beginning a long ride to the southern border of Estar.'Drake!' shouted a voice from the bank.
It was Yot. Drake nocked an arrow. Drew. Shot. The bowstring stung his thumb as he loosed the shaft. Which took Yot's horse in the flank. The beast reared, and Yot was thrown.
'Demon-son!' screamed Yot, from the ground. 'Kill him! He's the evil one!'
'Man,' muttered Drake, 'your mouth's a nice big target.'
He aimed for it. And loosed another shaft. But Drake's skill with the bow was minimal – and, besides, he was trembling with adrenalin. His shot went wide.'Shoot at the mounts,' said Blackwood.'That's cruel,' said Zanya.
'Dead horses demand no vengeance,' said Blackwood. 'But dead friends do.' Soon, two horses and a camel were on the ground, kicking, screaming. As the way became marshy, the last riders fell behind the boat. The dog- carts and the chariot had been left behind long ago, wheels smashed by their manic race along the rutted road.'We're clear,' said Miphon. 'Who here's a sailor?'
Drake, finding he was the only sailor amongst them, took charge, and began Investigating the boat, making sure it was ready for the open sea.
'Man,' said Drake to Miphon. 'I don't like this running business. It makes no sense, not when we've got the death-stone. That's fearsome magic'
'But clumsy,' said Miphon. 'For it destroys everything for two leagues in every direction.''Yet the person who wields the death survives.'
'Yes, since all within an arm's reach of the death-stone are safe. But all else becomes rock. If we'd used it against our pursuers just then, our boat would have turned to stone. And Lorford also, for we were less than two leagues from the town.''Oh,' said Drake.He was still not convinced.
'What's more,' said Miphon. 'Once the death-stone's been used, it won't work again for some days. Many know that. So if we used the death-stone, any survivors would hunt us without fear.'
'How many days,' said Drake, 'before the death-stone can be used again?''You ask too many questions!' said Miphon.'Then answer me just this one. Where goes Hearst?'
'Why, to rally the southern garrisons, which guard the borders against the Swarms. They're mostly Rovac troops, all loyal.'
'Man,' said Drake, 'if I'd held Lorford there'd have been no shortage of loyal troops on hand.'
'Yes, maybe,' said Miphon. 'But Hearst was always more of a soldier than a politician. No matter. His troops will bring the mob to order soon enough.''And hang young Sully Yot!''Very likely,' said Miphon.
Who, though he did not like Yot, did not really approve of Drake's enthusiasm.
Thus it was that the death-stone, the magic red bottle and the ring which commanded that bottle went west down the Hollern River and out to sea, on a boat commanded by Drake Douay. Meanwhile, Morgan Hearst rode south.
And Sully Yot made plans of his own.
63
During the voyage to Carawell, the largest of the Lesser Teeth, Drake refused all invitations to enter the red bottle.
'Come inside and get some proper rest,' said Miphon. 'You're our one true sailor. In an emergency, we'll want you fresh and rested.'
'I'll manage,' said Drake, who was steering at the time, one arm resting negligently on the tiller.'It's very comfortable inside,' said Miphon.
'I've seen inside once,' said Drake. 'That once is enough.''What did you see?' asked Miphon.
While he thought about it, Drake gazed at the set of the sails, then looked to east. The coast of Argan was dangerously close. To east lay Lorp – which, since the tales Jon Arabin had told of the place, was Drake's least- favoured holiday destination.'Did you get a chance to see anything?' said Miphon.
'Oh yes,' said Drake. 'Someone's backside, an elbow and the arse of a horse. Man, it was cramped! No wonder, with so many people in such a small bottle.'
The boat lurched. And Drake thought:
'We were but in the neck of the bottle,' said Miphon. 'Stairs lead down from the neck to places where the bottle widens within to dimensions amazing. Come – why hesitate? This is one of the wonders of the world.'
'A bloody dangerous wonder, I'll warrant,' said Drake. 'Man, I know a bit about these magic bottles. It's a ring which commands them, isn't it? And we've but one ring between us. So those in the bottle are at the mercy of the ringbearer.''You're short on trust,' said Miphon.
Drake ducked as something came screaming out of the sky. It was a blue-feathered mocking gull.
'Scouse!' said Drake, naming one of the soldiers. 'Shoot that gull!'
Scouse loaded his crossbow. As the mocking gull came in for a second run, Scouse fired. Hit, the gull tumbled to the slick green seas. It floated, lifeless.'The gull meant no harm,' said Miphon, quietly.
'Maybe not,' said Drake. 'But it irritated the hell out of me.'
He watched the gull. One moment it was there – and the next, gone, swallowed by lunging turbulence. Drake glimpsed a fin. Sleek slice of evil.'There's a shark in the water,' he said.
'Don't worry,' said Miphon. 'I'm planning no swims today. We were talking of the bottle. And about the ring- bearer. You don't seem to be very trusting.'
'Man,' said Drake, 'it's not a matter of trust, but of practicality. What if the ring-bearer should fall overboard? What help then for those trapped in the bottle? Why, none.''Life is risk,' said Miphon.
'So it is,' said Drake, 'yet I'll not increase risk without, reason. I'll chance this bottle only if I can wear your magic on my own finger.'
But Miphon and Blackwood, who shared the ring between them, were too wise to subject Drake to such temptation. So, unable to get his hands on the ring (though, naturally enough, he made schemes to do so) he stayed outside, on the boat.
And, soon enough, brought them safe to harbour at Brennan. Before anyone went to shore, Drake had all gathered together on the boat, where he addressed them:
'Boys, girls and turtle-folk,' said Drake, 'it's best for you to be warned about these here Lessers. The people are nice enough, but they're like anyone – given too much temptation they'll grab at it.
'So let's be humble, like. We've a cargo of Lorp-liquor aboard, hence our story. We were smuggling to Estar when we were caught, aye. So the evil wizard Miphon put a hex on us, and if we step back on Argan within the year, we'll all turn to toads and scorpions. Everyone understand?'
'Who am I then?' said Miphon. 'Since the evil wizard Miphon is still back in Estar?'
'You?' said Drake, scratching his head. 'Man, you can be Plovey of the Regency of Selzirk, reduced to liquor- smuggling because the Swarms are eating the Harvest Plains. As for you soldier-folk, why, you're all deserters for the duration. Understand? Now, Lord Blackwood, you-'
'No,' said Blackwood. 'I don't like this idea of living a lie.'
'Man,' said Drake, 'you've got a near-lethal case of morality, then. Well, you say nothing, and we'll tell all the lies on your account. You can be a deaf-mute, aye, that'll keep you out of mischief.''And me?' said Zanya.
'You will be Zanya, my lawful wedded wife,' said Drake. 'And I will be Lord Dreldragon, son of Baron Farouk of Hexagon.'
'That's a flimsy story on which to be risking our lives,' said Miphon.
'Man,' said Drake, 'wait till we get ashore. Then you'll find out how flimsy it is.'
Sure enough, plenty of islanders remembered Drake from his last visit. They apologized for kidnapping the bold Baron Farouk; they asked after the fate of Hexagon, and commiserated with Drake when he explained it had been taken over by runaway gladiators from Chi'ash-lan; they admired the beauty of his wife.
Zanya's beauty was marred, now, by half a dozen frank blue spots on her face. But the islanders knew
