Reith said: "May we have a few minutes to consider this unseductive choice, Your Altitude?"
"Certes." The Dasht and his headsman stepped out of the cell.
"I think we had better accept," murmured Marot. "I have no more fear of death than most; but boiling—pouah!"
"I say no," said Reith. "While there's life there's hope; but if we let this guy slice off our heads now, that's the end of it. If a rescue party arrived—and I'm sure Alicia will do her damnedest to launch one—they'd find nobody to rescue."
Marot made a helpless gesture. "Do what you think best."
They called the Dasht back in. Reith said: "Much as we appreciate your offer, Your Altitude, we must decline. We trust Bákh to work a miracle to save us."
Kharob sighed. "I have done what I could to ease your pains. I must own, Doctor Maghou, that I was vastly impressed by your argument about figurative interpretation of the sacred book. If I were more sure of my power ... But what will be, will be."
Roqir rose in a clear sky as Reith and Marot, hands manacled, were hustled out to a courtyard behind the Great Temple of Bákh. A wood fire crackled under the Cauldron of Repentance, and gentle plumes of vapor ascended from Lazdai's Kettle towards the greenish sky. Reith paid little heed to the droning of the priests who chanted prayers.
In the midst of these preparations, Marot said: "Your miracle had better occur soon, Fergus. I do not think these preliminaries will continue much longer."
"I can't wave a wand and summon spirits from the vasty deep," snapped Reith. "If I could, we wouldn't be here— what's that?"
Beyond the courtyard, a disturbance arose, the noise of which grew swiftly. There was shouting and a clash of metal on metal.
Into the courtyard burst a swarm of mounted newcomers, with the brazen cuirasses and the scarlet tunics and breeches of the Balhibo cavalry. There were hundreds of them; some had wounds bandaged. In their midst rode one of different aspect, a slender, blond, disheveled Earthwoman in worn khakis.
"Fergus!" she screamed, leaping down from her aya. She flung her arms around Reith, who could not return her embrace until he had hoisted the chain of his manacles over her head.
"I got them to turn out the whole Jazmurian garrison squadron," she panted. "They were furious at the raid, and I stirred them up even more. We had to knock a few heads at the border. Oh, Fergus darling!"
The lovers clung to each other as two Krishnans confronted each other: the tall Dasht and the stout female officer commanding the squadron. Kharob bad-Kavir spoke: "Madam, what is the meaning of this violation of the sovran territory of Chilihagh? I protest this warlike incursion! Who are you?"
"Major Kaldashi, commanding the Second Cavalry Squadron at Jazmurian. It is I who protest the violation of the territory of the Republic of Balhib by a band of marauders from Chilihagh, who carried off two Terran travelers from the Jazmurian-to-Majbur train. There they are!" She pointed to Reith and Marot. "We have no fell designs on your sovranty, my lord. We wish merely the two Terrans unharmed and shall depart forthwith—albeit, had we arrived to find them executed, there might have been more serious consequences."
The Dasht replied: "I yield to superior force. I shall issue commands that you be not hindered or molested on your way out of the Dashtate. I shall send an officer with you to assure compliance with this order."
With the shadow of a Krishnan smile, the Dasht walked off while the major approached Reith and Marot and questioned them about their experience. Soon Dasht Kharob reappeared with the captain of the Temple guard, saying: "Captain Zurian, unlock those gyves!"
As the manacles were removed, Reith said: "Thanks, Your Altitude. I said Bákh would pass a miracle. Where's Foltz?"
"He would have tarried to enjoy your execution, but I sent him on his way with an escort. Whilst I am officially outraged by Major Kaldashi's incursion, I shall turn it to account. I have commanded the arrest of High Priestess Lazdai and her priestly council, for having, on their own responsibility, committed a warlike act against a friendly neighboring nation. The civil government shall at last reassert itself against the usurpations of the Bákhites!"
"Will Your Altitude then restore religious freedom?" asked Alicia.
"Aye. We mortals have enough to do to settle quarrels amongst ourselves, let alone disputes amongst the gods."
At last Reith and Marot were mounted on spare ayas, and the squadron clattered out of Jeshang. Riding beside Marot, Reith said: "At least, I hope this ride won't be at the breakneck pace of the last one."
"I hope so also. It should be shorter, since we came here by a roundabout route." Marot nodded towards Alicia, riding ahead beside the major. "What about her?"
Reith sighed. "If she wants to marry me again, I'd be a swine to refuse her, after she saved my life. But I dread to think what life with her will be like. I've been through all that, enough for two lifetimes."
"At its worst," said Marot, "it will be less painful than the Cauldron of Repentance."
"True, but that would have been over in a few minutes. The other may last for more than a century!"
X - THE PALACE
Three days later, the squadron returned to Jazmurian. A lieutenant accompanied the three Terrans to Angur's Inn and led their ayas away. Reith paid Angur' for baths for himself and his companions, saying to Marot:
"I don't care if you think three tubfuls extravagant! This isn't the French boondocks. If your Institut makes a fuss, I'll pay for the extra two myself."
Later, Reith told his companions: "I must go to the railroad station, to see if the trains are running again."
At the station, the clerk said: "Nay, sir, the break in the track hath not yet been repaired."
"When will service be restored?"
The Krishnan spread his hands. "Bákh knows. The Chilihaghuma not only tore up that stretch of track but also destroyed a bridge. In another eight or ten days, belike."
Reith reported back to his friends at Angur's, saying: "This probably means we'd better go by ship. It's too late in the day to start looking for berths; so we might as well take it easy till dinner and afterwards go to bed early."
"But we ought to dance, to celebrate your escape!" said Alicia.
Reith clapped a hand to his forehead. "Woman! Are you a flesh-and-blood creature, or a mechanical marvel that never runs down?"
"My cogwheels are of the best quality. Come on, Superman! You don't want to admit that a poor, weak woman can outlast you, do you?"
"Whatever I've said about you," said Reith, looking martyred, "I've never once called you 'weak'."
Next morning in the big bed, Alicia giggled. "And you're the one who feared he wouldn't have enough pep for dancing last night!"
"It's the quality of the inspiration, darling," said Reith.
She drew back and looked at him. "Fergus dear, for one who's just proved himself a super-lover, you look unhappy— troubled. What is it, dearest?"
"Nothing, darling," said Reith, forcing a smile. "Just thinking how to get us safely back to Novo."
This, Reith knew, was not what really troubled him. Ever since the rescue, he had been torn by conflicting urges. She had aggravated his turmoil by giving him long, level, open-faced looks, with raised eyebrows—looks that said plainly: well, when are we going to get married again? Love, covetousness, and gratitude for the rescue urged him on.
On the other hand, his hard-earned caution, and a lively memory of their stormy life together, restrained him. He told himself: she's a wonderful person, but she's still the same tempestuous Alicia. She would boss you, bully you, argue with you, reorganize your life for you and, on the least pretext, lose her temper and scream at you—if she didn't use a blunt instrument on you. In a moon or two, you and this spitfire would be right back where you were before she left you. One traumatic marital breakup is enough!