Afsan could never prove it, could never even suggest it in public. But it was a disturbing thought.
Once again, he spent the rest of the night awake.
*31*
Pal-Cadool knew the trick. He walked to the far side of the giant stone cairn that supported the Hunter’s Shrine. Back there, its base hidden by carefully planted bushes, a stairway had been built. Quintaglios disliked stairs — the steps caused their tails to drag or bounce — but they did have their uses. Cadool parted the shrubbery and made his way up. It was still a long climb, but he reached the top only slightly out of breath, and the steady east-west wind cooled him quickly.
As a butcher, Cadool knew bones well. He always admired the structure of the Shrine, the special juxtapositions of femurs and clavicles, of tail vertebrae and chest riblets.
Inside, he could see hunt leader Jal-Tetex. She stood on the far side of the floating sphere of Quintaglio skulls. The wind was whipping too loudly for Tetex to hear Cadool’s approach. The butcher tipped his body in homage to the skull of Hoog, patron of his craft, one of the five brown and ancient skulls at the center of the sphere. Then he spoke aloud. “Permission to enter your territory, Tetex?”
Tetex had been leaning back on her tail. She turned now, and Cadool saw in her hand a leather-bound volume. Embossed on its cover was the cartouche of Lubal: this was one of the forbidden books of Lubalite rites, a new edition, apparently, made possible by the recent introduction of printing presses. Still, no government-authorized press had produced that book.
“Hahat dan, Cadool,” said Tetex, making no effort to hide the book. “You’re late.”
“My duties at the palace interfered, I’m afraid.” He clicked his teeth. “When Emperor Dybo calls for something to eat, all other business must be put aside.”
Tetex nodded. “Before stuffing Dybo, did you get a chance to see The One?”
“Yes. I took him food.”
“He is well?”
“He’s frightened and confused, but holding up.”
“Fear is the counselor,” said Tetex. “He is wise.” She looked across Land, spreading out far below. “Now that you’ve spoken with him, have you any doubts?”
“None. Keenir was right. And so were you. He must be The One. He told me something today, something only The One would know.”
“What?”
“He said the world is coming to an end.”
Tetex’s head snapped around to look Cadool dead on. “Are you sure?”
“He was quite plain. In three hundred kilodays or so, the world will end.”
“Still that far away? But it is as the Book of Lubal said: ’One will come among you to herald the end; heed him, for those who do not are doomed.’ “
Cadool made the ceremonial sign of acquiescence at the mention of Lubal’s name. “It was all I could do to keep from touching him when he said it. I had my doubts until then, but no more.”
“Does he know that you know who he is?”
“Tetex, I don’t think he knows who he is. But I didn’t give anything away. Of his own volition, he pledged his life to the cause.”
Silence, save for the shrieking wind. Then Tetex spoke: “When I saw him on that first hunt, I knew he was special. I’d never seen a novice hunter with such skill, such determination.”
“That thunderbeast he brought down was a giant indeed.”
“A giant? Cadool, for the first time, I thought I was going to die. There was no way we could defeat that monster — none! But Afsan succeeded. He saved us all. When Keenir returned with his stories about Afsan killing a serpent that attacked the Dasheter, and that fellow Drawo from Carno told us about Afsan bringing down a fangjaw on his own, I was sure. ’And The One will defeat demons of the land and of the water; blood from his kills will soak the soil and stain the River.’ “
“But now they call Afsan himself a demon,” said Cadool. “He was almost killed in the ruling room yesterday. Dybo’s feelings are the only thing keeping Afsan alive, and who knows how long it will be before the imperial advisors convince Dybo to put him to death.”
“But to kill a Quintaglio…”
“It’s been done before, Tetex. In Larsk’s time, the hunters who didn’t accept his claims were executed.”
Tetex nodded solemnly. “You’re right. We must act quickly.”
“Has word gone out with our newsriders?”
“They leave tonight.”
“And Keenir?”
“He’s loading provisions aboard the Dasheter now. At dawn, he’ll set sail for the west coast to fetch Lubalites from there. When he landed there with Afsan, he told many hunters the story of Afsan killing the great serpent. He’s sure that most will agree to come back here with him.”
