Return to the Whorl

by Gene Wolfe

Page 22

 

  "They speak for the gods. " Hound sounded more diffident than ever.

  "They say they do, perhaps; but the one who spoke to me didnt even bother to say it. I might add that augurs often make the same assertion, on dubious grounds. "

  "Holdin yer, wasnt hit, bucky? Could a killed yer. "

  "Thats correct. I was seated on the palm of its hand, and if I had jumped, I mightve been badly hurt. "

  "Be dead, bucky. "

  "I doubt it. The distance from his palm to the ground must have been two or three times my height-approximately the fall Silk suffered when he drove through Hyacinths window. Do you know about that, either of you?"

  Hound said, "No. "

  "I wont bore you with the details, but Silk jumped out of her window and landed on flagstones, breaking his ankle. If Id jumped from the godlings hand, I wouldve landed on wet ground. That might have been almost as bad-I doubt very much, however, that it could have been worse. "

  "Spose hitd shut hits han hon yer?"

  Oreb squawked in dismay.

  "I wouldve been crushed, no doubt. Still, I doubt that it could have. They move slowly. Even in the short time I talked with it, I couldnt help noticing that. Each of its fingers must weigh as much as you do. If thats correct, closing its hand entails moving the weight of four very large men. "

  " "Bucky. . .

  He chuckled. "Oreb told me a big man was behind the house. I thought he meant you, and Hound and I had been worried about you, so I went with him. Afterward-while I was sitting in the handI was inclined to be angry with him for saying big man instead of godling, giant, or something of that kind that wouldve told me what I was to encounter. Then I realized that to him were as gigantic as a godling is to us-that Oreb sees little difference between a large man like you and a larger one like the godling because there really isnt much, from his standpoint. What could a godling do to him that you couldnt?"

  "Would nae hurt yer, Horeb," Pig rumbled.

  "No. But neither would the godling. You and Hound thought I was very brave for talking to it as I did-"

  "I still think it," Hound announced.

  "But Orebs being just as brave every time he perches on my wrist and talks with me. A wild bird wouldnt do that, and I cant blame it in the least. . . " The birds suggested trees, immense trees like mountains and graceful fern-foliaged trees that swayed in every breeze and burned like incense; the trees, islands and continents, and smiling lakes, deep blue seas, and storm-tossed oceans.

  "What yer thinkin habout, bucky?"

  "The three whorls. Two large and low, by which I mean near the Short Sun. This one near the stars. I dont know whether Greens bigger than Blue, or Blues bigger than Green; but both are much bigger than this whorl were in, the Long Sun Whorl. When we came to Blue, we scarcely noticed that. I didnt notice it at all, in fact, and doubt that many of us did. Both this whorl and that one were very large places to us, and that was all that mattered; yet I would guess that Blue is ten or twenty times larger-that theres more difference in size between Blue and this whorl than between the godling and ourselves. In this whorl, Pas took care to separate us with rivers and mountain ranges. On Blue there isnt much need for that. Distance itself makes us keep our distance. " He closed his eyes again, seeing league upon league of open water, and feeling the gentle rocking of his sloop.

  "Horn? You said you had bad news for us. What is it?"

  "Not for Pig-at least, I dont believe so. For you and me, Hound. You wanted to take your family to Green after your child was born. So it sounded. Have you changed your mind?"

  "No. I-no. "

  "Then its bad news, as I said. For me, too, because I must find Silk and take him home with me, and that means we must find a Lander in working order and places on it. The godling told me it has been decided-I dont know by whom-that enough people have left the Whorl now, and everyone whos still on board is to remain aboard. "

  Oreb whistled sharply.

  "It came as a shock to me, as you may imagine, and Im by no means certain it conforms to the will of Pas. When Patera Silk and the sleeper he had awakened went down to the surface of the whorl where the landers are, he saw the inscription Pas had caused to be cut into the steps. It read, `He who descends serves Pas best. My understanding has always been that everyone-the entire population of the whorl-is to leave it. "

  "Nae mair, bucky?"

  "Correct. At least, according to the godling. Everyone in the Whorl is to remain. They hope to repair it. " Closing his eyes again, he added softly, "That was what Echidna and Hierax wanted. It would seem they have won after all, although the godling claimed to be speaking for Patera Silk. "

  "Dont you think that it might be the divine Silk issuing these orders, Horn?"

