"Stipulated," bel-Sidek said, pleased that he had found a sarcasm to matchFa'tad's. But the Dartars were not amused.
Fa'tad observed, "This thing with Nakar is most inopportunely timed. Givenanother three days, possibly four, we would have had what we came for andwould have begun our preparations to leave the Herodian standard. We came soclose. But that's the story of our generation."
Bel-Sidek eyed Fa'tad narrowly. The man was up to something for sure.
He would bite. For the moment. Maybe he would learn something. "What did you come for?"
"The treasures of the citadel. We've made no secret of that. They werepromised us by the Herodians. They never meant to keep their promise, ofcourse. They knew we couldn't get inside. But we persevered, and finally foundthe way, and it turns out we can't get into the citadel till probably two daysafter the citadel comes to get us."
"The rumors are true? There's a tunnel from the Shu maze?"
"There is a passage. But like the citadel itself it's sealed off byunbreakable spells. There is, however, nothing to keep determined men frombypassing the blockage by cutting through the rock and going around. But thatis going to take too long."
Bel-Sidek leaned back, unafraid now, confident he had a handle on thesituation. The old man wanted to trade horses. And he was sneaking up on thepoint rather quickly for a Dartar. "Why are you telling me this?"
"You would like us to leave Qushmarrah. You know the circumstances under whichwe would blow away like milkweed seed. Are you wedded to the strategy of yourpredecessor, who never abandoned his allegiance to the dark gods?"
That allegation startled bel-Sidek ... Azel had claimed he had met theGeneral in temple. And Azel had been Nakar's private assassin. "I'm notmarried to the concept."
"Ah. I feared the entire ruling council of your movement was guilty of acynical manipulation aimed at effecting the restoration of Nakar. We have abasis for discussion."
"Uhm?" Let him lead. Let him lead.
"There is another way into the citadel."
"If you're going to suggest that I know it you're sniffing the wrong trail.
I'd have used it to clean the place out long ago. That wealth would buy a lotof weapons."
Fa'tad eyed him. "That has a certain plausibility. Nevertheless, theinformation exists within your organization. Those children have to bedelivered somehow. Hanno bel-Karba was a careful planner. He would have madearrangements to ensure that such a critical piece of information did not getlost if misadventure overtook him ... Ah! I see you've thought of a name."
The Dartars stirred. Fa'tad gestured. They were still.
Bel-Sidek had thought of Carza. And now knew why Cado wanted to see him. Cadowanted that name. He was holding a trump he hadn't known he had. Why shouldn'the play it himself?
Fa'tad said, "You're wondering why you should give these dogs of Dartarsanything. The immediate answer is simple. We have you in our power. And Nogahhere has sworn to kill you when the fog comes in. Your successor will faceeither Nakar the Abomination or, if he is smart enough and quick enough toabort that, the implacable hostility of five thousand Dartars that would keephim from ousting Herod forever. Your cause is dying. In a few years it will expire from old age. On the other hand, if we were to get into the citadel youmight find us grateful enough to aid your cause. And you'll have gained anunvanquishable fortress from which to strike at Herod. Perhaps even throughthe Shu maze. Is that treasure, that you never had, suddenly more importantthan the goals of your movement?"
A central point, bel-Sidek reflected. If the treasures of the citadel wouldbuy independence, wasn't he bound to pay? It was a cheaper fee than any theyhad considered paying before.
"One question. Suppose that treasure is just as much an illusion as thesupposed treasure of the king of the Shu maze?"
"Then I'll have made a great fool of myself. I'll have given Qushmarrah awayand will have done nothing but return a few frightened children to grievingparents. I'm confident of the wealth, however. I visited the citadeloccasionally in older times."
"As did I. Can we state this as a clearly defined undertaking? So I'll knowexactly where we stand."
Fa'tad reflected. "Given the secret of entry into the citadel, which existssomewhere within your organization, my forces will penetrate the fortress.
They will deliver the children held captive there. To you, if you like. Theywill terminate any possibility of the resurrection of Nakar. They will take ofthe treasure of the citadel as they desire. They will hand the fortress overto your forces. They will leave the city to you and the Herodians."
"A good deal, on the face of it," bel-Sidek said. And he believed that. But hewondered what lay behind the smiling face. It seemed too simple, toostraightforward, and maybe too small for Fa'tad al-Akla.
Unless he was under a lot of pressure from home and would have to leave soon, anyway.
That was a good possibility.
"Any my part? Other than learning how you can enter the citadel?"
"Don't make Cado a deal when he comes looking for one."
One of the Dartars, who was watching the street through a crack in a boardedwindow, said, "The woman is coming."
Fa'tad nodded. "I've been a little slow. It's your move, Colonel bel-Sidek."
"Can you keep your man away?"
Fa'tad seemed amused. "I think I can restrain his ardor so long as he and Iare certain he will have the chance to deliver the boy. Still, the deadline heset seems to me a sound one. Why wait for Nakar? The deal stands if youdeliver the information before the fog comes in. I can be reached in the alleybelow the place you formerly occupied."
"And if I can't get the information?"
"We'll find you again."
Meryel burst in. "Sisu, what the hell are you doing? You've got twenty men sitting around ... Shit."
Fa'tad bowed slightly and walked out. His men followed. Bel-Sidek watched thoughtfully. "What the hell? That was al-Akla."
"He followed you here." Bel-Sidek told her the story.
"What're you going to do?"
"First I'll see if my conscience says I have to go through with the General's plan." "You want Nakar back? If you think you owe somebody that, you're crazier than the old man was. You even consider it, you can kiss me good-bye."
"There are those who would approve."
"So?"
"I merely state that for the record."
"You think al-Akla would keep his bargain?"
"Possibly. He certainly handed me ammunition to spend against him. I'm tempted to give him what he wants, then tell Cado he's looting the citadel. Let them get into it. Let the Living deal with the survivors." "Will you?"
"I don't know. Right now I'll call off my own war, then get Carza where I can talk to him. If anybody knows the way in there, he does." "The carpenter refused to come," Meryel said.
"So I suspected. Probably doesn't much matter now."
Yoseh settled into the bed of the wagon, glad to be out of the rain. He huddled up, pondered the incomprehensible ways of the mighty. The others piled inside. Somebody growled at the driver. The driver growled back, unimpressed.
The wagon lurched forward. One of Fa'tad's cronies asked, "Think he'll try to screw us?" "It's the Qushmarrahan way. On the other hand, I made him a tempting offer. An inspired improvisation, if I say so myself." Al-Akla chuckled. "Driver! Turn left and stop. Nogah, Medjhah, Juba, I have a job for you." Aaron slipped into the main shed at the shipyard. Those who could were there, working out of the rain. The rest had been sent home. He found Billygoatcaulking a small boat. There was always work for a caulker.