“That’s still fifty days or so, round trip, even for the Dasheter.” said Cadool.
“That it is. But it’ll take at least that long for any of those who the newsriders contact to assemble here. Everyone who knows the hand sign will receive the special call.”
“Where will we gather?”
“At the ruins of the temple of Lubal, on the far side of the Ch’mar peaks.”
Cadool’s tail swept in a wide arc. “I hate that place — buildings half buried under lava flows.”
“But no one goes there anymore; it’s an ideal spot to wait for the others.”
Cadool nodded. “I suppose.” He looked back at the floating sphere of skulls. “Afsan himself did not know the hand sign.”
Tetex blinked. “He didn’t?”
“Not really.”
“Did you show it to him?”
“Of course.”
“Well, he knows it now,” said Tetex.
“And that’s enough?”
“We must pray that it is. There’s little we can do for him without greater numbers. He has to hold on for sixty-one days.”
Cadool looked puzzled. “Sixty-one?”
Tetex patted the cover of the book she held. “That will bring us to the traditional date of the feast of Lubal. At the fifth daytenth, we’ll march into the Capital.”
*32*
Except for Cadool, who came once more with food, Afsan had no visitors for the next fourteen days. It was clear what was being done. Those who held sway with Dybo hoped the isolation would make him more willing to accede to their wishes. But a Quintaglio could take a lot of isolation before being disturbed by it. In fact, after the confines of the Dasheter, and the continual company of the delegation from Carno on his trip here, Afsan found being left alone with his thoughts a welcome change.
When he did at last have a visitor, it wasn’t who he had hoped for. The door to the storage room burst open. Afsan leapt to his feet. Standing in the entryway, robes swirling, was Det-Yenalb, Master of the Faith.
Afsan did not bow. “I didn’t expect to see you,” he said.
“And I prayed my whole life never to see the likes of you,” hissed Yenalb. “But now you are here, and you must be dealt with.” He handed a piece of writing leather to Afsan. “I want you to draw your cartouche on this. I’ll witness it with my own.”
Afsan read the page. I, Afsan, formerly apprentice to the Chief Court Astrologer, before that a member of Pack Carno of Arj’toolar province, hereby affirm without reservation the existence of the Divine, that She is the one true God, that She created all life, and that the Face of God is her true countenance and Larsk is a true prophet. I disavow any claims to the contrary, and renounce and rescind any statements I may have made in the past that disagree with the content of this declaration. I have placed my mark below voluntarily, without coercion, and of my own free will. May God have mercy upon me.
Afsan handed it back to Yenalb. “I can’t agree to that.”
“You must.”
“Or?”
“Or suffer the consequences.”
“I’ve already lost my job and my freedom. What else can you do to me?”
“Believe me, child, you do not wish to know.”
“You
can’t have me killed. That’s against the teachings.”
“A demon may be disposed of.”
“If Dybo agreed with you that I was a demon, I would be dead already. Therefore, he doesn’t.”
Yenalb made an unpleasant sound. “It’ll take more than sophistry to save you. The sacred scrolls confer extraordinary powers upon my office. I can select any fate I wish for you.”
“You threaten me with death? You would commit murder?”
“You yourself dispatched a crewmember aboard the Dasheter, so I’m told. A fellow named Nor-Gampar, wasn’t it?”
“That was different. He had gone into dagamant; he was crazed.”
“And perhaps you are becoming crazed even as we speak. Perhaps I will have no choice but to rip your throat out.”
“I am as calm as one could be, under the circumstances.”
“Are you, now?” Yenalb stepped closer to Afsan. “I am a priest. It’s my job to whip individuals or groups into a frenzy. I could set you off with a few choice words, or incite those guards standing out in the hall.”
“Dybo would never permit that.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’d be found out. The first time he, or someone else, asked you what had happened to me, you’d be discovered.”
“Would I?”
“Of course! Your face would flush blue.”
“Would it?” Yenalb’s teeth clicked. “Not every person can be a priest, you know. It takes a special disposition, special talents, special ways. Have you ever seen a priest’s muzzle show the liar’s tint?”
