The River of Shadows Part 13

"Undrabust," drawled Sandor Ott from his corner, "move away from the witch."

Neeps slid a wary step back from Lady Oggosk. He had learned weeks ago to obey Ott quickly, instantly in fact, but he still hadn't learned to hide his anger. For that he relied on Marila: the only person he'd ever known who could always always, it seemed, hide her feelings.

"Come," she said, rising and leading him away, keeping herself between him and the spymaster.

Without her I'd be dead already, he thought.

They stepped carefully among the sprawled and sleeping men. Rose, crouched behind Oggosk's chair, noticed them with a start, the way a bird notes sudden movement. He was twitchy all the time now, and carried on mumbled conversations with no one, and sometimes lunged at phantoms. Neeps made sure they stayed clear of his fists.

But you could dodge the threats only so well. The cabin was about five paces by six. One window, one yard of translucent skylight, a curtained corner for the chamber pots. One door onto the topdeck: never locked by their ixchel jailers, but latched from within by the prisoners themselves, lest the wind or some unthinking sailor throw it open and plunge them all into agony. And a smudge-pot in the corner, where burned the little berries whose vapor kept them alive.

The gang leaders, Darius Plapp and Kruno Burnscove, sat always against opposite walls. Their hatred of each other was so legendary, and their dedication to doing each other harm so well demonstrated, that Rose had found it necessary to tie their fates together: "If one of you should die, I will personally kill the other before the body cools. No exceptions. No appeals." So far this threat had kept the peace. Late at night, when Kruno Burnscove developed a racking cough, Neeps was fairly certain he'd heard Darius Plapp offer him his blanket.

The one most likely to die in the night was the sfvantskor sfvantskor, Jalantri. Chadfallow had treated his wounds; the ixchel had dutifully brought everything he required from sickbay. There was no question that the big man was healing. But he was a blood enemy, in a chamber crowded with Arqualis-including the spymaster who had led Arqual's war in the shadows against the Mzithrin for forty years; and the Turachs, whose very corps was created (as they took to mentioning frequently) to counter the sfvantskor sfvantskors on the battlefield. And Kruno Burnscove had made it known that he held the Mzithrin responsible for his family's decline, after his great-grandfather's farm was torched in Ipulia.

Of all the prisoners, it was Sandor Ott who enjoyed the most room. His servant Dastu had a bit of coal, and drew a circle around the spymaster wherever he chose to sit or sleep. No one had dared to cross that line; even the two Turachs avoided it with care. But for Neeps, Dastu himself was the greater danger. The older tarboy had been a favorite of both Neeps and Pazel, befriending them the day they boarded in Sorrophran, and standing by them when so many others turned their backs. Naturally they had thought of him first when plotting their rebellion. And it was Dastu who had betrayed them, testified to their mutinous plans, nodded with satisfaction when Rose condemned them all to hang. Neeps had a recurring urge to break something large over Dastu's head. But the older boy was Ott's protege, and a terrible fighter in his own right. Neeps could outdo him only in rage.

Marila claimed a bit of wall, tried to tug him down beside her. "I want another story," she said, "about Sollochstol, about the salt marsh and your grandmother."

It was another way she tried to keep him out of trouble. Neeps gently freed his hand. "Just a minute," he said, and walked alone to the window.

Chadfallow was there, of course. He spent as much time at the window as Rose and Ott permitted. He stood until he swayed. What did he hope to see? The land? Impossible, until they changed course. The deck? But what had changed? Mr. Teggatz, his mouth closed tight as a clamsh.e.l.l and wooden plugs in his nose, bringing their midday meal? But it was only five bells; lunch was still hours away.

You'd do the same if you weren't so lazy, Neeps told himself. Don't make a virtue of it Don't make a virtue of it.

He stepped up beside Chadfallow. In fact there was something different on deck: a little conference of ixchel, four of them shouting and gesturing, with Fiffengurt and Alyash crouched beside them, trying to get a word in edgeways. Ludunte and Myett were among the ixchel; the other two were Dawn Soldiers, cold-eyed and tensed. Myett held a bag like a doctor's case against her chest.

Neeps felt murderous at the sight of Ludunte and Myett: betrayers of Diadrelu, both of them. "What are they doing, the little bilge-rats?" he asked.

"Speaking of us, I think," said Chadfallow.

"Captain," said Ott suddenly from the back of the room. "You know prison etiquette as well as I do. Share and share alike. If one of us gets mail, he lets us all have a taste."

Oggosk had finished her dream-scribble; Rose was poring over the sc.r.a.p of dirty parchment, the wet ink smearing on his fingers.

