As his image faded I coughed to cover the grunt of suspicion that this old bushwah evoked. Never try to con a conman. I settled my rump more comfortably in the chair and prepared to be entertained.
As soon as it started 1 could see that the holofilm was very professionally made. I appreciated that the young, the gullible – or the just plain stupid – would be very impressed by it. The mist churned, the russet light grew brighter and I was suddenly in the midst of the scene.
The king watched in silence as the group of armed men walked warily into the forest and disappeared from sight among the trees. Outwardly he was patient as he waited, although he reached up and touched his crown from time to time as though reassuring himself that it was still there, that he was still king. A very long time later he stiffened, turned his head and listened as slow footsteps shuffled through the thick leaves below the trees. But no warrior appeared, just the thick and twisted figure of his fester, headdress bobbling, laps moist with flecked .saliva.
“What did you see?” the king asked at last.
“Gone, Majesty. All gone. Just lake all of those who have gone before. Vanished among the trees around the lake. None returned.”
“None ever return, “ the king said, sorrow and defeat dragging him down. He stood that way, unknowing, unseeing as a young man appeared and strode towards him; a silent gray dog walked at his side. The jester, jaw agape, spittle pendulous, hacked away as the stranger approached.
“Why do you grieve, oh king?” he asked in a light and clear voice.
“1 grieve for there is part of the forest in my kingdom where men do go-but none return. They go in tens and twenties-but none is ever seen again.
“I will go,” the young man said, “but I will go alone.”
He snapped his fingers and, without another word being spoken, man and dog walked off into the forest. Beneath the trees and pendant mosses, around the hedges and nodding cattails to the edge of a dark pond. The young man stopped to look at it and a hand, sudden and dripping, rose from the water and seized the dog. Pulled it beneath the surface. The ripples died away and the surface was still.
The young man did not cry or flee, just nodded.
“This must be the place,” he said.
The darkness faded and light returned. Iron John was gone, the chamber was empty. I looked at Floyd who seemed just as bewildered as I was.
“Did I miss the point somehow?” I asked.
“I feel sorry for the dog,” Floyd said. We both looked at Steengo who was nodding thoughtfully.
“That’s only the beginning,” he said. “You’ll understand what is happening when you see the rest.”
“You wouldn’t like to, maybe, explain just what you are talking about?”
Steengo shook his head in a solemn no. “Later, perhaps. But I don’t think I will have to. You will see for yourselves.”
“You’ve seen this holoflick before?” Floyd asked.
“No. But I have read my mythology. It’s better ‘that you see the rest before we talk about it.”
I started to protest, shut my mouth. Realized that there was no point in probing further. The door opened and our guide reappeared.
“Just the man we are looking for,” I said, remembering our earlier decision. “We have heard, from reliable sources, that there is to be an outdoor market at. dawn tomorrow.”
“Your sources are correct. Tomorrow is the tenth day and that is market day. Always on the tenth day because the nomads remember by marking a finger each day with soot until all fingers are…”
“Right, thanks. I can count to ten without dirty fingers. My fellow musicians and I would like to visit this market-is this possible?”
“You have but to ask, great Jim of The Stainless Steel Rats.”
“I’ve asked. Can someone show us the way in the morning?”
“Tis more fit that you use the Chariots of Fire…”
“I agree, more fit. But more fit that we be fit. Walking is a wonderful exercise.”
“Then walk you shall, if that is your desire. An escort will be provided. It is now the hour of dining and a banquet has been prepared in your honor. Will you be so kind as to follow me?”
“Lead on, my friend. As long as it is not polpettone again we are your avid customers.”
As we followed him out I discovered that my fingers had a fife of their own. Or, more probably, were being twitched into activity by my worried subconscious. They flicked over the computer controls and the glowing numbers appeared before me.
Nineteen and a pulsing red eleven.
Eleven days to go. The morning market had better produce something.
