Snare

  ‘Let’s rest the horses here,’ she said. ‘I need to scan.’

  It took Spirit Eyes only a few minutes to find Soutan and the Kazraks, riding along a dirt road between fields of wheatian. The sighting numbers on her crystal’s equator told her that they were heading due east near the limit of her crystal’s range. Long Voice could pick up nothing of their conversation, assuming they were having one. She left Soutan and sent Spirit Eyes hunting the comnee, which she found well west of the forest on their way back to the Riftgate. As for Sinyur Alayn’s men, she saw no trace of them, but their horses were still at pasture, a good sign. She set the crystals out to feed, then got up, turning to speak to Zayn.

  ‘Well, they’re still ahead of us. I can’t tell you much more than that.’

  ‘For now, that’s all I need to know.’

  His hands shoved in his pockets, his head tipped a little back, Zayn was staring down the road to the east as if he could see nothing but horror unfolding before him. What was he thinking, she wondered, that he would look so desolate? She decided against asking him, out of the simple fear that he would start lying to her again.

  ‘You know,’ Ammadin said, ‘this is the farthest east I’ve ever been. From now on, it’s all unknown country.’

  Zayn swung half-around, as startled as if she’d thrown a weapon at him.

  ‘Oh yes,’ she said, smiling. ‘I won’t have all the answers any more. This should be interesting.’

  Warkannan and his men had spent the previous night camping near the east-running road. At about the time Ammadin was telling Zayn the meaning of his quest charm, Warkannan was taking inventory of his supplies – enough food for the men and grain for the horses to last two days. While Warkannan and Arkazo loaded the pack horses and saddled their riding mounts, Soutan walked a few yards away and sat down to mutter over his crystals. In only a few minutes he got up and came back, wide-eyed, a little pale. His hands shook as he stowed the crystals in his saddlebags.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Warkannan said.

  ‘The worst possible thing.’

  ‘Couldn’t you find Zahir?’

  ‘I found him, all right.’ Soutan paused for effect. ‘And I found the spirit rider. She’s travelling with him. They’ve just left the comnee and are heading east. They’re only about twenty miles behind us.’

  ‘What? The spirit rider?’

  ‘What indeed?’ Soutan tried to smile and failed. ‘This is ghastly. I don’t dare challenge her again. If she manages to kill this set of crystals, I shan’t be able to get another until we reach Burgunee. I’ve absolutely got to be able to scan with Gemet’s trained murderer on the loose.’

  ‘How far are we from Jezro?’

  ‘Oh, a long ways yet. We have to ride into Dordan Canton, then head north. Now, I don’t dare be seen by the authorities in Dordan, much less in Sarla. That’s where my enemies are.’ Soutan turned to Arkazo. ‘I need to teach you a great deal more Vranz, Kaz. Let’s practise as we ride.’

  ‘Daccor,’ Arkazo said. ‘I’m kind of enjoying it.’

  They rode hard that day, pushing the horses, who had been well rested during their stay in the forest. Every time they stopped, however, Soutan would get out his crystal and scan, and every time, he would look frightened half to death when he saw the spirit rider travelling along behind them. That night they spent beside the road in a copse of fountain trees, and in the morning they made an early start.

  On the road ahead lay Leen, a city of some thousands, but before they reached it, they left the main road. Soutan scanned their way through a maze of farmers’ lanes, barely wide enough for one rider, that skirted fields of wheatian or ran between scarlet hedgerows. Towards sunset they had a piece of luck when they came to a prosperous-looking farm. Out in front of the barn its owner was busy loading a wagon with foodstuffs to sell at the next day’s market in Leen, and he was more than glad to turn an early bargain. As a bonus he allowed them to spend the night in a meadow near his fish pond.

  While the two Kazraks set up camp, Soutan wandered out into the meadow to scan in the last of the daylight. He returned with ominous news.

  ‘I can’t find them,’ Soutan said. ‘The spirit rider and Zayn.’

  ‘Zahir,’ Warkannan said absently. ‘Not that the name matters, I suppose. Are we too far away?’

  ‘I doubt it. She may have figured out some way to hide from me. I wanted to see if they were gaining ground on us.’

  ‘Why do you think they’re trying to catch up with us?’

