The Quest - Smith Wilbur (читаем книги онлайн бесплатно TXT) 📗

320

I

'You must sleep here with us tonight,' Fenn told her firmly. 'You might need our help.'

Sidudu's groans woke them at the darkest hour of the night. Fenn sprang from her mat and lit the oil lamp. Then she helped Sidudu to her feet and led her, doubled over with cramps, to the nightsoil pot in the small adjacent room. They reached it just before Sidudu voided, with a spluttering liquid rush. Her cramps and pains grew more intense as the hours passed and she strained over the pot. Fenn stayed at her side, massaging her belly when the cramps were at their height, sponging her sweating face and chest after each bout passed. Just after the moon set Sidudu was convulsed with a spasm more powerful than all those that had gone before. At its height she cried out wildly, 'Oh, help me, Mother Isis! Forgive me for what I have done.' She fell back, spent, and the foetus made a pathetic mound of bloody jelly in the bottom of the pot.

With fresh water and a linen cloth, Fenn cleaned and dried Sidudu's body. Then she helped her to her feet and led her back to the sleeping mat. Taita gathered up the foetus from the pot, washed it carefully, then wrapped it in a fresh linen headcloth. It had not developed far enough to tell whether it had been a boy or a girl. He carried it out into the stableyard, called Meren to help him and they lifted a paving slab in the corner of the yard. They scooped a hollow in the earth beneath it, then Taita laid the bundle in it.

When Meren had replaced the slab Taita said quietly, 'Mother Isis, take this soul into your care. It was conceived in pain and hatred. It perished in shame and suffering. It was not meant for this life. Holy Mother, we pray you, treat the little one more kindly in its next life.'

When he returned to the chamber, Fenn looked up at him enquiringly.

'It is gone,' he said. 'The bleeding will soon staunch, and Sidudu will be well in a few days. She has nothing more to fear.'

'Except the awful man who beats her,' Fenn reminded him.

'Indeed. But she is not the only one: we must all fear Captain Onka.'

He knelt by the sleeping mat and studied Sidudu's exhausted face. She was sleeping soundly. 'Stay with her, Fenn, but let her sleep as long as she can. I have matters to attend to.'

As soon as he had left the chamber, Taita sent for Nakonto and Imbali. 'Go back to where we killed the apes. Hide the carcasses in the forest, then find the pack horses and dispose of the hogs. Pick up the spent arrows and cover any signs we were there. Come back when you have finished.' After they had left, he told Meren and Hilto, 'Colonel

That said that his agent in Mutangi is the headman, Bilto. He will take any message to That. Go to Bilto secretly. Tell him to let That know that we have the girl Sidudu with us—' He was about to go on when they heard many horses galloping down the lane that ran past the front of the house. Loud hectoring shouts rang through the village, then the sound of blows, the wail of women and the whimpering of children.

'Too late, I fear,' Taita said. 'The soldiers are already here. I have no doubt that they are searching for Sidudu.'

'We must hide her.' Meren jumped to his feet. At that moment they heard hobnailed sandals on the paving of the stableyard, followed by pounding on the door. Meren half drew his sword from its scabbard.

'In the name of the Supreme Council, open up!' It was Onka's angry voice.

'Put up your blade.' Taita told Meren quietly. 'Open the door and let them in.'

'But what of Sidudu?' Meren looked towards the door of the inner chamber, his expression distraught.

'We must trust to Fenn's good sense,' Taita replied. 'Open the door before Onka becomes truly suspicious.' Meren crossed the room and lifted the bar. Onka burst in.

'Ah, Captain Onka!' Taita greeted him. 'To what good fortune do we owe the unexpected pleasure of your company?'

With an effort Onka regained his composure. 'I beg your understanding, Magus, but we are searching for a missing girl. She is disturbed and may be raving.'

'What is her age and appearance?'

'She is young and pretty. Have you seen her?'

'I regret I have not.' Taita looked enquiringly at Meren. 'Have you seen anybody matching that description, Colonel?'

'I have not.' Meren was not the best of liars and Onka peered into his face suspiciously. 'You might have waited until morning before disturbing the magus and his household,' Meren blustered.

'I apologize once more,' said Onka, without any attempt to appear sincere, 'but the matter is urgent and cannot wait until morning. May I search this house?'

'I see that you will do so, whatever I say.' Taita smiled. 'But do it swiftly, then let us be in peace.'

Onka strode to the door of the inner chamber and threw it open, then marched in.

Taita followed him and stood in the doorway. Onka went to the pile

of sleeping mats and fur blankets in the middle of the floor. He turned them over with the point of his sword. There was nobody beneath them.

He glared around the room, then crossed quickly to the cubicle and peered into the nightsoil pot. He grimaced, then returned to the sleeping chamber, and looked around it again, more carefully than before.

Meren stepped into the doorway behind Taita. 'It's empty!' he exclaimed.

'You sound surprised.' Onka rounded on him.

'Not at all.' Meren recovered himself. 'I was merely confirming what the magus has already told you.'

Onka stared at him for a moment, then switched his attention back to Taita. 'You are aware that I am only doing my duty, Magus. Once I have searched the rest of the house, I have been ordered to conduct you to the citadel where the oligarchs will receive you. Please be ready to leave immediately.'

'Very well. At this hour of the night it is not convenient, but I will bow to the dictates of the Supreme Council.'

Onka pushed past Meren, who followed him.

As soon as they were gone Taita opened his Inner Eye. Immediately he picked up the shimmer of two separate auras in the far corner of the chamber. As he concentrated on them the shapes of Fenn and Sidudu appeared. Fenn was holding the girl protectively in the crook of her left arm. With the other hand she held the gold nugget of the Talisman of Taita. She had suppressed her aura to a pale glow. Sidudu's danced and flamed with terror, but in spite of that Fenn had been able to cloak them with her spell of concealment. Taita gazed into Fenn's eyes and sent her an astral impulse: 'You have done well. Remain as you are. When it is safe to do so I will send Meren to you. He will take you to a better place than this.'

Fenn's eyes opened wider as she received the message, then narrowed again as she replied: 'I will do as you tell me. I heard Onka say that the Council have summoned you. I shall hold vigil for you while we are apart.'

For a few moments longer, Taita held her eyes. He exerted all his powers to conceal from her his fears for her safety, and instead to convey to her his love and protection. She smiled trustingly and her aura took on its usual fire and beauty. With the talisman in her right hand she made the circular sign of benediction towards him.

'Stay concealed,' he repeated, and left the chamber.

Meren was waiting alone in the living room, but Taita could hear

Onka and his men rampaging at the back of the house. 'Listen well, Meren.' Taita stood close to him and spoke quietly. 'Fenn and Sidudu are still in my chamber.' Meren opened his mouth to speak but Taita raised his hand to caution him to silence. 'Fenn has cast a spell of concealment over them. When Onka and I have left for the citadel to answer the summons of the oligarchs, you may go to them. You must pass a message through Bilto to That. Tell him how precarious the position of the girls has become. He must find a more secure hiding-place for them while I am away, which may be a long time. I believe that the oligarchs intend to send me back at once to the Cloud Gardens.' Meren looked worried. 'I will only make astral contact with Fenn in case of dire urgency, or when our purpose has been achieved. In the meantime, you and That must continue to make preparations for our flight from Jarri.