Jack Vance Dying Earth 02 The Eyes of the Overworld

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modes and styles of more civilized folk."
"Indeed!" The elder mulled the matter over for a moment, and nodded in
qualified approval. "Your garments and physiognomy are of a type unfamilar to
me; where is this homeland of yours?"
"It lies hi a region so remote,"' said Cugel, "that never till this instant
had I knowledge of the land of Farwan!"
The elder flattened his ears in surprise. "What? Glori-
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The Eyes of the Overworld _
ous Farwan, unknown? The great cities Impergos, Tharawe, Rhaverjand all
unheard of? What of the illustrious Sembers? Surely the fame of the Sembers
has reached you? They expelled the star-
pirates; they brought the sea to the Land of Platforms; the splendor of Padara
Palace is beyond description!"
Cugel sadly shook his head. "No rumor of this extraordinary magnificence has
come to my ears."
The elder gave his nose a saturnine twitch. Cugel was clearly a dolt. 'He said
shortly, "Matters are as I state."
"I doubt nothing," said Cugel. "In fact I admit to ignorance. But tell me
more, for I may be forced to abide long in this region. For instance, what of
the Winged Beings that reside in the cliff? What manner of creature are they?"
The elder pointed toward the sky. "If you had the eyes of a nocturnal titvit
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you might note a dark moon which reels around the earth, and which cannot be
seen except when it casts its shadow upon the sun. The Winged Beings are
denizens of this dark world and then* ultimate nature is unknown.
They serve,the Great God Yelisea in this fashion: whenever comes the time for
man or woman to die, the Winged Beings are informed by a despairing signal
from the dying person's norn. They thereupon descend upon the unfortunate and
convey him to their caves, which in actuality constitute a magic opening into
the blessed land Byssom."
Cugel leaned back, black eyebrows raised in a somewhat quizzical arch.
"Indeed, indeed," he said, in a voice which the elder found insufficiently
earnest.
"There can be no doubt as to the truth of the facts as I have stated them.
Orthodoxy derives from this axiomatic foundation, and the two systems are
mutually reinforcing: hence each is doubly
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Cugel frowned. "The matter undoubtedly goes as you aver but are the Winged
Beings consistently accurate in their choice of victim?"
The elder rapped the table in annoyance. "The doctrine is irrefutable, for
those whom the Winged
Beings take never survive, even when they appear in the best of health.
Admittedly the fall upon the rocks conduces toward death, but it is the mercy
of Yelisea which sees fit to grant a speedy extinction, rather than the
duration of a
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The Eyes of the Overworld possibly agonizing canker. The system is wholly
beneficent. The Winged Beings summon only the moribund, which are then thrust
through the cliff into the blessed land Byssom. Occasionally a heretic argues
otherwise and in this case but I am sure that you share the orthodox view?"
"Wholeheartedly," Cugel asserted. "The tenets of your belief are demonstrably
accurate." And he drank deep of his wine. Even as he set down the goblet a
murmur of music whispered through the air: a concord infinitely sweet,
infinitely melancholy. All sitting under the pergola became silent though
Cugel was unsure that he in fact had heard music.
The elder huddled forward a trifle, and drank from his own goblet. Only then
did he glance up.
"The Winged Beings are passing over even now."
Cugel pulled thoughtfully at his chin. "How does one protect himself from the
Winged Beings?"
The question was ill-put; the elder glared, an act which included the curling
forward of his ears.
"If a person is about to die, the Winged Beings appear. If not, he need have
no fear."
Cugel nodded several times. "You have clarified my perplexity. Tomorrow since
you and I are manifestly in the best of health let us walk up the hill and
saunter back and forth near the cliff."
"No," said the elder, "and for this reason: the atmosphere at such an
elevation is insalubrious; a person is likely to inhale a noxious fume, which
entails damage to the health."
"I comprehend perfectly," said Cugel. "Shall we abandon this dismal topic? For
the nonce we are alive and concealed to some extent by the vines which shroud
the pergola. Let us eat and drink and watch the merrymaking. The youths of the
village dance with great agility."
The elder drained his goblet and rose to his feet. "You may do as you please;
as for me, it is time for my Ritual Abasement, this act being an integral part
of our belief.'*
"I will perform something of a like nature by and by," said Cugel. "I wish you
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the enjoyment of your rite."
The elder departed the pergola and Cugel was left by himself. Presently
certain youths, attracted by curiosity, joined him, and Cugel explained his
presence once again, 111
The Eyes of the Overworld though with less emphasis upon the barbaric crudity
of his native land, for several girls had joined the group, and Cugel was
stimulated by their exotic coloring and the vivacity of their attitudes. Much
wine was served and Cugel was persuaded to attempt the kicking, jumping local
dance, which he performed without discredit.
The exercise brought him into close proximity with an especially beguiling
girl, who announced her name to be Zhiaml Vraz. At the conclusion of the
dance, she put her arm around his waist, conducted him back to the table, and
settled herself upon his lap. This act of familiarity excited no apparent
disapproval among the others of the group, and Cugel was emboldened further.
"I have not yet arranged for a bed-chamber; perhaps I should do so before the
hour grows late."
The girl signaled the innkeeper. "Perhaps you have reserved a chamber for this
chisel-faced stranger?"
"Indeed; I will display it for his approval."
He took Cugel to a pleasant chamber on the ground floor, furnished with couch,
commode, rug and lamp. On one wall hung a tapestry woven in purple and black;
on another was a representation of a peculiarly ugly baby which seemed trapped
or compressed in a transparent globe. The room suited
Cugel; he announced as much to the innkeeper and returned to the pergola,
where now the merrymakers were commencing to disperse. The girl Zhiaml Vraz
yet remained, and she welcomed Cugel with a warmth which undid the last
vestige of his caution. After another goblet of wine, he leaned close to her
ear. "Perhaps I am over-prompt; perhaps I overindulge my vanity; perhaps I
contravene the normal decorum of the village but is there reason why we should
not repair to my chamber, and there amuse ourselves?"
"None whatever," the girl said. "I am unwed and until this time may conduct
myself as I wish, for this is our custom."
"Excellent," said Cugel. "Do you care to precede me, or walk discreetly to the
rear?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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