Now in the city of Tídris many wise and valiant men and women had come to dwell. And there sojourned also many skilled Kabadri whom Pedrekkarpon had brought from Thémi Kabatigna to build fair houses of stone. These Kabadri were well acquainted with the Falakkazri and held all things of Negobith in abhorrence. So when the three Eskenári walked abroad, they received much welcome from the inhabitants of the city, who listened readily to all they had to tell. And a resolution arose in the hearts of the Tîdrissamê to resist the threats of Magéraz Urlan-fên.
Then again Vidnî and Arbros met together with Rógat, Thánrad, and Níbar. Their companions Thilfri and Lansenet were present, and Pedrekkarpon of the Kabadri, who was a wise and bold Kabáda.
And Arbros said:
Now must we lament the departure of the Hyilavúna to the ends of the earth! For our wisdom is so small. Nevertheless, by the help of Émarul Sápha we shall frame good counsels. And, your pardon, Master Pedrekkarpon, for you indeed are a Doitherán; we are fortunate that you are among us.
How, O Eskenáka friends, are we to enter the accursed city and deliver your families?
Then said Thánrad:
Let me take up the tale, for of us three I have had the fortune, or rather I should say, misfortune, to get to know the city best. This is the fashion of the place. You know that it takes its name, Magéraz Urlan-fên, from its two abominable towers, which are named for the two accursed horns of the underworld. They are the heart of the city. The greater tower is the lair of the Prince, and is named Guláz. The lesser houses the Prince’s consort, Gyaldang ta-Valka. It is named Galúd. Each tower is raised upon a low hill, the Fef Guláz and the Fef Galúd.
Now the quarter of the city on and around the slopes of Fef Guláz is the older part and the place where the deepest ûthéagus is to be felt, and it is named Ongulâz, ‘Beneath Guláz’. And though it is a very great quarter, the one that lies upon the slopes of Fef Galúd is yet greater, and it lies around and enfolds the other. And indeed this part of the city, Vogalûd, which means ‘outside Galúd’, has no limits, since it is ever growing and spreading into the fields all around; for you know that the Prince is striving to bring all Hyûvandri to dwell there.
Those who come to Magéraz Urlan-fên, whether or not they have already been induced to receive the Yoke of Negobith, are taken into Vogalûd and there housed, comfortably enough: for they are made to believe that the Yoke confers benefits upon them and they are not to know what awaits them thereafter.
Then, when they have become accustomed to the city, and somewhat reconciled to being brought there, owing to the great beauty of the streets and the many good things which are lavished upon them at first, they receive the Yoke, if they have not already. Then they keep, as it were, a time of probation, and afterwards they are taken from Vogalûd to Ongulâz. What ensues I do not know, for when we were selected to accompany Ketumar, we were still in the time of our probation, and indeed that embassy was a trial of our loyalty.
But we understand that the one who enters Ongulâz undergoes another ordeal, like the Yoke of Negobith but yet more powerful, so that afterwards he or she can no longer even think of leaving the service of Magéraz Urlan-fên: he or she is bound, mind and soul, to the service of Negobith. You saw how unmoved Ketumar was by all that was said by you or by us. He has already passed into Ongulâz. Also you can see that our rebellion against Ketumar was our last chance to choose freedom: those unfortunate four men who returned with him will shortly be bound to Negobith for life.
As are we, so are our wives and our children: they are still in Vogalûd, but they are being made ready to dwell in Ongulâz, whither we should all have been taken after this embassy had been successfully completed.’
Arbros said:
‘How then are we to enter this outer part of the city? Is it not walled and guarded? And will they not seize us to brand us with the Yoke of the accursed one?’
Thanrád replied:
‘My lord, to enter is easy. There are no visible walls. All are welcome in Magéraz Urlan-fên! It is a place of happiness, so they say. You may roam the paths and loiter in the open spaces to admire the fine buildings. No one will hinder you, no one will ask your business, unless you have the misfortune to encounter a patrol of Falakkazri. When you have sojourned for a while — then the Falakkazri will come to give you the Yoke. But no, it is leaving that is hard. To find a way out once you are inside — that is most difficult! There are no great thoroughfares, no streets that cross from one side to the other. Only an unending network of lanes that run between the dwellings and workplaces. They are bewildering beyond the mind’s reach.’
Arbros asked:
‘Then how do the inhabitants find their way about? And how did you and your four unfortunate companions come forth?’
Thanrád replied:
‘For one who dwells in Vogalûd, it is easy enough to recall the paths around his own neighbourhood: the very singularity fixes them in the mind. But no one ventures far beyond for fear of becoming lost. And as for us, remember that when we came on embassy, we were led forth by Ketumar. He is an Onguláska. They are instructed in all the ways. Or perhaps I should say they are guided. He led us from the innermost parts of Vogalûd to the perimeter without hesitation. And, of course, he was permitted to leave the city, and we with him.’
‘But for others?’
‘You could reach the edge of the city only after hours of wandering and by accident. And if by chance you should reach it, there are the Lebengri.’
Here Thanrád broke off and shuddered. The four Tîdrissamê and Pedrekkarpon looked at him questioningly.
‘Ask me not what they are. Some say they are kin to the Sheefra. You do not see them when you go in. But going out, you see them indeed partly, but you wholly feel them. That is not pleasant! It is like strong cold hands exploring every part of the body. Every part.’
‘But, to our plans. We might all enter Vogalûd. They would not expect us three to return, of course, but if we were apprehended, there could be trouble for us! That aside, we might make our way to our families without hindrance. But could we ever find them? And if we found them, could we ever find our way out? And if we did come to the edge of the city — then there are the Lebengri to consider.’