  ‘Oh.’ Soutan paused, his mouth working as he thought. ‘Well, you’re right. I don’t know that.’

  ‘My guess is that he’s trying to reach Jezro first and kill him. Then he can deal with us later or just head back home.’

  ‘Kill –’ Soutan looked up, shocked. ‘How can you be so nonchalant about –’

  ‘I’m not. Panic won’t do us any good, that’s all.’

  By the time they were done eating, twilight was darkening the sky. In the nearby fish pond water toads boomed; grey fish broke the surface now and then to snatch needlebuhs from the air with a ‘chup’ and a splash as they fell back. The little blue nightdancers whined as they called to one another, foraging for insects in the grass. Soutan rummaged in his saddlebags for a moment, then brought out a folded piece of rushi.

  ‘Now that we’re nearly there,’ Soutan said, ‘I have a small confession to make.’

  Arkazo looked up from the fire. ‘What now? Another girl who claims you raped her?’

  ‘Kaz!’ Warkannan snapped. ‘That’s nothing to joke about.’

  ‘Sorry.’ Arkazo ducked his head in apology.

  ‘Here.’ Soutan held out the rushi. ‘You’ll recognize Jezro’s seal and handwriting. Read it, Captain. Aloud, why not?’

  With a shrug Warkannan took the rushi. He broke the seal, which was indeed Jezro’s, and angled the letter to catch the firelight. ‘It’s Jezro Khan’s writing, all right.’ He cleared his throat. ‘My friends – Indan, Warkannan, whoever else is still alive to remember me – what Soutan the sorcerer is going to tell you will sound like a madman’s ramblings. But it’s not. I couldn’t believe it at first, either, but now I’ve seen the proof. Listen to him. Think about it. This is the biggest thing in the world. Yours, Jezro.’

  Warkannan lowered the rushi and glanced around. Arkazo was watching him, all patience. Warkannan could remember him as a child, looking just this way while he waited for his uncle to explain where thunder came from or why he had to go to school every day. Soutan sat perfectly still except for his eyes, which flicked back and forth between the two of them.

  ‘Well,’ Warkannan said at last. ‘Suppose you tell us about this marvellous thing, then.’

  Soutan smiled, the first truly warm smile that Warkannan had ever seen on his face. ‘Haven’t you ever wondered why I want to see Jezro on the throne of Kazrajistan?’

  ‘Often. I’ve always assumed you were in it for the power it would bring you. Jezro will reward you handsomely, once he’s the Great Khan.’

  ‘Ah yes, the emperor’s adviser, the gold, the luxury, all the rest of it – no! I spit on all that.’ Soutan illustrated his point by spitting on the ground. ‘Here’s why I want his help. Only you Kazraks have the men and the money I need to find the Ark of the Covenant.’

  Arkazo made a choking sound deep in his throat. Warkannan’s first thought was that Soutan had gone mad, completely and totally insane. His fist tightened around Jezro’s letter and crumpled it; he laid the rushi on his knee and began smoothing it out. Soutan favoured Arkazo with another smile.

  ‘This university of yours,’ Soutan said, ‘surely it taught you about the Ark.’

  ‘Yes.’ Arkazo’s voice shook badly. ‘It’s part of the ship that brought us here from the homeland.’

  ‘Do you know what part?’

  ‘The magical pilot, like a steersman or something.’

  ‘Very good. If we don’t find it, we can never return home.’

&nbs
p; ‘Now wait a minute,’ Warkannan broke in. ‘Who’s talking about returning home?’

  ‘I am.’ Soutan went on smiling. ‘The homeland isn’t some country on the other side of the sea, Captain, filled with nasty infidels and demons. That’s only what you’ve been told, what they want you to believe, your twisted little mullahs and your so-called wise men. Liars, all of them! Power-mad little liars!’

  ‘Just what –’

  ‘Look up!’ Soutan swept one hand towards the sky. ‘Look up there, Captain! What do you see?’

  ‘The Spider, of course.’

  In the velvet sky the vast silver swirl had just cleared the horizon.

  ‘Of course,’ Soutan repeated. ‘Well, that’s where we came from, from one world among a thousand worlds, civilized worlds, worlds where people live long lives in comfort and prosperity, worlds where the things you call magical are as common as blades of grass on the ground.’

