The Prisoner of Zhamanak

IV FLIGHT

Another fiftnight dragged on. The captives became as indifferent to each other's nudity as a healthy man and woman, cooped up together for long, can be. To keep his own lust beaten down, Percy Mjipa did more and more calisthenics, until he spent the greater part of his waking hours at them. He ran in place, shadow-boxed, and chinned himself on the curtain rod until it broke beneath his weight.

Khateluts, the Third Assistant Secretary, appeared again. "Sir and madam, my master is much disappointed in you twain. He hath given you every opportunity and encouragement to copulate, yet ye remain as indifferent as a pair of sterilized rajinit."

"I told him he'd get nowhere with his experiment," said Mjipa, "but he wouldn't listen."

"Wherefore this unwonted coldness? Suffers one of you from some deformity or disease?"

Mjipa thought fast. "Tell the Heshvavu this: as even a Krishnan can see, Mistress Dyckman and I belong to different races. Terrans are sexually aroused only by those of their own race. Persons of the other sex but different races have no effect. Hence Mistress Dyckman and I find each other's appearance repellent. Thus, however willing, I could never impregnate her." Mjipa noted that Alicia seemed to be trying to hold back laughter.

"If ye twain were of the same race," persisted Khateluts, "would ye then conjoin without further ado?"

"Not even then. Among Terrans, the act requires privacy—nobody peering down from holes in the ceiling." (What lies I have to tell in my trade! Mjipa thought.)

In taking his leave, Khateluts said: "If amongst Terrans the generative process be so hedged about with restrictions and conditions, 'tis a wonder to me that your species hath survived."

Two days later he was back saying: "His Awesomeness gravely doubts your story; forsooth, I heard him say 'a pack of lies'. He hath heard of orgies amongst Terrans, who were plainly not dissuaded from flittering by lack of privacy. Furthermore, 'tis notorious that some Terrans take truly human women as their lemans, manifestly not dissuaded by the differences betwixt them, which far exceeded those amongst the races of one species."

Alicia said in English: "You overdid it, Percy."

Khateluts continued: "But, since he finds you a most uncommonly slippery evader and procrastinator, my master will graciously tender you an offer. This is that ye depart forthwith for Novorecife, leaving Mistress Dyckman as hostage for your obedience. Ye shall bear a letter to the Terran commanding the space station. Ye shall say nought of events in Zhamanak; Mistress Dyckman's life hangs upon your strict compliance. A trusty officer will be sent with you to assure your good behavior."

"What's in this letter?"

"It is not yet written, but I can recount the gist. 'Twill aver that Mistress Dyckman remains in Mejvorosh of her own free will,- and that the Heshvavu requests Novorecife to send another envoy. Pray tell: into what races are Terrans divided?"

Mjipa looked puzzled."Well, there's the Negroid or black race, which is mine; the Caucasoid or white, of which Mistress Dyckman is an example; and the Mongoloid or yellow. At least these are the main groups. You don't want to know about all the little intermediate and doubtful groups."

"Hath Novorecife any persons of this yellow race?"

"Yes; there's Ishimoto, the new consul at the capital of Dur."

"Good! The letter will request the presence of this Ish— Ishimoto."

Alicia, listening, said in English: "If he can't get me an interracial mate one way, he'll try another. If Ishimoto came here, Khorosh would chuck him in with me, hoping his experiment would work the second time around."

"Don't worry," said Mjipa. "Ishi would develop a diplomatic impotence. He'd say: 'So sorry, but I am under a curse,' or some such tale."

"Is he really—"

"No; he has a wife. Nice little thing. But Ishi is the most cautious Terran in the service. Not that I'm criticizing. Masanobu's an upright, accurate, and conscientious worker; and at Mishé he showed he was no coward. But I wouldn't pick him to rescue a maiden fair from a vile enchanter."

"Well, I'm not exactly a maiden, and neither is Khorosh much of an enchanter. But go ahead, Percy; take the Heshvavu up on his offer."