"Have a heart, Captain," said Kruno Burnscove. "Give us some news of the outside world. I mean, if that's the appropriate term-"

Rose shot the gang leader a savage look. Ott laughed, delighted. "Outside, inside, under? Good question, Mr. Burnscove. Which world are your parents in, Captain, and where do they go to find a post office? Come, read it aloud."

Rose snarled. He had done just that twice before, to everyone's amazement: it was not like him to give a d.a.m.n what anyone wanted of him. Anyone, that is, but Oggosk herself-and the readings enraged Oggosk no end.

Neeps was almost sympathetic. He hated Oggosk, but couldn't deny that she had a strange, beleaguered dignity. This shattered it: making up stories for the distraction of her darling captain, telling him they were messages from the Beyond. (Which Beyond? The Nine Pits seemed too good for Rose's father.) That was bad enough-but to hear them read aloud? Rose apparently wanted to convince his listeners that the letters were real: to prove his sanity, maybe. It was having the opposite effect.

Today he simply refused. "The letter is of a private nature," he growled, folding it in two. But a moment later he changed his mind, turned to face Ott with eyes ablaze. "I will soon walk free. In short order I will resume my command."

There were smiles, a brief chuckle from one of the Turachs. Neeps shuddered. Insubordination! On Rose's ship! They're giving up on him-or on everything. Is the same thing happening outside? Insubordination! On Rose's ship! They're giving up on him-or on everything. Is the same thing happening outside? The thought chilled his blood. The thought chilled his blood.

Then Chadfallow started. Neeps turned back to the window and saw the smuggler, Dollywilliams Druffle, ambling toward them. Mr. Druffle had not done well on the Ruling Sea. Already one of the thinnest men on the Chathrand Chathrand, he now had the look of a boiled bone. Fresh water had brought most of the men's faces back to life, but Druffle's skin appeared beyond redemption, like those biscuits that fell and petrified in the back of the galley stove. He had shaved off his greasy hair (lice) and given up entirely on shoes (fungus), but to rum and grog he remained faithful as ever.

He approached with a drunkard's care, watching each step. When he caught sight of Chadfallow he paused, scowling. The two were not on speaking terms.

"The cretin," hissed Chadfallow.

"Shut up," said Neeps. "He's got something to say."

"Always. And never to any purpose but mischief or slander."

"Just back off, why don't you? Spare yourself."

Chadfallow withdrew, and Druffle slouched up to the window. "Can you hear me?" he bellowed.

"At fifty paces," said Neeps.

Druffle covered his mouth, deeply contrite. Then he squinted and leaned close to the gla.s.s. "Where's the doctor? He's a muckin' swine. D'ye know we're moving sideways?"

"Sideways?"

Druffle ill.u.s.trated with a wobbly gesture.

"But that's crazy," said Neeps. "A ship can't move sideways, unless you pick her up and carry her."

"Or the sea does, my heart. We're in a rip tide. Miles wide and infinite long, or so it seems. It s.n.a.t.c.hed us up in the night sometime-you felt the wind die?"

Neeps was flabbergasted. "I did," he said under his breath. "But Mr. Druffle, that means Rose was right. He said said we were moving sideways." we were moving sideways."

Druffle nodded, his eyes red and bleary. "The going's been smooth as b.u.t.tercream since that rip tide caught us. You can't even tell, 'cept by fixing on a spot ash.o.r.e with a telescope. That's what I did, y'see. Then I went to Alyash and made him own up. 'Keep it to yourself, Druffle, you boozy a.r.s.e!' he quips. 'We don't want a panic. There's fear enough in the men till we find that leak and plug it. And maybe we can sail right out again, just like we sailed in, and no harm done but a little lost time.' That's what the bosun said. But I say, panic. Panic! It's devilry, this ripper, and it's sweepin' us along after that armada, like it wants us to catch up. See here, lad: we were aimin' to make landfall to the west of that all-edges city, ain't that so?"

"All-edges?" said Neeps.

"As in we ain't sure if it's real."

"The buffoon means alleged, alleged," murmured Chadfallow from the room behind.

"Well now we're leagues to the west west of it, Undrabust," Druffle continued. "All night long we've been slippin' backward. And those flashes ain't lightning, my heart. They're the fires of war. Of course, that ain't what I came here to tell you." of it, Undrabust," Druffle continued. "All night long we've been slippin' backward. And those flashes ain't lightning, my heart. They're the fires of war. Of course, that ain't what I came here to tell you."

"There's something else?"

