City of the Beast

Chapter Eight THE CITY OF THIEVES

IT WOULD not be true to say that we received a joyous welcome in Narlet but, as Darnad had said, they did not immediately set upon us, though they gave us looks of intense suspicion and tended to avoid us as we entered the city's only gate and made our way through the narrow streets.

"We'll get no information from most of them,"

Darnad told me. "But I think I know where I can find someone who will help us-if Old Belet Vor still lives."

"Belet Vor?" I said questioningly.

"One of those friends I mentioned."

Our little party emerged into a market square of some sort and Darnad pointed to a small house sandwiched between two ramshackle buildings.

When I used to patrol these parts he saved my life once. I had the good fortune to return the favorand somehow we struck up a strong friendship. One of those things."

We dismounted outside the house and from it an old man emerged. He was toothless and wrinkled and incredibly ugly, yet there was a jaunty appearance about him which made one forget his unwholesome visage.

"Ah, the Bradhinak Darnad-an honor, an honor." His eyes twinkled, belying his servile words. He spoke ironically. I could see why Darnad had liked him.

"Greetings, you old scoundrel. How many children have you robbed today?"

"Only a dozen or so, Bradhinak. Would this friend of yours like to see my spoils-some of the sweetmeats are only half-eaten. Heh-heh!"

"Spare us the temptation." I smiled as he ushered us into his hovel.

It was surprisingly clean and orderly and we sat on benches while he brought us basu.

Drinking the sweet beverage, Darnad said seriously: "We are in haste, Belet Vor. Have any warriors of the Argzoon been seen in Narlet recently-coming here perhaps a day or so before us?"

The old rogue cocked his head to one side.

"Why, yes-two Argzoon warriors. Looked as if they'd taken a beating and were scampering back to their mountain lairs."

"Just two warriors?"

Belet Vor chuckled. "And two prisoners, by the look of them. I'm thinking they wouldn't have chosen such company of their own free will."

"Two prisoners?"

"Women, both of them. One fair, one dark."

"Shizala and Horguhl!" I cried.

"Are they still here?" Darnad asked urgently.

"I'm not sure. They could have left early this morning, but I think not."

"Where are they staying?"

"Ah-there you have it, if you seek the prisoners.

The Argzoon warriors seem to be of high rank.

They are guests of our city's noble Bradhi."

"Your Bradhi-not Chinod Sai?"

"Yes. He has now chosen to call himself the Bradhi Chinod Sai. Narlet is becoming respectable, eh? He is one of your peers now, Bradhinak Darnad-not so?"

"The scoundrel. He gives himself airs."

"Perhaps," said old Belet Vor musingly, "but I seem to remember that many of the established nations in these parts had origins similar to our,"

Darnad laughed shortly. "You have me there, Belet Vor-but that's for posterity. I know Chinod Sai for a blood-thirsty slayer of women and children."

"You do him an injustice." Belet Vor grinned.

"He has killed at least one youth in a fair fight."

Darnad turned to me, speaking seriously. "If these Argzoon have Chinod Sai's protection, then we will have greater difficulty getting Shizala-and this other woman-out of their power. We are in a bad position."

"I have a suggestion, if you will hear it," Belet Vor insinuated.

"I'll listen to anything reasonable," said Darnad.

"Well-I would say that the Argzoon and their ladies are guesting in the special chambers set aside for sudden visitors of some standing."

"What of it?" I said, a trifle tersely.

"Those chambers are conveniently placed on the ground floor. They have large windows. Perhaps you could help your friends without-er-actually disturbing our royal Bradhi?"

I frowned. "But aren't they guarded?"

"Oh, there are guards surrounding the great Bradhi's palace at intervals. He fears, possibly, that there may be robbers in these parts-such little faith does he have in his subjects."

"How would we enter the guest rooms without the guards seeing us?" I rubbed my chin.

"You would have to dispose of them-they are very alert. After all, some of the best thieves of the Crimson Plain have tried to help themselves to Chinod Sai's booty from time to time. A few have even succeeded. Most have helped decorate the city walls-or at least their heads have."

"But how could we silence the guards easily?"

"That," said Belet Vor with a wink, "is where I can help you. Excuse me." He got up and hobbled from the room.

"I think he's a likeable old bandit, don't you?"

Darnad said when Belet Vor had left.

I nodded. "But he puts himself in danger, surely, by helping us. If we are successful this Chinod Sai's men are bound to suspect that he had a hand in it."

"True. But I doubt whether Chinod Sai would do anything about it. Belet Vor knows many secrets and some of them concern Chinod Sai. Also, Belet Vor is very popular and Chinod Sai sits on his self-made throne rather uncertainly. There are many who would usurp him if they could gain a popular following. If anything happened to Belet Vor it would be just the excuse needed by some would-be Bradhi of Thieves. Chinod Sai knows that well enough."