"What! And leave you here alone again?"

"I'll probably survive. Just because you can't get me out is no reason for you to waste your life here. Besides, maybe you could organize that commando raid you mentioned."

"Wouldn't think of it!" Mjipa spoke to Khateluts: "Tell His Awesomeness my sense of honor and duty compels me to decline his offer. Either both of us go free, or neither does."

Khateluts vanished, but was back the following day, saying: "His Awesomeness finds you a most contumacious recusant. Belike a touch of the scourge, quotha, would awaken your laggard lusts."

"It would have the opposite effect, if I had such lusts to begin with," said Mjipa.

"Nameless, my master is curious about the workings of the Terran sexual process. He would fain know why a strong, hale male of your kind can sometimes perform the act and sometimes not. Also, he would know the meaning of those curious buttons of flesh in the midst of your bellies. He hath empowered me to inquire into these matters and bear your replies to him."

"Oh, lord!" groaned Mjipa in English. "I gave Ainkhist an hour's lecture on the birds and the bees, and now Khorosh wants the same. But—wait; that gives me an idea." He turned to Khateluts. " 'Tis a long, complex story, impractical for me to give you a snippet at a time. 'Twould take a full revolution of the planet about Roqir to tell the whole tale at that rate. But if His Awesomeness will graciously condescend to visit our cell, I will answer his questions directly."

"Oh, good my sir, my lord would never consent! 'Twere a heinous breach of Zhamanacian royal etiquette."

"Then his curiosity must go unsatisfied."

Khateluts protested, but Mjipa remained adamant. When the secretary had gone, Alicia said: "What do you have in mind, Percy? Something desperate?"

"You 're jolly well right. I'm going to show that bedlamite what being a hostage feels like."

"If he comes in here, he'll have armed guards with him."

"I know. But if I can get within grabbing distance, I'll use our royal voyeur as a shield and threaten to break his bloody neck, unless he gives the orders I feed him. He's a skinny little wart. Now, the instant you hear me say—let's see—I'll say 'Charge!' in English. When you hear that, dive for the loo, leaving the door open."

"The bathroom? But why—"

"You'll see. I'll back into the door of the loo, holding Khorosh as a shield. They won't be able to shoot either of us for fear of killing him. If we can manage that first five seconds, we're in business, as you Americans say."

"It sounds terribly risky, darling. Are you sure it wouldn't be better for you to take Khorosh's offer, go back to Novorecife, and send Ishimoto? He could bring some contraceptive, so we could fool the king into thinking—"

"Nonsense! Ishi's already gone to Baianch, thousands of hoda from here. It would take half a year to fetch him. Besides, he's a peaceable, routine-minded bloke who skillfully avoids predicaments like this. Summon up the sinews and stiffen the blood, old girl, and we'll do Khorosh one in the eye yet!"

Leaving his flutist outside, the Heshvavu entered the detention room with two swordsmen and one arbalester. He said: "Master Mjipa, hast given us great vexation with your riggish contumely. Your explanation of the Terran sexual process had better justify your insolent behavior."

Mjipa gave a servile bow. "I beg Your Awesomeness's pardon for any offense I have caused. Will my lord sit on our humble bench while I expound these mysteries?"

The Heshvavu sat. Alicia moved towards the bathroom inclosure. Mjipa launched into a colorful account of sex among Terrans: "...As Your Awesomeness appreciates, all large land-dwelling life forms require internal fertilization. For this process there must be a suitable organ to introduce the male sex cells ..."

As if carried away by his own oratory, Mjipa moved rapidly about, gesticulating. The three guards, standing behind the king, seemed as fascinated by Mjipa's account as the Heshvavu. As he passed within reach of the king, in the midst of a description of the female organs, Mjipa suddened cried: "Charge!"

Simultaneously he shot out long black arms and seized the seated Heshvavu. He jerked the ruler to his feet, whirled him round and round as if doing a Viennese waltz, and on the third whirl backed into the open bathroom door, clasping the Heshvavu to his naked bosom.

