The Return of the Black Company

by Cook, Glen

  “That will go down great.”

  “Women and children and old people? That will work. I’ll bet you. Include the Taglians’ dependents. Hold up on the Jaicuri, though, or we’ll have the whole damned city lining up. We figure how many that all is, then draw lots for the rest of the positions.”

  It worked out that thirty Taglians, five Black Company guys and fifteen Nyueng Bao warriors could be sent with the first group. We would have fifty swords on the beach.

  Uncle Doj grumbled about the scheme because for one night he would not be able to keep his whole tribe together. “Clever, Soldier of Darkness.” We were back to that? “You hold us warriors hostage.”

  “You want to go, go. There are more of you than there are of us. Take the rafts.”

  He scowled, his hand called.

  “It’s one night, Unc. And fifteen warriors will go with them. They’ll be drawn by lot so one of them might even be you.”

  * * *

  One-Eye and Goblin did not want to leave. “I’m not going over tonight,” One-Eye told me.

  “Me too neither,” Goblin insisted.

  They had that weasel look they get when they are dealing off the bottom of the deck. “Why not?” They looked like they could use a straight man.

  “It ain’t safe out there,” One-Eye told me, after Goblin failed to convince me of his altruistic desire to protect the world by blunting Mogaba’s wickedness. “That bitch from Juniper. Lisa Daele Bowalk. She’s laying for us out there.”

  “Who?” I heard no bells ringing.

  “Lisa Bowalk. From Juniper. Nasty little bitch. Ran with Marron Shed. The corpse runner. Shifter took her as his apprentice after the Company went on the run. She was there when we skragged Shifter. The Old Man let her get away. Well, she’s out there, prowling, waiting for a chance to get even. She’s already tried a couple times.”

  “And you never bothered to tell me?” A healthy dose of skepticism is in order any time One-Eye waxes passionate on any subject.

  “Wasn’t no problem till now.”

  Why argue? The truth seemed evident. Those two had plunder stashed and did not want to leave it unguarded. Nor did either want the other left with it alone. I told them, “Take your chances with the rest of us.”

  * * *

  Bonharj and Uncle Doj, Goblin and One-Eye all glowered at me. I told them, “I shouldn’t have to take a turn.”

  One-Eye chuckled. “Maybe not. But you said we all had to take our chances.”

  I had not yet drawn. Trouble was, the outcome was not in doubt. There was only one stone left in the jar. Five black pebbles had been allocated to the Company and only four had been drawn.

  I would go to the mainland with the first wave.

  Why did my bitty buddies look so smug? “Pick your rock and pack your shit,” Goblin said. They would not have rigged the draw, would they? Nah. Not those two. Paragons of virtue, they were.

  “Anybody want to buy this?” I held up the expected black pebble.

  “Stuff it, Kid,” One-Eye said. “We’ll manage without you. Again. What could go wrong in one day, anyway?”

  “With you guys in charge?” It did not seem right, me going ashore before the last Black Company brother was out of the city.

  “Just get your stuff together and go,” Goblin snapped again. “It’ll be dark in an hour.”

  It was still drizzling. Darkness would come early, though not early enough to complete two crossings and get the rafts back unseen. Damn it.

  * * *

  Sahra was burdened down with odds and ends and six pounds of rice and beans. I carried a pack containing a Nyueng Bao tent, blankets, various clutter useful in the field, plus I had To Tan perched on my hip. That kid was the least troublesome baby I ever saw.

  Thai Dei had not drawn a black stone.

  I meant to enjoy his absence.

  We climbed out of the warren, descended steps, crossed to the wall, climbed up, walked the battlements, descended inside the middle tower. And that was about as much exercise as I wanted.

  On my raft we were all Nyueng Bao except me and Red Rudy. The Nyueng Bao were patient about waiting their turns. The guys in the tower, operating by feeble lamplight, were patient too. Morale was good.

  “Careful,” Clete said as I stepped aboard. I accepted children as he started handing them across. “I picked you a good one, boss, but it will lean over if you don’t keep the weight balanced. Ma’am.” He helped Sahra. She acknowledged his courtesy with a dazzling smile.

