Explorers Of Gor

17
Msaliti Has Formed A Plan

The white slave girls, nude, toweled my body.

"Away," said Msaliti, sharply. They fled away, their bare feet pattering on the woven mats of my quarters, within that gigantic compound that constituted the palace of Bila Huruma.

"These robes," said Msaliti, indicating robes spread upon the couch, "will be found suitable for an ambassador of Teletus." He then indicated a small chest at the couch's foot. "Those gifts, too," he said, "will appear seemly from one interested in negotiating a commercial treaty with one of the stature of Bila Huruma."

I slipped on a tunic.

"Why could you not apprehend Shaba at the banks?" I asked.

"He never cashed the notes," said Msaliti.

I looked at him.

"He feared to do so?" I asked.

"We were tricked," said Msaliti. "He signed the notes over to Bila Huruma, and it was agents of the Ubar himself, who cashed them."

"Twenty thousand tarns of gold," I said.

"The money," said Msaliti, in fury, "is being invested in the formation of a fleet of a hundred ships, fully fitted and supplied, and crewed by fifty men each. These ships are being specifically built to be sectioned and rejoinable, to make possible their portage about difficult areas. Our money, that which we paid for the ring, is being used to outfit an expedition for the exploration of the Ua!"

"That is a venture," I said, "surely of interest to both a geographer, such as Shaba, and a Ubar, such as Bila Huruma."

"I thought he wanted the gold for himself!" said Msaliti.

"Gold is perhaps of less interest to him than glory," I said.

"He will not get away with it," said Msaliti. "We will recover the ring."

"It will take time to prepare such ships," I said.

"The work commenced, months ago," said Msaliti.

"Surely this could not have been unknown to you," I said. "The work was done in the shipyards of Ianda," he said. "I had heard rumors of such a project but did not understand the nature of the ships or that this ubarate was involved. But now the ships are already moving upstream on the Nyoka."

"It seems," I said, "that Bila Huruma does not take you into his full confidence."

"He is a secretive man," said Msaliti.

"Perhaps it is fortunate for him that he does not fully trust you."

"Surely the hand of Shaba may be seen in this," said Msaliti.

"Doubtless," I said.

"Of those in these lands," said Msaliti, "only you and I, and Shaba, know of the ring."

"I gather that you now know the whereabouts of Shaba," I said.

"He is here, the bold rascal," said Msaliti, "in this very palace, living openly, protected by Bila Huruma."

"He is a courageous fellow," I said.

"He thinks he has little to fear," said Msaliti.

"What is your plan?" I asked.

"Bila Huruma, this very morning," said he, "holds court. You, in the guise of an ambassador of Teletus, will bring forward gifts for his viewing. I will do the speaking. You need do little or nothing. Almost no one present will be able to understand Gorean. I will explain that the details of your proposal for a commercial treaty will be discussed with the appropriate wazir, and presented later for approval."

"In short," I said, "it will appear little more than an official greetings exchanged between governments."

"That would be appropriate at this stage of negotiation," said Msaliti.

"Very well," I said. "But what do you have further in mind?"

"Shaba, as one close to Bila Huruma, will be present in the court," he said. "You will attack Shaba and slay him. I will then have you placed under arrest by askaris. I will obtain the ring from the body of Shaba, and you, later, by arrangement, will be permitted to escape. I will pay you a hundred tarns of gold and I myself will then return the ring to the beasts."

"Bila Huruma will not connect my attack with you in any way?" I asked.

"Presumably not," said Msaliti. "I must remain in the clear, you understand."

"Of course," I said. "Why do you not hire just any assassin to do this thing?" I asked.

"You are a fellow agent of Kurii," he said. "You seem an ideal choice."

"Of course," I said.

"I think I may trust you," he said.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"You have had a taste of the canal," he said.

"If I am not fully cooperative," I said, "you will return me to the rogues' chain?"

"I have that power," he said.

"Permit me to don the robes of an ambassador of Teletus," I said.

"Certainly," said he.