Chapter 15
“It is going to be such a lovely day,” the voice said.
Each word shot through my head like a rusty arrow, grating and scraping against the growing headache that was throbbing there. I opened one eye blurrily and bright light added to the pain. I had only enough energy to twist my lips into a surly snarl as our gold-clad host flitted about our quarters. Opening curtains, picking up discarded clothing, generally being as obnoxious as possible at this predawn hour. Only when I heard the outer door slam did I crawl from the bed, turn off the searing lights, stumble on all fours to my pack where it rested against the wall. On the third fumbling attempt I managed to open it and click out a Sobering Effect pill. I swallowed it dry and sat motionlessly while I waited for its beneficent chemicals to seep through my fractured body.
“What was in that green beer?” Floyd said hoarsely, then began to cough. Moaning in agony between coughs as his aching head was kicked about. My headache was seeping away so I clicked out a pill for him and walked unsteadily across to his bed of pain.
“Swallow. This. Will. Help.”
“Quite a party last night,” Steengo said benevolently, joined fingers resting comfortably on the ample bulge of his stomach.
“Die,” Floyd gasped, unsteady fingers groping for the pill. “And burn painfully in hell forever. Plus one day.”
“A bit hungover are we?” Steengo asked cheerfully. “I suppose there is good reason, considering the length of the nights here. Their parties must go on forever. Or maybe it just seems that way. Eat a bit, sleep a bit. Eat a bit, drink a bit. Or maybe more than a bit. I thought that the beer tasted a little on the nasty side. So I only had one. But the meat courses! Tremendous, vegetables, good gravy, liked the bread and red sauce, plus…”
His voice died away as Floyd crawled out of bed and staggered, groaning, from the room.
“You are cruel,” I said, smacking my dry lips together and feeling a little better.
“Not cruel. Just pointing out a few truths. This mission first. Overdrinking, hangovers and Technicolor yawns saved for our victory celebration.”
There was nothing I could say. He was right.
“Message received,” I said, reaching for my clothes. “The quiet life and plenty of rest and raw vegetables. Think positive.”
Dawn brightened the window. A new day. Ten days to deadline. I was thinking negative and I shook myself like a wet dog and tried to shrug off the mood. “Let’s go to the fair.”
When we emerged from the BOQ, Sergeant Ljotur was waiting for us. He snapped to attention and gave a mighty salute – as did the squad of soldiers from the gate guard that he had brought with him.
“We take you to the market!” he called out. “These men are all volunteers, eagerly happy to carry any purchases finest musicians in galaxy may make.”
“Greatly appreciated. Lead on,” I said as we stepped out briskly on the red brick road.
The sun was a glowing crimson disk on the horizon when me reached the market. The Fundamentaloid nomads must lave been early risers because everything was in great swing already. I ready. And gory too; I thought I heard a low moan from Floyd, but the baaing and farting of the sheots tended to drown out most other sounds. Complain they might as the butchered carcasses of their late companions were unloaded from their backs. But there had to be more than a
meat market here; eyes averted we hurried past the sanguineous display.
Now bearded nomads solicited our attention in pleading voices, pointing out the attractions of their wares. Which weren’t that attractive. Tired-looking vegetables, crude clay pots, piles of dried sheot chips for the barbecue.
“Pretty grim,” Floyd said.
“Not important,” I told him, jerking my thumb towards the strolling customers. “They are the ones that we are interested in.” I took out the photographs of the artifact that we were looking for and passed one to each of my companions. “Find out if any of the Paradisians have seen this.”
“We don’t just spring it on them?” Steengo said doubtfully.
“You’re right. We don’t. During the sleepless hours of the night I worked up a cover story. It goes this way, something close to the truth. The nomads found this thing in a stream bed after a flash flood. Tried to trade it to the keepers of the Pentagon who have a strict policy of noncommunication. However it was photographed when presented and only later was it recognized as an archeological artifact of possible interest.”
