Fugue State by Ford John M

Author:Ford, John M. [Ford, John M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780812508130
Google: rlSpzwEACAAJ
Amazon: 0812508130
Publisher: Tom Doherty Assoc Llc
Published: 1990-08-02T07:00:00+00:00

People in the little towns to the west were saying that a stone had fallen from heaven, and the King’s Forester was out on a cool May morning to search for it. He didn’t think much of the chances—stars fell all the time, but rarely landed—but now anti then there was a stone, and there was an order going back to the wizard Vogel’s time that they should be brought to the Court. There, in the usual way with wonders, they were admired for a while and then put away somewhere and forgotten.

Vogel had presumably had a reason for wanting the stones, but whatever it was it was gone with the wizard, out of sight and forgotten, like any wonder.

About the middle of the morning, as the Forester was concluding that no stone had reached the ground, he picked up a man’s trail through the woods; then a moment later he saw the track of the wounded deer the poacher was chasing. The poacher was a good tracker, though he was also apparently a very poor shot; the double trail went on for nearly a mile through the woods before the Forester found the two of them, the dead deer and the very active man.

It was early May, the light quite clear through the trees. The Forester circled around slightly, then took out his sword and walked straight in. The poacher didn’t seem to notice him at all.

About four steps behind the poacher, the Forester stopped and said “There’s death for taking those deer,” in an ordinary voice.

“There’s death for starving, too,” the man said, and worked on for a moment more. Then he stopped still, and turned, his bloody dressing knife pointed. He was wearing a cowhide coat and boots, old and badly mended, and an empty sword belt in the style of the old Imperial Army, Though he was two generations too young to be Imperial.

The Forester said “You’re making a botch of that.” He pointed with his left hand, holding his sword steady. “Another cut like that and half the meat will be ruined. You haven’t even taken out the arrow well.”

“Could you do better?” the poacher said, sounding more uncertain than frightened.

“Probably. But I haven’t time. I know someone with the skill and the time, though. Let’s go and visit him.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Who the devil are you, anyway?”

“I’m the man who’s the death for the taking of the deer.” He raised his sword’s point just slightly. “Put the knife down.”

“Take it from me.”

“I’ve half a yard’s reach and the whole law on you, stupid,” the Forester said, just short of anger. “And I told you my time’s short. Put it down.”

The poacher did.

“You said something about hunger. Was that you, or someone else?”

“It was a poor man,” the poacher said defiantly.

“There’s biscuit in your sack, there.”

“I’m particular.”

“Pick up the deer. On your shoulders. Heavy, isn’t he? How much did you plan to leave for the crows?”

“I said I was hungry. I thought there was justice in this country.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.