Gene Wolfe - Return to the Whorl

Hound said, "Gods be, Merl. Is there something we can do for you this morning?"

"Mornin' to you 'n your wife." A spare, middle-aged man in a worn tunic of faded green stepped into the shop. "Saw your door open is all."

Tansy glanced up. "This is our friend Horn, Merl. He's cut himself, and I'm salving them for him. See how brave he is?"

"You're lookin' for Calde Silk, you says?" Merl rubbed his stubbled jaw.

"Yes, I am. Do you know where I can find him?"

"Was in the old manse, only nobody hardly seen him there."

"Can you tell me where that is?"

Oreb fluttered dolefully. "No go."

"Well, I could right enough. Only he's not there no more. Not now, anyhow." Merl drew himself up. "You seen these men that got their heads all wrapped up, Hound? They got shawls or somethin' tied around them like a woman."

Hound shook his head. "You mean here?"

"Right here in Endroad. I'm tellin' you. You see 'em, stranger?"

"No see," Oreb declared for both.

"Unless you mean my friend Pig, who ties a cloth around his head to conceal his sightless eyes, I have not."

" 'Stead of a hat's what I mean. I figure they're fixin' to kill him. They got slug guns 'n swords, 'n these here big knives." Merl pointed to a corn knife on the wall. "'Bout like that 'un, only nicer. They come to my place in the big dark of yesterday. Scared Spirea 'n Verbena to where they crawled right under the bed. Fact."

Hound asked, "How many were there?"

"There's three." Merl paused. "Foreign-lookin', 'n had foreign- soundin' names, too, to where I don't recollect 'em. Not from nowheres near here's what Myrtle says to me, 'n she had the right of it. I told how to get to the old manse, 'n I tells 'em try there. I don't know as how he's in there, I says, only you state your business with him, 'n maybe you'll find out somethin' you're needin' to know."

He asked, "Did they find him? Please, sir, this is extremely important to me."

As she knotted a clean bandage Tansy murmured, "I doubt that he knows."

"Never thought to see 'em again, I'll tell you. I did, though, just walkin' to town this mornin'. Met 'em where the road crosses. Couldn't of been a hour ago."

"Did they find Silk?" he repeated.

Merl shook his head. "Said not. Said there wasn't nobody home." Merl laughed. "They didn't like me much, I'll tell you. But I says well I told you everythin' I knew, so try in the city. They says yep, that's where they's bound for."

Hound said, "It's where I'm going with Horn here and another man, too. We've already tarried too long."

"I agree. I thank you-I can't possibly thank you and Tansy enough for all your kindness-but if these foreign men really do intend harm to Silk, I must find him first; and the one thing everyone seems to agree upon is that he isn't here."

Hesitantly, Hound asked, "You'll be going your own way, you and Pig, as soon as we reach the city? To look for Calde Silk, and for a doctor for Pig and so on?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Then I…" Hound glanced at his wife. "We'd like to give you something to remember us by, wouldn't we, Tansy?"

She looked up, and her smile rendered her small, sweet face radiant. "I was hoping to give them some food to take with them, if it's all right with you."

"Yes. Absolutely. But they'll eat it, and then it will be gone. I mean something that Horn can keep."

He said, "That certainly isn't necessary, and since I'll be traveling on foot for the most part-"

"On one of our donkeys, until we get into the city."

"I must travel light, of necessity. Really, I'd much prefer you wouldn't."

Hound ignored it. "This is what we have. What you see here. Choose anything you like."

Interested, Oreb flew up to perch on the edge of a stew pot and peck at a grater.

Hound said, "A little pan that you could cook in wouldn't weigh much, and I think you might find it comes in very handy."

Tansy added, "Or a sewing kit to mend your clothes, Horn. We have those, too, with needles and a pair of little scissors and everything, that you roll up in a cloth. You could carry it in your pocket."

He pointed. "If you're serious-and I repeat that you really needn't do this-that's what I'd like to have."

"A lantern?"

He nodded. "Last night-really it was before last night, I suppose, during what Merl called the big dark-I wanted such a lantern very badly indeed; I would have given far more than I possess for one. To get one for nothing is more than I prayed for, if you're still sure that you want to do this."

"Certainly we do. Hound can reach it down for you."

Merl whispered, "They got better 'uns in back. Those is the three-bit 'uns. Them in back's five."

"That's right," Hound said. "I'll get you one." He went to the back of the shop and returned a moment later carrying a black lantern somewhat smaller than the tin ones suspended from the ceiling. "This one's enameled, you see. It opens like this so you can light it, and once you've closed it, it will blow away before it blows out."

Merl leaned over the small black lantern, studying it as if he expected to receive it. "Thought you was out of candles."

"We are," Hound told him. "There's a candle in every lantern we sell, naturally, but we have no-"

The little shop was plunged in utter, blind darkness. "Look out," Oreb croaked warily. "Watch out."

Morning. I went to bed exhausted, and feel that I am exhausted still; but I want to bring this account, which has fallen behind so badly, up to date; and I know that I can sleep no longer-unlike my unlucky daughter, who as far as I know is sleeping yet.

We stayed at the inn for three nights, idling and telling idle tales of ghosts, war, and riot, until food and fodder were running low and the snow had stopped. She was still sleeping, but Sergeant Azijin demanded we go, which we did-Hide, poor Jahlee, the sergeant and his legermen, and me. She cannot be awakened. Hide and I contrived a rough litter for her; it was carried by her mule and a pack horse, and gave endless trouble.

Each of us has been put into a private house, whose owners are responsible for us. I am in a third-floor bedroom, cold and drafty, whose door is locked outside. They tried to feed me when I came, but I wanted only to rest. Now I am up, wearing my coat and wrapped in a quilt. There is a little fireplace, but no fire. Eventually someone will bring me food, and perhaps I can get wood and a fire. I hope so.

I, who am so seldom hungry these days, find that I am hungry now. Given my choice between food and fire, I believe I might choose the food, which surprises me. Oreb has gone. I would like to have something to give him when he comes back.

I have been praying. Sometimes I feel that the Outsider is as near me as he was to Silk; it was like that when I sacrificed upon the hilltop. Today it seems that he is busy far away and does not hear a word. Perhaps he is angry at me for befriending Jahlee, as I confess I have tried to do. What do the family charged with imprisoning her think of her at this moment? How I would love to know! Without me to keep them away, they are bound to find out soon.

I hesitate to write that she is an inhuma, but look at this account! See how much of it there is! Scarcely a word does not condemn me. I will not destroy it. No, I would sooner perish. If it condemns me, it will show equally that Hide is innocent. The inhumi are evil creatures, granted. How could they be otherwise?

More prayer and furious thought. Pacing the floor, wearing my quilt like a robe. Jahlee's spirit cannot return to her, that seems certain. I should never have returned while leaving her there. I must go back and bring her home, although I cannot imagine how it is to be accomplished.