"Do you know of one, a female named Alicia Dyckman, who passed through here on her way to Zhamanak?"
"Ah, yea; I wondered if you had come that matter to investigate. This golden-haired disturber of the peace was received by my master the Heshvavu, on whom I fear she made not the best impression."
"How so?"
"She sought to convert him, of all people, to the heathen belief that the world was round. As soon as she broached such damnable thoughts, His Awesomeness had her escorted forth.
"Nor was that all. Soon thereafter, spies reported that she was seeking out our learned men and filling them with the same subversive notion. So, wishing neither to see the true faith of our sacred book, dictated to the prophet Shadleiv by the supreme god Phaighost, subverted, nor yet to incur the disfavor of Novorecife, he ordered her out of the realm. Off she went to Mutabwk; but we are informed that she did not long abide there, either.
"Anon, like the seeds of the hyusis plant borne on the breeze, the rumor wafted hither of her distraint in Zhamanak, wherefore I know not. This perturbed us; for none of the Khaldoni nations, whilst their rulers retain their sanity, is fain to stir up a garboil with the Terrans. But we here thought it no duty of ours to mell betwixt the sovran lord of Zhamanak and his importunate visitor. Now, what would you?"
"I am going in after this Terran woman."
"Have a care, good my sir. Lord Khorosh is no dupe, to be flouted with impunity."
"I daresay, but mine duty is to my fellow Terrans. May I hire a few peoples: a guide, couple of helpers, and such, and buy animal and supplies for journey?"
"Certes, good my sir, so that you pay the trilling tax on such transactions. Do but have a care lest you spread false heretical doctrines amongst our folk. I wot that you, as a foreigner, cannot be expected to share all our enlightened beliefs; but keep your heresies mewed up within you and all shall be well. Return you hither in three days, and the needful documents shall be ready."
Three days later, Mjipa was back in Chanapar's cabinet. The minister said: "Welcome, good my sir. Alas, I must confess your papers be not yet boun; for affairs of state do press upon my time as did the phantoms evoked by the Witch of the Va'andao Sea press upon the hero Qarar. But your documents shall soon be ready. Meanwhile His Awesomeness, hearing of your presence, commands that you wait upon him. He desires converse with you."
"Oh?" said Mjipa. "I am at his service. When is audience?"
Lord Chanapar heaved his bulk off the floor. "Forthwith, good my sir. Come with me, pray."
Mjipa followed the minister through a maze of halls and chambers. Compared to other palaces he had seen, the furnishings of this one seemed bare and shabby. He asked:"Tell me, please, what is right thing to do when one meets your ruler?"
"Kneel and touch your forehead to the ground. Watch me. Then you will present your gift to the Heshvavu. You have one, I trust?"
Mjipa gulped. Not expecting to be presented to this king, he had not brought a suitable knicknack. Then he remembered the pad of gift certificates in his wallet.
At last they came to a chamber before whose closed doors stood a pair of Kalwmian guards, naked but for spangled loin cloths and gilded helmets, shields, and sandals. Their olive-brown chests bore patterns in gilt paint. To Mjipa they looked more ornamental than useful. Unlike the soldiers of the more northerly nations, they forwent body armor in favor of large shields.
Chanapar spoke to one guard, who bowed and went in through the door. After what seemed to Mjipa an hour's wait, the guard reappeared, saying: "Come, sirs."
They found King Vuzhov sitting on a cushion on the floor of a small chamber, flanked by another pair of guards. A secretary sat nearby with tablets and stylus. The Heshvavu's body paint consisted of austere black stripes, like those of a Terran zebra. Watching the minister, Mjipa sank to both knees and touched his forehead to the floor, suppressing a grunt at the pain in his knees.
"Rise," said the Heshvavu. Vuzhov was a small, elderly Krishnan. These folk showed their age less plainly than Terrans; nonetheless, Vuzhov's hair had faded to jade green, his smelling antennae were ragged, and a close look showed his skin to be covered by a net of fine wrinkles.
The minister said: "Your Awesomeness, I have the honor to present Percy Mjipa, a Terran from Novorecife, on a mission of mercy on behalf of one of his own kind. Master Mjipa, know that you stand in the presence of the Heshvavu of Kalwm and Emperor of the Triple Seas, Vuzhov the Twenty-first." The minister stared at Mjipa, muttering: "The gift!"
"Your Awesomeness," said Mjipa, withdrawing the pad of forms from his wallet, "as you are doubtless aware, the exigencies of travels and dangers of robbery over long journey stop I from bearing gifts suitable for the ruler of Khaldoni nation. Will, however, present—ah—a gift certificate drawn on outfitting shop at Novorecife. It entitle the bearer to any item for sale there."
Mjipa signed the topmost form on the pad, tore it off, and handed it to the king, who passed it on to his secretary. The Heshvavu spoke:
"My Awesomeness thanks you, Master Mjipa. It is an unusual gift, though how we shall ever take advantage thereof, with Novorecife so distant, we cannot at the moment reckon. We hope it can somehow be converted into ruddy gold; for our great, Heaven-storming enterprise devours our coin as the giant Damghan devoured his victims.
"But sit on those cushions, pray. You are the Terran of whom Chanapar hath told us?"
"Yes, sire," said Mjipa.
"And your name—we forget. What is it?"
"Percy Mjipa."
"Puh-see Um-jee-pah. Yeluts!" The king spoke to the secretary. "Fetch these gentlemen something to drink. Now, master—which name go you by in ordinary discourse?"
"The latter, sire; Mjipa."
"Very well, Master—umm—Mujipa. Be this your first visit to our city?"
"Yes, sire."
"What think you thereof?"
"Am—is certainly impressive."
"Observed you our tower? What thought you?"
Mjipa saw that both king and minister were looking intently at him. A wrong answer might get him into trouble; it might even get him killed. "He is a great engineering triumph," he said at last. "I am traveled much, and never have I saw a structure so tall."
To Mjipa's relief, the Heshvavu did not pursue the subject of the tower's purpose, to reach a literal Heaven. Instead, King Vuzhov said: "Now, Master Emjipa—Majipa—how say you that again?"
"Mjipa, sire. Of course Your Awesomeness may pronounce it as you wish."
"Well, Master Terran, pray answer us some questions about your kind. We have seen Terrans ere this, but ne 'er one of your sable hue. How comes it? Were you burnt in a fire?"
"May it please Your Awesomeness, I come from a part of my world called Africa, where folk are thus colored." Mjipa thought of adding an explanation of his color as an evolutionary adaptation to the African sun, but decided not to. Such a discussion might bring up the dangerous topic of the king's flat-world belief.
"And, as we understand, you wish a safe-conduct to Mejvorosh, to learn the place and condition of this Terran female, yclept Dyckman?"
"That is right, sire."
"We shall make no difficulties about that, on one condition. We suppose you will wish to return to Novorecife, through our realm, with this person?"
"Yes, sire."
"We would not have her tarry in Kalwm longer than necessity demands. We found her a disturbing element. So be warned. On your return—if you return—you shall pass through our demesnes with all prudent dispatch. Furthermore, she is forbidden to companion or converse with our folk. We shall hold you responsible for her compliance with this our demand. Dost fully comprehend?"