  He sat up a second time, eyes wide. "What did you say?"

  "The minor god that augurs call Silent Silk? Or Silver Silk?" Hound cleared his throat. "I dont know much about your religious beliefs, Pig. . . "

  "Nae me," Pig told him. "Fraid ter get me wind hup? Hall pals. Right, Horeb?"

  "Good Silk!"

  Hound said, "He really is," then added hastily, "not that they all arent. There are no bad gods. I know that. "

  "Youre telling me that theres a god called Silk?"

  "Why, yes. " Hound drew his jacket more tightly about him, and edged a fingers breadth nearer the dying fire. "I thought you must know about him. Youre looking for Calde Silk, and I suppose Calde Silk must have been named for him, since its a name people can use, too. Men, I mean, or boys. Its sort of a stretch, not like Hound or Horn or Pig. But Wools a common name. " Hound fell silent, clearly afraid he was offending one or both his companions.

  "Good name! Good Silk!"

  "Be quiet, Oreb. Hound, Id like to know a great deal more about this god named Silk. I havent been here, remember. "

  "I shouldnt have brought him up. " Hound was clearly sorry he had.

  "Like ter know ter," Pig rumbled. "Yer said hit Nought ter be Silks tellin? Why sae?"

  "Well, because the godling spoke to Horn, thats all, and Horns looking for Calde Silk and. . . and it seems like theres some connection, doesnt it? Because the names are the same. "

  He asked, "Why do the augurs call him Silent Silk and Silver Silk, Hound? Do you know?"

  "I think so. But theres a disagreement about him. I should tell you that in case you talk to other people about him. Did I call him a minor god?"

  "Yes, you did. "

  Oreb snapped his bill in protest.

  "Well, some people dont agree with that. They say hes not a minor god at all, that hes an aspect of Pas. I dont understand aspects. "

  Pig stirred impatiently. "Spose he was ter gae round callin himself somethin, sae folk wadna know. "

  Hound nodded. "I see. "

  "I dont like to disagree, Pig," he said, "and hesitate to in a matter of no importance. But what youre describing is a mere lie, not an aspect. The gods are known by foreign names in many foreign cities, Hound. Are you aware of it?"

  "I havent traveled, I mean like you have, or Pig. But Ive heard something about it. "

  "It is so. Those, too, are their names; and they have as much right to them as we have to ours. There is also the matter of personality, both the kinds of persons we are at base and the way we seem to others. You have your personality; you are always Hound, whether you are kind or cruel, whether you act well or badly. Pig is always Pig, Oreb-"

  "Good bird!"

  "Is always Oreb, a good bird just as he says; and Im always myself. But the immortal gods, whose powers are so much greater than ours, can incorporate many different personalities, and do. This not some special insight of mine, by the way. Merely what I was taught in the schola. "

  "I see," Hound said again. "Youre going to say that when a god uses a new name and a new personality, thats an aspect. Isnt that right, Horn?"

  He nodded. "And a new appearance. The god is still Pas, Molpe, or whoever; but this is a view of Pas or Mol
pe that we havent been privileged to see before-a new aspect of Pas or Molpe. Now, why has the god called Silk been awarded the epithet Silent?"

  "Because he told the Prolocutor that he looked out of the Sacred Windows without showing himself there, like Tartaros. But Tartaros generally turns them black and speaks. Silk said he didnt speak or make the window change at all, pretty often. He just looked on. "

  "Thank you. " He yawned and stretched. "Thank you very much, Hound. Believe me, I appreciate your information more than I can say. Is everyone ready to sleep? I confess I am-more than ready. "

  "No sleep. Night good!"

  "It may or may not be night, Oreb. We have no way of knowing, and certainly no one should feel compelled to sleep who doesnt want to. "

  Hound said hastily, "You dont have to lie on the bare floor, Horn. Ive got a blanket you can lie on. Folded in threes, itll be a lot more comfortable. "

  "Thank you," he said. "Thats very kind of you; but what we really need is firewood, Im afraid. Its certainly getting cooler. Ill go outside and look for some, if both of you will promise to remain in here. "

  Pig prepared to rise. "Be ter wet ter burn, bucky. "

  "Hes right," Hound told him. "You could catch pneumonia if you went out there again, and it would be for nothing. "

  "Dry, we need, bucky. " Laboriously, Pig stood up. "Heres ther lad ter fetch hit, ter. Dirma yer gae wi. "

  "Pig-"

  The long sword was only half drawn from its brass-tipped scabbard, but the swift hiss of the steel was like the hiss of a coiler big enough to crush and devour five men at once. Oreb squawked with dismay.

