am ready to dine, and not disposed to wait upon this Jhiv-Huze fellow's eccentric whims,” Girays announced.
Yes, he had heard all right, and now he was being diplomatic.
”I suggest we ransack the galley,” he continued. ”Perhaps we'll find something more or less edible.”
She nodded and they went below, where the sound of choking grunts lured them to the captain's quarters. The door stood open. Luzelle looked in and saw Jhiv-Huze huddled on the floor, face buried in his hands, shoulders shaking. If she had paused to think, she might have elected to withdraw in silence. She did not pause, but asked in some concern, ”Captain, what is it? Are you ill?”
He looked up, and she saw that his eyes were swollen and his tattooed face streaked with tears. His mouth worked and then he managed to tell her, ”There is none to be had.”
”What?”
”Jhiv-Huze has offered money, trinkets, tobacco, xussi, transportation. He's volunteered Oonuvu's services. He's offered all that he possesses, and it's made no difference. There is none to be had.”
”Captain, you're not well. You'd best lie down. I could bring you a cool wet cloth to lay across your-”
”Useless. It is his special draft that Jhiv-Huze wants and needs, the dear elixir that is his peace and joy. And he tells you there is none! Three times today he's paused along the river to inquire, and always it is the same. The blight has withered the leaves, supplies are exhausted, it's not to be had at any price!”
”Unlucky. But never mind, we'll improvise.” She thought quickly. This tearful quivering wretch needed some sort of tonic to restore his nautical competence, and a tonic he would have. ”There must be plenty of ingredients in the galley. We'll concoct some sort of subst.i.tute-”
”You driveling female idiot, there is no subst.i.tute!” the captain cried. ”Are you blind, are you stupid? There is one, only one, exquisite and without equal. One queen, one empress, one G.o.ddess, one-”
”Marukinutu?” Girays suggested easily. ”You've consumed your entire store of Girays suggested easily. ”You've consumed your entire store of marukinutu marukinutu, Captain?”
”A glimmer of intelligence at last.” Jhiv-Huze nodded. The fresh tears welled. ”As you have surmised, sir. Jhiv-Huze's solace is gone. How shall he endure the night to come? How shall he endure the morning? He must replenish depleted supplies. There are half a dozen camps to be found between here and Ygah-Ta'ahri. He will try them all.”
”No!” Luzelle exclaimed, unable to contain her dismay. ”We can't afford the time. No more unscheduled stops. Absolutely not.”
”Haste must defer to the greater necessity.” A small muscle in his cheek jerked spasmodically, yanking Jhiv-Huze's lips into a fleeting lopsided smile.