The king yelled and struggled, but his strength was nothing compared to Mjipa's. The swordsmen rushed around the ends of the bench, blades agleam. The crossbowman danced about, trying to get a clear shot at Mjipa without hitting his sovran.

"Order them back!" shouted Mjipa in Khorosh's ear. "Or I'll break your neck!" Mjipa had wrapped one arm around the Krishnan's head and twisted the head until the neck vertebrae creaked.

The arbalester shot his bolt, which thudded into the wood of the bathroom inclosure. He had evidently hoped to shoot either Mjipa or Alicia through the wall, but the planking proved too thick.

"Back! I command!" shrilled the Heshvavu. The swordsmen backed away. The crossbowman, reaching for another bolt, lowered his weapon.

"Tell those guards to drop all weapons!" said Mjipa.

"Drop your weapons, men!" Down on the floor clattered swords and crossbow.

"Daggers, too!" insisted Mjipa. "Now tell the one on the right to kick his dagger towards us ... Alicia, can you squeeze past my legs? Grab that dagger and hand it to me. Don't get within reach of these coves, or they'll grab you for a hostage, too ... Thanks, old girl." Mjipa pressed the point of the dagger against the Heshvavu's painted hide until a tiny trickle of blue-green blood flowed.

"Now listen carefully," continued Mjipa. "Tell those three guards we want the rest of our possessions—those taken from our baggage and not returned to us, such as my money belt, with the money in it, and my sword. They shall all leave this room. When they fetch our things, only one at a time shall enter. Tell them!" Mjipa emphasized his words by a dig with his dagger.

When the gear had been brought, Mjipa said: "Tell the guard to go out and stand by outside ... Lish, will you go through our things, check the contents, and pack us up for leaving? We can use an extra sword and dirk."

While she was thus engaged, Mjipa said: "Now, tell the guard outside that we demand two of the best riding ayas from the royal stables, saddled and bridled, with campaign rations for a fiftnight in saddle bags. Bring the animals to the front entrance, and let us know as soon as they are ready. Otherwise, tell all your other guards, lackeys, and other people to keep out of my sight when we leave. No delays, now!"

Alicia: "Who's going to carry all this stuff?"

"You are. I can't let go of Khorosh to pick things up."

"But Percy! I'm not strong enough to bear fifty kilos, including these swords and daggers. Why don't you make the Heshvavu carry them?"

"Too risky; he might get away. Besides, I suspect you're stronger than he is. We'll make that guard carry the bags, while you tote the cutlery."

A quarter-hour later, the palace saw a curious naked procession. First came a royal guard laden with two heavy canvas bags; then the slight Heshvavu in Mjipa's viselike embrace, with a dagger pressed to his side; and lastly Alicia Dyckman, festooned with swords and daggers, following Mjipa and looking about to guard the consul's rear. Mjipa kept saying to the Heshvavu:

"Order them away! Order them out of sight! Tell that archer to drop his bow and disappear! Unless he killed me with his first shaft, you'd be dead before he could nock a second."

They found a groom holding the bridles of the ayas in the courtyard. Mjipa said: "Tell the guard to help Mistress Dyckman to lash the bags to the animals; but if he lays hand on her, you're dead! ... Now, Your Awesomeness, you're coming for a ride. Up you go!"

With a tremendous heave, Mjipa boosted the slight monarch up to the back on one aya, setting him astride the animal in front of the saddle. Mjipa instantly took the dagger in his teeth, vaulted into the saddle, and again placed the point of the dagger against the king's painted skin. Khorosh turned his head to say:

"If you plan to carry us out into the country and murder us there, you may as well slay us now. Our men will avenge us."

"No, sire, I won't kill you, on my word of honor. I'll merely drop you off a few regakit from the city, to make your way back afoot. But if, while we still have you, we see a pursuit coming after us, then you shall die. Tell them so... Ready, Alicia?"

