The Shasht War

by Christopher Rowley

  Thru stepped silently up behind the man and brought his knife up and set it hard against his lower back while slipping his arm around his throat to hold him.

  "Don't move," Thru whispered harshly.

  Heldo froze.

  "Drop the bow."

  Heldo hesitated, then Thru pressed his knife in harder, pricking sharply above Heldo's right kidney.

  The bow clattered to the floor.

  "Is there anyone with you?"

  "No. Heldo is alone."

  Thru relaxed his grip.

  Heldo turned and swung a heavy fist. Thru had anticipated it and ducked it cleanly before striking Heldo in the center of the chest with his foot.

  Heldo sat down with a gasp and struggled to breathe.

  Thru crouched down nearby, keeping his face hidden in the purdah veil. Simona approached from the other side.

  "You are a stupid man, Heldo."

  Heldo would have agreed at that moment, if Heldo had been capable of speech.

  "You have tried to kill us, and when Yomafin comes back he will be very angry."

  Heldo gasped again. "Don't tell."

  "Why not?"

  "Heldo sorry."

  Simona reached over and tore an arrow out of her pack.

  "You tried to kill me."

  Heldo hung his head.

  "Why shouldn't we tell Yomafin?"

  "Heldo will tell the Red Tops."

  Simona snorted with contempt. "You are so stupid. You think the Red Tops won't take you as well? If they find us, they will take everyone to the temple."

  Heldo looked uncomfortable, for he knew she spoke the truth. The priests were usually quite indiscriminate.

  But Simona had another card to play.

  "Listen, Heldo. If the Red Tops come here, I will tell them you spoke to us of the Olden Gods. I will say that Heldo worships Canilass."

  Heldo's eyes bugged in his forehead. Anyone taken as a heretic would face a long interrogation while the priests hammered his hands and feet into pancakes.

  "No!"

  "Then you will have to keep silent. Besides, you will not get the emerald if the Red Tops take us. It will go to the Gold Tops."

  Heldo saw this uncomfortable likelihood, too, and squirmed.

  "Leave us, do not return. Send someone else with the food. Tell them to leave it on the stairs. Understand?"

  Heldo nodded, his features contorted by relief and anger.

  "Leave us now. Say nothing of this to Yomafin, and we will say nothing, too."

  "You say nothing?"

  "If you keep quiet about it, so will we."

  "You give Heldo the stone?"

  "If you stay away from us."

  Heldo shook his head. The world was a more complex place than he had ever imagined.

  Two days later Mentu returned. He noticed at once that Heldo was subdued, and that an old slave woman brought the evening food.

  Under his questioning Thru told him about Heldo's attempt on their lives.

  "He will not dare to speak," said Simona.

  "I hope you're right. Heldo was always the weak link. He is a stupid man."

  "We have observed this," said Thru dryly.

  "But it was better to hide here than in the village. Heldo's farm is far away from prying eyes. As far as I can tell, they still don't know you're here, though they know about me."

  "Will someone tell the Red Tops?"

  "I don't think so. Not until my name filters up to the city. I don't have enemies any more in the village."

  "We told Heldo we would keep his attack on us a secret."

  "Yes, a wise move. But Yomafin should be told. He knows best how to judge Heldo's moods."

  Mentu stayed with them after that, but Heldo was not seen again, nor did he go to the Red Tops.

  Three days later, Yomafin returned from the city.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

  The gold was in imperial crowns, heavy coins bearing the face of Aeswiren III.

  "Enough here to buy the Sea Wasp, and provision her for a year."

  "This is excellent, friend Yomafin," said Simona. "You have done very well."

  "How was it here while I was away?" Clearly Yomafin had already noticed that Heldo was behaving as if guilty about something.

  "Oh, uh, it was quiet, very quiet." Simona tried to keep her voice steady.

  Yomafin was not appeased with this.

  "What did Heldo do?"

  They looked to each other for a moment. Then Mentu explained that Heldo had tried to rob Simona in the night. Yomafin looked sharply in Thru's direction.