"Good," I replied. "But nonetheless, I think he risks more than he needs for our sake."

"I told you, Michael Kane-there is a bond between us."

That simple statement meant a great deal to Darnad, evidently, and I think I knew how he felt.

Such virtues as loyalty, self-discipline, temperance, moderation, truthfulness, fortitude and honorable conduct to women are apparently outmoded in the societies of New York, London and Paris-but on Mars, my Vashu, they were still strong. Is it any wonder I should prefer the Red Planet to my own?

Soon Belet Vor returned carrying a long tube and a small, handsomely worked box.

"These will silence your guards," he said, flourishing the box. "And more-they will not actually kill them."

He opened the box carefully and displayed the contents. About a score of tiny, feathered slivers lay there. At once I guessed that the tube was a blow-pipe and these were its ammunition. The slivers must be tipped with some poison that would knock the guards out.

In silence we accepted the weapon.

"There are some eight shatis until nightfall," Belet Vor said. "Time to exchange reminiscences, eh?

How many men came with you?"

"There are six left," I said.

"Then there is room enough in here for them. Invite them in for a cup of basu."

Darnad went outside to extend Belet Vor's invitation to his men.

They came in and accepted the cups gratefully.

Belet Vor also brought food.

The eight shatis passed with incredible slowness and I spent them, for the most part, in thoughtful silence. Soon, if providence were on our side, I would see Shizala again! My heart pounded in spite of myself. I knew she could never be minebut just to be near her would be enough, to know that she was safe, to know that I would always be nearby to protect her.

When it was dark Belet Vor glanced at me.

"Eight is a good number," he said. "Not too small a force if you run into trouble, not so large as to be easily detected."

We rose, our war-harness creaking, our accoutrements jingling. We rose in silence save for those small sounds.

"Farewell, Darnad." Belet Vor grasped the young Bradhinak's shoulder and Darnad grasped the old man's. There seemed to be something final about that parting, as if Belet Vor knew they would never meet again.

"Farewell, Belet Vor," he said softly. Their eyes met for an instant and then Darnad was striding for the door.

"Thank you, Belet Vor," I said.

"Good luck," he murmured as we left and followed Darnad towards Chinod Sai's 'palace'.

The building we finally came upon was situated in the centre of the city. It was only two stories high and while it had some stone in its construction it was mainly of wood.

It stood in an open square from which several narrow streets radiated. We hugged the shadows of the streets and watched the guards as they patrolled the grounds of the palace.

Belet Vor had told Darnad exactly where the guest rooms were and when the Argzoon were likely to retire. We assumed that Shizala and Horguhl would not be dining with Chinod Sai. At this time it was likely that the Argzoon were eating in the main hall of the building. This meant we might be able to rescue the two women without arousing the suspicion of those inside and thus avoid a noisy fight.

After we had ascertained the exact movements of the patrolling guards, Darnad placed the first dart carefully in the blow-pipe and took aim.

His aim was accurate. The dart winged its way towards the guard. I saw him clutch his neck and then fall almost soundlessly to the ground.

The next guard-there were four we needed to attend to in all-saw his comrade fall and rushed towards him. We heard him lean over him and speak casually. "Get up, Akar, or the Bradhi will have your head. I told you not to drink so much before we went on guard!"

I held my breath as Darnad aimed another dart, expelled it softly-and the second guard fell.

The third guard turned a corner and paused in astonishment on seeing the bodies of his fallen comrades.

"Hey! What's this-?"

He would never fully know, for Darnad's third dart took him in his naked shoulder. The drug was quick. The guard fell. Darnad grinned at me-we seemed near to success.

The fourth guard was disposed of even before he saw his fellows.

Then the eight of us moved in, cat-footing it towards the guest rooms.

Soon, soon, I thought, all this would be over and we could return to Varnal to live in peace. I could study the sciences of the mysterious Sheev, increase the inventions that the Karnala would be able to use. With my help, the Karnala need never fear attack again. They had the basic technology necessary for building internal combustion engines, electric power generators, radios-I could accomplish all that for them.

Those were the thoughts-inapt, perhaps, for the moment-that coursed through my brain as we crept towards the guest room windows.

The windows were not glazed, only shuttered, and one of these was drawn back. Luck seemed to be on our side that night Cautiously I peered into the room. It was richly furnished, though somewhat vulgarly, floors heaped with furs, carved chests and benches. In a bracket a torch flared, illuminating the room. It was empty.

I swung my leg over the low sill and entered the room as quietly as I could.

Darnad and the others followed me.