"Ready, Percy."

"Off we go!" Mjipa put his aya into motion. At the forced command of the Heshvavu, the gate of the palace wall swung open; so did the Kalwm Gate of Mejvorosh. The fugitives lashed their mounts to a gallop and disappeared up the northern road in a whirlwind of dust.

"Time to breathe these animals," said Mjipa, dropping to a walk. "We must be at least ten hoda from Mejvorosh. It'll take Khorosh hours to walk back, unless someone gives him a lift."

"You 're not going to let the little louse go?" cried Alicia. "Certainly. That's what I agreed to."

"You're kidding!"

"No, I'm serious."

"But he won't appreciate your mercy!"

"I know, but I promised."

"Oh, you idiot! He'll send his whole army after us, to hunt us down. We'll never get out of Zhamanak alive!"

"Calm down, young woman. We shall have to stop for a bit of sleep some time. We can't have him with us then; if we both dozed off at the same time, we might wake up with our throats cut. What's your idea?"

"To keep him as long as we can, then kill him."

"What a bloodthirsty little lady! Sorry, but I gave him my word of honor."

"Oh, you silly anachronism! It's our lives you're. risking, with your ridiculous ideas of honor! And just when we've almost escaped. You're being childish and stupid!"

"You sound like my wife. Let me tell you, my popsy, that if it hadn't been for my ridiculous ideas of honor, I'd never have come to Zhamanak in the first place."

Mjipa grasped the Heshvavu's slim waist in both hands, hoisted the Krishnan, and dropped him into the dirt. "Farewell, Your Awesomeness—no you shan't, Alicia!"

The girl was wearing Mjipa's baldric, the strap passing between her bare breasts. When she started to pull out the sword, Mjipa seized her arm. Then he pulled the purple baldric off over her head and put it on himself. "Come along, now!"

Not understanding English, the Heshvavu backed away in alarm. When he saw that he was not to be sworded to death after all and the ayas were moving off, he turned his back and began the long hike back to his capital.

Mjipa and his companion had already passed beyond the cultivated lands around the city and entered the tropical forest, with its boles of crimson and gold and emerald and purple. For another hour they alternately walked, trotted, and cantered, as a long-distance rider does who wishes to save his mount from collapse. Then Mjipa halted his aya, turning his head and laying a finger to his lips.

"Somebody's following at a gallop," he said. "I didn't think they could organize a pursuit so soon ..."

"It's your own stupid fault, for not killing that tyrant when you had the chance. You and your scruples!"

"Not at all. They'd have set out from Mejvorosh soon after we left, whether or not we let Khorosh go. Now shut up! I'm tired of your carping. Gallop!"

They ran on, while Roqir neared the horizon and the shadows deepened. When Mjipa pulled up again, he said: "I still hear the hoofbeats. Sounds like a single rider. Best thing is to turn into the trees and let him go past."

They found a dense grove and guided the animals in among the red and green and violet trunks, whose colors were fading with the end of the day. The hoofbeats waxed in volume. Presently an aya appeared down the road, running hard, with the rider hunched over the saddle. As the rider raced past, Mjipa uttered a stentorian yell:

"Minyev! Ho there, Minyev!"

The rider drew rein uproad and stood his aya, whose head hung and whose sides heaved. Mjipa trotted out from the trees, exclaiming: "By the nose of Tyazan, what in the fifty-nine hells are you doing here? Alicia, this is my factotum, Minyev of Kalwm City. Minyev, this is she of whom I told you, Mistress Dyckman. Now tell me what you do here. I thought you would all have gone back to Kalwm."

Minyev said: "My lord, I sent the others back, with pay and aliment for the journey. But I abode, hoping ye would somehow contrive your escape; and behold! so ye did. Mejvorosh buzzed with the news at once; so I saddled up and set out in pursuit, ere they arrested me as a fautor of your treason against the Heshvavu."

