Lamla, High Priest of the Ka, sat on a low stool in a corner of the Temple. It was dark here, but that did not matter: the Temple was totally bare. The edges of his mind were prickled by the sound of low chanting. Beautiful, harmonious, pathetic and exalting though it was, Lamla was little moved. The core of his mind, all his wisdom and experience, was engaged on a problem.
What is the question? he asked himself once again. He posed this question whenever he felt the oncoming of vertigo as his brain laboured to exhaustion against the outer walls of his incomprehension. The question asked, he felt his mind clear – and there, just beyond his grasp, he saw the answer. He knew the answer, he had always known the answer – perhaps he had been born knowing it – and yet no amount of logic and reason could bring it into the light of consciousness.
His tired brain began its hunt once again. He recalled the night on the Khumsung, his conversations with Hepteidon. Many clues had been unravelled concerning Kandrigi’s experiences. Taking only the signs that were evident to all men, as was proper, and ignoring the speculations concerning their origins, thus evading the charges of credulity and superstition, it was logically veritable to say that something had happened to Kandrigi. Both Hepteidon and Ma-Tin had conceded this.
But neither would concede much more than that.
He heard the dull thud of leather striking stone, its echoes whispered all about him, and he saw the smoky contrast of yellow loom out of the dark. Purposively, Hepteidon walked directly towards him.
‘I see you, my Lord Priest,’ Hepteidon said in a subdued tone, which nevertheless seemed to boom in all quarters of the massive building.
Lamla forced his attention outwards, suffering with resigned anticipation the momentary giddiness as he crossed the threshold between the inward and outward worlds. He did not rise.
‘I greet you, my son,’ he intoned without emotion. Hepteidon stood over his High Priest and stared down with mixed feelings of anger and fear.
‘I have searched many places for you, Lamla,’ he said, ‘thinking you might have instructions for me.’
‘In what regard, Hepteidon?’ Lamla countered without looking up. ‘There are many duties and missions about which you might be instructed. Do you have a specific duty or mission in view?’
He heard Hepteidon hiss.
‘There is an event of which both of us are well aware, Lamla,’ he retorted, thinly disguising his anger, ‘which is of the highest importance to the Empire. I have reason to believe that I will take a leading position in a mission connected with this event.’
Lamla did not reply immediately. He let the young priest’s temper rise and waited to see if he would lose self-control.
‘Lamla!’ Hepteidon finally burst out. ‘You are making fun of me! I swear that I will throttle you if you do not answer me.’
Lamla raised his head. He knew that Hepteidon would not see his thin smile in the gloom.
‘Which event do you refer to, Hepteidon?’ he asked, letting his voice lilt with humour. ‘More than one great thing has happened in the Ka in recent days.’
Hepteidon bent and brought his red face close to Lamla’s.
‘The ships, Lamla,’ he hissed, not caring that his spittle spattered Lamla. ‘I refer to the ships in the bay. Do I have to make myself more clear?’
‘You should have done so in the beginning, Hepteidon,’ the old priest said levelly, ‘in which case we would have avoided all this heat and anger.’
‘I thought you would understand me,’ Hepteidon said in a softer voice than before. ‘What else has happened to match in significance the coming of the ships?’
‘You have undertaken the examination of Kandrigi, the Priest, Hepteidon, have you not?'
‘That is only a minor matter, Lamla. How can that compare with today’s event?’
‘But you have made no report on the outcome of your examination, Hepteidon. How can the well-being of the Empire be maintained if we rush from duty to duty, leaving each unfinished in our desire for the novelty of the new?’
Hepteidon paused, audible swallowing, and stood back. Lamla sighed in relief.
‘Will you make your report now, Hepteidon?’ He could afford to be tender towards the young priest.
‘There is nothing to report, Lamla.’
‘Did he speak?’
‘No.’
‘Did you apply the tongs?’
‘Yes.’
‘And yet he did not speak?’
