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against the Emirate of the Dar al-Harb."
"That's sooth," Ankowaljuu said. "He's done it. But then, you never got a chance to set the whole dealing
before Maita Kapak himself." He made the ritual eye-shielding gesture.
"Before Maita Kapak?" Park was too upset to bother with Tawantiinsuujan niceties if Ankowaljuu
didn't like it, too bad. "How could I go before Maita Kapak? The way the Son of the Sun is hedged
round with mummery, it's a wonder any of his wives get to see him." He realized he might have gone too
far. "Forgive me, I pray. I am not trying to wound you."
"It's all rick, Judge Scoglund. There are those among us who say the like I not least. But as for getting
the let to see him remember, I amtukuuii riikook. I have the rick of a seeing at any time I think
needful. I think this is such a time. A wain is waiting outside for us."
Park hadn't heard it come up, but that meant nothing, not with the silent steam engines this world used.
He started for the door. "Let's go!"
"Nay so quick." Ankowaljuu sprang up, made as if to head him off. "You needs must pack first."
"Pack?" Park gaped as if he'd never heard the word before. "What the hell for? Are you shifting me into
the kingly palace? Otherwise, what's the point?"
"The palace has naught to do with it. Maita Kapak" again the eye-shielding, which had to be as
automatic as breathing for Tawantiinsuujans "left by airwain this morning, to lead our warriors to
winning against the heathen who deny Patjakamak and slay his worshipers. I have another airwain waiting
on my ordering at the airfield. I want us on it, as fast as doable."
Park wasted a moment regretting that Kurrikwiljor's bronze body would not be his tonight. Then he
dashed for the bedroom, shouting to Monkey-face, "Come on, Eric, goddammit, give me a hand here."
Dunedin was right behind him. They flung clothes into a trunk. "Hey, wait a minute." Park pointed to a
shirt. "That's yours. We won't need it. Take it out."
His thane shook his head. "Don't need it indeed. What do you reckon me to wear on this trip?"
"I didn't reckon you to wear anything and I don't mean I thock you'd come along naked, either. I
reckoned you'd let Tjiimpuu ship you home; that'd be easiest and safest both."
"So it would, if I meant to leave. But I don't. My job is to caretake you, and that's what I aim to do." He
gave Allister Park a defiant stare.
Park slapped him on the back, staggering him slightly. "You're a good egg, Eric. All rick, you can come,
but don't say I didn't warn you." He thought of something: this world's steam-powered planes were
anything but powerful performers. "Will the airwain bear his heft, Ankowaljuu?"
"Reckon so," the Skrelling said. "I'm more afeared for all the books you're heaving into that case, Judge
Scoglund."
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"I need these," Park yelped, stung. "What's a judge without his books?"
"A lickter lawyer," Ankowaljuu retorted. "Well, as may be. I reckon we'll fly. Be you ready?"
"I guess we are." Park looked around the room at everything he and Dunedin were leaving behind.
"What'll happen to all this stuff, though?"
"It'll be kept for you. We're an orderly folk, we Tawantiinsuujans; we don't wantonly throw things
away." Having seen how smoothly Kuuskoo ran, Park suspected Ankowaljuu was right. The Skrelling
watched Monkey-face wrestle the trunk closed, then said, "Come on. Let's be off."
Ankowaljuu not only had a wain outside, but also a driver. The fellow's face was a perfect blank mask,
part Skrelling impassivity, part the boredom of flunkies everywhere waiting for their bosses to finish
business that doesn't involve them. He stayed behind the wheel and let Park and Dunedin heave the trunk
in by themselves.
"Go," Ankowaljuu told him.
The wain sprang ahead, shoving Park back in his seat. He was no milquetoast driver himself, but
Ankowaljuu's man did not seem to care whether he lived or died. Eric Dunedin's face was white as they
shot through Kuuskoo like a dodge-'em car, evading trucks by the thickness of a coat of paint and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]