  “Thanks, Clete. See you tomorrow night.”

  “Right. Round up some cattle and dancing girls.”

  “I’ll check around.”

  “Kneel down. You got to keep the center of gravity low so the damned thing don’t tip.”

  I glanced around. We were ready to go.

  Six Nyueng Bao men were aboard. They would paddle over. Five would bring the raft back. Other than them, Rudy and I and one gimp Nyueng Bao about fifty were the only adult males aboard. There were fifteen or sixteen kids and half as many women. We were crowded but Nyueng Bao make a light load. I volunteered to help paddle but the men on the job lost their capacity to understand Taglian.

  Rudy said, “If they want to be dicks and bust their nuts, no sweat off our asses.”

  “You’re right. But keep it down. We’re doing a sneak here.”

  It turned out the Nyueng Bao were skilled boatmen. Which should have been no surprise considering their origins.

  They remained as quiet as falling feathers. And made rapid headway. The rafts immediately ahead had Taglian paddlers who not only made a lot of noise, they were slow. With just a whispered word my paddlers swung right and began passing.

  It was not much of a sneak, overall. Paddles splashed. People bumped, grunted, banged around and occasionally managed to collide with other rafts. But those were noises that came off the water every night and tonight the drizzle was deadening some of the racket. And, of course, we were headed straight away from the city. The light inside the opened tower served as a navigational beacon.

  My paddle men maybe did not keep the best watch on the light. We drifted way off line and lost it altogether.

  Somebody hissed.

  Paddles stopped dipping. Even the murmur of the little ones stilled as mothers placed hands over their mouths or pulled lips to teats.

  I heard nothing.

  We waited.

  Sahra rested her hand lightly upon my arm, sharing reassurance.

  Then I heard the clumsy paddling. Somebody was farther off course than we were … Only this raft was headed the other way.

  It was too early for that.

  The sounds grew louder.

  The other raft came abreast, so close that it seemed they had to see us despite the darkness and rain.

  A voice said something softly, just a few words edged with anger. In the language of Gea-Xle. I had picked up maybe twenty words, none of which I recognized now.

  I did not need to know words. I knew the voice.

  That was Mogaba.

  He had not been spotted leaving during the day. From the north and west barbicans it was possible to watch most of the lake surface.

  Which meant that he had been away at least since the previous night. Which, in turn, would explain why there had been no response to our capture of the barbicans.

  What business could Mogaba possibly have over there?

  The Nar paddled on into darkness. We resumed our journey. I remained lost in thought till the raft ran aground and tossed me forward.

  Sahra and I took up To Tan and our burdens and marched ashore. The little guy was sleeping like his aunt’s arms were a palace bed.

  In moments I discovered that my companions, although utterly ignorant of the Taglian language, expected me to be in charge on this side, too. Uncle Doj’s idea, no doubt, and in effect only till he arrived.

  “Rudy. Take charge of getting camp set.” We had swung back into the general course of the fleet and had made
landfall where others joined us in savoring the miracle of life outside Dejagore’s walls.

  Hanging around in a rainstorm in the middle of the night did not seem much of an improvement to me.

  “Let’s go, people. We can’t just stand here. Start putting up those shelters.” We had the tents the Nyueng Bao had carried on pilgrimage. We had blankets, wrapped inside those same tents so they would stay dry. “Somebody collect some brush and get some fires going.” Maybe easier said than done in this weather. “Bubba-do. Take some men and set a perimeter. You. Joro? That your name, sergeant?” I was talking to one of the Taglian soldiers. “Get patrols out. Come on! Come on! We don’t know that there aren’t people over here who want to kill us.” But it gets hard to care when you are cold and wet and tired.

  I was tired to the point of collapse but I made myself an example. Sahra followed and helped. While I barked at people we took turns caring for the baby. I had visions of some major historical asskicker like Khrombak the Terrible ordering his hordes about while he had a smelly baby tucked into the crook of his arm.

  To Tan was a good kid but he always needed changing.

