Zarfo came quickly to business. "Before I disrupt my life by so much as a twitch, show me the color of your money."
Without words Reith threw down ten strips of winking purple sequins.
"Aha!" gloated Zarfo Detwiler. "This is true beauty! Is it to be mine? I will take custody of it at once, and guard it from all harm."
"Who will guard you?" asked Reith.
"Tish, tush, lad," scoffed Zarfo. "If comrades can't trust comrades in a cool ale-cellar, how will it go under adversity?"
Reith returned the money to his wallet. "Adversity is here now. The assassins are disturbed by the affair of yesterday. Instead of taking revenge upon you, they have threatened me."
"Yes, they are an unreasonable lot. If they demand money, defy them. A man can always fight for his life."
"I've been warned not to leave Settra until such a time as they choose to kill me. Nevertheless, I propose to depart, and as soon as possible."
"Shrewd." Zarfo quaffed ale and set the mug down with a thud. "But how will you evade the assassins? Naturally they ponder your every move."
Reith jerked around at a noise, only to find the pot-boy at hand to refill Zarfo's mug. Zarfo pulled at his long black nose to conceal a grin. "The assassins are pertinacious, but we shall outwit them, one way or another. Return to your hotel and make all ready. At noon I will join you and we shall see what we shall see."
"Noon? So late?"
"What difference an hour or two? I must wind up my affairs."
Reith returned to the inn, where Helsse had already arrived in the black landau.
The atmosphere was strained and taut; at the sight of Reith, Helsse jumped to his feet. "Time is short; we have been waiting! Come; we have only enough time to catch the first afternoon car for Vervodei!"
Reith asked: "Won't the assassins be expecting just this? It seems an unimaginative plan."
Helsse gave an irritable shrug. "Do you have a better idea?"
"I'd like to work one out."
Anacho asked, "Does Lord Cizante keep an air-car?"
"It is not in operation."
"Are any others available?"
"For a purpose of this sort? I should think not."
Five minutes passed. Helsse said mildly, "The longer we wait, the less time remains to you." He pointed out of the window. "See the two men in the round hats? They wait for you to come forth. Now we cannot even use the car."
"Go out and tell them to go away," suggested Reith.
Helsse laughed. "Not I."
Another half an hour went by. Zarfo swaggered into the foyer. He saluted the group with a wave of the hand. "Are all ready?"
Reith pointed to the assassins standing to the side of the Oval. "They are waiting for us."
"Detestable creatures," said Zarfo. "Only in Cath would they be tolerated." He looked sidelong at Helsse. "Why is he here?"
Reith explained the circumstances; Zarfo looked out upon the Oval. "The black car with the silver and blue crest-is that the vehicle in question? If so, nothing is simpler. We shall ride off in the car."
"Not feasible," said Helsse.
"Why not?" asked Reith.
"Lord Cizante does not care to become involved in this matter, nor do I. At the very least, the Company would include me in the contract."
Reith laughed bitterly. "When you contracted with them in the first place? Out to the car, and drive us away from this city of madmen!"
After a moment of incredulous disdain, Helsse gave a curt nod. "As you wish."
The group left the inn and walked to the car. The assassins came forward. "I believe that you, sir, are Adam Reith?"
"What of it?"
"May we inquire your destination?"
"The Blue Jade Palace."
"Correct," said Helsse tonelessly.
"You understand our regulations and schedule of penalties?"
"Yes, of course."
The assassins muttered together, then one said: "In this case we think it advisable to accompany you."
"There is no room," said Helsse in a cool voice.
The assassins paid no heed. One started to enter the landau. Zarfo pulled him back. The assassin looked over his shoulder. "Have a care; I am a guildsman."
"And I am a Lokhar." Zarfo struck him a great clout, sending him sprawling. The second assassin stood astounded, then snatched forth a gun. Anacho's sting snapped forth, to penetrate his chest. The first assassin tried to crawl away; Zarfo gave him a tremendous kick under the chin; he fell flat and limp. "Into the car," said Zarfo. "It is time to leave."
"What a fiasco," whispered Helsse. "I am ruined."
"Away from Settra!" cried Zarfo. "By the least obvious route!"
The landau rolled along narrow streets, into a narrow lane, and presently out into the countryside.
"Where are you taking us?" demanded Reith.
"Vervodei."
"Ridiculous!" snorted Zarfo. "Drive east into the back country. We must make our way to the Jinga River and fare downstream to Kabasas on the Parapan."
Helsse tried a voice of calm reason. "To the east is wilderness. The car will stop. We have no spare energy cells."
"No difference!"
"Not to you. But how will I return to Settra?"
"Is this your plan, after what has happened?"
Helsse muttered something under his breath. "I am a marked man. They will demand fifty thousand sequins, which I cannot pay-all through your insane manipulations."
"Whatever you like. But continue east, until the car stops or the road gives out-whichever first."
Helsse made a gesture of fateful despair.
The road led through a weirdly beautiful flatland with slow streams and ponds to either side. Trees with drooping black limbs trailed tobacco-brown foliage into the water. Reith kept a lookout to the rear, but discovered no sign of pursuit.
Settra became one with the murk of distance.
Helsse no longer seemed to be sulking, but watched the road ahead with an expression that almost seemed anticipation. Reith became suddenly suspicious.
"Stop a moment."
Helsse looked around. "Stop? Why?"
"What lies ahead?"
"The mountains."
"Why is the road in such good repair? There seems to be no great traffic."
"Ho!" crowed Zarfo. "The mountain camp for insane folk! It must lie ahead!"
Helsse contrived a sickly grin. "You told me to drive you to the end of the road; you did not stipulate that I should avoid taking you to the asylum."
"I do so now," said Reith. "Please, no more innocent errors of this sort."
Helsse compressed his lips and once more began to brood. At a crossroad he swung south. The ground began to rise. Reith asked, "Where does the road lead?"
"To the old quicksilver mines, to mountain retreats, a few peasant holdings."
Into a forest hung with black moss rolled the car, and the road slanted up even more steeply. The sun passed behind a cloud, the forest became dark and dank, then gave way to a foggy meadow.
Helsse glanced at an indicator. "An hour more of energy."
Reith indicated the thrust of mountains ahead. "What lies beyond?"
"Wilderness. The Hoch Har tribes. Black Mountain Lake, source of the Jinga. The route is neither safe nor convenient. It is, however, an exit from Cath."
Across the meadow they drove. Thick-trunked trees rose at intervals with leaves like shelves of yellow fungus.