"But why? Why did you stick?"

"I was fain to toil for you further. 'Tis plain as Phaighost's whiskers that Terrans will play a growing part in my world's future. So it behooves a man of ambition to know them and their ways. An ye'll have me, I'll swink for you all the way back to Novorecife. Besides, alien though ye be, ye are a wight of punctilious honor, so one ever knows where one stands with you. Be all Terrans like unto you?"

Mjipa sighed. "I fear we have the same proportion of scoundrels and lack wits as you. But we must move on, lest Khorosh's searchers come up to us." He glanced sidelong at Alicia. "See? My silly scruples do pay off sometimes. Minyev, did you pass the Heshvavu on the road, walking back to Mejvorosh?"

"Now that ye speak thereof, my lord, I did behold one little pajock, besmeared with dust, who looked somehow familiar. But I galloped on without pause to scrutinize the lob."

They rode most of the night, until the exhausted mounts refused to move at more than a walk. At length the riders, equally fatigued, drew off and halted to make camp. Alicia said:

"Help me down, please, Percy. I'm so stiff I can't move."

"I'm not much better off myself," said Mjipa, painfully lowering himself from his saddle. "We shall have a pair of sore bums tomorrow."

He helped Alicia down. Both opened their bags and took out the clothes they had been wearing when they were stripped. "After what's happened," said Alicia, "I won't ever take clothes seriously again."

As he wolfed his traveler's rations, Mjipa mused: "Another day should bring us to the Mutabwcian border. I don't know if Ainkhist's men have orders to stop you; he can't have heard of our escape yet. But I don't like unnecessary chances. Damn, if I'd brought along a Krishnan disguise kit, I could make a Krishnan out of you. But there was no point in my trying to pass as a native, so I left the stuff in Novo."

"Why not pass me off as a Terran boy?" said Alicia.

"We must hide your bumps, old girl, better than that little shirt does. And if they're on watch for someone with golden hair, they might take a second look at you. There are no blond Krishnans."

"Not quite true. The last time I was in Majbur, the barbers were advertising blond dye jobs in imitation of Terrans like me. It's a new fad. But we'll wrap my hair in a scarf, like a turban." She searched her bag and brought out a length of translucent polyester with a striking pattern of blue and emerald and gold. "Here; it's almost the last decent thing I have that I brought from Earth."

The following morning, before dawn, Alicia called in a small voice: "Percy! Help me up; I can't move my legs."

"Same here," grumbled Mjipa, hobbling over to where she lay on her blanket. "I'm stiff, too, though I've been riding more recently than you. We should have asked Khorosh to give us daily rides to keep in practice—as if he would have let us."

When it came time to mount, the girl could not bend her leg enough to put a foot in the stirrup. Mjipa and Minyev had to boost her into the saddle, bringing a yelp of pain.

"A little riding will take the stiffness out," said Mjipa, wincing as he painfully swung into his own saddle. "It's the best kind of massage for what you've got."

They did not reach the border the next day. Fatigued from long hours in the saddle and little sleep, they made camp in the late afternoon, well away from the road. Alicia went to work with her sewing kit on the remnants of the shirt from which she had been stripped in Mejvorosh, mending tears and replacing buttons.

Looking up, Mjipa said: "What's the matter with the ayas?" The animals were pricking their ears, distending their nostrils, and acting uneasy.

From the depths of the forest came the sound of some large body moving. The ayas began to prance and tug at their tethers.

"Something's coming," said Mjipa. "Maybe a yeki. Put away your sewing things, Lish." Already on his feet, Mjipa picked up his scabbard and drew the blade.

Behind him, Minyev muttered: "My lord, I am gallowed with f-fear!"

The noise came closer; the ayas became frantic. Something bulky was moving; Mjipa caught glimpses of striped green-and-buff hide through the shrubbery.

"A shan!" screamed Minyev, and ran. His footsteps died away.

