"No!"
"That's the story," Kris said. "They floated it right up to Gelusar, out to that School of theirs, and they've got it hoarded away some place."
"The devils!"
Another man came up—a seaman named Bort peDril Sesom, a man Kris knew vaguely. "What's this I hear?"
Kris told him.
"The Earthmen, eh? Well, I never did trust them, never did at all."
Meanwhile, far at the other end of the city, Dran peDran curled his wiry fingers around a mug of peych-beer and smiled confidentially at the fat merchant sitting opposite him.
"It's the Earthmen, all right," the Bronze Islander said in a hoarse voice. "They is stolen the cobalt and buried it somewhere. I hears that everywhere."
"The Earthmen, you say? Stole the cobalt? Why'd they do that?"
Dran peDran shrugged eloquently. "Does you understand the Earthmen?" he asked.
"All I know about the Earthmen," the Merchant said, "is that I don't like them and I don't like their School. And if they robbed the bank—"
While in a third section of the port, Bor pePrannt Hebylla growled loudly, "It's the Earthmen! The devil Earthmen who have our money!"
People crowded close around in the bar. "What? The Earthmen? Where'd you hear that?"
"It's all over," Bor pePrannt said. "Everyone knows they took the cobalt!"
A long-nosed farmer with fiery eyes crashed his hand down on the table. "We ought to kill them!" he roared.
Someone else picked it up. "Kill them! Kill them!"
By the next morning, there was hardly a man in Tammulcor who did not suspect that it truly was the Earthmen who had robbed the Bank of Dimay.
Sentiment began to gather. Forces started to be exerted. The rumor spread—from Dimay to Pelvash, from Pelvash to Thyvash, around the coast from Gycor to Lidacor to the distant province of Sugon.
The Earthmen had robbed the bank!
It was on everyone's tongue—or rather, almost everyone. Two significant groups were yet to commit themselves to an opinion. No word was forthcoming from the Council of Elders—and no denial had yet emanated from the Earthmen at the Bel-rogas School of Divine Law.
"We've got them where we want them now," Kris said. "We have to keep our fingers on the pulse of the world. When the time is ripe—we strike against Bel-rogas."
"And how do you know when the time will be ripe?" Norvis asked.
"Don't worry. I'll know."
Suddenly, Ganz peDel appeared at the door of the room. Kris looked up. "What is it, Ganz?"
"Visitors," the boy said. "Old men. I think they're priests." His face made no attempt to hide his distaste for the clergy.
"Show them in," Kris said.
The visitors entered, walking stiffly. They wore the blue tunics of priests, and over them light traveling wraps.
"Good evening, Ancient Ones," Kris said respectfully.
"May the Great Light illumine you," said the elder of the two priests.
"Peace of your ancestors be with you always," Kris muttered. "May I ask what brings you here, Grandfather Bor peDel?"
The Priest-Mayor of Tammulcor took a seat. "I think it is time I called upon you, my son." He gestured toward the man who accompanied him. "This is Marn peFulda Brajjyd," he said. "Priest-Mayor of Vashcor."
"Great Light's blessings," Kris said.
Marn peFulda nodded curtly. "You're Kris peKym Yorgen, are you not?"
"I am. And this is Norvis peKrin Dmorno, my assistant."
"We've already met," Marn peFulda said.
"Yes," said Norvis. "We know one another."
Kris frowned over that for a moment, then brushed it from his mind. "May I ask your business with us?"
"Briefly, this," said the Priest-Mayor of Tammulcor. "My colleague and I represent troubled areas of a troubled world. We fear for Nidor. We have long thought that Nidor has been in serious danger, and have given thoughtful consideration to that which must be done to ... ah ... hold things together."
"As have I," Kris said. "But—"
"We've concluded that something's got to be done about Bel-rogas," Marn peFulda said bluntly. "We won't mince words. You two have built up a powerful organization. We're here to offer you our spiritual and political support."
Kris stood up and crossed his arms in a by-now customary gesture of power. "I see. You're here to tell me that you're not in full agreement with the policies of the Council of Elders, I take it."
Marn peFulda spread his hands and smiled with delicate subtlety. "In a word—yes."
Kris frowned and glanced from one priest to the other. Very wee, he thought. It's shaping up. It's taking form. Now I've landed two priests, and big ones.
"You see," the Grandfather went on, "something must be done or our religion will be splintered. Already there is a man wandering around the countryside of Lebron, calling himself the New Lawyer; he thinks he is a second Bel-rogas.
Something must be done to strengthen the Council and purify it of the influence of the Great Darkness."
"We understand you've organized some men," Bor peDel said hesitantly. "We would like to suggest ... ah—"
"That you take them to Gelusar," Marn peFulda completed.
"Indeed?" Kris glanced at Norvis. "For what reason, may I ask?"
"There's a current rumor that the Earthmen were behind the robbery of the Bank of Dimay," Marn peFulda said. "You're aware of this, of course."
"Ah ... yes."
"Very well. We have learned through ecclesiastical channels that Elder Grandfather Kiv peGanz Brajjyd has reluctantly decided to hold a public hearing—in order to squelch this rumor. The Earthman Smith has agreed to appear and speak in his defense."
"And you think," Kris said, "that the presence of myself and my men at this hearing might—"
"Might be worthwhile—especially if Smith's defense should appear particularly unconvincing."
Kris nodded. "I thank you for your information, Ancient Ones. I'll consider it carefully."
"May the Great Light illumine your mind as He does the world," Marn peFulda intoned.
"May He illumine yours," Kris responded.
After the priests were gone, Kris turned to Norvis, who had remained silent throughout the entire inter-view.
"Well? What did you think of that?"
Norvis smiled. "Encouraging, all right. How do you plan to deal with what's come up."
"I'll go to that hearing, of course —with a hundred of my best men."
"And the local situation, here in Tammulcor? Who'll be in charge while you're gone?"
Kris thought a moment. "Oh, pick one of the youngsters in the Party. Give him a chance to learn how to administrate, while I'm away. Might as well not let the new blood go stale, you know."
"Good idea. How about Dran peDran?"
Kris shook his head. "Don't like. Dran's a clown. Beside, the men won't listen to a Bronze Islander."
Norvis snapped his fingers. "Say, what about young Ganz peDel? He could probably handle some of the job while you're in Gelusar."
Kris frowned. Ganz? Could be, he thought. "I suppose so," he said. "If you think he's worth the trouble of bringing along. But I guess they'll listen to Del's son, young as he is. All right—make Ganz peDel my deputy. I'm going to leave for Gelusar immediately.
Chapter XI
The Tammul Road followed the Tammul River, winding its way from Tammulcor to Holy Gelusar on the Dimay side of the stream. It was wide and well-turfed, neither so hard that it hurt a deest's cloven hoof, as some of the desert roads did, nor so soft that the animal had trouble moving at a rapid pace. It had been built for heavy traffic, but it had never seen the traffic it had on a spring day in the Year of Brajjyd, in the 324th Cycle.