“Reasonable,” Steengo said doubtfully. “But what are we doing with the photos?”
“Given to us when we were booted out of the place. Hints made of rewards, possible remission of sentence, lots of fedha. With great reluctance we agreed to look for the thing since, simply, what have we got to lose?”
“Thin but plausible,” Floyd said. “Let’s give it a try.”
There was no difficulty talking to the Paradisians; if anything it was hard to get rid of them once approached. How they loved The Stainless Steel Rats! Soon I had a string of adoring fans trailing behind me-along with most of the squad of guards. Everyone wanted to help: none of them knew a thing. But one name kept cropping up during the questioning. Sjonvarp.
Steengo pushed through the crowd and held up the now dogeared photograph. “Still nothing. But a couple of them said to ask Sjonvarp. Who seems to be the top trader around here.”
“I heard the same thing. Grab Floyd, He must be recovering because I saw him looking at the fermented sheot-milk stand. Bring him here before he makes a mistake that he will long remember.”
Sjonvarp was easy enough to find, with countless fingers pointing us the way. He was a tall and solidly-built man with iron-gray hair. His stern face broke into a smile when he turned to see who had called out his name.
“The Stainless Steel Rats in the flesh! I am trebly blessed!”
We hummed two bars of “All Alone” followed by a brisk buck and wing. Which elicited a round of applause from the spectators and a broader smile from Sjonvarp.
“Such rhythm and beauty!” he said.
“We sing ‘em the way you like it,” I said. “It is told in the market that you are the master-trader in these parts.”
“I am. Pleased to make your acquaintances, Jim, Floyd and Steengo.”
“Likewise. If you have a moment I have a picture here I would like you to look at.” I hit the high points of our spiel as I passed the pic over. He only half listened, but did put all of Isis attention on the photo. Turning it around at arm’s length, squinting farsightedly to make it out.
“Of course’. I thought so.” He handed it back to me. “Some markets ago, I forget exactly how many, one of these odorous simpletons traded it to one of my assistants. We buy anything that might be of scientific interest for the specialists to examine. It didn’t look like much. But I gave it to old Heimskur anyway.”
“Well that takes care of that then,” I said, tearing the photo up and dropping the pieces. “We’re doing our concert tonight-I can get you a ticket if you want one.”
The artifact was instantly forgotten-as I hoped, although it took some time for us to extract ourselves from the attentive embrace of our fans. Only by saying that it was rehearsal time did we manage to break away.
“Don’t we look for the thing any more?” Floyd asked worriedly. A good musician, but I think drink was eroding his brain cells.
“We have the man’s name,” Steengo said. “That’s what we look into next.”
“How?” Floyd asked, still suffering from semi-paralysis of the neural network.
“Any way we can,” I told him. “Make friends. Drop names. Drop Heimskur’s name among the others. We find out who he is and what he does. Now, as we stroll, I’ll report in.”
Tremearne and Madonette listened carefully to my report. He overed and outed but she stayed to chat.
“Jim, it’s time I left my hole in the wall and visited the other half of the city. It must be safe… ”
“We hope that-but we don’t know that. And there is no point in your taking any chances as long as the thing we are looking for is here. Enjoy the break. And don’t do a thing until we find out more here.”
We found lunch waiting in our quarters. Fruit and slices of cold meatloaf on silver plates, covered with crystal domes.
“Great!” Floyd said, chomping down a slice.
“Probably minced sheot shank,” Steengo said, suddenly gloomy.
“Food’s food and I never consider the source.” Floyd reached for another slice just as our golden greeter appeared.
“A pleasure to see you musical Rats enjoying yourself. When you have eaten your fill I have a request for the presence of Rat Jim.”
“Who wants me?” I asked suspiciously through a mouthful of sweet pulp.
