"I'll try," said Elemak, though of course they both knew he wouldn't.
"What is it that Wetchik wants? Did he send any message to me?"
"I don't think he expected me to see you," said Elemak. "It was a vision from the Oversoul that sent me. Actually, all four of us came-"
"Even Issib! Here!"
"No. I left them outside the city, in a safe place. No one but the two of you will know they're here, if I can help it. With any luck, I'll get the Index and be out of the city before night, and then I have no idea when we'll be back again."
"The Index," whispered Rasa. "Then he can never come back."
Elemak was disturbed to hear her say that. "Why? What is it?"
"Nothing," she said. "I mean, I don't know. Only that-let's just say that if the Palwashantu realize that it's gone..."
"How can it be that important? I never heard of it before Father sent us back for it."
"No, it's not much spoken of," said Rasa. "There hasn't been much need for it, I guess. Or perhaps the Oversoul didn't want it known."
"Why? There are lots of indexes-dozens in every library in the world, hundreds in Basilica alone. Why is this one the Index?"
"I'm not sure," said Rasa. "Really I'm not. I only know that it's the only artifact from the men's worship that is also mentioned in the women's lore."
"Worship? How is it used?"
"I don't know. It never has been used, to my knowledge. I've never seen it, I don't even know what it looks like."
"Oh, that's good news," said Elemak. "I assumed it would be like any other index, and now you're telling me that Gaballufix could hand me anything and call it the Index and I'd never even know if he was cheating me."
Rasa smiled. "Elemak, you must understand. Unless he wishes to lose his leadership of the Palwashantu, he will never give you the Index."
Elemak was worried, but not dismayed. She dearly -meant what she was saying, but that did not necessarily mean that she was right. Nobody really knew what Gaballufix might do, and if he thought he could get some advantage out of it, he'd trade away anything. Even their mother, if Gabya ever thought old Hosni might have some value. No, the Index could be had, if the price was right And the more he realized how important this mysterious Index was, the more he wanted it, not just to humor Father, not just as part of the game he was playing to take possession of the future, but for the sake of having the Index himself. If so much power came to the one who had it, then why shouldn't it be Elemak's?
"Elemak," Rasa said, "if you do, somehow, get the Index, you must realize that Gaballufix won't let you keep it. Somehow he'll get it back. You'll be in terrible danger then. What I'm telling you is-if you or any of your brothers need refuge from Gabya, then trust no man. Do you understand? Trust no man ."
Elemak was unsure how to answer. He was a man; how did she expect him to respond to such advice?
"There are few women in this city," said Rasa, "who would not rejoice to see Gabya deprived of much of his power and prestige. They would gladly help the taker of the Index to escape the grasp of Gaballufix-even if the Index had been obtained by some means that ordinarily might be viewed as ..."
"Criminal," said Elemak.
"I hate the thought of it," said Rasa. "But your Father is certainly right that it would be a harsh blow against Gaballufix, to lose the Index."
"It wasn't Father's idea, really," said Elemak. "He said it came to him in a dream. From the Oversoul."
"Then it might happen," she said. "It might. Perhaps... who knows whether the Oversoul might still have enough influence over Gaballufix to make him-what, temporarily stupid?"
"Stupid enough to give it to me?"
"And stupid enough not to find you and strike you down once you have it."
Elemak felt Eiadh's hand in his, her body leaning against him. I came here for refuge, and out of desire for you, Eiadh-but it was Rasa whose help I really needed. Imagine if I had gone into Gabya's house, not realizing how important this Index really is! "Lady Rasa, how can I thank you for all you've done for me."
"I fear that I've encouraged you to risk your life in an impossible endeavor," said Rasa. "I hate to think Gaballufix might really harm you, but the stakes in this gamble arc very high. The future of Basilica is the prize-but I fear that the getting of the prize might harm the city so much that it isn't worth the game."
"Whatever happens," Elemak said, "you can be sure that I will return for Eiadh if I can, and if she'll have me."
"Even if you're a pariah and a criminal?" said Rasa. "Would you expect her to go with you even then?"
"Especially then!" cried Eiadh. "I don't love Elya for his money or his position in the city, I love him for himself."
"My dear," said Rasa, "you've never known him without his money or his position. How do you know who he'll be when he doesn't have them anymore?"
It was a cruel thing for her to say; Elemak could not believe that she had even thought such a thought, let alone brought it to her lips. "If Eiadh were the sort of woman whose heart followed her coveting, Lady Rasa, then she would not be a woman I could love, or even trust. But I do love her, and no woman is worthier of my trust."
Rasa smiled at him. "Oh, Eiadh, your suitor has such a beautiful vision of you. Do try to be worthy of it."
"The way my Aunt Rasa talks, you'd think she was trying to talk you out of loving me," said Eiadh. "Maybe she's the teensiest bit jealous of me for having such a fine man courting me."
"You forget," said Rasa. "I already have the father. What would I want with the son?"
It was a tense moment; things were being said that should not- couldnot-be said in polite company. Unless it was as a joke.
At last Rasa laughed. At last. They joined in her laughter eagerly, in relief.
"May the Oversoul go with you," said Rasa.
"Come back for me soon," said Eiadh. She pressed herself against him so tightly that he could feel where every part of her body touched him, as if she were imprinting herself on his flesh. Or perhaps taking the imprint of his body on herself. He embraced her back; she would have no doubt of his desire or his devotion.
It was midafternoon when Elemak got to Gaballufix's house. By habit he almost slipped down the alleyway to the private side entrance. But then he realized that his relationship with Gaballufix had changed in unpredictable ways. If Gaballufix regarded him as a traitor, then a secret arrival, completely unobserved, would give Gabya a perfect opportunity to be rid of him with no one the wiser. Besides, to come in the back way implied that Elemak was of a lower station than Gaballufix. He had had enough of that. He would come in openly, obviously, through the front entrance, like a man of importance in the city, an honored guest-with plenty of witnesses.
To his pleasure, Gaballufix's servants were deferential, ushering him inside immediately, and there was very little waiting before Elemak was led to the library, where he had always met with Gaballufix. Nothing seemed changed-Gabya arose from his chair and greeted Elemak with an embrace. They spoke like brothers, gossiping for a few minutes about people they both knew in Gaballufix's circle of friends and supporters. The only hint of tension between them was the way Gabya referred to Elemak's "hasty midnight departure."
"It wasn't my idea," said Elemak. "I don't know which of your people talked, but Father woke us up hours before dawn, and we were out on the desert before the meeting was to have taken place."