Mjipa picked up a large stick from the fire and waved it to fan its glowing end into flame. Alicia crowded up behind him. Mjipa snapped back over his shoulder.

"Damn it, woman, don't grab my arms!"

Among the branches appeared a head as large as that of a horse, but crocodilian in aspect. Behind it appeared a long neck, and then the rest of the creature. A Terran might have described it as a dragon-sized, long-necked, six-legged lizard, if on Krishna the mammals were as sharply divided from the reptiles as on Earth.

The shan had its eyes on the tethered ayas, who now strove frantically to break their bonds. Mjipa moved quickly between the approaching shan and the riding animals. He thrust his torch at the shan, which drew back the fanged head on the long neck, then shot it forward in a snap. The jaws clanged together centimeters from Mjipa's face. Before the head could withdraw, Mjipa slashed the muzzle with his sword. The gashed skin opened; blue-green blood flew. With a fearsome bellow, the shan drew back its head, ambled forward a pace, and lunged again.

Mjipa thrust the burning brand into the predator's gaping jaws. The jaws slammed shut; the stick was torn from Mjipa's hand as the animal jerked back its head. It gave a muffled scream of pain and shook its head violently, but lacked the wit to drop the stick. Grunting and squalling, it backed away from Mjipa, turned on its six legs, and hastened off out of sight, still shaking its head with the stick in its jaws.

Mjipa let out a long whoosh of breath. Alicia sat down at the base of a tree and leaned back, saying: "At this rate, I'll be an old woman in spite of your LPs. Why did you stand and fight? We could have run off like Minyev did, and the thing would have eaten the ayas and left us alone."

"And then we should have been plodding along afoot when Khorosh's merry men caught up with us. For that matter, why didn't you clear out with him? From the way he was going, he must be halfway to Kalwm."

"I don't know. I guess I couldn't let a mere male show he was braver than I. Will the monster be back?"

"Possibly. I think we'd better saddle up and shift camp, if we can find Minyev."

"Serve the coward right if we went off and left him."

"Oh, come," said Mjipa. "You musn't be intolerant of these natives. Some are brave enough; but I never hired Minyev as a fighting man. The chap's honest and able as Krishnans go, and you mustn't expect all the virtues in one package."

"But you're the one who's always belittling the 'natives,' like an old-fashioned Terran imperialist."

"I don't have illusions about them, that's all. In a few more centuries, they may catch up to where we are now. Meanwhile I have to deal with facts, not theories." He wiped the blood off his blade, saying: "At least, I've now had some practical use out of this snickersnee. Never did like the damned things."

"How can you be a hero on a medieval planet and not like swords?"

"In the first place, I'm not a hero, just a bloody bureaucrat trying to earn his keep. In the second, I don't suppose you've ever worn one?"

"No."

"Well, let me tell you, they're an effing nuisance, always pulling your clothes out of shape, or poking you in the soft parts, or tripping you up, or banging the furniture. We'd better start yelling for Minyev."

Shouts finally brought the factotum back, much subdued. In- moving camp, he insisted on doing all the heavy work, even when not asked to, as if to atone for his flight.

At the Mutabwcian border, Mjipa produced the passport from Vuzhov of Kalwm, explaining: "I came through here a couple of moons ago, you may remember. I am now on my way back to Kalwm, my mission accomplished."

The Zhamanacian officer nodded approval; news of the kidnapping of the Heshvavu had evidently not reached the border post. But then the officer indicated Alicia, with her scarf wound around her hair and the rest of her muffled in Minyev's cloak. "Who is that?"

"A Terran slave boy I found in Mejvorosh and bought," said Mjipa airily. "He calls himself Mustafa."

The officer stared briefly at Alicia but then handed back the passport, saying: "Pass through."

The three walked across the neutral zone, leading their ayas. At the second gate, Mjipa was asked the same question about Alicia and made the same reply. All went as before until one of the soldiers closely scrutinized Alicia's scarf.