"You should have stayed on Sollochstol. I've been there. You could do worse. You did did do worse, he he." do worse, he he."

"Mr. Druffle," said Neeps, "are we sinking?"

"Palm wine and marsh-turtle soup. And the girls in them lily tiaras."

Neeps sighed. "Thanks for coming by," he said.

The smuggler looked up, and his glance was suddenly sly. He leaned forward until his nose touched the gla.s.s. "It's your mate, Pathkendle. He's in the brig."

"What?" cried Neeps in dismay. "The fool, the fool! What's he done now now?"

"Shh!" admonished Druffle, liberally spraying the window. But it was too late: Chadfallow rushed forward and demanded that Druffle repeat himself. The smuggler hesitated, swaying and leering at the doctor, and Chadfallow called him a revolting sot. Druffle made an obscene gesture, asked whose wife he'd lately y'know, y'know y'know, y'know, and then both men began screaming abuse, and the Turachs laughed, and Oggosk shrieked in sudden general loathing, and Rose yanked the doctor away for fear he'd break the window.

It was in this melee that Myett and Ludunte climbed down through the smoke-hole, walked to the room's center and announced that the prisoners were to enjoy an hour's liberty for good behavior.

The hubbub vanished. "Liberty?" said Darius Plapp, his voice barely higher than a whisper.

"Temporary liberty," replied Ludunte. "You shall enjoy these furloughs once per week, if you try nothing foolish during the given hour." liberty," replied Ludunte. "You shall enjoy these furloughs once per week, if you try nothing foolish during the given hour."

Neeps was too astonished for words. For the first time in weeks he saw hope in the prisoners' faces.

"Captain Rose has done this once before," Ludunte continued. "The rest of you, take heed." He pointed to the bag in Myett's hands. "This is the temporary temporary version of the antidote. It lasts an hour only, and it is very precise. Use the hour as you like, but do not be late in returning." version of the antidote. It lasts an hour only, and it is very precise. Use the hour as you like, but do not be late in returning."

"Why do you do this now?" said Rose.

The two ixchel said nothing for a moment. "Our lord Taliktrum is concerned for your comfort," said Myett at last, in her cold, sibilant voice.

"You must listen for the ship's bell," said Ludunte. "It will ring stridently when ten minutes remain. Hurry back when you hear it. Step into this cabin, breathe in the drug. Otherwise you will die, as surely as though you'd taken no pill at all."

"Remember this, too," added Myett. "Below the berth deck the ship is off-limits to humans, except by special permission. Do not try our patience. Above all, do not imagine that you have any hope of finding where we hide the drug. The lives of those who remain in this chamber are forfeit if you try."

The ixchel explained that only three hostages would be released at a time. "By evening, all of you will have had your turn. We shall begin with the youngest, and the women. Lady Oggosk, Marila, Undrabust: step forward. The rest of you, prepare to hold your breath when they open the door."

Marila took Neeps by the arm. She almost never smiled, but he had come to know when she was happy by the wideness of her eyes. They were wide as saucers now.

"This is wrong," said Dastu suddenly. "My master should be first, or Captain Rose-not these two traitors and the witch."

Rose waved a dismissive hand; he would never seek favors from "crawlies." Sandor Ott cracked his old, scarred knuckles and smiled wolfishly. "They won't let me out," he said with certainty. "Not for an hour, or a minute. Not first or last. I certainly wouldn't in their place. I'm right, aren't I? Those are your orders?"

Ludunte regarded him nervously. "I have nothing else to say," he murmured at last.

"No matter," said Ott. "I will free myself, by and by. And then we shall see about Lord Taliktrum's concern for comfort."

Myett looked at him with loathing, and not a little fear. Then she opened her bag and removed a small cloth package bound with string, which she quickly untied. Within lay three white pills. Side by side, they barely fit on Myett's palm: clearly they had been made for humans.

"You must swallow your pills at the same time, all three of you, and exit together."

"Glah," said Oggosk, pointing irritably at Rose. "Give him my dose. I'll go later, when the heat pa.s.ses. Let the captain see what's become of his ship." said Oggosk, pointing irritably at Rose. "Give him my dose. I'll go later, when the heat pa.s.ses. Let the captain see what's become of his ship."

"Are you certain, d.u.c.h.ess?" said Rose.

"Was I ever otherwise, you fool? Take the offer, and leave me in peace."

Two minutes later the door flew open with a bang. Rose stormed out and barreled for the quarterdeck, shouting for Fiffengurt and Alyash, watch-captains, duty officers, his steward, his meal. All around him men leaped to attention. Neeps and Marila stepped out more fearfully and shut the door. They clenched each other's hands (for who knew, who knew?), closed their eyes and inhaled.

