by Gene Wolfe
Page 20
Eutaktos looked sourly from her to me. "How many men here?"
"Right now? Three. Why do you want to know?"
"Get the rest. "
Kalleos shrugged and told Phye, "Bring in Lalos and Leon. "
"You there. " Eutaktos pointed to me with his sword. "Quick! Name the man who sold you. "
I shook my head.
Io said, "Hypereides, sir. Please dont hurt Latro - he cant remember. "
The shieldmen, who had been nudging one another and winking while they stared at the women, fell silent as though someone had given a command. Eutaktos lowered his sword and sent it rasping back into the scabbard. "You say he doesnt remember, little girl?"
Suddenly abashed, Io nodded.
"We can settle this quickly," Eutaktos told Kalleos. "Do you have any books?"
Kalleos shook her head. "None. I keep all my records on wax tablets. "
"None at all? Want us to search? You wont like it. "
"Theres a book Latro has to write in. He does forget, as Io says. "
"Ah. " Eutaktos glanced at one of the other Rope Makers, and both smiled. "Fetch it, woman. "
"I dont know where he keeps it. "
Phye said, "You wont be able to read it, Lochagos. Ive tried, but he writes in some barbaric tongue. "
Our two cooks, who had banged the pans that morning and talked loudly, looked very small beside her.
The man I had hit got to his feet rubbing his neck.
"But he can read it to me," Eutaktos said. "Latro, bring me your book. "
Io said, "Hes afraid youll take it, sir. You wont, will you?"
Eutaktos shook his head. "Do you know where it is?"
Io nodded. "I know more about Latro than anybody. "
"Then get it. We wont hurt him or you. "
Io ran to my room and was soon back carrying this scroll.
"Good!" Eutaktos said. "And now - "
There was a tap at the door. Eutaktos told one of the shieldmen to see who it was and send him away. To me he said, "A fine book, must have cost a couple of owls. Too long for you to unroll it all between your hands?"
I nodded.
"Then do it on the floor, so I can see it. Little girl, hold down the end. "
The shieldman who had been sent to the door announced, "Urgent message, Lochagos. A Milesian. "
Eutaktos nodded, and the soldier ushered in a tall and very lean man with hair like a black haystack; he wore a purple cloak and many rings. This man darted a glance at me, another at Kalleos, and said to Eutaktos, "Many blessings upon you, noble warrior! I have words that are for your heroic ears alone. "
Kalleos came forward smiling. "I can show you to a comfortable room, Lochagos, where you two can talk in private. We havent tidied up yet from last night, but - "
"No matter," Eutaktos snapped. "Take us there - we wont be long. You, Latro, close your book again and keep it so. Basias, see that he does. "
They were back almost at once, the Rope Maker looking pleased and the Milesian chagrined. To his shieldmen, Eutaktos said, "This fellows come to tell us what we were about to see for ourselves. " He turned to me. "Unroll your book. "
I did as he had ordered, and when I reached the final sheet found a dried flower there.
Eutaktos crouched beside me. "You men, look here! Did everyone see this?"
The shieldmen nodded, and several said, "Yes, sir. "
"Remember it. You may have to tell Pausanias. You heard me ask the question. You heard he couldnt answer. You saw him unroll this book, you saw the flower. Dont forget those things. " He stood up. "These are high matters. It wont go well with anyone who makes a mistake. "
The Milesian began, "Noble Rope Maker, if you would care - "
"I wouldnt. You Ionians are mad for gold. We win your battles for you, so you think weve got it.
There isnt a man here whos any richer than the poorest slave in this house, myself included. "
"In that case . . . " The Milesian shrugged and turned to go.
"Not so fast!"
Two shieldmen blocked the door.
"Youll leave when I say, not before. Obey orders or suffer for it. Latro, youre coming with us; sos the child. Whats her name?"
"Io!" Io piped.
"Woman. " Eutaktos turned to Kalleos. "Apply to Pausanias or either of our kings and youll be compensated. Shut up! You talk too much - all of you do up here. "
"Sir," I said, "Ive got a cloak and some clean chitons. May I get them?"