Afsan stepped backwards quickly, widening the space between them. “No … you’re saying that you can lie openly? No. It can’t be. You’re just trying to make me nervous, trying to frighten me into agreeing to recant.”
“Am I? Do you wish to put the issue to a test?” Yenalb stepped closer again. “Agree to the words on that piece of leather, Afsan. Save yourself.”
“I am trying to save myself. And all of us. Even you.”
Yenalb’s tail swished. “You are so young. And, except for your current delusion, so bright. Recant, Afsan.”
“Even if I did draw my cartouche on that document, what would that prove? Anybody who asked me if I was sincere in my change of mind would know in an instant that I wasn’t; I at least cannot lie openly … and for that I’m grateful.”
“Grateful to whom, Afsan? I thought you didn’t believe in a God.”
“I mean simply…”
“Yes, I know what you mean. Of course, you’d have to leave Capital City; indeed, we’d have to eject you altogether from the Fifty Packs. No one could see you again.”
Afsan’s jaw dropped open.
“Why so shocked?” said Yenalb. “Surely it’s better than death. You’re an extraordinary hunter; we’ve all heard the tales. You’d have no trouble fending for yourself. Why, you could even continue to pursue your astrological interests. I’d arrange for you to have your — what are those corrupt things called? — your far-seer to aid in your studies.”
Yenalb waited a few moments, letting that sink in. “And,” said the priest, in a studied, offhand way, “we could even arrange to find a volunteer companion for you. I understand you have a friend in Pack Gelbo who shares some of your interests, and some of your heresy.” Afsan’s head snapped up. Yenalb made a great show of trying to remember. “Now, what was her name? Something exotic, I seem to recall. Novato? Why, yes, I believe that was it. Wab-Novato.”
Afsan felt his pulse quickening. “How do you know about her?”
“There are delegations here from every Pack paying tribute to the new Emperor. I learned from Det-Zamar, the priest you traveled here with, that you had visited Pack Gelbo before going to Carno. The delegates from Gelbo were more than pleased to answer a few questions for the Master of the Faith.” Yenalb turned his muzzle to face Afsan directly. “Think of it, boy! Put your mark on that declaration, and then you and your friend can go safely, under my authority. There’s plenty of land on the southern shore of Edz’toolar where the two of you could hunt and live and study in absolute peace.”
“But we’d never see anyone else?”
“That’s a small price to pay, isn’t it? I’m offering you a way out, Afsan.” The priest looked at him as if wondering whether to go on. “I was fond of you, boy. I had taken an interest in you; went to Saleed on your behalf to help arrange your pilgrimage. You seemed so bright, and, well, if perhaps a bit absentminded, at least always polite and eager. I never wished you any ill.” Gently he proffered the writing leather again. “Take it, Afsan. Put your mark on it.”
Afsan did take the sheet and read it once more, slowly, making sure he understood the weight of each glyph, the significance of each turn of phrase. It was a tempting offer…
He unsheathed the claw on the longest finger of his left hand, the one he used to draw his cartouche. Yenalb produced a small pot of ink from a pouch in his robe and began to pry off the cap.
But then Afsan unsheathed his remaining claws and with a swat of his hand sliced the leather document into strips. They dropped to the floor, forming an overlapping array in the dirt.
Yenalb thumped his tail in fury. “You’ll regret that decision, Afsan.”
Afsan crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on his tail. Sadly he said, “Part of me always will.”
*33*
The central square of Capital City was filled with a latticework of Quintaglios. Each stood as close to the next as protocol would permit, meaning that, viewed from an elevation, such as the wooden platform Afsan found himself on, their heads formed points at regular intervals throughout the square, two paces between each one.
Dybo was noticeably absent. It was his orders, or at least orders that he had approved, that had brought Afsan here, but the Emperor apparently did not have what it took to watch.
It was small comfort to Afsan that Dybo had apparently had difficulty coming to a decision: it was now twenty-six days since Yenalb had visited Afsan in his tiny prison, and yet Afsan was sure Yenalb had called for this immediately after that meeting.
