Jack vance Tschai 2 Servants of the Wankh

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three previously and all treated me like dirt." He drained his goblet, set it
down with a rap. "Now I must leave; I bid all good evening, Dirdirman as
well."
The old man departed. With almost the same swing of the door a pale
black-haired young man dressed unobtrusively in dark blue broadcloth entered
the tavern. Somewhere, thought Reith, he had seen this young man, and
recently.. .
Where? The man walked slowly, almost absentmindedly, along the passage beside
the wall. He went to the serving counter, was poured a goblet of sharp syrup.
As
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.txt he turned away his gaze met that of Reith's. He nodded politely and after
a moment's hesitation approached. Reith now recognized him for Cizante's
pallid young aide.
"Good evening," said the young man. "Perhaps you recognize me? I am Helsse of
Isan, a Blue jade connection. I believe that we met today."
"I had a few words with your master, true enough."
Helsse sipped from his goblet, made a fastidious grimace, placed the goblet on
the bar. "Let's move to a more secluded place, where we can talk."
Reith spoke to Traz and Anacho, then turned back to Helsse. "Lead the way."
Helsse glanced casually toward the front entrance but chose to leave through
the restaurant. As they departed Reith glimpsed a man thrusting into the
tavern, to glare wildly around the room: Dordolio.
Helsse appeared not to notice. "Nearby is a little cabaret, not overly
genteel, but as good as anywhere else for our talk."
The cabaret was a low-ceilinged room, lit by red and blue lamps with
blue-painted booths around the periphery. A number of musicians sat on a
platform, two of whom played small gongs and drum, while a male dancer strode
sinuously this way and that. Helsse selected a booth near the door, as far as
possible from the musicians; the two seated themselves on blue cushions.
Helsse ordered two drams of "Wildwood Tincture" which were presently brought
to the table.
The dancer departed, the musicians undertook a new selection, with instruments
similar to oboe, flute, cello, and a kettledrum. Reith listened for a moment,
puzzled by the plaintive scraping, the thumps of the kettledrum, the sudden
excited trills of the flute.
Helsse leaned solicitously forward. "You are unfamiliar with Yao music? I
thought as much. This is one of the traditional forms: a lament."
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"It could never be mistaken for a cheerful composition."
"A question of degree." Helsse went on to list a series of musical forms, of
decreasing optimism. "I do not mean to imply that the Yao are a dour folk; you
need only attend one of the season balls to appreciate this."
"I doubt if I will be invited," said Reith.
The orchestra embarked upon another selection, a series of passionate phrases,
taken up by each instrument at varying instants, to terminate in a wild
sustained quaver. By some cross sensoral stimulus, Reith thought of the
monument in the circular park. "The music bears some connection with your
ritual of expiation?"
Helsse smiled distantly. "I have heard it said that the spirit of Pathetic
Communion permeates the Yao psyche."
"Interesting." Reith waited. Helsse had not brought him here to discuss music.
"I trust that the events of this afternoon caused you no inconvenience?"
asked Helsse.
"None whatever, other than irritation."
"You did not expect the boon?"
"I knew nothing of it. I expected ordinary courtesy, certainly. My reception
by Lord Cizante, in retrospect, seems remarkable."
Helsse nodded sagely. "He is a remarkable man. But now he finds himself in an
awkward position. Immediately upon your departure the cavalier Dordoho
presented himself to denounce you as an interloper, and to demand the boon for
himself. To be quite candid, such a proceeding, on Dordolio's terms, would
embarrass Lord
Cizante, when one takes all into consideration. You perhaps would not be aware
that Blue Jade and Gold-Carnelian are rival houses. Lord Cizante suspects that
Dordolio would use the boon to humiliate Blue Jade, with what consequences no
one can foresee."
Reith asked: "Exactly what was the boon promised by Cizante?"
"Emotion overcame his reserve," said Helsse. "He declared: 'Whoever returns me
my daughter or so much as brings me news, let him ask and I will fulfill as
best I can.' Strong language, as you see, uttered only for the ears of Blue
Jade, but the news circulated."
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"It appears," said Reith, "that I do Cizante a favor by accepting his bounty."
"This is what we wish to ascertain," said Helsse carefully. "Dordolio has made
a number of scurrilous statements in regard to you. He declares you a
superstitious barbarian intent on reviving the 'cult.' If you demanded that
Lord
Cizante convert his palace into a temple and himself join the 'cult,' he might
well prefer Dordolio's terms."
"Even though I appeared first on the scene?"
"Dordolio claims trickery, and is violently angry. But all this to the side,
what might you demand of Lord Cizante, in light of the circumstances?"
Reith considered. Unfortunately, he could not afford the prideful luxury of
refusal. "I'm not sure. I could use some unprejudiced advice, but I don't know
where to find it."
"Try me," suggested Helsse.
"You are hardly unprejudiced."
"Much more than you might think."
Reith studied the pale handsome face, the still black eyes. A puzzling man was
Helsse, the more so for his impersonality, neither cordial nor cold. He spoke
with ostensible candor but permitted no inadvertent or unconscious signals to
advertise the state of his inner self.
The orchestra had dispersed. To the platform came a somewhat obese man in a
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long maroon robe. Behind him sat a woman with long black hair plucking a lute.
The man produced an ululating wail: half-words which Reith was unable to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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