  "The 'lady' subdued my brother?"

  "Ah, yes." Mentu looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Clearly, Yomafin did not believe this. "Actually, my friend, the 'lady' is not a lady."

  Yomafin blinked. Thru let his hand rest on the hilt of his knife under the purdah robes.

  "Mysteries upon mysteries, Mentu," muttered Yomafin. "What is this about?"

  "I think we shall have to reveal ourselves more fully. I had hoped to spare you this, but I think you have to know the truth."

  Mentu signaled to Thru, who after a long moment of hesitation withdrew his veil and the hood.

  At the sight of the face covered in fur, with the huge bushy eyebrows and wide-spaced eyes, Yomafin lurched to his feet in alarm.

  "What is this?"

  "Please, do not be alarmed. I mean you no harm," said Thru.

  Yomafin whirled to Mentu. "What is this?"

  "This is a stranger to our land, who found me in the Tower of Quaranine and convinced me that there was a way to escape my fate."

  "A stranger," Yomafin whirled back to stare at Thru. "You are one of them!"

  A silence fell.

  "One of them?" said Thru in puzzlement.

  "And you speak Shashti so well I was fooled."

  "What do you mean, 'them'?" said Mentu.

  "While I was in Gzia Gi, I met with an old friend. He says that he has been contacted by people in Shasht who need his help. There are some monkey men there, who have been hidden by rebel aristocrats. They want to get out of the city."

  Thru jumped forward, Yomafin put up a hand to ward him off and raised his fist.

  "It's all right, Yomafin," said Mentu hurriedly.

  "They are alive?" Thru was close to shouting. He had long since given up hope that his companions from the voyage could still be alive.

  "You know them? Then you are one of them."

  "Yes. I was separated from them in the city. I traveled on the canal. But, Yomafin, our friend, we are not 'monkey men'; we are mots and brilbies."

  Yomafin was still shaking his head, amazed at this latest turn of events. More than that there was a genuine horror in his eyes.

  "Mentu, when I saw your face once again, I knew I would have nothing but trouble in store. But little did I know that it would bring me to this pass!"

  "Yomafin, my friend, I told you with my first words that this would be a risky venture and that I would not hold you to it in payment of our old debt."

  "I know, I know, but look at the position you put me in. I thought we were just shipping out some runaway ladies of the aristocracy. Now I find that one of them isn't even a human being, but some kind of animal, or a monster even."

  Thru's jaw tightened. Simona put a hand on his arm.

  "Yomafin," said Mentu sharply, reaching out to hold his friend by the shoulder. "This is an 'animal' that can speak our language."

  "But it is abomination! The priests have always told us that the world is ours and ours alone."

  "You believe the priests?" Mentu murmured softly.

  Yomafin looked around wildly for a moment, grasping at straws for an answer. Mentu knew his old friend too well.

  "You're right, I don't. And yet I find the sight of this creature repulsive and threatening."

  Mentu and Simona looked at Thru, who was several inches shorter than Yomafin and far less bulky.

  "He doesn't seem so frightening to me," said the E
ccentric. "I've spent many an hour conversing with him. He has some interesting things to say about the life of the Spirit and the Gods."

  Yomafin was visibly struggling. His eyes grew troubled.

  "I don't understand. I hear your words, but when I look at him I see a monstrosity, some creature made in the likeness of man. How can you trust it?"

  "How can one trust anyone? What is the essence of 'trust'?"

  Yomafin frowned not wanting to think about these things.

  "And what of the other one? Is that, too, some kind of monstrous creature covered in fur?"

  "No," said Simona. "I am Simona of the Gsekk, daughter of the Emperor Aeswiren's personal surgeon. I have had the honor to know the Emperor Aeswiren."

  Yomafin colored. Automatically he bobbed his head and said, "I am an Aeswiren man myself, my lady, always have been. A good Emperor he was. But he is gone now."

  "That is why we are fleeing. We will go to the land of Thru's folk. On the other side of the world."

  Yomafin's eyes widened farther.

