Eternity Row by S. L. Viehl

Author:S. L. Viehl [Viehl, S. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction; American, Life on Other Planets, Women physicians
ISBN: 9780451458919
Publisher: Roc
Published: 2002-09-03T00:00:00+00:00

Hawk’s escape stirred up the crowd, and like any angry mob they turned on who was left. The monitors managed to hold them back, but it didn’t look like that would last for long.

All of this, in the name of religion?

“Really nice, Wart Sack,” I said to the obese official as he waddled over to stand in front of me. “Come to Taerca, get your skull beaten in with a big stick, no extra charge.”

“Sadda is returned to us.” He flicked his pudgy hand at me in a snide little shoo-shoo. “You are less than dust.”

Reever took his usual approach. “Sadda is returned to you, and yet you dare the wrath of the ten thousand gods by offering unworthy sacrifice.”

“Why, Reever.” I pretended to be offended. “You promised you wouldn’t tell them we’re not worthy of getting our heads bashed in. Now you’ve gone and ruined the entire sacrifice for everyone.”

“Quiet, Cherijo.” To Ortsac, he said, “A wise leader would display sacrifices for Sadda’s inspection and obtain his leave to offer, now that he is here among the people. But you did not think of that, did you, Tadam Ortsac?”

Mr. Superfluity’s feathers bristled. “There is no one more devoted to Sadda than I. I have spent my life preparing for his return.”

“Have you?” Reever lowered his voice to a bare whisper. “Or have you spent that time stuffing your throat and adorning yourself?”

The fat Taercal reeled back from the stone, acting the offended one now. “I am that which Sadda will need. All I have done is for the glory of the great one.”

“Might want to check with Sadda anyway,” I suggested. “Just to be on the safe side. Nothing like screwing up a sacrifice to bring down celestial wrath.”

“No!” Ortsac blocked a monitor who was hefting a club in my direction. “Do not ply Sadda’s Claw yet. We must seek Sadda’s approval, now that he is come.”

A ripple of unease ran through the crowd. It was apparently easier worshipping an absent deity by bashing in people’s heads than asking permission for the same from one in person.

“Summon the great one from his abode,” Ortsac said to another monitor. “Beg Sadda’s indulgence in this, for which we need his council.”

“The Terran lies.” Fen Yillut pushed past the monitors and went to work with his finger again. This time he pointed at Duncan. “He seeks to preserve himself by plying persuasion. They are all like that.”

“I’d much rather suture your face shut,” I mentioned. “Just FYI.”

“Silence. Fen Yillut, your attentiveness is admirable, but I have this situation in hand.” Ortsac had puffed himself up and now stood like an enormous, overstuffed chicken. “Monitors, summon Sadda from his abode.”

Off the guys with the sticks went, into the largest of the ziggurats in the city. I wondered how the Chakacat was handling godhood.

Pretty well, I found out, when the monitor returned. “Sadda summons the faithful to his abode. Sadda will inspect the sacrifice within the confines of his holy place.”

“Thank you, Sadda,” I said as two of the monitors came at my stone.

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