  ‘You’re demented,’ Warkannan snapped. ‘What in hell do you mean?’

  ‘If you’d let me finish! Every dot of light in the Spider is a star like our sun. Some of those stars have worlds going around them, just as our sun does. Our ancestors came from another world back in the Spider somewhere. We don’t belong here. This world belongs to the ChaMeech. We need to go home and let them have it back. Our species belongs with people who can make all kinds of marvellous things, like ships that can sail between stars. That’s how we got here, and if we can find that ship, we can find our way home.’

  ‘That’s stupid as well as demented.’

  ‘No, it’s not.’ Soutan seemed curiously unruffled by the insults. ‘It makes perfect sense, if you’d only think about it. Jezro believes me. You can tell that from the note.’

  ‘Then exile drove him mad, too. Why didn’t you tell us this back in Haz Kazrak?’

  ‘Because you wouldn’t have come back with me. You’d have called me demented then, just as you’re doing now, but here we are.’ Soutan gestured at the surrounding landscape with a sweep of his arm. ‘Are you going to leave, Captain, without even seeing Jezro Khan?’

  ‘No, you bastard. Of course I’m not.’

  ‘Good.’ Soutan smiled, his more usual pull of thin lips from large teeth. ‘When I was perusing Indan’s library, I actually came across some new evidence. The Histories of Hajji Ahmed contain a great many suggestive details.’

  Arkazo started to speak, then choked it back. Warkannan glanced his way. ‘What’s wrong with you?’

  Arkazo was looking back and forth between the Spider and Soutan, his eyes wide, his mouth slack. Soutan smiled at him.

  ‘I think your nephew believes me, Captain.’

  ‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Arkazo said. ‘But we read the Histories at university.’

  ‘So, do you remember the parts about the flying boats?’ Soutan said.

  ‘Yes.’ Arkazo avoided looking at Warkannan. ‘And how the Ancestors felt they’d done something wrong by coming here. The guilt’s why they followed Chursavva’s orders and took the land he gave them.’

  ‘Exactly.’ Soutan said. ‘What else?’

  ‘There were some quotes from an ancient sage, too, Khalifa, his name was. He talked about God creating hundreds of millions of worlds and suns. He said the universe was huge, beyond our comprehending, and that God had filled it with light and with souls. If that’s true, then this can’t be the only world.’

  ‘That sounds like heresy to me,’ Warkannan said. ‘Heresy and a damned unlikely tale. You can write anything. Proving it’s a different matter.’

  ‘But Uncle!’ Arkazo turned to him. ‘It’s not just the books. Some of the khans sent out ships to explore the oceans. One captain sailed south. He never saw land, but he reported that when you get far enough south, you can see smudges of light in the sky, and some points of light, too.’

  ‘Other galaxies and stars, in other words,’ Soutan put in. ‘Any other sailors?’

  ‘Yes, the ones who went west, trying to find the homeland.’ Arkazo leaned forward, more intense than Warkannan had ever seen him. ‘Most of them never came back. But one ship did get back. The captain said the only land they ever saw was rocky little islands.’

  ‘So?’ Warkannan snarled.

  ‘So if no one can sail back, how come thousands and thousands of us could sail the other way, sail here from there, I mean? And there were thousands of us, maybe even a hundred thousand. There are records of the names, pages and pages of them.’

  Warkannan gave the rushi back to Soutan.

  ‘Uncle?’ Arkazo said. ‘Don’t you believe me?’

  ‘Of course I do.’ Warkannan wiped his hands off on his shirt; he felt that he’d touched something unclean. ‘If you say you read these things, then you read them.’

  ‘There are a great many records,’ Soutan said. ‘I have some that are a great deal more explicit than lists of names. Or rather, Jezro has them at the moment, because I wasn’t going to risk bringing them along. You’ll see them for yourself, Captain, and very soon.’

  ‘Uncle?’ Arkazo said. ‘I’m sorry, but a lot of us at university talked about the puzzle – of how we got here, I mean. The old stories really don’t add up.’

  ‘And I suppose this crap about worlds and the Spider does?’

  ‘No, not really. But it doesn’t make any less sense than what the mullahs tell us.’

  The quiet way Arkazo spoke made Warkannan stop before he launched a tirade. ‘All right,’ he said instead. ‘I’ll keep an open mind, then.’

