First Blood by Robert Lynn Asprin

Author:Robert Lynn Asprin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

7

Meantime, Masha and Smhee talked in low tones. Wallu had gone to bed, but not to sleep, shortly before sunrise. Eevroen had not appeared. Probably he was sleeping off his liquor in an empty crate on the wharf or in some doorway. Masha was glad. She had been prepared to break another basin over his head if he made a fuss and disturbed Kheem.

Though she had seen the fat little man a number of times, she did not know much about him. Nobody else did either. It was certain that he had first appeared in Sanctuary six weeks (sixty days) ago. A merchant ship of the Banmalts people had brought him, but this indicated little about his origin since the ship ported at many lands and islands.

Smhee had quickly taken a room on the second floor of a building, the first of which was occupied by the Khabeeber or “Diving Bird” Tavern. (The proprietor had jocularly named it thus because he claimed that his customers dived as deeply into alcohol for surcease as the khabeeber did into the ocean for fish.) He did no work nor was he known to thieve or mug. He seemed to have enough money for his purposes, whatever they were, but then he lived frugally. Because he smeared his body and hair with rancid butter, he was called “the Stinking Butterball” or “Old Rotten,” though not to his face. He spent time in all the taverns and also was often seen in the farmers’ market and the bazaar. As far as was known, he had shown no sexual interest in men or women or children. Or, as one wag put it, “not even in goats.”

His religion was unknown though it was rumored that he kept an idol in a small wooden case in his room.

Now, sitting on the floor by Kheem, making the child drink water every half-hour, Masha questioned Smhee. And he in turn questioned her.

“You’ve been following me around,” Masha said. “Why?”

“I’ve also investigated other women.”

“You didn’t say why.”

“One answer at a time. I have something to do here, and I need a woman to help me. She has to be quick and strong and very brave and intelligent. And desperate.”

He looked around the room as if anybody who lived in it had to be desperate indeed.

“I know your history,” he said. “You came from a fairly well-to-do family, and as a child you lived in the eastern quarter. You were not born and bred in the Maze, and you want to get out of it. You’ve worked hard, but you just are not going to succeed in your ambition. Not unless something unusual comes your way and you have the courage to seize it, no matter what the consequences might be.”

“This has to do with Benna and the jewel, doesn’t it?” she said.

He studied her face by the flickering light of the lamp.

“Yes.”

He paused.

Masha sucked in a deep breath. Her heart thudded far more swiftly than her fatigue could account for. A coldness spread from her toes to the top of her head, a not unpleasant coldness.

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