  "I wasnt going to try to stop you, Pig-nor was I going to insist on going with you. "

  "Guid hon yer, bucky. " Pig grinned as the sword shot back into its scabbard. "Get yer rest while auld Pig tears hup boards ter warm yer. "

  They sat in silence, watching Pigs broad back vanish into the surrounding gloom; then Hound said, "Ill get that blanket," and proceeded to do so.

  "That is your bedding, Hound, and I decline to deprive you of it. I slept in a field night before last. "

  "Ive got another one for myself. " Hound smiled. "You ought to know me better than that by now. Youd give another man your only blanket and think nothing of it, I know. But I wouldnt. Neither would Pig. "

  "Good Pig?" Oreb was puzzled.

  "Yes, Oreb. Pig is a good man-an extraordinarily good man, Im sure. One who might give someone else his only blanket, unless I miss my guess. "

  Hound looked up from the pack from which he was extracting a second blanket. "Well, most men wouldnt. "

  "Of course not. Thats why I said that Pig, who might, was an extraordinarily good man-among other reasons. It wasnt a tactful thing to say, I suppose, particularly while I was preparing to lie down on a blanket you loaned me; but it wasnt intended as criticism of you-far from it. May I say something personal, Hound? Without giving offense?"

  Refolding his blanket, Hound nodded. "I wish you would. "

  "Very well. If youd had only one blanket, you might have discovered something extraordinary about yourself. It wouldve surprised you, I believe; but it wouldnt have surprised me. "

  Hound did not reply until he had arranged his own blanket before the fire. "You said something personal to me, Horn, and it was ve-y flattering. Can I say something like that to you? You wont think its flattering, or I dont think you will. Id rather that you didnt get too angry. "

  "Watch out!" Oreb exclaimed.

  Orebs master reached out to stroke him, smoothing the glossy black feathers with gentle fingers. "Which of us are you warning, Oreb?"

  "You, Im sure. He thinks Im going to involve you in some sort of-of plot against Pig. Im not. "

  "Good. "

  "I simply wanted to say that I like you. I like you a lot. So does Tansy. Pig. . . "

  "Yes?"

  "Never mind. " Hound lay down upon his side, looking at the fire. "I talk too much. It isnt my only fault, but its the worst one and the hardest to stop. Good night, Horn. "

  "Please. What you were going to say may be very important. I mean that. You asked my permission to say it, and received it. I want to hear it. I ask it as a favor. "

  "You said you were going to tell us what the godling told you to do, but you never did. Just that you werent going to do it. What about that?"

  "Did I? It wasnt intentional. If I tell you now, will you tell me what it was you were going to say about Pig? Im perfectly sincere about its importance to me. "

  "All right. What was it the godling wanted you to do?"

  "Go all over the city announcing that no one else is to leave-that they are to rebuild the tunnels beneath it, and to repair the remaining landers, if they can. "

  "But not use them?"

  "Correct. "

  Hound waited for him to say more; but he did not, and at length Hound asked, "Did the godling tell you why?"

  "In order that the Whorl can be re-launched. I confess I dont understand how such a thing is possible, but then I dont understand how it was launched originally either. "

  There was a second lengthy silence, which lasted until Hound ventured, "Its the will of the gods, I suppose. "

  "Perhaps it is. The godling didnt say so, but it may be-its quite probable. "

  Oreb croaked; it was difficult to tell whether it was a croak of sympathy or a croak of skepticism.

  "Arent you going to do it, Horn? Thats what you said. "

  "I know. " Stretched on his back upon the borrowed blanket, he fingered his beard. "I said it because its true. Im not. I wont repeat what I said before, except to add that size and strength confer no moral authority. A strong man-Pig, for instance-may compel us to obey him; but were entitled to resist if we can. "