The Players
Page 3
good, sir. We will hold them for your disposal. You may claim themat any time after mid-day." The man wrote rapidly on his tablet.
Musa thanked him, then turned to see how his shipboard acquaintance wasprogressing. He had questions to ask about gold and silver coins.
He watched the older merchant complete his conversation with anofficial, and, as he started to leave the wharf, quickly caught up withhim. At Musa's approach, the other held up a hand.
"I know," he said. "Why did I tell you to make a generous offering, thenput a smaller coin in the bowl myself? That is what you want to know?"
"Precisely," Musa replied. "I'm not a poor man, but I'm not a wealthyholiday seeker, either. This voyage has to pay."
The other smiled. "Exactly why I advised you as I did. Come into thiswineshop, and I'll tell you the story."
* * * * *
Over the drinks, the older man explained himself. An experienced trader,he had been operating between the mainland and Norlar for many years. Ithad been a profitable business, for the island had been dependent uponthe mainland for many staple items, and had in return furnished manyitems of exquisite craftsmanship, as well as the produce of itsextensive fisheries and pearl beds.
Then, the prophet, Sira Nal, had come with his preachings of a great seagod, Kondaro, ruler of the Eastern Sea. Tonda told of the unbelief thathad confronted the prophet, and of the positive proof that Sira Nal hadoffered, when he had gathered a group of converts, collected enoughmoney to purchase a ship, and made a highly successful voyage to thedistant lands to the east. Upon his return, Sira Nal had found a readymarket for the strange and wonderful products he had brought. He alsohad found many more converts for his new religion.
His original group, now a priesthood, were the only men who could giveprotection and guidance to a ship in a voyage past the sea demons whofrequented the Eastern Sea, and they demanded large offerings tocompensate for their services. Of course, a few adventurous shipownershad attempted to duplicate Sira Nal's feat without the aid of a priest,but no living man had seen their ships or crews again.
The profits from the rich, new trade, plus the alms of the tradersvisiting Tanagor, had rapidly filled the coffers of Kondaro. A greattemple had been built, and the priests had become more and morepowerful, until now, not too many years after the first voyage of SiraNal, they virtually ruled the island.
For some years, Tonda, a conservative man and a firm believer in his ownancestral gods, had paid little attention to this strange, new religion.Upon arrival at Tanagor, to be sure, he had sometimes placed smallofferings in the votive bowl, but more often, he had merely strode pastthe Slave of Kondaro, and gone upon his affairs.
At last, however, attracted by the great profits in the new, overseatrade, he had decided to arrange for a voyage in one of the great ships.Then, the efficiency of the priestly bookkeeping methods had becomeapparent. The Great God had become incensed at Tonda's impiety duringhis many previous trips across the channel, and a curse had been placedupon him and upon his goods. Of course, if Tonda wished to do penance,and to make votive offerings, amounting to about two thousand caldor, itmight be that the Great God would relent and allow his passage, but onlywith new goods. His former possessions had been destroyed by the angryKondaro in his wrath at Tonda's attempts to place them in one of thesacred ships. Empty-handed, Tonda had returned to the mainland.
"But why did you return with more goods?" inquired Musa.
Tonda smiled. "The wrath of Kondaro extends only to the Great Sea. And,even though I cannot go farther east, trade here in Tanagor is quiteprofitable." He paused, smiling, as he sipped his drink.
"I think the priests like having a few penitents around to explainthings to newcomers, and to furnish examples of the power of Kondaro."
Musa smiled in response. "But my ten caldor make me and my goodsacceptable?"
Tonda looked around quickly, then turned a horrified face toward hisprotege.
"Never say such things," he cautioned in a low tone of voice. "Don'teven think them. Your piety makes you acceptable, so long as youcontinue in a way pleasing to the great Kondaro. The money meansnothing. It is only the spirit of sacrifice that counts."
"I see." Musa's face was solemn. "And how else may I be sure I willremain acceptable?"
Tonda nodded approvingly. "I thought you were a man of good sense andprudence." He launched into a description of the technicalities of theworship of Kondaro, the god of the Eastern Sea.
At length, Musa left his tutor, and repaired to an inn, where he securedlodging for the night.
* * * * *
The following morning, in obedience to the advice given him by Tonda,Musa took his way toward the Temple of the Sea. As he threaded throughthe crowds already gathering in the streets, he took note of the typesof merchandise displayed in the booths, and hawked by the streetpeddlers. Suddenly, one of these roving sellers approached him. In hishands he held a number of ornaments.
"Good day to you, oh Traveler," he cried. "Surely, it is a fortunatemorning for both of us." With a deft gesture, he threw one of thetrinkets, a cunningly contrived amulet, about Musa's neck.
Musa would have brushed the man aside, but the chain of the amulet hadtangled about his neck and he was forced to pause while removing it.
"I told myself when I saw you," the man continued, "ah, Banasel, here isone who should be favored by the gods. Now, how can such a one ventureupon the Eastern Sea without a sacred amulet?"
Musa had slipped the chain over his head. He paused, holding theornament in his hand. "How, then, are you to know where I am going?"
"Oh, Illustrious Traveler," exclaimed the man, "how can I fail to knowthese things when it is given to me to vend these amulets of greatfortune?"
In spite of himself, Musa was curious. He looked at the amulet. Therewas no question as to the superb workmanship, and his trading instinctstook over.
"Why, this is a fair piece of work," he said. "Possibly I could spare acaldor or so."
The man before him struck his forehead.
"A caldor, he says! Why, the gold alone is worth ten."
Musa looked more closely at the ornament. The man was probably notexaggerating too much. Actually, he knew he could get an easytwenty-five balata for the bauble in Karth. A rapid calculation told himthat here was a possible profit from the skies.
"Why, possibly it is worth five, at that," he said. "Look, I'll begenerous. Shall we say six?"
"Oh, prince of givers! Thou paragon of generosity! After all, I, too,must live." The man smiled wryly. "However, you are a fine, upstandingyoung man, and one must make allowance. I had thought to ask twenty, butwe'll make it ten. Just the price of the gold."
Musa smiled inwardly. The profit was secured, but maybe--
"Let's make it eight, and I'll give you my blessing with the money."
The man held out his hand. "Nine."
Musa shrugged. "Very well, most expert of vendors." He reached into hispurse.
* * * * *
Banasel hesitated before accepting the money. He looked Musa overcarefully, then nodded as if satisfied.
"Yes," he said softly, "I was right." He paused, then addressed himselfdirectly to Musa.
"We must be very careful to whom we sell these enchanted amulets," heexplained, "for they are talismans of the greatest of powers. The wearerof one of these need never fear the unjust wrath of man, beast, ordemon, for he has powerful protectors at his call. Only wear this charm.Never let it out of your possession, and you will have nothing to fearduring your voyage. Truly, you will be most favored."
He looked sharply at Musa again, took the money, glanced at it, anddropped it into a pouch.
"Do you really believe in the powers of your ornaments, then?" Musaasked skeptically.
Banasel's eyes widened, and he spread his arms. "To be sure," he said ina devout tone. "How can I believe else, when I have seen theirmiraculous workings so often?" He h
eld up a hand. "Why, I could spendhours telling you of the powers these little ornaments possess, and ofthe miracles they have been responsible for. None have ever come to harmwhile wearing one of these enchanted talismans. None!" He spread hisarms again.
Musa looked at him curiously. "I should like to hear your stories someday," he said politely.
He felt uncomfortable, as many people do when confronted by a confessedfanatic. His feelings were divided between surprise, a mild contempt,and an unease, born of wonder and uncertainty.
Obviously, the man was not especially favored. He was dressed like anystreet peddler. He had the slightly furtive, slightly brazen air ofthose who must avoid the anger, and sometimes the notice, of morepowerful people,