If his talus caught you and dragged you into the tunnels, it's not likely that anybody else knows the Ayuntamiento has you. Not even the talus, since you say you killed it.'
'Only Mamelta, the woman who was captured with me.'
''What's more,' Crane said, 'killing you would have made Blood much less secure. Killing you would make Lemur and the rest more secure. In fact, I'm surprised they haven't done it already. Who's Mamelta, by the way? One of those holy women?'
'One of the people whom Pas put into the whorl when he had finished it. Did you know that some of them are still alive, though sleeping?'
Crane shook his head. 'Did he tell you that? Pas?'
'No, she did. I had been captured by soldiers-I left the azoth behind when that happened, because I knew I'd be searched. A drift of ashes almost filled that tunnel, and I left it buried in them when the soldiers pulled me out.'
Crane grinned. 'Shrewd enough.'
'It wasn't. Not really. I was going to say that one of the soldiers showed me the sleeping people and told me they had been there since the time of the first settlers. Mucor woke one, Mamelta, and I exorcised Mucor, as I told you.'
'Yes.'
'Mamelta and I got away from the soldiers-Hammerstone will be punished for that, I'm afraid-but we were arrested again when we went back for the azoth. They locked me up in a place worse than this one, and after a while they brought me my robe. Mamelta had been wearing it, so they must have given her proper clothing; at least, I hope they did.' Silk paused, gnawing his lower lip. 'I could have resisted the soldiers with the azoth, I suppose; it's quite possible that I would have killed them both. But I couldn't bring myself to do it.'
'Very creditable. But by the time you were rearrested Potto was there?'
'Yes.'
'And he soon realized who you were.'
'I told him,' Silk admitted. 'That is to say, he asked my name, and I gave it. I would do it again. I'm a loyal citizen, as I assured him repeatedly.'
'I wonder if it's possible to be toyal while dead. But that's your bailiwick. The thing that interests me is that you escaped the first time, with this woman. Mind telling me how you reconciled that with your loyalty?'
'I had an urgent matter to attend to,' Silk said. 'I won't go into detail now, but I did; and because I had done nothing wrong, I was morally justified in leaving when the opportunity presented itself.'
'But now you have? Are you a criminal deserving of death?'
'No. My conscience isn't entirely clear, but the worst thing on it is that I've failed the Outsider. If I could get away again in some fashion-though that appears impossible now-it's conceivable that I might succeed after all.'
'Then you'd be willing to escape if we could?'
'From an iron room with a locked door?' Silk ran his fingers through his untidy thatch of yellow hair. 'How do you propose to do it, Doctor?'
'We may not be here forever. Would you be willing?' 'Yes. Certainly.'
'Then recharge your wrapping. We may have to run, and I hope we will. Go ahead, kick it or wallop the floor with it.'
Silk did as he had been told, flailing the steel plates. 'If there's even the slightest chance to fulfill my pledge to the Outsider, I must take it; and I will. He'll surely bless you, as I do, for your magnanimity.'
'I won't bank on it.' Crane smiled, and for a moment actually appeared cheerful. 'You had a cerebral accident, that's all. Most likely a tiny vein burst as a result of your exertions during the game. When that happens in the right spot, delusions like yours aren't at all uncommon. Wernicke's area, it's called.' He touched his own head to indicate the place.
Chapter 12. LEMUR
Silk knelt in silent prayer, his face to the gray-painted wall of the compartment.
Marvelous Moipe, be not angry with me, who have always honored you. Music is yours. Am I never to hear it again? Recall my music box, Moipe, how many hours I spent with it when I was a child. It is in my closet now, Moipe, and if only you will free me I will oil the dancers and its works as well, and play it each night. I have searched my conscience, Moipe, to discover that in which I have displeased you. I find this: that I dealt overharshly with Mucor when she possessed Mamelta. Those whose wits are disordered and those who, though grown, remain as children are, are yours, I know, Moipe, and for your sake 1 should have been more gentle with her. Nor should I have called her a devil, for she is none. I renounce my pride, and I will separate Mucor from Blood if I can, and treat her as I would my own child. This I swear. A singing bird to you, Moipe, if you will but-
Crane asked, 'You don't think that stuff really helps, do you?'
A singing bird to you, Moipe, if you will but set us free.
Tenebrous Tartaros, be not angry with me, who have always honored you. Theft is yours, murder, and foul deeds done in darkness. Am I never again to walk freely the dark streets of my native city? Recall how I walked there with Auk, like me a thief. When I surmounted Blood's wall, you favored me, and I gladly paid the black lamb and the cock I swore. Recall that it was I who brought the Pardon of Pas to Kalan, and allow me to steal away now, Tartaros, and Doctor Crane with me. I will never forget, Tartaros, that thieves are yours and I am one. I have searched my conscience, Tartaros, to discover that in which I have displeased you. I find this: that I detested your darksome tunnels with all my heart, never thinking in my pride that you had sent me there, nor that they were a most proper place for such as I. I renounce my pride; if ever you send me there again, I will strive to be grateful, recalling your favors. This I swear. A score of black rats to you, Tartaros, if you will but set us free.
Highest Hierax, be not angry with me, who have always honored you. Death is yours. Am I never to comfort the dying again? Recall my kindnesses to Pricklythrift, Shrub, Flax, Orpine, Bharal, Kalan, and Exmoor, Hierax. Recall how Exmoor blessed me with his dying breath, and forget not that it was I who slew the bird to whom blasphemers had given your name. If only you will free us, I will bring pardon to the dying all my life, and burial to the dead. I have searched my conscience, Hierax, to discover that in which I have displeased you. I find this: that-
'I thought you fellows used beads.'
'Potto took them, as I told you,' Silk said dispiritedly. 'He took everything, even my glasses.'
'I didn't know you wore glasses.'
That when I beheld those who had died in the sleep into which Pas had cast them,, I did not propose their burial, or so much as offer a prayer for them; and when Mamelta and I found the bones of she who had carried a lantern, I in my pride took her lantern without interring her bones. I renounce my pride and will be ever mindful of the dead. This I swear. A black he-goat to you, Hierax, if you will but set us free.
Enchanting Thelxiepeia, be not angry with me, who have always honored you. Prophesy and magic are yours. Am I never to cast the Thelxday lots again, nor to descry in the entrails of sacrifice the records of days to come? Recall that of the many sacrifices I offered for Orpine, for Auk, and for myself on Scylsday past, I read all save the bird's. I have searched my conscience, Thelxiepeia, to discover that in which I have displeased-
Abruptly the room was plunged in such darkness as Silk had never known, not even in the ash-choked tunnel, a darkness palpable and suffocating, without the smallest spark or hint of light.
Crane whispered urgently, 'It's Lemur! Cover your head.'
Despondent, not knowing why he should cover it or what he might cover it with, Silk did not.
I find this: that I sought no charm-
The door opened; Silk turned at the sound in time to see someone who nearly filled the doorway enter. The door closed again with a solid thud, but no snick from the bolt.
'Stand up, Patera.' Councillor Lemur's voice was deep and rich, a resonant baritone. 'I want both of you.