"What pretty stuff!" he said. "Where can I get one?" Taking a dangling end of the scarf between thumb and forefinger, he gave a little jerk. Alicia uttered a small shriek as the turban fell apart, leaving her head exposed and the scarf in the Mutabwcian's hand.

Instantly alert, the officer said:"Wait here, O Terran!" To the duty squad he said: "Watch these three closely. Take charge of their animals."

The officer walked quickly to the command hut. Soon he was back, saying: "I thought we had word from Yein to watch for a yellow-haired Terran female. Do you, sir, insist this be a male?"

"An immature one," said Mjipa.

"Yeghats!" shouted the officer. A lieutenant appeared from another hut, buckling on his sword as he ran.

"Look at this!" said the officer of the guard. The two officers conferred in an undertone, of which Mjipa caught only the words "... built much like human women, on the outside at least ..."

The officer of the guard turned to Alicia, untied the string that held Minyev's cloak about her, and swept off the garment. As he did so, Yeghats stepped up and fumbled with the buttons of her shirt.

"Ho!" said Mjipa. "What are you doing? Terrans allow not such familiarities!"

The lieutenant continued to struggle with the buttons until he had them undone. He flipped the edges of the shirt aside, exposing Alicia's indubitable mammalian femininity.

"I protest!" shouted Mjipa. "This is a violation of diplomatic courtesy!"

"Protest to the government in Yein," said the officer. "Yeghats, you shall escort these Terrans to the royal palace."

"You do not understand," insisted Mjipa. "Those bulges will disappear as he gets older—"

"Save your breath, Terran," said the officer. "Yeghats, take the Kalwmian along, too; and turn them over to Minister Zharvets."

In the palace in Yein, Minister Zharvets said:"You again, Master Mjipa? Mistress Dyckman, you are under arrest. Seize her, men!"

The ubiquitous guards surrounded Alicia in the chamber of audience. Mjipa cried: "What are you doing, my lord? She has done nothing. I protest—"

"You are ever protesting," said Zharvets. "Know, O Terran, that this alien female had the insolence to utter a bare-faced lie to my sovran lord, the Heshvavu Ainkhist. That is a violation of the seventh ordinance of the reign of Verjapist the Third, section five, subsection thirteen. In fact, you are he who exposed this covin."

"I know not whereof you speak," said Mjipa.

"Oh yea, you do indeed. It hath to do with the anatomy of Terran females." The minister turned to his secretary. "Go bear word to His Awesomeness that the Terran female's within his grasp." As Mjipa, glaring with fury, made a threatening step. Zharvets added: "No unseemly brabble, now, Master Mjipa, or I'll have the guards smite off her head along with yours."

Mjipa thought the minister was bluffing, at least as far as Alicia was concerned. He was hardly likely to have Alicia killed before the king arrived to decide her fate. Still, Mjipa dared not take a chance, with drawn swords all around.

The swelling sounds of a Krishnan flute were heard. The Heshvavu appeared, saying: "Aha! Here is she who sought to cozen Our Awesomeness! Naughty, naughty! What's the penalty, Zharvets?"

"Five hundred lashes, sire. None survives."

"A pity to mar so well-favored an ensample of Terran femininity. Ah there, Master Mjipa! May your liver be light. Certes, we have the power to pardon; but it goes without saying, Mistress Dyckman, that we expect an equal measure of generosity from you. How say you?"

"God damn it!" growled Mjipa in English. "How can I get you out of here? Perhaps they'll leave you alone long enough for me to snatch you away—"

"Don't try anything, Percy," said Alicia. "We wouldn't have the chance of a snowball in Hishkak. And maybe it won't be so bad. I'll see you tomorrow, I hope."

"Come, good my Terrans," said Ainkhist, " 'tis a gross discourtesy to speak together in a tongue unknown to us."

"I beg Your Awesomeness's pardon," said Alicia in Khaldoni. "Master Mjipa and I had business to settle ere we parted. We didn't know your tongue well enough for the purpose. What do you wish of me?"