  "A noblewoman of Shasht will go to live among these animals?"

  "Yes. If the Emperor still lives, this is what he would want, too," said Simona. "I am sure of it."

  Yomafin's mouth worked, but he was unable to speak. He looked back and forth between Mentu and Simona. He did his best not to look at Thru.

  "All right! For the Emperor I will risk this. But as soon as I have purchased the barque, I want you to leave."

  "What about the provisions?"

  "There are some here, I will see they are loaded for you. But beyond that, nothing. You can obtain more somewhere else. I just don't want you to be here."

  Mentu shrugged sadly. "I am sorry to hear these words, old friend. I had hoped for better from you."

  "I am Aeswiren's man, and you are my oldest friend, Mentu Vust, but I fear that dealing with this creature is something you should have asked of another man."

  Thru came down off the balls of his feet.

  "The 'creature' thanks you, Yomafin. I swear that I mean you no harm."

  "How can a man trust the oath of a demon creature?"

  "Hold on there, just a moment ago I was simply a creature. Now you say I am a demon creature. What drives you to think so ill of me?"

  "None but Man can have speech! It is forbidden to the rest of creation. This was the way the Great God planned it."

  "Do you honestly believe in the Great God?"

  "I—" Yomafin looked away, his face contorted in torment.

  "I am sorry for you," said Thru. "It must be hard to think like you do. But please understand that I did not come here of my own free will. None of my folk would ever have come here. We had thought that Man the Cruel was no more. It was the worst day in our lives when we found that we were wrong."

  Yomafin stared at him, completely aware now that he was speaking to an abomination and that it was speaking to him. Aware of this, but forced to continue.

  "You say you were captured?"

  "After a battle, yes."

  "And brought here to be sacrificed to the Great God."

  "I suppose so. It seemed a strange thing to me. Why would you want to take someone from his home halfway around the world and bring him all the way to your land to kill him in the name of your God?"

  Yomafin couldn't answer.

  "Come, now, tell me. Do you believe in your God, this Great 'He Who Eats'?"

  Yomafin could not find the words to reply. He stared at them, one after the other, muttered "abomination" once more and left them. Mentu hurried after him, crying, "Yomafin. Wait, my friend."

  Simona turned back to Thru.

  "Don't let his evil words upset you, such men as he are blind."

  "I believe that, too, but I have met such words before. They are common among your people."

  Thru turned away. There was a different concern in his eyes. Simona knew what it must be and was suddenly afraid. Thru knew that his friends were still alive and in desperate straits in the great city.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

  Sea Wasp was a well built little barque. Freshly repaired, still smelling of paint, varnish and tar, she floated beside the dock with sails neatly furled in the late afternoon sun.

  Yomafin and Heldo, wearing winter cloaks against a chilly onshore breeze, waited as the wagon came to a halt and Simona stepped down. She reached up and took down her traveling bag. One of Yomafin's young fishermen was driving the carriage and pair, which would now become Yomafin's property. All in all, Simona thought, Yomafin was doing well in this deal.

  "Welcome, my lady. The ship awaits you." Yomafin beckoned her toward the gangway. Yomafin was desperately eager to see them gone. Mentu, already aboard, waved to her from the stern-castle of the ship. She did not see Thru, but Simona knew that he, too, had already gone aboard.

  "Thank you, Yomafin. When I see the Emperor next, I will tell him how brave and loyal you have been."

  Yomafin licked his lips. His friendship for Mentu and his loyalty to Aeswiren had overcome his distaste for helping Thru escape the priests, but he obviously still had his doubts.

  "Go in peace, my lady."

  Simona stepped past Heldo in her purdah robe and felt his eyes, hot and angry on her. He almost blurted some angry words, but held his tongue as Yomafin shot him a sharp look. Yomafin had promised to beat him black and blue with a chair rod if he persisted with his effort to steal the emerald from Simona. Yomafin had done well from the deal, a profit of thirty percent already, without including the purdah coach and the fine pair of horses. His own sense of honor would allow no more plundering of the lady's purse.