Six guards had accompanied Afsan, each twice his own bulk. That was far greater an escort than Afsan needed, but it seemed that the public was to be shown that Afsan was much more dangerous than his thin form would indicate. The guards had goaded him with violent shoves, pushing him up the ramp and onto the platform. And now that he was here, the hastily erected wooden structure creaking beneath him, two of them were tying him to a post, his arms lashed together behind the rough wood, his tail strapped to the planks.
The ties, made of armorback hide, were drawn so tight that Afsan felt a tingling in his hands, a numbness in his fingers. His claws were extended, but he could no longer feel their presence.
At the end of the platform, a Quintaglio even younger than Afsan beat slowly on a drum.
Afsan looked up. Overhead, against the purple sky, several large wingfingers circled.
Looking out over the lattice of heads, Afsan saw them parting, saw a pathway open up. Coming toward him, clad in swirling robes, bearing the Staff of Larsk, was Det-Yenalb, Master of the Faith. The crowd closed behind him.
Afsan’s heart pounded.
Yenalb came up the ramp that led onto the wooden platform. The crowd cheered him with whoops and thumping tails. He had yet to look at Afsan.
In an instant, Afsan saw Yenalb’s whole posture change; saw him rear up, standing as erect as possible; saw his features rearrange themselves into those of an orator; saw him adopt the posture he used in the Hall of Worship, that special bearing that helped him control others. The priest faced the crowd, raising his hands in benediction. He shouted a few words in outdated speech, speech from the time of Larsk’s voyage, speech that harked back to the truth Larsk had discovered. Then, pointing at Afsan, he announced, “We have a demon among us!” The crowd swayed back and forth, literally moved by the words. “He comes to us from the darkest volcanic pits, from the place of smoke and li
quid rock and deadly gases. He is a danger to us all!”
“Protect us!” shouted someone in the crowd.
“Save us from the demon,” said another voice.
Yenalb lifted his hands, again made the sign of benediction. “Fear not!” said the priest. “I will indeed save us all from this demon.” At last he turned toward Afsan. “You are Afsan?”
Afsan’s voice was tremulous. “I am Sal-Afsan, yes.”
“Silence! Tak-Saleed was a godly soul. You will not profane his memory by taking his name!”
Afsan looked at his feet, at his triple toeclaws digging into the splintery wood.
“Afsan, I give you one last chance,” said Yenalb. “Release the poison within you. Recant!”
Afsan turned his head toward the sky. “The sun is out. You can see my sincerity. But even if it were darkest night, I would not take back what I’ve said. The world is doomed…”
Yenalb’s hand slapped across Afsan’s face, and, tied up as he was, he wasn’t able to roll with the impact. He tasted blood in his mouth, his serrated teeth having smashed into the inside of his muzzle. “Silence!”
Afsan swallowed, looked away. And yet, in that instant, he realized just how controlled Yenalb’s anger was, how orchestrated the performance. A backhanded slap? From a carnivore? Yenalb was deliberately avoiding using claws or teeth, pointedly refraining from drawing visible blood. He played the crowd the way Dybo would a musical instrument.
Yenalb turned to the audience. “The dat-kar-mas!” he shouted. Again the assembled group parted as a second priest, a female, came through, carrying a small jeweled box in both hands. She proffered the box to Yenalb. He opened it, the lacquered lid tilting back on tiny hinges. Inside was an obsidian dagger, lying on fine black silk. It glinted with lavender highlights in the sunlight. He reached in to pick it up and Afsan noticed Yenalb’s claws extending as he touched it.
The priest held it over his head and turned it so the crowd could see. Gasps and hisses filled the air. Yenalb would not attack Afsan with his bare hands, for such a spectacle might indeed incite the crowd to instinctive violence. No, already the sight of a weapon — distasteful, cowardly, a tool of the weak — had quelled the crowd. And yet, Afsan knew that Yenalb could bring them to near-boil again with a few words or an appropriate gesture. The priest turned toward him. “What you say, demon, is a lie. Since you continue to claim to see things that are blasphemous, you give us no choice.” He nodded at the guards.