Yoseh nodded. There was sense in that.
They watched the women go to market for a while, Medjhah flirting whenever onewould allow it.
The door down the street opened and the crone came out, followed closely by awoman whose face made Yoseh's heart jump. Then he saw that she was not thegirl. Her mother, perhaps. At least her older sister. The look was there, buttime had weathered it.
The women carried baskets. The crone eyed him narrowly as they passed. After aglance the other paid him no heed.
Medjhah did not exercise his charm upon her. When she was out of sight helaughed. "Heart going pitty-pat, little brother? Here's your big chance. Justwalk over there and start talking. But what if her father is there? What ifshe has brothers? What if she spits in your face and screams for help?"
Medjhah laughed again.
It was as if Medjhah could read his mind.
"Eh, don't worry about it, Yoseh. Come sit in the shade and watch the crazyveydeen. The parade is endlessly fascinating."
But the doorway down the street was open an inch. He could see the white of aneye pressed to the crack. Somehow, that shook the roots of the daydream, asthough reality threatened to intrude and force him to live out the fantasy.
His spirit was restless. That communicated itself to his flesh. He began topace.
Azel was plagued by an unaccustomed flux of the spirit. He was restless, uncomfortable, almost haunted as he moved through the Dartar infestation. Whatthe hell were they doing? Why the hell couldn't they leave the labyrinthalone?
He fretted as he drifted through the press of Char Street. He did not like thefeelings plaguing him. It was almost if he were suffering a premonition ofdisaster.
He slipped into the old man's house as quickly as he could. Almost too quicklyto pay attention to safety. And that bothered him, too. A man dared not putcaution aside.
The old man was in his bed. Azel said, "I'm here. Again. You seem determinedto use me up."
He frowned. He did not like what he heard from his own lips. It was not likehim to complain.
"Things have begun moving quickly. It cannot be helped."
"What is it this time?"
"The man you tracked to Government House. He turned out to be an officer ofhigh standing among the Herodians. We want to turn him to our own advantage.
We have him under control now but we don't expect our leverage to hold up."
"This is where I come in."
"The boy you took the other day is his son. We have informed him that we havethe child in our control. I want you to convince him of that fact."
"How?"
"Take him there. Show him the boy. Then get the child into our hands as soonas possible. Have him be the next one examined."
"That's asking for trouble. If I take the man inside he might recognizesomething. And the woman isn't going to accept that without a squawk. Nor willshe be pliant about who she takes for examination. It pleases her to imaginethat she's the driving force behind everything and that we're parasitichangers-on trying to profit from her researches. She tolerates us because shefinds us useful occasionally."
"She has failed to see all the implications of her husband's death."
"She's lived a long time, General, and most of it completely out of touch withreality. She's surrounded by sycophants content to feed her fantasies."
"Then it's time she was awakened."
Azel listened as the old man told him what to do. He indicated his understanding and approval with a single nod. "There's one piece of news.
Concerning the new civil governor, who seems eager to make enemies."
"Go ahead."
"He's chosen the villa of the widow of General Hanno bel-Karba as his residence. A damn fool idea that can't have come to him overnight. He musthave had people here ahead of time, looking for ways he can make trouble. Wordis, he's already sent the General's widow a letter ordering her to vacate bysundown tonight."
The old man remained silent for a long time. Then he said, "I wanted theorganization to stay out of sight and mind. But this cannot be tolerated. Isuppose he's threatened to evict her?"
"Of course."
"The man is mad. He wants to get himself killed. But that is nothing to you.
On about enduring your own travails."
General Cado was livid. He'd just heard from Sullo's own mouth a plan forconfiscating the properties of the widow of General bel-Karba. Insanity! Hispate was scarlet. He sputtered with rage.
Cado faced away from Sullo until he regained control. Then he faced around.
"You come with a certain reputation, Marteo Sullo. I assumed that most of whatI've heard was slander from the mouths of your enemies. But today I've learnedthat they have been too kind. Maybe they were ashamed to tell the whole truthabout your arrogance, your vanity, your stupidity."
Now Sullo sputtered.
"You came here planning to embarrass me, eh? Stealing that old woman's houselooks like an easy way, eh? Because she enjoys my favor? Maybe that's true.
But did you bother to find out who she is and what she means to the people ofQushmarrah? The hell you did. You fool. You try to take that woman's home andthe very least you'll do is end up dead. If you stay ahead of death for longit could mean the end of every Herodian in the city."
Sullo sneered, but beneath his sneer there was a hint of uncertainty, avarnish of fear.
Cado shifted to a gentler tone and pressed his advantage. "You saw the entirestrength at my command yesterday afternoon. Twelve thousand Herodian troopsnot of the first quality or they would be out facing the Suldan of Aquira.
Five thousand Dartar mercenaries commanded by an unpredictable madman whocould turn on us any minute. With them I control Qushmarrah-just barely- because ninety-nine out of a hundred Qushmarrahans don't give a damn who runs things as long as certain precious institutions are left alone. That old womanis one of those institutions. Her husband never lost a battle in his life, whether single combat or massed armies. He is revered as a warrior demigod.
These people believe he was struck down by assassins in Herodian pay.
"And that's true. And he won that fight, too. He killed them all. But he wasinjured so badly he could not participate in the battle at Dak-es-Souetta. Hedied of his wounds as we were taking possession of the city. Death was theonly enemy ever to best him. Diehards hid the body and tried to convince thepeople that he was still alive, but they failed."
"Is this fable supposed to impress or intimidate me?"
"It's supposed to warm a sense of reasonable caution in that dried-up pea youuse for a brain."
Sullo smiled nastily. "The masks are off now, aren't they?"
"They are."
"There is a strong party back home which feels that you have been criminallyslack in bringing these people to heel and converting them."
"I suspected as much. Though I read my failing as not having stolen enoughQushmarrahan treasure to slake their greed."
"They've sent me here to make up for your deficiencies." Another nasty smile.
Cado smiled right back. "This little chat has been more useful than Isuspected it would be. It's shown me my course of action. Which is to take noaction at all. All I need do is back away and give you your head."
Sullo eyed him narrowly, distrusting the triumph.
"You'll be dead before the week is out."
"If you dare ..."
"Not I, Governor. I won't lift a finger. You. Committing suicide. Your lovingsubjects, who're about as tamed and converted as they're going to letthemselves get, are going to cut your throat. I'll wish you good day, sir.
I'll even wish you good luck. You may make these people appreciate me muchmore than they do."
Sullo stalked out, not able to conceal his anger at being discounted.
General Cado relaxed, wondered how best to get convincing word to the Livingthat he and his had no part in Sullo's schemes, that he and the army ofoccupation would remain neutral in any dispute.