‘No, Lamla. Not even when the whip and the weights were used.’
‘Did he suffer much?’
‘Yes, though he did not cry out or scream.’
‘Does his fortitude surprise you, Hepteidon?’
‘Very much, Lamla. No man could withstand such torture. Either he has no feelings or he is somehow mad.’
‘Are they the only conclusions you have reached?’
‘What else can I think, Lamla?’
‘Have you thought about what I said to you? Do you remember?’
‘I have made myself clear on that subject, Lamla. I neither understand nor accept what you say,’
‘I will not argue with you, Hepteidon, for there would be no point to it at this stage. In time you will understand, and in understanding you will accept, for that is the secret of knowledge.’
Suddenly Hepteidon fell on his knees and pressed his forehead against the dusty stone floor.
‘Then I do not wish to understand, Lamla. I beg to be freed from this obligation to understand this matter, for I am sure it will be the death of me.’
Lamla leaned forward and caught Hepteidon’s arm and gently pulled him close. He stroked his hair as he spoke.
‘You misunderstand me, Hepteidon. I have not placed this obligation on you. Therefore I cannot release you. Once before, I tried to explain this to you, but I failed. I do not know why you were chosen for this awesome task nor what purpose it will serve, though I have passed many hours thinking about it… Tell me, were you afraid while you examined Kandrigi? Tell me the truth. There is no shame in admitting it.’
Hepteidon raised his tear-stained face. His eyes continually rolled in their sockets.
‘Yes, yes, Lamla. I was in constant terror of the old man.
‘Do you know the cause of your terror, my son?’
‘No. And that is the worst of it.’
‘Do you think that by killing the old priest you would rid yourself of this terror?’
‘How else can I rid myself of it?’
‘By doing what is demanded of you?’
Hearing this, Hepteidon loudly groaned and pressed his face into the floor. Lamla watched him for a short while and then he reached and pulled the trembling priest up.
‘One last question, Hepteidon. Do you see only terror? Is there nothing else?’
Hepteidon stopped his sobbing and stared at the wrinkled, now kindly, face of Lamla.
‘I feel only terror – terror and fear.’ He shook violently, then subsided, as though this frank admission had taken him through a crisis. Composed, he asked: ‘What else should I feel, High Priest? Tell me, you have told me many things about myself that I do not accept.’
‘Do you not see love for old Kandrigi?’
‘Love – Are you mad?’
‘No. I am not mad, though we talk of feelings that are close to madness.’
Hepteidon jumped to his feet and backed away.
‘No more of this, Lamla. I have examined the old priest and have reported to you on the outcome. I have fulfilled my duty and I am finished with him.’ He came closer. ‘Let us discuss the ships in the bay instead.’
Lamla pursed his lips. It was difficult to guide the mind of the young.
‘Very well, Hepteidon. Come and kneel by me.’
Hepteidon knelt and Lamla laid his thin arm across his shoulders.
‘You heard the Commander’s report, did you not? As soon as they have taken on provisions they will sail north for the duration of a month and then make camp on a prominent shore. The small v
essel will return south tomorrow and will lead the main fleet to join the scouts in the north.’
‘They seek guides and navigators from the Ka,’ Hepteidon prompted.
‘Yes. The two scout ships will require someone familiar with the stars of the northern sky and also the council of any who have been in the north. The main fleet needs only charts. If there is any danger, one of the scouts will return to warn the fleet...’
‘And I?...’
Lamla smiled tenderly. ‘I have been ordered to send you with the scouts. You are to interpret the stars for them. You will also chart the far north stars and map the coastline... It is a great honour, Hepteidon, for one so young. The Commander said that the order came from the Emperor himself. Someone in Ka-Ra has taken a great deal of trouble on your behalf.’
‘My uncle. He is an Imperial diplomat.’
‘You are blessed, Hepteidon, I wish you good fortune.’
Hepteidon acknowledged this with a condescending nod.
