Jack Vance Tschai 3 The DirDir

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Reith wasted a half-second gauging the distance to the first Dirdir, then
continued his flight.
Page 30
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Traz soared across the barrens. Anacho, his face pink and distorted, pounded
behind.
Traz gained the Portal. He turned and waited, catapult in one hand, sword in
the other. Anacho passed through, then Reith, not fifty feet in advance of the
foremost Dirdir. Traz backed to stand just beyond the boundary, challenging
the Dirdir to attack. The Dirdir gave a shrill scream of fury. It shook its
head, and its effulgences, standing high, vibrated. Then, curvetting, it loped
south, after its comrades, already on their way back to the hills.
Anacho leaned panting against the Portal of Gleams. Reith stood with the
breath rasping in his throat. Traz's face was vacant and gray. His knees
buckled; he fell to the ground and lay quiet, giving not so much as a twitch.
Reith staggered forward, turned him over. Traz seemed not to breathe. Reith
straddled his body and applied artificial respiration. Traz gave a
throat-wrenching gasp. Presently he began to breathe evenly.
The solicitors, touts and beggars who normally kept station by the Portal of
Gleams had
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/Vance,%20Jack%20-%20Tschai%203%20-%20The%20Dirdir.
txt (29 of 81) [2/4/03 10:46:08 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/Vance,%20Jack%20-%20Tschai%203%20-%20The%20Dirdir.
txt scattered, aghast at the approach of the Dirdir. First to return was a
young man in a long maroon gown, who now stood making gracious movements of
concern. "An outrage," he lamented. "The conduct of the Dirdir! Never should
they chase so close to the gate! They have almost killed this poor young man!"
"Quiet," snapped Anacho. "You disturb us."
The young man stood aside. Reith and Anacho lifted Traz to his feet, where he
stood in something of a stupor.
The young man once again came forward, his soft brown eyes all-seeing,
all-knowing. "Allow me to assist. I am Issam the Thang; I represent the
Hopeful Venture Inn, which promises a restful atmosphere. Allow me to assist
you with your parcels." Picking up Traz's pack he turned a startled gaze
toward Reith and Anacho. "Sequins?"
Anacho seized his pack. "Be off with you! Our plans are established!"
"As you will," said Issam the Thang, "but the Hopeful Venture Inn is near at
hand, and something apart from the tumult and gaming. While comfortable, the
expense does not approach the exorbitant fees of the Alawan."
"Very well," said Reith. "Take us to the Hopeful Venture."
Anacho muttered under his breath; to which Issam the Thang made a delicate
gesture of reproach.
"This way, if you will."
They trudged toward Maust, Traz hobbling on his lame leg.
"My memory is a jumble," he muttered. "I recall crossing the Forelands; I
remember that someone shouted into my ear-"
"It was I," said Reith.
"--then after, nothing real, and next I lay beside the Portal." And a moment
later he mused: "I
heard roaring voices. A thousand faces looked past me, warriors' faces,
raging. I have seen such things in dreams." His voice dwindled; he said no
more.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE HOPEFUL VENTURE Inn stood at the back of a narrow alley, a brooding,
age-blackened structure, doing no great business, to judge from the common
room, which was dark and still.
Issam, it now appeared, was the proprietor. He made an effusive show of
hospitality, ordering water, lamps and linen up to the "grand suite," which
orders were effected by a surly servant with enormous red hands and a shock of
coarse red hair. The three mounted a twisting stairway to the suite, which
Page 31
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
comprised a sitting-room, a wash-room, several irregular alcoves furnished
with sour-
smelling couches. The servant arranged the lamps, brought flasks of wine and
departed. Anacho examined the lead and wax stoppers, then put the flasks
aside. "Too much risk of drugs or poison. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki