by Mick Farren
'Will he come out of it?'
The clerk shrugged. 'Who knows. Some do, most don't.'
They had to pass the wind happy young man in order to get to the stairs down to their rooms. As they walked by, he rose and stared wide eyed at Solchaim. His slack mouth worked until he managed a faltering word. 'Master?'
Solchaim looked at him and he immediately sat down again.
Solchaim had asked for a suite on one of the lower levels and an adjoining single room. Phaid couldn't quite understand why. It quickly became clear once they were down in their quarters. Solchaim was anxious to get away from the humans for a while. He quickly issued his instructions and vanished behind a closed door. Phaid noted that this might prove to be another elaihim weakness, although he suspected that Solchaim was quite capable of monitoring their thoughts from the other side of the wall.
The instructions were as Phaid had suggested. Edelline-Lan was to go to the shipping office and buy passages to the other side of the icefield. Phaid and Chrystiana-Nex were to remain behind. Phaid knew that there was nothing to do but to go along with them. He didn't flatter himself that there was any way that the three of them could sneak away without Solchaim noticing.
The women were back to normal and acted as though they had just come out of a long refreshing sleep. Phaid, on the other hand, was about ready for a drink and some peace and quiet now that Solchaim had let go of his mind.
'It's damned hard work being someone's dog.'
Edelline-Lan sighed.
'The dreams I had while I was out were indescribable.'
Chrystiana-Nex agreed with her. Her eyes drifted into some private mid-distance.
'He can give you such wonderful dreams. I wish I was still there. He can make it like you just don't exist any more.'
Edelline-Lan looked at her enquiringly.
'Did you ever sleep with him?'
Chrystiana-Nex suddenly became very regal, very presidential.
'That's none of your damn business, you insolent woman.'
Indignation boiled up inside Edelline-Lan. She seemed to be about to launch a tirade against Chrystiana-Nex, but then thought better of it. She shrugged and deflated.
'I'm sorry.'
Chyrstiana-Nex stared at the door through which Solchaim had made his exit.
'I wish I was with him now. I need my dreams.'
She started to walk slowly, almost mechanically towards the door. Phaid shook his head.
'She's like a character in a play.'
Edelline-Lan didn't answer. She ostentatiously made ready for her trip to the shipping office.
Chrystiana-Nex gently opened the door, there was a whispered conversation and she slipped inside.
'What really goes on in that mind?'
'I'd hate to find out.' Edelline-Lan fastened her cold suit. 'You'd better give me the money.'
Phaid handed over the bag that was their communal funds. He felt proud that he didn't even blink.
'I guess I'll need your blaster as well. I'd like some protection out on that street.'
This time Phaid did blink. The blaster had become such a fixture on his hip that handing it over left him with a distinct feeling of insecurity. It was a feeling that wasn't eased by the sight of Edelline-Lan stuffing all of their money inside her coat and their only weapon on her belt. Phaid raised an eyebrow.
'Is there a chance you might not be coming back?'
Edelline-Lan smiled.
'There's always that chance.'
The door closed and Phaid dropped into a chair. It was a relief to be on his own. It seemed like an age since he'd been left alone. The suite was small and dim and claustrophobic but it was a luxury in that it was empty. Phaid was struck by the thought that maybe this was the way that the elaihi had felt. He wasn't quite sure where the thought had come from. Almost as a defence he started to think about the drink that he wanted. He couldn't see how anyone's master plan would be thrown out by him going up to the lobby to fetch a bottle.
Nothing happened to him so he stood up. Still there was no blast of reproof from the next room. He opened the door. Still nothing. He closed it behind him and started up the stairs. Solchaim had either switched off or he had no objection to Phaid getting drunk. He climbed to the level of the lobby, bought a bottle from the clerk and started back down again. He knew better than to mingle in Bluehaven society without a weapon.
He was about halfway back to the suite when the door to a room swung open and a voice called out to him.
'Phaid.'