He nodded. "Whatever you want, as long as that books part of it. Basias, go with him. "
Kalleos said, "Eurykles, youre not going with them too, are you?"
"Of course not," the Milesian told her.
Eutaktos turned on him. "Of course, you mean. Youre from Miletos, Miletos is in the Empire, the Empires our enemy, youre our prisoner. Curses and witchery will get your throat cut before you finish them. "
I left with Basias then, and so I did not hear what else was said. When we returned, Io had a little bundle at her feet and a wooden doll under her arm. Basias looked inquiringly at Eutaktos and pointed to my sword.
Kalleos explained, "He was my watchman, Lochagos. Latro, Ill keep that for you, if you like. "
"No," Eutaktos told her, "Basias will keep it. Pausanias may return it to him. "
The street was hot after the shade of Kalleoss courtyard. I held my belongings at my shoulder with one hand and held Ios hand with the other; she held mine and did the same. Eutaktos marched in front of us, staring every man he saw out of countenance and spitting every time some new city stink offended his nostrils. The Milesian stumped sour-faced after us, muttering to himself.
Basias was on my right, and on my left and behind us tramped the rest of the shieldmen, all with long spears, red cloaks, and big hoplons painted with the wedge-shaped letter that the Crimson Men call the Stylus, which seems to me a most fit insignia for their Silent Country. They might have been the vanguard of an army of occupation, and the archers posted where the road left the city looked relieved when we marched past.
Among the Rope Makers each shieldman has several slaves to carry his belongings, pitch his tent, and prepare his food. These slaves had bought wine in the city, so we had a little to stir into our water (for the shieldmen had not yet eaten the first meal), as well as raw onions, boiled barley, salt olives, and cheese.
Io says I forget, and I know I do; but I remembered then how much wine there had been on Kalleoss table when we left, and her melons and figs.
Before we ate, Eutaktos sent slaves into Thought to recall the other enomotia of his lochos. When the meal was over (which it soon was) he ordered the rest to break camp. I asked Basias where we were going.
"Back to Redface Island," he told me, "if thats where the prince is. He wants to see you. "
I asked why, but he only shook his head.
Io said, "You dont remember, but we sailed around Redface Island with Hypereides. It looked wild - just a few little villages along the shore. "
Basias nodded. "Too many pirates. Tower Hill trades for us. "
The Milesian had come over to listen. He remarked, "And gets rich from it. "
"Thats their problem. " Basias turned and stalked away.
"Odd people, arent they?" the Milesian said. "I know you dont recognize me, Latro, but Im Eurykles the Necromancer. You held a light for me not long ago, when I performed one of my greatest wonders. "
Io said, "You came to Kalleoss and joined Hypereidess party. Rhoda told me. "
Eurykles nodded. "Thats right, and from it you must know Im a good friend of Kalleoss; and Kalleos is Latros rightful owner. "
"She is not!"
He looked at her askance. He is one of those people who can raise one eyebrow a great deal higher than the other.
"Latros a free man, and Im his slave. Kalleos said I was hers, but she didnt even have a bill for me. "
"Nor does Latro, I imagine. Not that it matters
now. Dont talk of buying and selling to these Rope Makers, by the way. Among every other people in the world, tradings honorable and stealing dishonorable; but among the Rope Makers its just the reverse. Stealings glorious if you dont get caught, but trading blackens a mans name as much as keeping a stall in the market. "
I said, "You dont like them. "
"Nobody does. Some people admire them, and some people nearly worship them; but nobody likes them, and from what Ive seen of them today, they dont even like each other. "
Io asked whether he had been to Redface Island.
He shook his head. "Theres no money past Tower Hill on the isthmus, not a scrap. Nothing but barley, blood, and beans. You saw how Eutaktos treated me when I came to him with valuable information, didnt you? Made me a prisoner! An officer from any decent city would have filled my mouth with silver. "
I said, "You came to tell the Rope Makers about me. "
"Yes, I did. It was quite clever of me, I think. You see, I had heard the Rope Makers were going through the city asking all sorts of foolish questions and paying no attention to the answers. Theyd ask someone where hed eaten dinner, and most would say in their own houses, and a few at some friends house, and one or two at an inn or a cookshop; but it didnt seem to matter, no matter what they said.