  Soon everyone was bustling industriously. Shelters went up. Brush got cut. Small fires took life and spawned others until there were enough to heat water to cook rice. The water we gathered using some tents to collect rain into the pots. It was going to be difficult for any of us to get wetter than we were already.

  We even sent several small loads of brush over to the city on returning rafts. Our friends might get to do a little cooking, too.

  79

  We had known so much misery for so long that night became just another sad chore. And in time there was poor shelter, bad food, and feeble warmth for all. But by then it was getting light and the rain was just an occasional sprinkle. Sahra and To Tan and I crept into our tent and bundled up. For a while I was almost happy.

  That To Tan was remarkable. He was almost as quiet as Sahra most of the time, though he could get a good fuss going when he wanted. He was content to sleep right then. For the first time in a week his tummy was full.

  Mine, too.

  I got four hours of perfectly wonderful sleep before disaster interrupted.

  First it took the shape of Ky Gota. I had not seen Sahra’s mother since Uncle Doj cajoled her out of my quarters. I had not missed her, either.

  Because I was asleep I did not witness the part where she ripped open the end of the tent. When I awoke she was spitting and howling in a mix of Nyueng Bao and really bad Taglian. Sahra was sitting up already, her mouth open and tears starting.

  To Tan began to cry.

  Ky Gota was not immune to baby tears. The soul of a granny did lurk behind all the ill temper. Way behind. She said something to the toddler. Gently!

  Rudy hurried up. “You want I should throw this one back in the lake, Murgen?”

  “What?”

  “She crawled out of the water a while ago. Claimed somebody tried to murder her. Supposedly pushed her off the raft she was riding. Looks to me like maybe she asked for it.”

  “She probably did.” Sahra looked at me in surprise. Despite her tears. “But I got to be nice. She’s almost family.”

  “Man,” Rudy said. He walked off shaking his head.

  Sahra began gesturing exasperatedly at her mother. To Tan stared at his granny, sucked his thumb. I caught a whiff. “Go to Nana,” I whispered. “Show her how good you can walk.” He did not understand me but she did and held her arms out.

  Near as I could tell To Tan was the only person in the world who cared for Ky Gota. He toddled and his granny forgot all about being wet and cold and cranky.

  Sahra looked at me hard. I shrugged, grinned, mouthed, “He needs changing again.”

  * * *

  Rudy found me staring at the city. Fresh smoke hung over our part of town. “Bubba-do just ambushed a patrol, Murgen.”

  “Shit. When they don’t report…”

  “He said they knew we were here. They were sneaking up. That Swan character is with them.”

  “One-Eye was right, then. Anybody get hurt?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Good. Good. Did they get a look at the camp?” The Nyueng Bao had done a good job of camouflage, considering. You could tell where the camp was but not its extent.

  “I think they just saw the smoke. They were real surprised to get jumped according to Bubba-do.”

  “They see him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Unfortunate. Maybe they didn’t recognize him.” I shrugged. “Some things can’t be helped. I’ll deal with them. Hang on.” I stomped over to Sahra and her mother. “Hush!” I snapped when the old woman opened her mouth to start. “We have trouble. Who can speak for the Nyueng Bao?” I did not know who else to ask. These strange people did what I said when I told them, if that improved our situation, but they did not talk.

  The old woman put the baby down and rose. She squinted. Her eyesight was not good. “Tam Dak!” she barked.

  A frail ancient turned. Despite his age he was carrying a huge bundle of brushwood. Ky Gota beckoned imperiously. The oldster headed our way at a high-speed shuffle.

  I went to meet him. “Greetings, father. I am the one who dealt with the Speaker.” I spoke both loudly and slowly.

  “I’m not deaf yet, boy,” he replied in Taglian better than mine. “And I know who you are.”

  “Good. Then I’ll get to the point. The soldiers over here have found us. We don’t know what their attitude toward your people might be. If they’re in a bad temper I can’t help much. Your warriors have scouted. Can you disappear?”

