'What country are they friendly with?' he asked. 'What far country, whose ships and men they might not be expected to recognize.'
'I am quite sure that a ship from Korva would be welcomed,' I told him; so the Korvan flag was run up at the bow and above the deck houses; while, for an owner's flag at the stern, he used one he had taken from a ship he had sunk. There was already a ship in the harbor, a vessel from one of the little islands that lie west of Vepaja. It was loading up with tarel. There was a strong company of Vepajan warriors on guard, for the port is quite some distance from Kooaad; and there is always danger of attack by Thorists or other enemies.
The captain sent me ashore to negotiate for entry into Kooaad as well as to assure the Vepajans that we were there on a friendly mission. I found the company in charge of two officers, both of whom I had known when I lived in Kooaad. One was Tofar, who had been captain of the palace guard and high in the confidence of Mintep; the other was Olthar, brother of my best friend in Kooaad, Kamlot. I fairly shook in my boots as I recognized them, for I did not see how it could be possible that they should fail to know me. However, as I stepped from the small boat, I walked boldly toward them. They looked me straight in the face without a sign of recognition.
'What do you want in Vepaja?' they asked, their tones none too friendly.
'We are trading with friendly countries,' I said. 'We are from Korva.'
'Korva!' they both exclaimed. 'We had heard that the merchant marine of Korva had been destroyed in the last war.'
'Practically all of it,' I said. 'A few ships escaped because they were on long cruises and knew nothing of the war until it was over. Our ship was one of these.'
'What have you to trade?' asked Tofar.
'Ornaments and jewels, principally,' I replied. 'I should like to take them into one of your big cities. I think the ladies of the jong's palace would like to see them.'
He asked me if I had any with me; and when I showed him some that I had brought along in my pocket pouch, he was much interested; and desired to see more. I did not want to take him aboard the Nojo Ganja for fear his suspicions might be aroused by the ruffianly appearance of the officers and crew.
'When do you go back to the city?' I asked.
'We leave here as soon as they finish loading that ship,' he replied. 'That should be within the hour; then we leave immediately for Kooaad.'
'I'll get all my articles,' I told him, 'and go to Kooaad with you.'
Olthar seemed rather taken aback by this, and looked questioningly at Tofar. 'Oh, I think it will be all right,' said the latter. 'After all, he's only one man; and anyway he's from Korva—that will make a difference with Mintep. He and the janjong were well treated there. I have heard him speak in the highest terms of the jong of Korva and the nobles he met there.'
I had difficulty in hiding my relief at this evidence that Duare was alive and in Kooaad. But was she alive? She had evidently reached Vepaja with her father, but she might already have been destroyed for having broken the taboo custom had laid upon her as janjong of Vepaja.
'You mention a janjong,' I said. 'I am glad to know that your jong has a daughter. He will wish to buy some of my jewels for her.'
They made no reply, but I saw them exchange a quick glance.
'Go and get your stuff,' Tovar said, 'and well take you with us when we return to Kooaad.'
The captain was delighted when he found what excellent progress I had made. 'Try to persuade the man Carson to return to the ship with you, if you find he is in Kooaad,' he said.
'I shall certainly find him in Kooaad,' I told him. 'I am sure of that.'
A half hour later I set out with Tofar, Olthar, and their company through the great forest toward Kooaad. We had not gone far when Olthar told me that I should have to be blind-folded, and after that a soldier walked on either side of me to guide me and keep me from stumbling over obstacles. Knowing as I did how jealously the Vepajans have to guard the secret entrances to their tree cities I was not at all surprised at this precaution, but I may say that it made most awkward travelling. At last, however, we reached a spot where I was conducted through a doorway; and after the door was closed, the bandage was removed from my eyes. I found myself in the hollow interior of a great tree, standing in a cage with Tofar, Olthar, and some of the warriors. The others waited on the ground beside the cage. A signal was given, and the cage started to rise. For a thousand feet we were hoisted by a great windlass to the street level of Kooaad. Once again I stood on the highflung walkways of the first Amtorian city I had ever seen. Somewhere near me was Duare, if she still lived. I could feel my heart throb from the excitement of the moment.
'Take me to the palace,' I said to Tofar. 'I should like to get permission to show these beautiful things to the women of the jong's retinue.'
'Come,' he said, 'I'll see if we can get permission.'
A short walk brought us to the enormous tree from the interior of which the rooms of the palace of Mintep are carved. How familiar it all was! How it recalled my first days on Venus, and that day of days that I had first seen Duare and first loved her. Now I was coming again to the palace of her father, but with a price upon my head.
At the entrance to the palace was the familiar guard. I knew the captain of it well, but he did not recognize me. When Tofar stated my request, the captain entered the palace, telling us to wait. He was gone for some time, but when he returned he said that Mintep would be glad to welcome a Korvan merchant to his palace.
'He has sent word to the women that you will show your wares in the reception room inside the entrance,' said the captain. 'They will be gathering there soon; so you might as well come in.'
'I'll leave him with you, then,' said Tofar.
I reached into my package and selected a jeweled ring which I proffered to Tofar. 'Please accept this for your kindness to me,' I said, 'and take it to your woman with my compliments.'
If he had only known that Carson Napier—Carson of Venus—was the donor!
The women of the palace gathered in the reception room, and I spread my jewels and ornaments out before them. I had known many of them and most of the men who came with them or followed them in to see what I had to offer, but not a one knew me.
There was one particularly lovely girl whom I knew to have been very close to Duare, one of her ladies-in- waiting, in fact; and her I sought to draw into conversation. She was much interested in one piece, but said that she could not afford to buy anything so expensive.
'But your man,' I said. 'Certainly he will buy it for you.'
'I have no man,' she said. 'I serve the janjong, and I may have no man until she takes one; or until she dies.' Her voice broke with a sob.
'Take it,' I whispered. 'I have sold many already. I can easily spare this piece; then, when I come again, if you can, you may pay me.
'Oh, but I couldn't do that,' she cried, a little startled.
'Please,' I begged. 'It will make me very happy to know that this lovely piece, which I myself so much admire, has a setting worthy of its beauty.'
I could see that she wanted it very badly, and when a woman wants a piece of jewelry or apparel, she will stop at little to possess it.
'Well,' she said, after a pause, during which she fondled and admired the bauble, 'I suppose I might pay you some time; and if I couldn't, I could give it back to you.'
'I am glad that you have decided to keep it,' I said. 'I have another piece here that I should like very much to show to the janjong. Do you suppose it would be possible?'
'Oh, no,' she said. 'That would be quite impossible; and anyway, she—she—' Again her voice broke.
'She is in trouble?' I asked.
She nodded. 'She is going to die!' She spoke in an awed whisper.
'Die?' I asked. 'Why?'
'The council of nobles has so decreed.'
'You love her?'
'Yes, of course. I would give my life for her.'
'Do you mean that?' I demanded.
She looked at me in surprise. I had let my emotions get the better of my caution.
'Why do you take such an interest?' she asked.
