“And who was supposed to be sleeping in poor Whitey’s bunk?”
“Snake?”
“Exactly. Do you think perhaps Whitey was killed instead of Snake?”
“Could be, I guess. But how and why and who?”
“Somebody who wanted Snake killed. Maybe the same person who cut his tongue out a year and a half ago.”
“I thought we decided that we didn’t know who that was.”
“A man you know, Urson,” Geo said. “What man on this ship have you sailed with before?”
“Don’t you think I’ve been looking?” Urson asked. “There’s not a familiar face on deck, other than maybe one I’ve seen in a dockside bar, but never one whose name I’ve known.”
“Think, Urson, who on this ship you’ve sailed with before,” Geo repeated, more intently.
“Jordde!” Suddenly Urson turned. “You mean the Mate?”
“That’s just who I mean,” said Geo.
“And you think he tried to kill Snake? Why didn’t Snake tell us?”
“Because he thought if we knew, we’d get in trouble with it. And he may be right.”
“How come?” asked Urson.
“Look, we know something is fishy about Argo. The more I think about it, the less I can put my hands on it. But if something is fishy about the Mate too, then perhaps he’s in cahoots with her. What about when he came into Argo’s cabin last night when we were there?”
“Maybe he was just doing what we said we had been: walking by when he heard a noise. If it was his eyes we were seeing through, then he sees things awfully funny.”
“Maybe he’s a Strange One too, like Snake, who ‘hears’ things funny. Not all strangeness shows,” Geo reminded him.
“You could be right. You could be right.” He stood up from the lifeboat support. “Well, I’ve got something to do and can’t stand here all day. You think some more, friend, and I’ll be willing to listen. I’ll see you later.” He hauled up his rope again and started off in the mist.
Geo looked around him and decided to search for Snake. A ladder led to the upper deck; climbing it, he saw across the boards a tall, fog-shrouded figure. He paused and then started forward. “Hello,” he said.
The Captain turned from the railing.
“Good morning, sir,” Geo said. “I thought you might be the Mate.”
The Captain was silent for a while and then said, “Good morning. What do you want?”
“I didn’t mean to disturb you if you were — ”
“No disturbance.”
“How long will it take us to get to Aptor?”
“Another two weeks and a half. Shorter if this wind keeps up.”
“I see,” said Geo. “Have you any idea of the geography of Aptor?”
“The Mate is the only one onboard who has ever set foot on Aptor and come off it alive. Except Priestess Argo.”
“The Mate, sir? When?”
“On a previous voyage he was wrecked there. But he made a raft and drifted into the open sea, where he had the good fortune to be picked up in a ship.”
“Then he will lead whatever party goes to the place?”
“Not him,” said the Captain. “He’s sworn never to set foot on the place again. Don’t even ask him to talk about it. Imagine what sort of a place it must be if probable death on the water is better than struggling on its land. No, he’ll pilot us through the bay to the river’s estuary, but other than that, he will have nothing to do with the place.
“Two other men we had onboard who’d been there and returned. They went with the Priestess Argo in a boat of thirteen. Ten were dismembered and the pieces of their bodies were thrown in the water. Two survived to row the Priestess back to the boat. One was the sailor called Whitey, who died in the forecastle this morning. Not half an hour ago, I received news that the other one went overboard from the rigging and was lost in the sea. This is not a good trip. Men are not to be lost like coins in a game. Life is too valuable.”
“I see,” said Geo. “Thank you for your information and time, sir.”
“You are welcome,” the Captain said. Then he turned away.
Geo descended the ladder and walked slowly along the deck. Something touched him on the shoulder; he whirled.
“Snake, goddamn it, don’t do that!”
The boy looked embarrassed.
“I didn’t mean to yell,” Geo said, putting his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Come on, though. What did you find? I’ll trade you what I know for what you do.”
You…sleep…came from Snake.
“I’m sorry, friend,” laughed Geo. “But I couldn’t take a nap now for money. You’re just going to have to ‘yell’ yourself hoarse and answer some fairly direct questions. And whether knowing the answer is going to get me in trouble or not, you answer right. First of all, whose eyes were we seeing through last night? The Captain’s?”
Snake shook his head.
“The Mate’s?”
Snake nodded.
“Thought so. Now, did he want to kill…wait a minute,” said Geo. “Can the Mate read minds too? Is that why you’re keeping things from us?”
Snake shrugged.
“Come on now,” Geo said. “Do a little yelling and explain.”
Don’t…know…Snake thought out loud. Can…see…what…he…sees…hear…what…he…hears…but…no…hear…thoughts…
“I see. Look, take a chance that he can’t read minds and tell me. Did he kill the man in the bed you should have been in?”
Snake paused for a minute. Then nodded.
“Do you think he was trying to kill you?”
Snake nodded again.
“Now, one other thing. Did you know that the man who was killed this morning in your place was one of the two men who came back from Aptor with the Priestess Argo on her last expedition?”
Snake looked surprised.
“And that the other one drowned this morning, fell overboard and was lost?”
Snake jumped.
“What is it?”
Look…for…him…all…morning…He…not…dead…hear…thoughts…dim…low…
“Who’s not dead?” Geo asked. “Which one?”
Second…man.
“Did you find him?” Geo asked.
Can’t…find…Snake said, but…alive…I…know…
“One other question.” Geo lifted the jewel from against his chest. “How do you work this silly thing?”
Think…through…it…said Snake.
Geo frowned. “What do you mean? Can you tell me how it works?”
You…have…no…words…Snake said. Radio…electricity…diode…
“Radio, electricity, diode?” repeated Geo, the sounds coming unfamiliarly to his tongue. “What are they?”
Snake shrugged.
Thirty feet in front of them the door to Argo’s cabin opened, and the veiled Priestess stepped out. She saw them, and at once her hand rose to her throat. Then it dropped. Snake and Geo were still.
Above, on the deck that topped the cabins, the dim form of the Mate was distinguishable; but Geo could not tell whether Jordde was watching them or had his back to them.
The Priestess paused and then returned to her room.
And the Mate walked away from the rail.
Geo got a chance to report his findings to Urson that evening. The big sailor was puzzled.
“Can’t you add anything?” Geo asked.
“All I’ve had a chance to do is work,” grumbled Urson. They were standing by the rail, beyond which the mist steeped thickly, making sky and water indistinguishable and grave. “Hey, Four Arms,” Urson asked suddenly, “what are you looking at?”