“All will be revealed.” He put his index finger along his nose, winked and rolled his eyes. Which silent communication I assumed meant something like you’ll find out soon enough. I had no choice. And I had lost my appetite. I wiped my fingers on a damp cloth and followed him yet another time.
Iron John was waiting for me at the door of the Veritorium where we had all seen the puzzling holoflic.
“Come with me, Jim,” he said with a deep voice like distant thunder. “Today you will see and understand all of the revelation.”
“I’ll get the others… ”
“Not this time, Jim.” His hand closed gently but firmly onto my shoulder and I had little choice but to go along with him. “You are wise beyond your years. An old head on a young body. Therefore you are the one who will be helped the most by your understanding of this mystery that is no mystery. Come.”
He sat me down but did not join me; yet I was aware of his presence close by me in the darkness. The mist roiled and cleared and I was once again by the lake.
There was only silence in the forest around the ducky pond. As the last ripple died away the young man turned crud left without looking back. Trod the dead leaves beneath. the trees until he emerged and saw the king before him.
“There is something I must do,” he told the king, nor would he say any more. The king saw that the man’s dog was gone – the man himself was unharmed. He had many questions but , did not know how to speak them. Instead he followed the young man back to the castle. In the courtyard the young man looked around, then spotted a large leathern bucket.
“I need that,” he said.
“Take it.” The king dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “Remember I have helped you. One day you must tell me what you found in the woods.”
The young man turned in silence and made his way, alone, back to the dark pond. There he dipped the bucket into the water and hurled its contents into the ditch nearby. Another and another. He did not stop but worked steadily at bailing out the pond. It was hard, slow work. Yet the sun never set, the light never changed, the young man never stopped.
After a great period of time the water was almost gone and something large was revealed lying in the mud on the bottom of the pond. The young man kept emptying the water until he revealed a tall man who was covered with reddish hair, like rusty iron, from head to foot. The large man’s eyes opened and he looked at the young man. Who beckoned to him. With a heaving shake the rusty man rose from the pond’s bottom and followed the young man away from the pond and through the woods.
To the castle of the king. All of th
e soldiers and retainers fled when they appeared and the king alone stood before them.
“This is Iron John,” the young man said. “You must imprison him in an iron cage here in the courtyard. If you lock the cage and give the key to your queen the forest will be safe again for those who walk through it.”
Mist rose and darkened the scene. It was the end.
The red-furred hand was heavy on Jim’s shoulder – but it did not bother him.
“Now you understand,” Iron John said, newfound warmth in his voice. “Now you can release Iron John. Welcome, Jim, welcome.”
I wanted to say that I felt more confusion than comprehension. That I was experiencing something, yet not understanding it. Instead of speaking my feelings aloud I suddenly found that my eyes were brimming with tears. I did not know why although I knew that they were nothing to be ashamed of.
Iron John smiled at me and, with a great finger, wiped the tears from my damp cheeks.
Chapter 16
“What was all that about?” Floyd asked when I returned to our quarters. He was jazzing with his trombonio, a complex and gleaming collection of golden tubes and slides, which made some very interesting sounds indeed. Most of them, regrettably, of an ear-destroying nature.
“More training film,” I said, as nonchalantly as I could. I was surprised to hear a certain quaver in my voice as I spoke. Floyd tootled on, unaware of it, but Steengo who appeared to be asleep on the couch opened one eye.
“Training film? You mean more about the pool in the forest?”
“You got it in one.”
“Did you find out what was in the pool? The thing that dragged the dog down?”
“A stupid story,” Floyd said, and tootled a little fast riff. “Although I do feel sorry for the dog.”
“It wasn’t a real dog,” Steengo said. He looked at me, seemed to be waiting for me to speak, but I clamped my jaw shut and turned away. “Nor was it a real pool.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, looking at him.
“Mythology, my dear Jim. And rites of passage. It was Iron John at the bottom of the pool, wasn’t it?”
The Stainless Steell Rat Sings the Blues ssr-8 Page 11