And after Id listened to half a dozen stories like that, it dawned on me that they were looking for a man who didnt know. That had to be you. "
Io asked, "Whats my master ever done to you, fellow?"
Eurykles grinned. "Why, nothing. But I didnt think they were going to harm him, and I still dont.
Judging from what Eutaktos says, Pausanias is just as apt to honor him. Besides, they would have found him sooner or later anyway - I was too late, actually - and I may still get something out of it. "
"I thought you didnt want to be their prisoner. "
"Yes, but its their ingratitude that rankles. Anytime I really want to leave, Ill just render my person invisible and stroll away. "
Then the last of the Rope Makers came out of the city and we left, each shieldman with his slaves marching behind him and carrying his hoplon, helmet, and spear, as well as the other things, and Io, Eurykles, and I behind Eutaktos as before. Now we are camped by a spring, and Io has reminded me that before I sleep I should write down what happened today. A woman with two torches and two hounds is beckoning from the crossroads, and when I have finished writing this I will go to see what it is she wants.
Chapter 22 The Woman at the Crossroads
The Dark Mother frightened me. She is gone, but I am still afraid. I would not have thought I could be frightened by a woman even if she held a knife to my throat; but the Dark Mother is no common woman.
When I left the fire and went to speak to her, she seemed nothing more, a woman such as anyone might see in any village. Her eyes were dark, her hair black and bound with a fillet. The top of her head came only to my shoulder. She held a torch in each hand, torches that smoked, sending up black columns to the night sky.
Her dogs were black too, and very large - I think of the kind kings use to hunt lions, though I cannot remember ever having seen such a hunt. Their muzzles came to her elbows, and sometimes their ears stood erect like the ears of wolves. Their spittle was white and shone, even when it had dropped from their flews to the ground.
"You do not know me," the Dark Mother said, "though you have seen me each night. "
When I heard her voice I knew she was a queen, and I bowed.
"These dogs of mine could tear you to bits, do you know that? Do you think you could resist them?"
"No, great mistress," I said. "Because they are yours. "
She laughed, and at the sound of her laughter, things stirred among the trees. "That is a good answer.
But do not call me mistress [The word Latro used was probably despoina (Gk. aÝoooieia). - G. W]; that word means an owner of the earth, and she is my enemy. I am Enodia, the Dark Mother. "
"Yes, Dark Mother. "
"Will you forget me, when you see me no longer?"
"I will strive not to forget, Dark Mother. "
She laughed again, and the stirring told me the things waiting among the trees were so near they could almost be seen.
"I am the woman of poisons, Latro. Of murder, ghosts, and the spells that bring death. I am the Queen of the Neurians; and I am three. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Dark Mother," I said. "No, Dark Mother. "
"Today you passed many farms. There you must have seen my image, cut in wood or stone - three women, standing back to back. "
"Yes, Dark Mother, I saw the image. I did not know what it meant. " My teeth warred in my mouth, the teeth above against the teeth below.
"You do not remember, yet you have looked often at the moon and seen me, as I have seen you.
Once when I heard a certain one called the God in the Tree, I came while you stood in water. I sought him but found he was not He whom I sought. Do you recall me as I was then?"
I could not speak; I shook my head.
As the darkness vanishes when the moon steps from behind a cloud, so she vanished. In her place stood the lovely virgin I had seen beside the lake after I had slept with Hilaeira.
"You remember now," the virgin said, and smiled. "Earths power is great, but I am here and she is not. " She held a bow, just as I remembered, and there were seven arrows in the cestus at her waist. The Dark Mothers hounds fawned on her.
"Yes," I said. "I remember. Oh, thank you!" and I knelt and would have kissed her feet but that the hounds bared their teeth at me.
"I am no friend of yours, save as you are the enemy of my enemy; and when I am gone, you will forget me once more. "
"Then never go!" I begged her. "Or take me with you. "
"I cannot stay, and you cannot go where I go. But I have come to tell you of the place to which you will go soon. It is my country - do you understand? Call me Huntress now, for that is what they call me there, and Auge. "