'Has it any practical value?' he asked.
'In the world from which I come airlines have been established that transport passengers, mail, and express between all the large cities and to every portion of the world; civilized governments maintain great fleets of planes for military purposes.'
'But how could an anotar be used for military purposes?' he asked.
'For reconnaissance, for one thing,' I told him. 'I flew Taman over the enemy camp and along its line of communication. They can be used for destroying supply bases, for disabling batteries, even for direct attack upon enemy troops.'
'How could your ship be used against the Zanis?' he asked.
'By bombing their lines, their camp, and their supply depots and trains we might lower their morale. Of course with but a single ship we could not accomplish much.'
'I am not so sure of that,' said Taman . 'The psychological effect of this new engine of destruction might be far more effective than you imagine.'
'I agree with Taman ,' said Muso.
'I shall be glad to serve the jong of Korva in any way,' I said.
'Will you accept a commission under me?' he asked. 'It will mean that you must swear allegiance to the jong of Korva.'
'Why not?' I asked. 'I have no country on Amtor, and the ruler and people of Sanara have accorded us courtesy and hospitality,' and so I took the oath of allegiance to Korva and was commissioned a captain in the army of the jong. Now, at last, I had a country; but I also had a boss. That part of it I didn't like so well, for, if I am nothing else, I am a rugged individualist.
Chapter 6—A Spy
The next few weeks were filled with interest and excitement. The Sanarans manufactured both r-ray and t- ray bombs as well as incendiary bombs, and I made almost daily flights over the enemy lines and camp. In the latter and along their line of communication I wrought the most havoc, but a single ship could not win a war. On several occasions I so demoralized their front line that successful sorties were made by the Sanarans during which prisoners were taken. From these we learned the repeated bombings had had their effect on the morale of the enemy and that an enormous reward had been offered by the Zani chief, Mephis, for the destruction of the ship or for my capture dead or alive.
During these weeks we remained the guests of Taman and Jahara, and were entertained frequently by Muso, the acting jong, and his wife, Illana. The latter was a quiet, self-effacing woman of high lineage but of no great beauty. Muso usually ignored her; and when he didn't, his manner toward her was often brusque and almost offensive; but she was uniformly sweet and unresentful. He was far more attentive to Duare than he was to his own wife, but that is often times a natural reaction of a host in his endeavor to please a guest. While we did not admire it, we could understand it.
The siege of Sanara was almost a stalemate. The city had enormous reserve supplies of synthetic foods; and its water supply was assured by artesian wells, nor was there any dearth of ammunition. The besiegers could not get into the city, and the besieged could not get out. So matters stood one day a month after my arrival in Sanara when Muso sent for me. He was pacing back and forth the width of a small audience chamber when I was ushered into his presence. He appeared nervous and ill at ease. I supposed at the time that he was worried over the seeming hopelessness of raising the siege, for it was of that he spoke first. Later he came to the point.
'I have a commission for you, Captain,' he said. 'I want to get a message through to one of my secret agents in Amlot. With your ship you can easily cross the enemy lines and reach the vicinity of Amlot without the slightest danger of being captured. I can direct you to a spot where you can make contact with persons who can get you into the city. After that it will be up to you. This must be a secret expedition on your part—no one but you and I must know of it, not even Taman , not even your wife. You will leave the first thing in the morning ostensibly on a bombing expedition, and you will not come back—at least not until you have fulfilled your mission. After that there wig be no need for secrecy. If you succeed, I shall create you a noble—specifically an ongvoo—and when the war is over and peace restored I shall see that you receive lands and a palace.'
Now, the title ongvoo means, literally, exalted one and is hereditary in the collateral branches of the royal family, though occasionally conferred on members of the nobility for highly meritorious service to the jong. It seemed to me at the time that the service I was commissioned to perform did not merit any such reward, but I gave the matter little thought. It would have been better had I done so.
Muso stepped to a desk and took two thin leather containers, like envelopes, from a drawer. 'These contain the messages you are to deliver,' he said. ' Taman tells me that as you are from another world you probably do not read Amtorian; so you will write in your own language on the outside of each the names and location of those to whom you are to deliver these.' He handed me a pen and one of the containers. this one you will deliver to Lodas at his farm five klookob northwest of Amlot. I shall give you a map with the location marked on it. Lodas will see that you get into Amlot. There you will deliver this other message to a man named Spehon from whom you will receive further instructions.'
From another drawer in the desk he took a map and spread it on the table. 'Here,' he said, making a mark on the map a little northwest of Amlot, 'is a flat-topped hill that you win easily be able to locate from the air. It rises between two streams that join one another just southeast of it. In the fork of these two streams lies the farm of Lodas. You win not divulge to Lodas the purpose of your mission or the name of the man you are to meet in Amlot.'
'But how am I to find Spehon?' I asked.
'I am coming to that. He is posing as a Zani, and stands high in the councils of Mephis. His office is in the palace formerly occupied by my uncle, Kord, the jong of Korva. You will have no difficulty in locating him. Now, of course you can't be safe in Amlot with that yellow hair of yours. It would arouse immediate suspicion. With black hair you will be safe enough if you do not talk too much, for, while they will know that you are not a member of the Zani party, that will arouse no suspicion as not all of the citizens of Amlot are members of the party, even though they may be loyal to Mephis.'
'How will they know that I'm not a member of the party?' I asked.
'Zanis distinguish themselves by a peculiar form of haircut,' he explained. 'They shave their heads except for a ridge of hair about two inches wide that runs from the forehead to the nape of the neek. I think you understand your instructions, do you not?'
I told him that I did.
'Then here are the envelopes and the map; and here, also, is a bottle of dye to color your hair after you leave Sanara.'
'You have thought of everything,' I said.
'I usually do,' he remarked with a smile. 'Now is there anything you'd like to ask before you leave?'
'Yes,' I said. 'I should like to ask your permission to tell my wife that I shall be away for some time. I do not wish to cause her unnecessary worry.'
He shook his head. 'That is impossible,' he said. 'No one must know. There are spies everywhere. If I find that she is unduly alarmed, I promise you that I shall reassure her. You will leave early tomorrow morning. I wish you luck.'
That seemed to close the audience; so I saluted and turned to leave. Before I reached the door he spoke again. 'You are sure you cannot read Amtorian?' he asked.
I thought the question a little strange and his tone a little too eager. Perhaps it was this, I don't know what else it could have been, that impelled me to reply as I did.
'If that is necessary,' I said, 'perhaps you had better send some one else. I could fly him to Lodas's farm and bring him back when his mission is completed.'
'Oh, no,' he hastened to assure me. 'It will not be necessary for you to read Amtorian.' Then he dismissed me. Of course, having studied under Danus in the palace of the jong of Vepaja, I could read Amtorian quite as well as Muso himself.