  Simona walked up the boarding ramp conscious that she might be saying good-bye to Shasht forever. As she left she felt her spirit soar. If she never saw her native land again, so be it, she thought.

  "Welcome aboard," shouted Mentu from the stern-castle, which rose ten feet above the deck at the far end of the little ship. She waved to him and took a look back. Yomafin and Heldo were pulling the boarding ramp back onto the dock.

  A gust of cold wind sent a shiver through her, and she stepped down to the cabins in the stern. Hers had been marked for her by a twist of red thread nailed to the door. Inside she found Thru waiting.

  Since they were out of view of Mentu, they embraced, hugging each other in a mixture of triumph and relief.

  "It is done," she said pulling back.

  Thru did not reply. His eyes met hers, and Simona knew what he was thinking.

  "I understand, Thru, and I agree. We must try and rescue your friends."

  Her heart soared as she saw the instant gratitude in his eyes.

  "Thank you, Simona. Can we convince Mentu?"

  "I don't know, but we will try."

  It wasn't long before there was a knock at the cabin door. Thru opened it to allow Mentu in.

  "Well, they've gone at last. We'll pull the ship out on a warp line for tonight. On tomorrow's tide we sail."

  "We've waited this long, I suppose one more night can be endured," said Simona.

  "And once we sail, we'll be safe," Mentu said while casting a glance out the porthole.

  "Yes, true enough, but first we have a final errand."

  Mentu looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"

  "Before we can sail to safety, we must go to the city. Thru has unfinished business there."

  Mentu blinked. Deep down he'd feared that this was coming.

  "Then we sail into danger all right. All of us could end on the temple altar."

  "There is danger, yes," said Thru, "but you, yourself, said the harbor will be crowded with ships."

  "Yes, the festival will have drawn them from every port in the Empire."

  "Strangers in great numbers will be out on the streets."

  "Yes."

  "And the terror in the city has passed?" said Simona.

  "That, too, is true. The Red Tops will have withdrawn to the temple. Only the captives already taken will go to the pyramid. The people will b
e encouraged to jollity in the next few days, to bring the city into a good mood for the great day. I know how they do it."

  "So there will be crowds in the streets, and the Red Tops will not be hunting for more victims."

  Mentu nodded. He had made these calculations himself, but now he voiced a more critical objection.

  "But how will you find your friends? If the priests can't find them how do you expect to do it?"

  "That is where we need your help, friend Mentu."

  Mentu let out a sad chuckle.

  "Why did I know it would come to this?"

  "I know your brother would approve of you, Master Mentu," said Simona. Mentu sighed. As if he craved the approval of the brother who had imprisoned him for twenty years!

  His own self-respect was another matter.

  "If the Red Tops do take me, you will never find your way across the oceans to your home."

  Thru did not blink. "You will wear your cloak, it is winter, everyone else will be the same. Your beard has grown long. You will not be noticed."

  "And yet, I fear there is something you overlook. Flattering as it is that you think old Mentu can find your friends for you, I must shatter your illusions. I only lived in that horrible city for a few years. I wouldn't know one rat infested wharf from another, and there's hundreds of them."

  But Thru had the answer to that.

  "Someone has to go to the house of the Erv Blanteer. He is a friend of Janbur of Gsekk; he will know where they are hiding."

  Mentu nodded thoughtfully. "The Erv Blanteer? Any idea where in the city that would be?"

  "It is a big house, with a wall around it. There are many trees in that part of the city. Gardens, too."

  "Ah, in the outer Shalba, then. All right, Mentu can do that. I just hope that this Erv is willing to cooperate."

  "I hope this, too. You will tell him you come from Thru Gillo, the mot who spoke to him and his friends in the vault beneath that house."

  "And then what?" said Simona.

  "Then I will go ashore at night to find them," said Thru. "And we will arrange a way of picking them up. Then we will sail to the Land."

  Mentu was won over. "Well, I would say we have a chance, then. If this Erv that you spoke to has stayed true to his friends, then this could work. But we will still be taking a great risk."