Vance, Jack Dying Earth 2 The Eyes of the Overworld

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blue concentrate to a distance of fifty paces, together with a scroll listing eighteen
phases of the Laganetic Cycle; and with these items he was forced to be content.
Not long afterward the outlying ruins of Erze Da-math appeared upon the
western banks: ancient villas now toppled and forlorn among overgrown gardens.
The pilgrims plied poles to urge the raft toward the shore. In the distance
appeared the tip of the Black Obelisk, at which all emitted a glad cry. The raft
moved
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slantwise across the Scamander and was presently docked at one of the
crumbling old jetties.
The pilgrims scrambled ashore, to gather around Gar-stang, who addressed the
group: "It is with vast satisfaction that I find myself discharged of responsibility.
Behold! The holy city where Gilfig issued the Gneustic Dogma! where he scourged
Kazue and denounced En-xis the Witch! Not impossibly the sacred feet have trod
this very soil!" Garstang made a dramatic gesture toward the ground, and the
pilgrims, looking downward, shuffled their feet uneasily. "Be that as it may, we
are here and each of us must feel relief. The way was tedious and not without
peril. Fifty-nine set forth from Pholgus Valley, Bamish and Randol were taken by
grues at Sagma Field; by the bridge across the Asc Cugel joined us; upon the
Scamander we lost Lodermulch. Now we muster fifty-seven, comrades all, tried
and true, and it is a sad thing to dissolve our association, which we all will
remember foreverl
'Two days hence the Lustral Rites begin. We are in good time. Those who have
not disbursed all their funds gaming" here Garstand turned a sharp glance
toward Cugel "may seek comfortable inns at which to house themselves. The
impoverished must fare as best they can. Now our journey is at its end; we
herewith disband and go our own ways, though all will necessarily meet two days
hence at the Black Obelisk, Farewell until this time!"
The pilgrims now dispersed, some walking along the banks of the Scamander
toward a nearby inn, others turning aside and proceeding into the city proper.
Cugel approached Voynod. "I am strange to this region, as you are aware;
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perhaps you can recommend an inn of large comfort at small cost"
"Indeed," said Voynod. "I am bound for just such an inn: the Old Dastric Empire
Hostelry, which occupies the precincts of a former palace. Unless conditions have
changed, sumptuous luxury and exquisite viands are offered at no great cost"
The prospect met with Cugel's approval; the two set out through the avenues of
old Erze Damath, past clusters of stucco huts, then across a region where no
buildings stood and the avenues created a vacant checkerboard, then into a
district of great mansions still currently in use:
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these set back among intricate gardens. The folk of Erze Damath were handsome
enough, if somewhat swarthier than the folk of Almery. The men wore only black:
tight trousers and vests with black pompoms; the women were splendid in gowns
of yellow, red, orange and magenta, and their slippers gleamed with orange and
black se-quias. Blue and green were rare, being unlucky colors, and purple
signified death.
The women displayed tall plumes in their hair, while the men wore jaunty black
disks, then" scalps protruding through a central hole. A resinous balsam seemed
very much the fashion, and everyone Cugel met exuded a waft of aloes or myrrh
or carcynth. All in all the folk of Erze Damath seemed no less cultivated than
those of Kauchique, and rather more vital than the listless citizens of Azenomei.
Ahead appeared the Old Dastric Empire Hostelry, not far from the Black Obelisk
itself. To the dissatisfaction of both Cugel and Voynod, the premises were
completely occupied, and the attendant refused them admittance. 'The Lustra!
Rites have attracted all manner of devout folk," he explained. "You will be
fortunate to secure lodging of any kind."
So it proved: from inn to inn went Cugel and Voynod, to be turned away hi every
case. Finally, on the western outskirts of the city, at the very edge of the Silver
Desert, they were received by a large tavern of somewhat disreputable
appearance: the Inn of the Green Lamp.
"Until ten minutes ago I could not have housed you," stated the landlord, "but the
thief-takers apprehended two persons who lodged here, naming them footpads
and congenital rogues."
"I trust this is not the general tendency of your clientele?" inquired Voynod.
"Who is to say?" replied the innkeeper. "It is my busij ness to provide food and
drink and lodging, no more. Ruffians and deviants must eat, drink, and sleep, no
less than savants and zealots. All have passed on occasion through my doors, and,
after all, what do I know of you?"
Dusk was falling and without further ado Cugel and Voynod housed themselves at
the Sign of the Green Lamp. After refreshing themselves they repaired to the
common room for their evening meal. ThU was a hall of
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considerable extent, with age-blaqkened beams, a floor of dark brown tile, and
various posts and columns of scarred wood, each supporting a lamp. The clientele
was various, as the landlord had intimated, displaying a dozen costumes and
complexions. Desert-men lean as snakes, wearing leather smocks, sat on one
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hand; on the other were four with white faces and silky red top-knots who uttered
never a word. Along a counter to the back sat a group of bravos in brown
trousers, bl ck rapes and leather berets, each with a spherical jewel dangling by a
gold chain from his ear.
Cugel ,and Voynod consumed a meal of fair quality, though somewhat rudely
served, then sat drinking wine and considering how to pass the evening. Voynod
decided to rehearse cries of passion and devotion frenzies to be exhibited at the
Lustral Rites. Cugel thereupon besought him to lend his talisman of erotic
stimulation. "The women of Erze Damath show to good advantage, and with the
help of the talisman I will extend my knowledge of their capabilities."
"By no means," said Voynod, hugging his pouch close to his side. "My reasons
need no amplification."
Cugel put on a sullen scowl. Voynod was a man whose grandiose personal
conceptions seemed particularly farfetched and distasteful, by reason of his
unhealthy, gaunt and saturnine appearance.
Voynod drained his mug, with a meticulous frugality Cugel found additionally
irritating, and rose to his feet. "I will now retire to my chamber."
As he turned away a bravo swaggering across the room jostled him. Voynod
snapped an acrimonious instruction, which the bravo did not choose to ignore.
"How dare you use such words to me! Draw and defend yourself, or I cut your
nose from your face!" And the bravo snatched forth his blade.
"As you will," said Voynod. "One moment until I find my sword." With a wink at
Cugel he annointed his blade with the salve, then turned to the bravo. "Prepare
for death, my good fellow!" He leapt grandly forward. The bravo, noting Voynod's
preparations, and understanding that he faced magic, stood numb with terror.
With a flourish Voynod ran him through, and wiped his blade on the bravo's hat.
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The dead man's companions at the counter started to their feet, but halted as
Voynod with great aplomb turned to face them. "Take care, you dunghill cocksl
Notice the fate of your fellow! He died by the power of my magic blade, which is
of inexorable metal and cuts rock and steel like butter. Behold!" And Voynod
struck out at a pillar. The blade, striking an iron bracket, broke into a dozen
pieces. Voynod stood non-plussed, but the bravo's companions surged forward.
"What then of your magic blade? Our blades are ordinary steel but bite deep!"
And in a moment Voynod was cut to bits.
The bravos now turned upon Cugel. "What of you? Do you wish to share the fate
of your comrade?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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