Then we all stood there, staring at one another, listening intently for some sound that might indicate where the women were imprisoned.

It came at last-a low tone that could have been anything. All we could be sure of was that it issued from a human throat.

It came from a room on our left.

Darnad and I went towards the room, with the warriors following. We paused at the door which, surprisingly, was unbarred.

Now from within came a sound that seemed like a soft laugh-a woman's laugh. But it could not be a laugh. I must have misheard. The next sound was a voice, pitched low and impossible to make sense of.

Darnad looked at me. Our eyes met, and then with a concerted movement we flung open the door.

Torchlight showed us the two within.

One was Horguhl, standing close to the window.

The other was Shizala-my Shizala!

Shizala was bound hand and foot.

But Horguhl was unfettered. She stood with hands on hips smiling down at Shizala, who glared back at her.

Horguhl's smile froze when she saw us. Shizala gave a glad cry: "Michael Kane! Darnad! Oh, thank Zar you have come!"

Horguhl stood there expressionlessly, saying nothing.

I stepped forward to untie Shizala. As I worked at her bonds I kept a suspicious eye on the Vladnyar girl, uncertain of her part in this. Was she or was she not a prisoner?

It did not seem likely now. Yet…

Horguhl suddenly laughed in my face.

I finished untying Shizala's bonds. "Why do you laugh?" I asked.

"I thought you were dead," she replied, not answering my question. And then she lifted her head and let out a piercing shriek.

"Silence!" Darnad said in a fierce whisper. "You will alert the whole palace. We intend you no harm."

"I am sure you do not," she said as Darnad stepped towards her. "But I mean you harm my friends!" Again she shrieked.

There was a disturbance outside in the corridor.

Shizala's eyes glistened with tears-but with gladness also-as she stared up into my face. "Oh, Michael Kane-somehow I knew you would save me. I thought they had killed you-and yet…"

"No time for conversation," I said brusquely, trying to hide the emotion that her closeness brought to my breast. "We must escape."

Darnad had his hand over Horguhl's mouth. He looked unhappy, not used to treating a woman so.

"Horguhl is no prisoner," Shizala said. "She-"

"I can see that now," I said. "Come-we must hurry."

We turned and left the room. Darnad released his hold on Horguhl and followed us.

But before we could reach the window a score of men, led by the two Argzoon giants and another who wore a bright circlet on his matted, greasy hair, burst into the room.

Darnad, myself and our six warriors turned to face them, forming a barrier between them and Shizala.

"Leave quickly, Shizala," I said softly. "Go to the house of Belet Vor." I gave her brief instructions how to find the old man.

"I cannot leave you. I cannot."

"You must-it will serve us better if we know you, at least, are safe. Please do as I say." I was staring at the Argzoon and the others, waiting for them to attack. They were moving in cautiously.

She seemed to understand my reasoning and it was with relief that I saw her from the corner of my eye clamber over the sill and disappear into the night.

Horguhl emerged from the other room, pointing an imperious finger at us. Her face was flushed with anger.

"These men sought to abduct me and the other woman," she said to the greasy-haired man who stood there with drawn sword.

"So-did you not know," he said, addressing us with a leer, "that Chinod Sai values the safety of his guests and resents the intrusion of riff-raff such as you?"

"Riff-raff, murderer of children," said Darnad. "I know you upstart-you who calls himself Bradhi of a collection of cut-throats and pilferers!"

Chinod Sai sneered. "You speak bravely-but your words are hollow. You are all about to die."

Then he and his unholy allies were on us, his guards supporting them.

The duel began.

I found myself fighting not only Chinod Sai but one of the Argzoon, and it was all I could do to defend myself, even though I knew I outmatched them both in swordsmanship.

However, they tended to crowd each other and this, at least, was to my advantage.

I held them off as best I could until I saw my chance. Rapidly I flung my sword from my right hand to my left. This foxed them for a second.

Then I lunged at the Argzoon, who was slower than Chinod Sai, and caught him in the breast. He fell back groaning. That left the self-styled Bradhi of Narlet.

But seeing the great blue warrior fall, Chinod Sai evidently lost his stomach for battle and backed away, letting his hired guards take his place.

It was my turn to sneer.

One by one our own warriors went down until only Darnad and myself were left standing.

I hardly cared if I died. So long as Shizala were safe-and I knew that the wily old Belet Vor would see to that-I was prepared to die.

But I did not die. There were so many warriors pressing in towards us that we could hardly move our sword arms.

Soon we were hot so much sword-fighting as wrestling.

Their weight of numbers was too great. After a short time we were engulfed and, for the second time in the space of a week, I received a blow on the head-and this second blow was not meant in kindness as the first had been!

My senses fled, blackness engulfed me, and I knew no more.