caps gave them contact with the master files of the guild of Rememberers. I noticed with interest that many of those who had come here with questions about mankind's past were invaders.
Our footsteps crackled on the tiled floor as we crossed it.
I saw no actual Rememberers, and so I went to an ao-cess bank, put on a thinking cap, and notified the embalmed brain to which it was connected that I sought the Rememberer Basil, he whom I had met briefly in Roum.
"What is your business with him?"
"I bring with me his shawl, which he left in my care when he fled Roum/'
'The Rememberer Basil has returned to Roum to complete his research, by permission of the conqueror. I will send to you another member of the guild to receive the shawl."
We did not have long to wait. We stood together near the rear of the antechamber, and I contemplated the spectacle of the invaders who had so much to learn, and in moments there came to us a thick-set, dour-faced man some years younger than myself, but yet not young, who wore about his broad shoulders the ceremonial shawl of his guild.
"I am the Rememberer Elegro," he announced portentously.
"I bring you Basil's shawl."
"Come. Follow."
He had emerged from an imperceptible place in the wall where a sliding block turned on pivots. Now he slid it once more and rapidly went down a passageway. I called out to him that my companion was blind and could not match his pace, and the Rememberer Elegro halted, looking visibly impatient. His downcurving mouth twitched, and he buried his short fingers in the deep black curls of his beard. When we had caught up with him he moved on less swiftly. We pursued an infinity of psssageways and ended in Elegro's domicile, somewhere high in the tower.
The room was dark but amply furnished with screens, caps, scribing equipment, voice-boxes, and other aids to
scholarship. The walls were hung with a purple-black fabric, evidently alive, for its marginal folds rippled in pulsating rhythms. Three drifting globes gave less than ample light.
"The shawl," he said.
I produced it from my pouch. It had amused me to wear it for a while in those first confused days of the conquest—after all, Basil had left it in my hands when he fled down the street, and I had not meant to wrest it from him, but he obviously had cared little for its loss—but shortly I had put it away, since it bred confusion for a man in Watcher s garb to wear a Rememberer's shawl. Elegro took it from me curtly and unfolded it, scrutinizing it as though looking for lice.
"How did you get this?"
"Basil and I encountered one another in the street during the actual moment of the invasion. He was highly agitated. I attempted to restrain him and he ran past me, leaving me still grasping his shawl/ 1
"He told a different story."
"I regret it if I have compromised him," I said.
"At any rate, you have returned his shawl. I'll communicate the news to Roum tonight. Are you expecting a reward for delivering it?"
"Yes."
Displeased, Elegro said, "Which is?"
"To be allowed to come among the Rememberers as an apprentice."
He looked startled. "You have a guild!"
"To be a Watcher in these days is to be guildless. For what should I watch? I am released from my vows."
"Perhaps. But you are old to be trying a new guild."
"Not too old."
"Ours is a difficult one."
"I am willing to work hard. I desire to learn. In my old age curiosity is born in me."
"Become a Pilgrim like your friend here. See the world."
"I have seen the world. Now I wish to join the Rememberers and learn of the past."
"You can dial an information below. Our access banks are open to you, Watcher."
"It is not the same. Enroll me/'
"Apprentice yourself to the Indexers," Elegro suggested. "The work is similar, but not so demanding."
"I claim apprenticeship here."
Elegro sighed heavily. He steepled his fingers, bowed his head, quirked his lips. This was plainly unique to him. While he pondered, an inner door opened and a female Rememberer
Our footsteps crackled on the tiled floor as we crossed it.
I saw no actual Rememberers, and so I went to an ao-cess bank, put on a thinking cap, and notified the embalmed brain to which it was connected that I sought the Rememberer Basil, he whom I had met briefly in Roum.
"What is your business with him?"
"I bring with me his shawl, which he left in my care when he fled Roum/'
'The Rememberer Basil has returned to Roum to complete his research, by permission of the conqueror. I will send to you another member of the guild to receive the shawl."
We did not have long to wait. We stood together near the rear of the antechamber, and I contemplated the spectacle of the invaders who had so much to learn, and in moments there came to us a thick-set, dour-faced man some years younger than myself, but yet not young, who wore about his broad shoulders the ceremonial shawl of his guild.
"I am the Rememberer Elegro," he announced portentously.
"I bring you Basil's shawl."
"Come. Follow."
He had emerged from an imperceptible place in the wall where a sliding block turned on pivots. Now he slid it once more and rapidly went down a passageway. I called out to him that my companion was blind and could not match his pace, and the Rememberer Elegro halted, looking visibly impatient. His downcurving mouth twitched, and he buried his short fingers in the deep black curls of his beard. When we had caught up with him he moved on less swiftly. We pursued an infinity of psssageways and ended in Elegro's domicile, somewhere high in the tower.
The room was dark but amply furnished with screens, caps, scribing equipment, voice-boxes, and other aids to
scholarship. The walls were hung with a purple-black fabric, evidently alive, for its marginal folds rippled in pulsating rhythms. Three drifting globes gave less than ample light.
"The shawl," he said.
I produced it from my pouch. It had amused me to wear it for a while in those first confused days of the conquest—after all, Basil had left it in my hands when he fled down the street, and I had not meant to wrest it from him, but he obviously had cared little for its loss—but shortly I had put it away, since it bred confusion for a man in Watcher s garb to wear a Rememberer's shawl. Elegro took it from me curtly and unfolded it, scrutinizing it as though looking for lice.
"How did you get this?"
"Basil and I encountered one another in the street during the actual moment of the invasion. He was highly agitated. I attempted to restrain him and he ran past me, leaving me still grasping his shawl/ 1
"He told a different story."
"I regret it if I have compromised him," I said.
"At any rate, you have returned his shawl. I'll communicate the news to Roum tonight. Are you expecting a reward for delivering it?"
"Yes."
Displeased, Elegro said, "Which is?"
"To be allowed to come among the Rememberers as an apprentice."
He looked startled. "You have a guild!"
"To be a Watcher in these days is to be guildless. For what should I watch? I am released from my vows."
"Perhaps. But you are old to be trying a new guild."
"Not too old."
"Ours is a difficult one."
"I am willing to work hard. I desire to learn. In my old age curiosity is born in me."
"Become a Pilgrim like your friend here. See the world."
"I have seen the world. Now I wish to join the Rememberers and learn of the past."
"You can dial an information below. Our access banks are open to you, Watcher."
"It is not the same. Enroll me/'
"Apprentice yourself to the Indexers," Elegro suggested. "The work is similar, but not so demanding."
"I claim apprenticeship here."
Elegro sighed heavily. He steepled his fingers, bowed his head, quirked his lips. This was plainly unique to him. While he pondered, an inner door opened and a female Rememberer
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