A Far Sunset

FIFTEEN

Poul Mer Lo was aware of an intense, throbbing pain. He opened his eyes. He was in a room to which there seemed to be no windows. Here and there, smoky oil lamps burned in niches in the stone walls.

He felt cold.

He tried to move, and could not.

He was chained to a stone slab.

A Bayani with a white hood over his face leaned over the slab and peered through narrow eye-slits. ‘The spirit has returned,’ he announced to someone outside Poul Mer Lo’s field of vision. ‘Now the stranger will speak.’

‘Who—who are you? What am I doing here? What happened?’

‘I am Indrui Sa, general of the Order of the Blind Ones. You are Poul Mer Lo, a stranger in this land, quite possibly an instrument of chaos.’

‘Where are the two men who were with me?’

‘Dead.’

‘What happened to them?’

‘Oruri crushed them to his bosom. Stranger, they were the victims of chaos. Speak of them no more. Their names are undone. Their fathers had no sons. Their sons had no fathers. They are without meaning … But you, stranger, you Oruri did not take. Oruri looked upon you but he did not take you. This we must understand.’

‘I was going to Enka Ne in the sacred city. I was taking him the cart I had caused to be built.’

‘Enka Ne had called you?’

‘No,’ answered Poul Mer Lo.

‘Help him,’ said the Bayani in the hood.

From out of the gloom another dark shape advanced.

Poul Mer Lo felt the sudden touch of cold metal on his stomach. Then he screamed.

He gazed, horrified, at the pincers gripping a large fold of his flesh.

‘I grieve for you,’ said Indrui Sa. ‘The god-king receives only those who are called … Help him! ’

The pincers were tightened and twisted. Poul Mer Lo screamed again.

‘Thus, perhaps, Oruri hears your sorrow,’ said Indrui Sa. ‘It may be that your ignorance and presumption will inspire some mercy … Stranger, you rode not upon an animal but upon that which had been built by the hand of man. How call you this thing?’

‘It is a cart.’

‘Help him!’

Again the pincers were tightened and twisted. Again Poul Mer Lo screamed.

‘The kayrt is no more. Oruri saw fit to destroy it. What did you hope to encompass with this kayrt?’

‘It was a gift,’ sobbed Poul Mer Lo. ‘It was a gift to Enka Ne. I thought—I thought that if the god-king saw the use to which the cart could be put, he would cause many of them to be built. Thus would the toil of men be greatly eased.’

‘Stranger,’ said Indrui Sa, ‘human toil is the gift of Oruri. Let no man diminish that gift… Help him.’

Once more the pincers tightened and twisted. Poul Mer Lo screamed and fainted. When he became conscious once more, Indrui Sa was still speaking. He sounded as if he had been speaking a long time.

‘And therefore,’ said Indrui Sa, ‘it is clear, is it not, that you were the uncomprehending instrument of chaos. Two men have been destroyed, the kayrt has been destroyed and the foot of the priest will require much rest. Repent, Poul Mer Lo, of ignorance. Repent also of presumption. Give thanks to Oruri for the blessing of a speedy death which, bearing in mind the degree of chaos you have already inspired is more than ’

Suddenly there was a wild desolate bird cry.

Instantly Indrui Sa stopped speaking and fell upon his face.

Poul Mer Lo heard a rustling and saw a bright, darting bird’s head and brilliant plumage that glistened even in the lamplight.

‘Who speaks of death?’ asked a high, reedy voice.

There was silence.

The god-king gave his piercing cry once more. ‘Who speaks of death?’

Indrui Sa picked himself up. ‘Lord, the stranger brings chaos.’

‘But who speaks of death?’

‘Lord, chaos is the product of unbeing, therefore unbeing is the reward of chaos.’

‘Oruri hears you, Indrui Sa, most worthy of men and upholder of the law. Oruri hears you and is desirous of your company.’

Indrui Sa stiffened and remained motionless.

Poul Mer Lo was vaguely aware of others coming into the chamber.

Enka Ne uttered his bird cry once more. ‘Strike! ’ he said.

A warrior stepped forward and thrust a short trident into the throat of Indrui Sa. There was a brief whistling noise, then he fell suddenly.

‘Release the instrument of chaos,’ commanded Enka Ne. Then, without waiting to see if his command was carried out, he turned and left the chamber.

Presendy, Poul Mer Lo found himself stumbling up a narrow spiral staircase, stumbling out into the brilliant and painful sunlight.