Only a very firm grip stopped him dropping the bottle. He snatched for the fuse tube that wasn't there. He felt ridiculous and afraid, then Dreen stepped through the open doorway. Phaid's initial relief was shortlived. Dreen had a stinger in his hand. It was identical to the one that Phaid had used in that other hotel, all that time ago in the jungle. The hand jerked. The ten-legged metal spider spun straight at Phaid.
Chapter 29
Phaid could feel the stinger's ten tiny arms grabbing at his flesh. The sharp end sank in, pricking his skin. The deadly steel insect had attached itself to his throat, just above the collar bone. For an instant it had scrabbled but then it found a grip and clung on. Fear gathered like a knot in his stomach. It was only with the greatest effort of will that he resisted the urge to rip the disgusting thing off himself and hurl it away. He knew if he tried to remove it, it would kill him. Instead he swallowed hard.
'What do you want, Dreen?'
His voice was a strained croak. As he spoke, he could feel the stinger pressing on his throat. Dreen was holding the control. He gestured towards the open door.
'I think it's time that you and I had a serious conversation.'
'You need to use a stinger to do that?'
'It cuts down the level of predictability.'
'It could easily cut down my level of survival.'
'Not if you behave yourself.'
Dreen stepped back and let Phaid pass him and go first into the room. It was a small cramped single, only just big enough to hold the narrow battered bed, a closet and a washstand. Phaid looked around questioningly.
'What now?'
'Just sit on the bed and keep your hands in plain sight.'
'You really don't have anything to worry about. I'm not armed.
'I'd still like to see your hands. You're not a very trustworthy person, Master Phaid.'
Phaid sat. The stinger was a constant reminder that a foolish move would be suicidal. Dreen shut the door. He regarded Phaid with a twisted, sardonic expression. Phaid took it to be a smile.
'Don't look so scared. I don't intend to kill you.'
Phaid could feel the sweat on his palms.
'What do you intend?'
'Believe it or not, I have a proposition to put to you. You might find it to your advantage.'
Phaid's eyes were cold.
'You have a damn strange way of doing a man a favour.'
Dreen half shrugged and raised his eyebrows into a what-to-you-expect expression.
'This is a wild and dangerous place. The stinger is just a precaution. Try not to think about it.'
Phaid scowled.
'Yeah, sure. I'll just ignore the fact that you can fry my nervous system any time you want.'
Dreen's voice dropped to a purr. It was very patient and persuasive. He looked like a vulture in his fur trimmed black robe.
'Just put yourself in a receptive frame of mind and listen to what I have to say.'
'I'm listening.'
'My masters do not wish Chrystiana-Nex to go to the Tharmier usurers. They feel that it would be better for the health and general stability of the area if she was under their care.'
'Your masters take a lot on themselves.'
'They always have.'
'So who are they?'
Dreen looked surprised.
'You mean you don't know? You never guessed?'
'I'd rather hear it from you.'
'I am a special agent attached to the Office of the Arch
Prelate.'
'You're a priest's spy.'
'That's not strictly true. I am in fact a priest, even though my duties are more concerned with the gathering of temporal intelligence than the spiritual needs of the faithful. We all maintain the orthodoxy.'
'And now you think the orthodoxy will be safer if you grab Chrystiana-Nex.'
'My masters would rather you delivered Chrystiana-Nex than we grabbed her.'
Phaid looked him up and down thoughtfully.
'You would, would you?'
'To be specific, we would like you and your companions to take passage on the next iceboat out.'
'If we can get on it.'
Dreen made a slow gesture with the stinger control.
'You're lying to me now. Your companions Edelline-Lan is right now at the shipping office obtaining those exact passages. You shouldn't lie to me. Master Phaid, not under these circumstances.'
He allowed Phaid a long warning look at the stinger control. Phaid needed no further emphasis. He quickly nodded.
'Yes, yes, I know. You've got the power. What did you expect? Are you going to kill me for one single lie?'
Dreen shook his head.
