Glen Cook - The Tower Of Fear

One of the Dartars, who was watching the street through a crack in a boardedwindow, said, "The woman is coming."

Fa'tad nodded. "I've been a little slow. It's your move, Colonel bel-Sidek."

"Can you keep your man away?"

Fa'tad seemed amused. "I think I can restrain his ardor so long as he and Iare certain he will have the chance to deliver the boy. Still, the deadline heset seems to me a sound one. Why wait for Nakar? The deal stands if youdeliver the information before the fog comes in. I can be reached in the alleybelow the place you formerly occupied."

"And if I can't get the information?"

"We'll find you again."

Meryel burst in. "Sisu, what the hell are you doing? You've got twenty men sitting around ... Shit."

Fa'tad bowed slightly and walked out. His men followed. Bel-Sidek watched thoughtfully. "What the hell? That was al-Akla."

"He followed you here." Bel-Sidek told her the story.

"What're you going to do?"

"First I'll see if my conscience says I have to go through with the General's plan." "You want Nakar back? If you think you owe somebody that, you're crazier than the old man was. You even consider it, you can kiss me good-bye."

"There are those who would approve."

"So?"

"I merely state that for the record."

"You think al-Akla would keep his bargain?"

"Possibly. He certainly handed me ammunition to spend against him. I'm tempted to give him what he wants, then tell Cado he's looting the citadel. Let them get into it. Let the Living deal with the survivors." "Will you?"

"I don't know. Right now I'll call off my own war, then get Carza where I can talk to him. If anybody knows the way in there, he does." "The carpenter refused to come," Meryel said.

"So I suspected. Probably doesn't much matter now."

Yoseh settled into the bed of the wagon, glad to be out of the rain. He huddled up, pondered the incomprehensible ways of the mighty. The others piled inside. Somebody growled at the driver. The driver growled back, unimpressed.

The wagon lurched forward. One of Fa'tad's cronies asked, "Think he'll try to screw us?" "It's the Qushmarrahan way. On the other hand, I made him a tempting offer. An inspired improvisation, if I say so myself." Al-Akla chuckled. "Driver! Turn left and stop. Nogah, Medjhah, Juba, I have a job for you." Aaron slipped into the main shed at the shipyard. Those who could were there, working out of the rain. The rest had been sent home. He found Billygoatcaulking a small boat. There was always work for a caulker.

Billygoat gave him a strange look. "You coming in?"

"No. I just wanted to talk. You heard?"

"Yes. It's around. How are you doing? How's your family handling it?"

"I'm all right now. They're taking it about like you'd expect. But we aren'twithout hope. The Herodians know who did it. Can we talk?"

"Sure." Billygoat wiped his hands on his clothing. He was not fastidious. "Butthis isn't the place. Unless you don't care who listens."

The others had slowed work and were watching. Cullo and another Herodian weredrifting their way. Aaron wondered if this made any sense, after all. "Part Idon't want anybody to hear."

"Let's go for a walk."

"You'll get soaked." He was already.

Billygoat shrugged. "As long as it isn't pouring. I find rain relaxing." Theold man shoved his tools toward his helper. "Clean them up."

Neither foreman stopped Billygoat. None of the workmen spoke to Aaron, thoughsome eyed him with pity.

"You have friends in high places," Billygoat said after they stepped into thedamp. "Never saw anybody excused from work by order of the military governor."

"Really?"

"Messenger was waiting when we came in. Had a letter saying you was to be letoff as long as you needed, without prejudice, the way they say. Signed byBruda and Cado, according to Cullo. He was impressed."

"Trying to back me into a corner, I guess."

They went in beneath the scaffolding on the lee side of the ship they werebuilding. Not much moisture reached them. Billygoat sat on one timber balk, leaned against another. "Talk to me."

Aaron told his story. Billygoat did not interrupt. When Aaron finished, hesaid, "It's a grim tale. If it's advice you're after, all I can say is, yougot to do whatever you got to do to help your boy."

"I understand that. That's no problem. But all those people are pushing meinto the middle of their plots and politics. I don't give a damn about any ofthat. I just want my son back. But whatever I do, somebody will claim Ibetrayed him. They could take it out on my family. How can I get out fromunder that?"

Billygoat picked up some sodden wood chips, pitched them at an invisibletarget. "I don't know, Aaron. I wish I did. I wish I could give you some magicformula. But all I can say is I'm sorry. You got yourself in the classic trap that gets the little guy. Not yout fault, but there you are. When the big guysgo to butting heads they always figure if you aren't with them you got to beagainst them. There's anything practical I can do, I'll help."

"I don't want to get you into it."

Billygoat did not argue.

"There is one thing. Wouldn't put you at any risk." The real reason he hadcome.

"What's that?" Billygoat kept throwing chips.

"Sort of an extra hammer."

"Well?"

"You hear something's happened to me or my family, ask around for somebody whowas at the Seven Towers, in Four. Like Big Turi. Tell them I said it wasNaszif that opened the door. They'll know what that means. Would you do that?"

"Sure, Aaron."

"Thanks. I'd better get back, see if there's any news."

Sullo and Cado watched while Annalaya tried reaching through the corpse ofIshabal bel-Shaduk in an effort to summon his spirit. The governors had setanimosity aside for the moment, in the face of a greater threat.

The woman backed away from the cadaver. Cado thought she looked troubled. Sheshrugged, defeated. "Too late."

Sullo took her into his arms, patted her back. "You did the best you could."

Cado concealed amazement. What was this? She did not appear pleased. "I sowanted to please you, my lord."

Cado thought her tone lacked sincerity. Who was using whom? Cado asked,

"What's our approach now?" Calling up the child-taker's ghost had been a longshot but he had hoped.

The witch disengaged herself from Sullo. "We will have to find the way bytrial and error. As Ala-eh-din Beyh must have." And there was more hidden inher voice when she mentioned that name.

Mystery on mystery. "There's a way? Is Fa'tad on to something?" That would notdo. Let Fa'tad plunder the citadel and the Dartars would melt away faster thansummer snow.

"The entrance appears to be a pattern gate," the witch said. She had an oddaccent, maybe atop a mild speech impediment. "It appears to be a complicatedconstruct. Possibly a double pattern. Probably with inbuilt traps. The firststeps seem too obvious for a sorcerer of Nakar's attainment." Again an oddityof voice, a chilliness, at mention of the name.

"A trap?" Cado had only the vaguest notion what she meant. He was of the oldschool: no commerce with sorcery.

"There are certain to be several, some obvious, some subtle, all deadly. Thatis the nature of a pattern. You create a pattern gate to keep people out."

"Be careful, then. Colonel Bruda will give you whatever support you need."

Sullo donned a smirk. "My people can handle this."

"Perhaps." Cado left them, perplexed by the woman, thinking Sullo neededwatching. If-when!-they penetrated the citadel the man would go for thetreasure like a shark to blood.

The big man brought a child into the cage. The other children whisperedexcitedly. There was something special about this one ... He had been broughtback once before. Apparently those who went out did not come back at all.