  Arkazo smiled in profound relief.

  ‘That’s all anyone can ask, Captain,’ Soutan broke in. ‘I promise you, you’ll see a great deal of proof when we reach Jezro. Thank god, it won’t be long now at all.’

  ‘Good.’ Warkannan took a deep breath. ‘This magic business, you said something –’

  ‘Yes, about marvellous things we call magic, things like my lightwand. They aren’t magic at all, Captain. There aren’t any spirits, there aren’t any spells. They’re no different from the printing presses and spinning wheels you have back home – devices, machines, toys, tools.’

  Warkannan stared, aware that he was goggling like a child.

  ‘I’ll prove it. Right now.’ Soutan rummaged in his saddlebags, and came up with the lightwand. ‘You can work this as well as I can. Here.’ He held it out. ‘Take it.’

  Involuntarily Warkannan leaned back.

  ‘Oh for god’s sake!’ Soutan turned to Arkazo. ‘Here, you try then.’

  Arkazo took it and ran eager fingers over the metal.

  ‘You say a command word,’ Soutan went on, ‘but you have to say it loudly and sonorously. The word here is much like in Hirl-Onglay, when they say leet. Say lie-it, clearly and loudly.’

  Arkazo took a deep breath and spoke, ‘Lie it.’

  In his hands the wand blazed. With a howl of laughter Arkazo raised it over his head with one hand and flung light like a spear at the sky. ‘Uncle,’ he crowed, ‘look! It works. Just like he said.’

  ‘Oh yes,’ Warkannan said. ‘It certainly does.’ He could think of not one word more, could only watch, feeling like a beast, struck dumb, as Soutan took the lightwand and spoke a word that turned it dark.

  ‘That’s wonderful,’ Arkazo said, grinning. ‘Will it do anything else?’

  ‘Not this piece of equipment, no, but there are other things.’ Soutan turned to Warkannan. ‘What do you think of this, Captain?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Warkannan said. ‘I honestly don’t know.’

  ‘But do you believe him, Uncle?’ Arkazo broke in. ‘About the worlds back in the Spider, I mean?’

  ‘I don’t know that, either. Very well. That light stick is a machine, just like a printing press, just like a water wheel. Why does it have to come from –’ He could not bring himself to say, ‘the stars’. ‘From so far away?’

  ‘Well, good point.’ Arkazo turned to look at Soutan.

  ‘Yes, it is,’ Soutan said. ‘There’s no reason at all, really
, that it must. As I said, you’ll see the proof when we reach Jezro.’

  ‘I can wait.’

  ‘No doubt you need to think about this.’ Soutan was watching him. ‘It must have come as a shock.’

  Warkannan forced out a smile. ‘I always thought you were a fake magician,’ he said. ‘Apparently I was right.’

  ‘Oh yes. I can’t even be offended by that, Captain.’

  ‘But one thing I don’t understand. The First Prophet, blessed be he, warns us about magic. Did he mean –’

  ‘No, no, he meant something quite different, actual superstitions and silliness about wizards and spells and charms. We’ve just borrowed the names.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘The sorcerers of the Cantons. We’re loremasters, not sorcerers at all. The pretence is for outsiders, and unfortunately, it was written into the Landfall Treaty. We’ve got our share of superstitious farmers and the like in the Cantons, but no one with any intelligence believes in magic here.’

  ‘Oh? How come you’re always consulting that damned oracle?’

  Soutan had the decency to blush. ‘Because I’m H’mai, Captain. The thing intrigues me, even though I know it’s all nonsense. It’s very odd how accurate it can be.’ He cleared his throat several times. ‘Now, on the other hand, the spirit riders believe in magic. They think they’ve tamed spirits, but the crystals? They’re just pieces of equipment, too.’

  ‘Well, but –’ Arkazo thought for a moment. ‘Why did you keep saying you had to feed your spirits?’

  ‘That was, oddly enough, true in its own way. The people who colonized the Cantons, the Settlers as we call them, invented machines that soak up sunlight and turn it into the power that runs the crystals. This device is called an accu, a solar accu. If you don’t let them recharge, they run down for good, and we don’t know how to make new ones. But it’s all cleverness. Nothing supernatural about it.’