"Ah, that's better. You shall company with us to the private quarters, where our women shall prepare you for a night of pleasure."

"Do you promise to let me go tomorrow?"

"We had not thought on the matter—"

"I assure you, my lord, you will find the occasion pleasanter if you do promise. Among Terrans neither I nor my work is altogether without importance, as I shall be glad to explain."

"Oh, well, why not? Not that I hold every word you utter as a revelation from Phaighost, in view of your proven mendacity. But all too well I recall your talent for argumentation; so you shall be free to go tomorrow.

"Zharvets, we see no cause to hold Master Mjipa and his servant. We will overlook his feeble attempt to smuggle Mistress Dyckman through our demesne undetected. Since we would not wantonly offend Novorecife, enlarge them."

Looking pleased with himself, the Heshvavu signaled his flutist to strike up a tune and strolled out of the chamber. Alicia, surrounded by guards, followed. Mjipa begged a brief laissez-passer from the minister and left for the inn he had stayed at before.

"Be not in such a rage, my lord," said Minyev. Mjipa was back in his room at the inn, pacing the floor, growling curses, smiting his palm with his fist, and even grinding his teeth. Minyev continued: "These great lords do as they list, as a bishtar doth amongst the lesser forest creatures, and we common folk can but keep out of their path. Not that I'd call you common, sir."

"I'm dishonored!" snarled Mjipa. "I'm disgraced for life! To have a Terran woman trust herself to me, and then let her be snatched by a royal rapist, without striking a blow ... I should have grabbed a dagger from a guard and skewered this king with it."

"Not so loudly, pray," said the factotum, "lest others hear your treasonous talk. Had ye essayed any such temerarious folly, the guards had cut you down in the blink of an eye, and belike they'd have slain me and the lady besides."

"I ought to have brought my Krishnan disguise kit, even though I could foresee no use for it. Or I ought to have detoured through the jungle and crossed an unguarded section of the border at night. Or I ought—"

"My lord, cease blaming yourself! An we could all live our lives o 'er, in the light of experience, I'll wager we should all do it differently."

"You're a bit of a philosopher, Minyev."

"Aye, sir; I try to memorize the maxims of Nehavend and guide my course thereby. But however wisely we plan our actions, the vagaries of chance can still bring our efforts to nought. Suffer me to fetch you a bottle of kvad from the shop!"

Mjipa growled an unintelligible noise, which Minyev took for assent. Soon he was back with a bottle and two mugs. "Here, sir!"

Several goblets of kvad later, Mjipa found his rage subsiding into gloom. The liquor, about as potent as a Terran fortified wine, seemed not to affect him otherwise. He did, however, discover that he was hungry. Again, Minyev fetched their dinners. By the time he had finished eating, Mjipa felt almost human. Then came a knock.

It was Ovanel, the slave girl who had been sent to him on his previous visit to Yein. She said: "My lord, when I companied with you before, ye commanded me to tell my masters that ye had joyed in our night, albeit ye sent me away unplumbed. Recalling this, they've sent me back for another visit; the Heshvavu himself, they said, so ordered. What shall be my fate this time?"

Torn by conflicting urges, Mjipa heaved a sigh. His self-control and self-respect had been sorely tried of late. During his incarceration with Alicia Dyckman, his lusts had driven him frantic. Although he did not greatly like Alicia as a person, her femininity still aroused his male instincts; she found amusing his embarrassed efforts to hide his frequent erections.

He also recalled his amusement at some of the missionaries' disputes over the moral status of sexual intercourse with Krishnans. Since there was nothing about it in Leviticus or Deuteronomy, they argued whether to class it with adultery, onanism, or bestiality, or simply to ignore it. At last he said:

"Minyev, here's a kard of Majbur. Go out and find yourself entertainment for the night, and don't come back till breakfast time."

Minyev went. Smiling broadly, Ovanel tossed off her kilt.