'I'm not going to kill you, but it does prove that I'm not able to trust you.'
Phaid raised his hands from his knees. It was a gesture of surrender.
'Tell me what I'm supposed to do.'
Dreen smiled.
'That's better.'
'Don't gloat, just get on with it. If I don't get down to our suite soon, the others are going to be suspicious.'
Dreen nodded. He immediately became brisk and businesslike.
'Edelline-Lan is buying passage on an iceboat. It is called the Valentine and its destination is Windlee on the other side of the ice plain. When you arrive in Windlee, you will find a demi prelate with a squad of priests' militant. You will make sure that Chrystiana-Nex is peacefully handed over to them.
Phaid remembered previous encounters with the priests' militant. There was little chance of putting anything across the grim, trigger happy, brutally trained young men in the black armour and close fitting skull helmets.
'Why do you need me? The militants can easily take the woman without any help from me.'
'Windlee is in Tharmier territory. Relations between the priesthood and the Tharmier civil government are, to say the least, delicately balanced. A kidnapping by militants, particularly the kidnapping of such a prestigious refugee, would severely jeopardise our position.'
'Will you tell me one other thing?'
'What?'
'Why is everyone so hot to get their hands on Chrystiana-Nex? She's little better than a vegetable most of the time. She can't be of any use to anyone.'
Dreen looked at Phaid as though he was exceedingly naive.
'She's a symbol. She can be used as a lever, a bargaining point with whomever takes eventual control of the Republic. The Tharmiers are concerned that there is anarchy on their borders. My masters cannot tolerate the vacuum of spiritual authority that has been created by the uprising.'
'And everyone wants a piece of the power.'
'Naturally.'
'You realise that if the Day Oners come out on top there will be no way that your bosses will be able to do any deals.'
This time Dreen laughed openly at what he considered to be Phaid's innocence.
'We have already put out feelers. The Day Oners would give a number of concessions if they had the ex-president for a showcase public execution.'
'It's a terrible thing when not even the fanatics will play it straight.'
Dreen's face was a picture of pious, world weary triumph.
'It is a terrible world. That has always been the message of the Consolidated Faith.'
Phaid gave up.
'Okay, you have your deal. I'll turn the woman over to your people when we reach Windlee. There is one thing, though. The Tharmiers were going to give me a lot of money when I brought Chrystiana-Nex. Your way I'm going to end up penniless.'
'You'll be rewarded. My masters won't give you as much as the Tharmier usurers, but you'll get something -and you'll keep your life.'
'You're really some salesman.'
'I take it that you're going to co-operate.'
Phaid looked Dreen directly in the eye.
'Yes, Priest Dreen. I'm going to co-operate. Now will you take this damn stinger from off my throat?'
A slow and very unpleasant smile spread across the small priest's face.
'Oh no, Master Phaid. Oh dear me no. I'm afraid the stinger will have to stay where it is until Chrystiana-Nex is safely in custody.'
The blood drained from Phaid's face. The idea of walking around for any length of time with the deadly silver insect clinging to him was too nasty to contemplate.
'You're joking with me!'
'Indeed not. I'll be on the boat with you, although we should not acknowledge that we know each other. You'll be perfectly safe as long as you give me no reason to suspect betrayal.'
'But suppose something goes wrong . . .'
'Nothing will go wrong.'
'How do I know that?'
'You'll have to trust me.'
Phaid's temper started to boil.
'No. Absolutely no. There's no way that I'm going to go through with this with a stinger stuck on my throat.'
'You have no choice.'
Dreen held out an upturned hand. The stinger control rested on his palm. He seemed to be challenging Phaid to snatch it. For a moment Phaid was tempted but then common sense took control, telling him what a very bad idea it would be. He fought down his anger and made his face go blank. Once again it was a question of taking life one minute at a time.
'You're right. I don't have any choice.'
'You'd better go before you're missed.'
'We'll both be in trouble if anyone sees this thing on my throat.'
