"By all means," said Reith.
Ozagh appeared in the red-and-yellow habit of his cult.
When Reith questioned him, he said: "As I heard the tale, there were two sets of you bone-diggers at the Zora ranch. Me-thought they were all of one party. Which is sooth?"
"We were two parties, not working together. The priest Behorj queried my party and departed, seemingly satisfied."
Ozagh wagged his head in the peculiar Krishnan negative gesture. "For some reason I know not—the tales conflict— die Reverend Behorj's men fell into strife with the servants of the other bone-digger. A battle ensued, wherein several were wounded or slain. The surviving bone-diggers were brought to Jeshang for judgment. Most were simple countryfolk, of no interest to Her Holiness. But the leader, a Terran disguised as a human being, hight Foltis I'm told, aroused her suspicion. So she summoned him for further interrogation.
"Since the questioning was done in private, I know not how Master Foltis fared. But I am told that he hath neither been boiled in Lazdai's Kettle, nor been enlarged to go his way.
"I hear Her Holiness hath conceived an interest in further interrogating the other set of bone-diggers to wit: you and your companions. She suspects that the queries of the Reverend Behorj pierced not deeply enough. So she issued commands that you be apprehended upon arrival in Jeshang and brought before her. But you somehow slipped through her fingers, whereat she waxed passing wroth. How didst work this sleight?"
Reith smiled. "I'm sorry, but on this point my tongue is tied."
A knock on the door heralded a young Krishnan in the habit of an acolyte of Yesht, carrying a strip of thin paper covered with microscopic writing. He handed this strip to Nirm, saying: "Father Nirm, this message hath just arrived from our informant at Jeshang by bijar post."
"Thank you; you may go." Nirm frowned over the strip. Then his antennae quivered with excitement. "Ohé, Master Reit'! This doth concern you!"
"What does it say?"
"It saith that the Bákhites of Jeshang, resolved to settle the controversial matters whereof we have spoken, have sent persons forth to find you and your comrade, the learned doctor, and to return you to the Great Temple willy-nilly, for interrogation and judgment.
Reith grunted. "I should have foreseen they'd do something like that. What form will this kidnapping take?"
"Alas, the message saith not. 'Tis not likely they'd attempt an armed incursion, in view of the much greater strength in arms of Qirib. More likely, they'll slip into Jazmurian an agent or two, well furnished with coin, wherewith to hire a gang of local bravos to crimp you twain and hustle you to the border. This is a corrupt and lawless town, where such dark deeds are easily set in motion."
"I thank you," said Reith. "We'll take precautions."
Reith hastened back to Angur's, pausing only long enough to pick up Alicia's stationery supplies and to buy a bottle of falat and three cheap pottery mugs. As he and his companions drank the soothing vintage, he reported on his visit to the temple.
"I think we're fairly safe in the inn," he said. "We must of course keep our doors locked—that reminds me, ours isn't at the moment." He rose and took care of the matter, and in addition placed a chair at an angle with the chair back wedged beneath the doorknob. He continued:
"We should go out only under necessity. When we do, we should go no farther from the inn than we must, and Aristide and I should go armed and together. What did you learn about trains, Aristide?"
The scientist replied: "They run on alternate days. We have missed that of today, helas. The next departure will be the day after tomorrow, at the third hour."
"Damn!" said Reith. "We shan't be really safe until we board that train."
Alicia said: "Mightn't it be just as quick, and much more comfortable, to go by sea? On a ship I can work on my notes, which I couldn't do in one of those bouncy little cars."
"Let me think," said Reith. "Jazmurian to Majbur by rail is about five hundred and fifty kilometers; by sea it's a little over nine hundred. The train trip takes five days; with good winds and no stops, the sea voyage also takes five days."
Marot asked: "How is the ship so much faster than the train?"
"The train makes four overnight stops, while the ship sails all night."
"And why such a discrepancy in the distances?"
"Both Jazmurian and Majbur stand at the heads of deep bays, so to get from one to the other you have to sail three sides of a rectangle, around Cape Dirkash."
"Me, I hope you will decide on the train," said Marot. "I am curious about Krishnan railroads and have never ridden one. Besides, I am not a good sailor."
Alicia: "You did all right on the Morkerád."
"Ah, but that vessel floated on water so smooth that one could play the billiards on it."
"After you've been bounced around on that wooden track," said Alicia, "you might change your mind. Besides, if we took a ship, we'd probably stop at Damovang, and I do so want to see how Vizman's campaign against slavery is coming."
Reith listened silently, but his muscles tensed. Alicia's mention of the Qiribo President sent a surge of jealousy coursing through Reith's veins. He told himself not to be silly. The Krishnan politician, unlike that blackguard Foltz, had done Alicia no harm. In fact, he had made an honorable offer of marriage, at a time when she was free to wed anyone she liked.
So long as he, Reith, had not offered to remarry her and been accepted, what right had he to object to her seeking love elsewhere? He was being a dog in the manger, he told himself; but the feeling of jealousy persisted. Whatever method of travel they chose, he would try to make sure that they did not stop at Damovang.
"What are the relative hazards of the two modes of travel?" asked Marot.
Reith pulled his mind back to their current problem. "The train is safe enough, save for an occasional derailment or upset. As to the sea, it's fair-weather time on the Sadabao. The main thing we'd have to fear would be not storms but calms, which might cost us additional days. These ships carry oars, but rowing merchantmen is slow work.
"There was also an outbreak of piracy a few years ago. Ships had to move in convoys, which meant delays and higher costs. The princes and presidents around the Sadabao claim they've put the pirates down, but I don't know how far to believe them."
Marot continued to argue for the train, Alicia for the ship; while Reith remained judiciously neutral. At last he said: "I personally don't care; but as things stand, the railroad has it. The cost is about the same, and the train is likelier to get us safely to Majbur in six or seven days. I'll get our tickets the first thing tomorrow, as soon as we have the money."
Angur, in his incarnation as maitre d', escorted the three to a table on the edge of the dance floor and took their orders. This was a touch of special deference, since the usual procedure was to give orders over a counter directly to the cook.
"One of the perks of a tour guide," Reith explained. "They all hope for future tourists to exploit."
Only a few other patrons occupied the big room. After the waiter brought their dinners, however, more Krishnans drifted in. Marot was raising his eating spears to his mouth when he started so violently that he dropped the food back on his plate and pricked his own chin. "Sacre dieu, what are those?" he said.