Wolfe, Gene - Long Sun 04 by Wolfe Gene

Author:Wolfe, Gene
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 11 -- Lovers

As the floater rose, Hossaan said, "I've a dozen things to tell you, Calde. I know there won't be time for all of them. It's only four streets."

"I know where it is," Silk snapped. "Hurry!" Xiphias laid a hand on his arm. "Easy, lad!"

Hossaan glanced at the small mirror above his head, and his eyes met Silk's. "So I'm going to tell the most important one first. You think there won't be anybody at the Grand Manteion when Hy gets there, and you're afraid she'll leave."

"Yes!"

"That's not right. I told you I had to talk to General Mint on your glass, and that was what made me late." Heeling like a close-hauled boat, the floater swerved around a gilded litter with eight bearers.

"I said we'd discuss it later."

"Right. Only because of what she said, I thought it might be smart to have a look at the Grand Manteion. There's three augurs in there and a couple thousand people."

"Did you see Hyacinth?"

Hossaan shook his head. "But I could've missed her pretty easily, Calde. She's not as tall as the redhead, and there was a bunch of women with animals."

Oreb muttered, "No cut."

"She's probably still outside, Calde. If she was climbing the Palatine when Mucor said she was, she can't have gotten to the Grand Manteion yet."

Xiphias asked, "Why's everybody there, lad?"

"There's been another theophany--there must have been. Do you know about Pas appearing to His Cognizance?"

"No, lad! Never heard about it!"

"I have," Hossaan said. "There's a rumor, anyhow. Do you think that's brought them?"

Silk shook his head. "It was Molpsday, and would be stale news now." Half to himseif he added, "What does it mean, when a dead god rises?"

No one answered him. The floater sped on.

A surging crowd filled Gold Street. "Stop!" Silk ordered Hossaan.

"No! Higher if you can. I saw her. Turn around."

"Near us, Calde?" They rose, blowers racing.

"Cut!" Oreb exclaimed. "Cut cat!"

"Two or three streets down the slope. Turn!"

The floater darted forward instead. "Your bird's right," Hossaan told Silk. "It would take too long to get through that mob, but we can duck down here--" He swerved onto a steep and narrow street bordered by high walls. "And cut across to Gold so we come up behind her. We'll be moving with them, and that will make it a lot faster."

Silk drew breath and exhaled. The aching weakness in his chest was fading, but it seemed to him that he had not filled his lungs properly for days. "You told Horn that your name was Willet, Willet. Also you found clothing--somewhere in the Calde's Palace, I suppose--similar to the waiters', so that you could help them serve."

"I like to be useful, calde."

"I know you do, and it may be useful for you to tell me why you did those things before we locate Hyacinth--if we do. You say you have a dozen items to relate. That should be the next."

Still steering their floater expertly, Hossaan glanced over his shoulder at Xiphias.

"If Master Xiphias and Maytera Marble can't be trusted, no one can.

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