Dreen fished in a black bag that was lying on the bed. He pulled out a white clerical style scarf. He tossed it to Phaid with a sneer.
'Wear this.'
Phaid wrapped it around his neck. 'Am I dismissed now?'
'Yes . . . you can go.'
Phaid started to open the door but Dreen thought of something and stopped him.
'Wait a minute. There is one thing I'd like to know. Who is the tall thin one? Why haven't I heard anything about him?'
Phaid maintained his blank expression with the greatest of difficulty. So Dreen, and presumably the rest of the priesthood, didn't know that the fourth one in their party was Solchaim. It was a reprieve, a last minute hole card. Phaid blinked as if he was surprised that Dreen should enquire about a matter of such little importance.
'Him? He's an admirer of Edelline-Lan. She wouldn't have anything to do with him back in the city because he was so tall and weirdly deformed.'
'Deformed?'
Phaid grimaced. He was starting to warm to his subject.
'You should see his face. He has those horrible folds of grey skin, all down one side of it, like fungus.'
'It sounds unpleasant.'
'It is. No self respecting woman would have anything to do with him.'
'Why is he with you all now?'
'He acts as a kind of bodyguard to the two women.'
'He wasn't on the train with you.'
Phaid checked himself. He must not get carried away and underestimate Dreen. The priest-agent was no fool.
'He had no letters of transit so he followed in a flipper. I knew nothing about it. It was lucky he did, though. We were nearly eaten by lupes while we were out on the fells. He turned up in the nick of time.'
Dreen seemed to believe him. He noticed that Phaid had left his bottle on the floor. He stooped to pick it up.
'You'll need this.'
'Yeah.'
Dreen gave Phaid a hard look.
'Don't let me down.'
'I won't. I'd be a fool to do that, wouldn't I.'
Outside the door Phaid took a long pull from the bottle
and wondered how the hell this new complication was going to work out. Down in the suite, the outside room was still empty. Phaid slipped back into his chair as though he'd never been gone. He felt no reaction from Solchaim so he tilted the bottle and wondered how an elaihi could cope with a drunk. It wasn't too long before he heard Edelline-Lan's footsteps on the stairs. She came in irate and indignant. Some of the idlers outside the inn had tried to make sport with her. They had refused to take her warnings seriously until she had actually pulled out her blaster and threatened to blow them apart. Phaid passed her the bottle and she took three hefty swallows before she calmed down. It was then that she spotted the scarf wound round Phaid's neck.
'What the hell are you wearing that for?'
'I was cold.'
'You look like one of Roni-Vows' friends. It doesn't suit you.'
Phaid was relieved when she didn't take it any further, and started outlining the details of the passage.
'The boat is called the Valentine and apparently she's not very fast, but she's big, well built and reliable. Her destination is Windlee which will suit us fine. Windlee is another town like this, but it's well into Tharmier territory and on a direct route to the capital.'
Phaid wasn't surprised that Dreen's information tallied exactly with Edelline-Lan's. He nodded towards the closed door of the other room.
'You think that we're still going to the Tharmier capital?'
Edelline-Lan sighed.
'Who knows? I'm going to act as though we are until I hear otherwise. As far as I'm concerned it's the only way to stay sane and stop ending up like her.'
'What time does this boat leave?'
'At what they call down here the tenth bell. That's just before sunset.'
'I've lost all sense of time.'
'We've got about four hours.'
Again Phaid glanced towards the closed door.
'Maybe we ought to be doing the same as them.'
Edelline-Lan firmly shook her head.
'Not around him.'
Phaid realised that he'd been expecting her to say no. The question had been an act of mild bravado. There was no way that they could have made love without Edelline-Lan seeing and asking questions about the stinger. As it was, the time before the iceboat's departure passed quickly enough without any sexual diversions. Solchaim and Chrystiana-Nex re-emerged and the few preparations necessary for the journey were quickly dispatched. Exactly forty-five minutes before the Valentine was due to sail, the four of them started up the stairs to the lobby.
