Part 43 (2/2)

The quartermaster entered the stateroom and closed the door behind him. He looked worried and morose. 'As a matter of fact, Pathkendle doesn't want to see any of you. He's asked for his hammock to be brought to the mids.h.i.+p compartment on the berth deck. He says he'll be as safe there as he would in the stateroom, because there's always hundreds of sailors around. And of course no woman may set foot there. I don't think he's in his right mind, Undrabust, if you want the truth. He says Alyash is a Mzithrini! And he says he watched Drellarek get eaten eaten.'

'Did Pazel get b.u.mped on the head, maybe?' asked Marila sensibly.

Fiffengurt shook his head. 'He looks looks like he's been wrestling snakes in the bottom of the Pits. And there's more, by Rin.' He lowered his voice, although they were quite alone. 'Pathkendle says Rose has got a wolf burned into his forearm. How d'ye like that development, lad? Rose carries the same mark as you and Pathkendle and Thasha and Mr Hercol. Does that mean what I think, now - that the captain's going to help us?' like he's been wrestling snakes in the bottom of the Pits. And there's more, by Rin.' He lowered his voice, although they were quite alone. 'Pathkendle says Rose has got a wolf burned into his forearm. How d'ye like that development, lad? Rose carries the same mark as you and Pathkendle and Thasha and Mr Hercol. Does that mean what I think, now - that the captain's going to help us?'

Neeps' eyes widened in disbelief. 'Pazel must be wrong,' he said. 'He saw some other scar on Rose's arm, and got carried away.'

'I'm sure you're right, Undrabust,' said Fiffengurt uneasily.

'Hang that fool, he's impossible!' Neeps exploded. 'Gone for three days of Rin-knows-what on Bramian, and he can't even bring himself to say, ”h.e.l.lo, I survived ? ” ' ” '

'Obviously not,' said Marila.

Neeps glared at her. 'Anything else obvious obvious to you?' to you?'

Marila nodded firmly. She began to count on her fingers.

'Pazel won't actually be safe on the berth deck, because it's full of violent men. And all that chatter from Felthrup - it's just like the night before last. He's reading to her from the Polylex Polylex, Neeps. And Thasha must have asked him to, because who could put up with it otherwise? And Rose hasn't imprisoned you yet because he thinks you'll be useful to him, just like Pazel must have been on Bramian.'

'Finished ?' Neeps demanded.

'No,' said Marila. 'It's also obvious that you and Pazel had a fight before he left - you get angry whenever he's mentioned. And one more thing: since Ramachni left we haven't won any battles, unless you count what happened on Dhola's Rib. Mostly we've been fighting just to stay alive. We're . . . lost, and our enemies are stronger than ever.'

Fiffengurt sighed and worried his beard. 'That last part's certain,' he said. 'But they did take one hit on Bramian: Sergeant Drellarek met his death, in some horrid way no one wants to explain.'

Thasha's door creaked open. There she stood, bedraggled and wild-eyed between her dogs.

'Where is Pazel ?'

Awkward silence. Neeps and Fiffengurt glanced sidelong at each other, as if each was hoping the other would speak first.

Marila came to their rescue. 'He's annoyed with us - with the two of you, anyway. He and Neeps got into a fight--'

'What?' cried Thasha.

'--and Pazel's mad at you for kissing Fulbreech--'

'What? ' shouted Neeps. 'Thasha, you kissed that snake-tongued stooge? That palace bootlick?' ' shouted Neeps. 'Thasha, you kissed that snake-tongued stooge? That palace bootlick?'

Thasha looked ready to smack him. 'You don't know a thing about Greysan. He's no more a bootlick than you, he's worked for what he's got--'

'Aye,' laughed Neeps acidly. 'I've no doubt doubt he earns his wages. Just didn't imagine you'd be paying 'em.' he earns his wages. Just didn't imagine you'd be paying 'em.'

'You pig pig !' Thasha took a step towards Neeps. 'Did you try to strangle Pazel too?' !' Thasha took a step towards Neeps. 'Did you try to strangle Pazel too?'

'Are you both touched in the head?' cried Fiffengurt, stepping between them. 'I've never seen such a pair of beasts! Enough, enough, or by the Night G.o.ds you can have done with any help from this old man!'

His rage shamed them all to silence. Fiffengurt took a deep breath. 'That's much better. Now then--'

A terrified squeal cut him off. It was Felthrup, still in Thasha's cabin. They rushed into the chamber and saw the rat upon her bed, eyes riveted on the single porthole, which stood ajar. Collapsed on the sash was what they first took for an injured bird. But then the bird rose on shaky human legs.

'It's Diadrelu!' cried Thasha, leaping to her side. 'She's been stabbed!'

She lifted the ixchel woman gently from the sill. 'The coat, don't harm the coat!' Diadrelu gasped.

'Devil take the coat!' said Felthrup. 'Where is your wound, Diadrelu?'

'Lord Rin!' said Fiffengurt. 'That thing's a crawly!'

Dri looked up at him, copper eyes sharp.

'Put it down, Thasha!' cried Fiffengurt. 'They're worse than scorpions! Trust me, I know!'

'Will he talk?' said Diadrelu quietly.

'Will I talk?' cried Fiffengurt. 'You can bet your s.h.i.+p-sinking blood I'll talk!'

'No you won't!' shouted Neeps and Thasha together.

Fiffengurt looked from one to the other, like a man being circled by strangers in an alley. 'You don't understand,' he whispered. 'That's a crawly.'

'We've no time for this,' husked Diadrelu.

'It's your back that's cut, isn't it?' said Neeps, trying to peel the coat away from the b.l.o.o.d.y spot. Dri dug her nails into his thumb.

'You're under attack,' she said.

The warning spilled from her, even as her blood soaked Thasha's arm: the old priest on the island, Sathek's Sceptre, the Jistrolloq Jistrolloq tearing east with a full spread of sail. The humans stood gaping. Once more Thasha was the first to reach a decision. tearing east with a full spread of sail. The humans stood gaping. Once more Thasha was the first to reach a decision.

'Take her, Marila.'

Gingerly she pa.s.sed Diadrelu to the Tholja.s.san girl. 'What are you doing, Thasha?' Felthrup asked.

'Alerting Rose,' she said. 'It has to be me, don't you understand?'

Without waiting for an answer, she flew from the stateroom. They heard her shouting from the pa.s.sage: 'Turachs! Rose wanted me captured, right? Here I am, take me! I surrender!'

Neeps started to run after her, but a glance at Fiffengurt's tortured expression stopped him dead.

'Listen,' Neeps said, 'we owe our lives to this crawly crawly. She saved me and Pazel in the Crab Fens. And she was the one who guessed the right moment to turn the s.h.a.ggat to stone.'

'Then she's using you, Undrabust - exploiting your good nature.'

'Oh come on,' said Neeps. 'My what what?'

<script>