  He looked at me for a dozen seconds. I looked back. Sahra came to stand beside me. Behind us, To Tan giggled as he played with his grandmother. The old man shifted his look to Sahra. For a moment he seemed to be staring into yesterday. He shivered. His expression grew more inscrutable. “We can.”

  “Good. Do it while I’m with them.” I jerked a thumb up hill. “I’ll get word to Doj. He’ll find you.”

  Tam Dak continued to stare cooly. Not inimically at all, just without comprehension. I was not behaving like a proper foreigner.

  “Good luck.” I returned to Rudy. “Here’s the deal. The Nyueng Bao need to take a powder. I’ll go with Swan. I’ll stall around when I get to his camp. You see that the Nyueng Bao get moved out, then make this mess look like we were setting up for the guys coming over tonight.”

  The old man overheard every word.

  I continued, “As far as anybody around here goes, these people never existed.”

  “But…”

  “Do it. And let them have most of the food. We can sponge off Lady’s gang.” I hoped.

  Rudy looked at Sahra. Everybody seemed to think that she was the key. He shrugged. “You’re the boss. I guess I don’t need to understand. How are you going to explain her?”

  “I don’t have to.” I headed toward where Swan’s patrol was surrounded.

  Sahra came right along after pausing to grab up To Tan.

  “Stay here,” I told her. She looked at me blankly, smitten by sudden deafness. I took a few steps. She matched them. “You need to stay with your own people.”

  A little smile teased her lips. She shook her head.

  Hong Tray was not the only witch in this family.

  “Ky Gota…”

  Boom!

  “You! Soldier of Darkness! You her ruin, now is not good enough for you? Cruel witch was my mother but…” She became incomprehensible but not the least bit quiet. I checked Tam Dak. He remained inscrutable but I would have bet my shot at heaven he wanted to laugh.

  “Fuck this. Rudy! Find out what belongs to Sahra and see that it stays in our tent. Come on, woman.”

  80

  “Holy shit,” Swan murmured when I stepped out where he could see me. “No wonder you went back.”

  “Hands off, pretty boy. Ay, Nyueng Bao! If you are out there go see Tam Dak. It’s important. Taglians. See Rudy from the Company
.” I turned back to Swan. “There. We’re down to a few snipers. Just in case.”

  He stopped staring at Sahra. “Sorry. You really stumbled into the sweet shit, didn’t you?” He did have the courtesy to make his remarks in Forsberger.

  “Yeah. I did. What’s going on? I wake up the other day, after my wizards did an experiment on me, and I find out that somebody has been inside my head, messing with my memories. I find out I’m back over there in hell’s kitchen hunting rats and fighting cannibals when all the time my so-called friends are sitting around out here not even letting me know the Shadowmaster is dead.”

  Swan gave me a dumb look. “But … You knew that, Murgen. You was over here when we killed the bastard. You was here for a week after that.”

  “Killed him?”

  It began to dawn. “You didn’t insist on going back? She said you.…”

  “No. I didn’t. When I found myself headed that way I thought I was escaping from Shadowspinner. I really believed that I hadn’t gotten to you people. I think.” It got more confused as I tried to figure it out.

  Somebody called out something in Nyueng Bao. My troops had not followed orders. Someone else, in Taglian, called, “Can you come up here please, Mr. Murgen?”

  I told Swan, “I don’t know what’s up. You better stand fast. These guys are real touchy.”

  “I got nothing else to do with my life.”

  “I mean it. They’re paranoid in a big way. If you had spent the last several months in there you’d understand.” I clambered up a steep slope to where one Taglian knelt in some scraggly brush with a Nyueng Bao about fifteen years old.

  The boy pointed, eager to be the first to deliver bad news.

  Fresh smoke rose from Dejagore. From, near as I could tell, the north barbican. It looked like there was fighting there.

  A mauve flash told me One-Eye or Goblin was involved.

  Mogaba must be trying to recover the barbican.

  I spied flickers around the west gate, too.

  “Damned Mogaba. Thanks, guys. Nothing we can do about it, though.” I hoped One-Eye and Goblin carved Mogaba a new poop chute. “Get on back to camp, will you? There’s stuff that’s got to get done.”