‘You mentioned the two red-haired barbarians to the Captain,’ he said slowly. ‘What do you plan for them?’
‘I am not sure. They would be more useful to us if they sailed with the expedition. They do nothing in the Ka. I know nothing of these northern lands, except the little I have gleaned here and there. Most of this is no more than wild phantasy, for if these lands are all that rumour says they are, then they are unique on earth. Lands of fire and dragons? There is great heat in parts of the world, but no fire such as is attributed to this strange quarter. And dragons? You have heard them described: eaters of fire that fly in the heavens. I find all this difficult to believe. However, we must allow that it is possible, if only because we have not yet seen these places. It is because of this that I have contemplated sending Kandrigi’s companion, the warrior Korkungal, with you. His race dwells to the north and he might have experience of the climate and conditions there, though he has not admitted this to me, Also, if by chance you are shipwrecked, he could lead you to safety through the country of the Savages, as they are called. It is also possible that your voyage may take you to the territory of the Briga, in which case Korkungal will ensure your welcome there, As for the other white-skin, the navigator, I will send him tomorrow to join the main fleet. They might have use for him, more use than we have.’
‘One more thing I would like to know, Lamla: What is the greater purpose of the mission? To send an army into the north merely to see if wild rumours are true will bring no profit to the Empire. I suspect some other object,’
Again Lamla smiled his doting smile.
‘I have not been told this greater purpose, Hepteidon, but I have given thought to it. I suspect it is an attempt to outflank the Empire of the Dawn, Soon they will gain total control of the Inland Sea and they and their confederates will push out into the Middle Ocean and attack the Empire. If we can establish colonies to their immediate north, among the Briga and their kindred tribes, for instance, we might be able to forestall their aggression. As you know, the Empire of the Sun seeks only harmony and peace among the nations and peoples of the world. We are obliged, because of our strength and influence, to maintain this peace against the ravages of the more war-like peoples of the world.’
‘I see the sense of this strategy, Lamla.’
‘Are you satisfied now, Hepteidon?’
‘I am, Lamla.
‘You will be gone from here in a few days, Hepteidon,’ Lamla said in a low voice. He caressed the long locks of the young priest at his knees. ‘Then I will never see you again, for you know that your future will be in Ka-Ra, close to the Emperor.
‘It is a sad thing,’ Hepteidon replied. He spoke too quickly and Lamla knew that it was no more than rhetoric.
‘You have been a long time in my company, Hepteidon. I have seen you grow to manhood under my care. I have been like a father to you,’
‘They were happy years, Lamla.’ The words were spoken grudgingly.
‘I will miss you.’
‘I must obey the order of the Emperor.’ Hepteidon was becoming sulky.
Lamla could not prevent his irritation showing. ‘I understand that. We must all obey the Emperor. Nevertheless, you will not depart immediately. We will have time together, Hepteidon.’
Hepteidon pushed himself to his feet.
‘I have many preparations to make, Lamla. I will be very busy,’
Lamla’s voice rose and it echoed in the Temple. ‘There will be time,’ he said, half peremptory, half pleading.
Hepteidon began to walk away. He was no more than a blur of contrast in the dark.
‘Hepteidon!’ Lamla cried, rising.
The shape halted.
‘What do you want?’ The voice echoed all around Lamla,
One more thing.’ Lamla was composed again. ‘Have Kandrigi moved into my quarters. And see that he is cared for.'
Hepteidon resumed walking and he disappeared into the dark. All Lamla could hear of him was the thud of his sandals on the stone floor.
He stood still for a long time. The chanting came to him, but did not touch his heart.
He had found the answer to the problem that vexed him. He had seen it in the death of love. It opened up a new prospect: he saw why Hepteidon loved Kandrigi and not him. And –
He knew the question. And in knowing the question, he knew the answer
He fell on his knees, whispering. ‘So be it.’ In the dark, he heard the chanting. It ascended melodiously, pathetic and exalted.
He let it into his heart.
Chapter Sixteen