The drug worked. They were free, if only for an hour. Neeps opened his eyes. A mob was cheering, chasing after Rose. But three figures pushed through it in their direction. The first was running headlong: Thasha. She skidded to a halt and threw her arms around them both and laughed and shouted and kissed their cheeks. Behind her Hercol and Bolutu came striding, wide smiles on their faces.

"Nutter girl!" Neeps laughed, hugging her until it hurt. "How've you and Pazel managed to stay alive so long without us?"

"It was Hercol who got you out," said Thasha, her own eyes bright with tears. "The council was about to explode, but he calmed everyone down and shamed Taliktrum into this furlough idea."

"Sometimes it takes a fighter to stop a fight," said Bolutu. "Come, away! The hour will pa.s.s quickly. We have food-of a sort-in the stateroom, and hot water for bathing is on its way, two buckets apiece. And Felthrup is simply going mad."

"First things first," said Neeps. "What in the nine stinking Pits happened to Pazel?"

There was an awkward silence. Thasha dropped her eyes, and to Neeps' amazement her ears began to redden. Then a voice from behind her called out: "I'm afraid I I did, Undrabust." did, Undrabust."

Greysan Fulbreech, one eye purple and bloodshot, walked up and extended his hand. Neeps just stared at him. Then to his astonishment he saw Thasha take Fulbreech's other hand, tenderly, like something she cherished.

"I tried so hard, Neeps," she said, her voice a plea. "To tell him sooner, to explain. It wasn't anything Pazel did wrong."

"No one is to blame," said Hercol.

"Least of all Pathkendle," said Fulbreech, his fingertips brushing Thasha's arm. "He was in shock, you know. He really does care for her. Because of that I can't be angry. In fact I'm hopeful that one day we'll all be friends."

Neeps. .h.i.t him. Savagely, in the stomach. He had Fulbreech down on the deck before they tore him away.

"You rabid Rinforsaken s...o...b..ring dog."

Only Marila could deliver insults that cutting in a voice that calm. "I told you I'm sorry," said Neeps, pressing clean gauze (provided by Fulbreech) into his nose.

"Brilliant. Just blary brilliant," Marila continued. "Thirty minutes left. If we're lucky your nose will stop bleeding for the last three."

"Why don't you go do something, then?"

"I hate you. I hate you."

"You're not being fair to him," said Pazel, hands on the bars of his cell.

"Don't tell me me about fair," said Marila, still in that deadpan voice. "You think I feel sorry for you, locked up for three whole days?" She looked hard at Neeps. "Taliktrum will never let you out again after this." about fair," said Marila, still in that deadpan voice. "You think I feel sorry for you, locked up for three whole days?" She looked hard at Neeps. "Taliktrum will never let you out again after this."

"Listen, Marila," said Neeps, his head still tilted back, "Fulbreech is a liar. A fake. He's found a...weak spot, see? A weak spot in Thasha, and he's exploiting it."

"Thasha is not a fool, not a fool," said Marila. "If she's with him, she has to have a reason. And if you ask me it's because she's taken a fancy, the same way anybody else does."

"Then she's she's a fake," said Pazel. "She doesn't love him. She's pretending." a fake," said Pazel. "She doesn't love him. She's pretending."

"Well she's doing a blary good job." Then, seeing Pazel cringe at her words, she added in a louder voice: "I never say things the right way. I know that. If you want somebody to lie and make you feel better, maybe I should should go." She paused, breathing deeply. "But if you ask me you're better off without her, that mucking rich go." She paused, breathing deeply. "But if you ask me you're better off without her, that mucking rich grugustagral grugustagral. You weren't the only one she fooled. I was there when she told you she was done with Fulbreech. I know what you've been through with her. For For her." her."

Neeps whispered, "What's a grugu-gu- grugu-gu-"

"Shut up," said Marila.

"Thasha's a good person," Pazel insisted miserably. "And we need her, too. We're supposed to be a team."

"Exactly," said Marila. "Those burn scars mean you're supposed to stick together, you three and Hercol and Bolutu and even Rose, somehow-to stay and fight together to the blary end. Besides, you and Thasha-" She puffed out her round cheeks, angrily. "It's like magic. You love her despite the invasion of Ormael, despite her father. I think you even managed to love her father love her father. And if she wants to throw all that away just because some handsome-"

"Handsome?" cried both boys. "He's not! He's a goon!"