The three men from Vogalûd looked grave, and Arbros’s brows were knitted. But both Pedrekkarpon and Queen Vidnî drew breath to speak.
The Kabáda said:
‘Say on, my Lady! I’ll warrant that you have a solution to the one puzzle, while I have one for the other!’
‘Of your courtesy, Master Pedrek. Sirs, have any of you with you aught of your wives’ or your children’s possessions?’
At this, the three men looked surprised, but at the Lady’s request they began to search in the wallets at their belts. Rógat and Thanrád found nothing, but Níbar, with a little hesitation, brought something out in his hand.
‘My lady, it is but a toy — a small toy horse, that my little maid child dropped the last time —,’
and he paused and swallowed,
‘— the last time I was with my family.’
He handed the small carved figure of a horse to Queen Vidnî. She examined it and said:
‘It is a thing made with great skill. The one who made it put their love into it.’
Níbar reddened.
‘’Twas I made it, my Lady.’
‘So much the better! And now we shall let the charmed crystal read it!’
With that she set the toy upon the rock before them, then reached into her bosom and brought Sporni forth, drawing the cord over her head. All who had not seen him before marvelled at his brightness. Then she lightly touched the toy with the tip of Sporni. Almost at once, the crystal shot forth beams of light that dazzled the onlookers, who gasped with amazement.
‘See, now Sporni knows the owner of this toy and will find her. On my honour, sirs, this wondrous crystal will find both the child and all your families. O Arbros, since I cannot go, you must take Sporni with you. He will lead you through the maze to Níbar’s family.’
‘Dearest Vidnî, I shall bear Sporni with pride! Now, Master Pedrek, it is your turn to speak.’
Pedrekkarpon said:
‘My masters, you say that it is city without a straight street or thoroughfare, but devised like a net woven in the dark?’
The men smiled at this description and nodded.
‘But you also say that it is a passing fair city? The houses, even of the lowliest, are nobly built? The lanes are paved? The water kennels are covered over? No ordure or rubbish is permitted to lie in the open?’
Again, the three nodded in confirmation.
‘And in the yards of the houses there is no foul water or filth?’
‘No, Master Pedrek, far from it. The houses are devised in a way that we never saw in any town of men — and naturally, we who travel in wains have no such provision! You, my lord and lady, would not have seen this in Uxul; nor, if I may be pardoned, have you such a thing in Tídris as yet!’
‘And what is this provision?’
‘The buildings are so devised that waste water of all sorts, and other waste stuffs, are conveyed from the house into pipes set into the ground, and are seen no more. We know not what becomes of them!’
‘It is just as I thought! And tell me, who builds the houses of Vogalûd?’
‘Your pardon, Master, but the builders are all Kabadri!’
‘Again, just as I thought! It is most grievous to me that so many of my kin have received the Yoke — many that dwelt with me in Kabadkabâ, and perchance the whole people of Kalípo Kalhondrim, who embraced the Yoke as soon as it went forth. But it serves our purpose well. So there we have our plan.’
Arbros said:
‘I beg your pardon, Master Pedrek. Explain a little!’
‘The fashion of the streets of the city is purposely devised like the wanderings of a person in the dark, or perhaps like those of a wild beast, so as to keep the people in. But beneath the city, to carry off the waste water, my friends, there are drains! Tunnels into which the pipes — of which Thanrád spoke — empty their contents. And these, you must know, cannot be dug at random. They are formed purposefully, with the lesser tunnels leading into the greater, until all are united into one, as it were the trunk of a great tree. And this, the greatest tunnel of all, carries all the waste water out of the city.’
Here Queen Vidnî interposed:
‘But this is a wonderful thing, though it be found in such an abominable city! Predekkarpon, can we not have such drains in Tídris?’
‘My Lady, although the towns of the Hyûvandri have them not as yet, the ancient dwelling-places of the Kabdath have had them since the time when we first hewed our houses from the rocks. Otherwise we could not long endure to dwell in our caverns! However, building such things is costly and requires many Kabadka tunnellers and masons. You must bespeak them for your city in good time! But, to resume: the greatest tunnel, as I said, takes all away from the city. It has to have an outlet. And where waste water can issue, so can people. You have only to enter the network of drains and follow the flow of water.’
Arbros said:
‘And how does a person enter these tunnels? Not by way of the waterpipes, to be sure!’
‘My Lord, in almost every lane there is made a kind of trapdoor — a great stone covering a shaft that leads down into the tunnel beneath, into which the wastepipes empty. In each there is a stairway or a ladder.’
‘And can a man walk upright in these tunnels?’
‘A Kabáda can. A tall man would need to stoop somewhat.’
‘And is not the air very foul?’
‘It is not pleasant in the tunnels. But it would be more pleasant to walk through the drains of Magéraz Urlan-fên than to live as a Yokeservant of Negobith.’
‘And when we bring the captives forth from these — drains: we must convey them back into Dúmiel before the Falakkazri can prevent us.’
Vidnî said:
‘It must be on the night when the moon is full, Arbros. The Falakkazri and the Valkari all hate him, and are without power when he is full. Even if clouds cover him!’
Pedrekkarpon said:
‘You are right, my Lady. So now we have the outline of a plan, but more is needed. My friends of the Eskenári, we shall attempt to make a model of the city. Come, let us use this sand.’
Pedrekkarpon stooped and took some of the sand that lay in that place and heaped it up in the shape of two hills. He placed stones upon the humps of sand to represent the two towers. Then he asked the three men to show him the slope of the land on which the city lay and to mark with pebbles the area covered with buildings. Then he studied the model carefully for a long time. Finally he rubbed his hands together with satisfaction.
‘Excellent! I am firmly persuaded that the main outlet lies here on the southeast side of the hill. That is where those who escape will come out.’
No comments:
Post a Comment