take our interest for granted.”
“For poor Kathcar we are bad news. In addition to his other worries, now he must deal with these callow Bureau B lollopers, when all he wanted was a relaxing voyage. Kathcar is now pacing his cabin, cursing in all religions at once, and sorting through his options.”
Chilke drank from his goblet and considered the flowing stars of Mircea’s Wisp.
“Kathcar must bite the bullet,” said Chilke. “He has no other choice. In a few moments he will come out and try to ingratiate himself, with a show of candor and good fellowship, meanwhile bamboozling us from right to left.”
“That seems a reasonable program. Still, Kathcar’s mind works in peculiar ways. For instance, out of a thousand disguises, Kathcar chose to confront the world as a Mascarene Evangel.”
“I will be curious to observe his strategy.”
“Here is Kathcar now,” said Glawen. “He is not even wearing his disguise.”
Kathcar approached and, at Glawen’s invitation, seated himself. Chilke poured Blue Ruin into a goblet and pushed it across the table. “This will bring the roses back to your cheeks.”
“Thank you,” said Kathcar. “I seldom take ardent spirits or balms; I cannot believe that they contribute to good internal hygiene. Still -” he lifted the goblet and tasted the effervescent liquid “- this is not offensive.”
“Two or three jugs a day will shorten the voyage. Time will go like a flash.”
Kathcar gave Chilke a glance of austere disapproval. “That is an experiment I am not prepared to make.”
“Out of curiosity, where are you bound for?”
“I believe that Soum is the first port of call. I may stop over for a period and visit the rural areas; in fact, I would like to make at least a brief study of the ‘Gnosis 1 ,’ which is based upon a graduated system of ‘Ameliorations.’ Sir Denzel knew the system well.”
“That sounds interesting,” said Chilke. “And where will you go from Soum?”
“I have no firm plans.” Kathcar showed his wolfish gap-toothed grin. “My enemies, therefore, will be equally uncertain, which pleases me.”
“You lead an interesting life,” said Chilke. “What have you done to deserve such revenge?”
“It is not what I have done but what I am about to do.”
“And what is that?”
Kathcar frowned. In a spirit of bravado he had over-spoken himself. He drank from the goblet of Blue Ruin and set the vessel down with a thump. “That is a pleasing beverage. It stimulates the oral cavity and cleanses the sinuses with its invigorating activity. The flavor is mild yet pungent, without rancidity or after-burn. I will take a bit more, with your permission.”
Chilke refilled the goblets and signaled to the steward.
“Yes sir?”
“Another jug of Blue Ruin. We are about to get serious so throw away the cork.” Chilke leaned back in his chair. “What were we talking about?”
“Kathcar was telling us that he wanted to visit the back country of Soum.”
“In disguise?” asked Chilke.
Kathcar frowned. “I think not. Of course I will be cautious.”
“But first you will fulfill Sir Denzel’s final instructions?”
Kathcar’s manner became austere. “This is confidential business which I cannot discuss.”
“You still fear your enemies, even on Soum?”
“Certainly! There were three days during which they might have hired a space yacht and preceded me to
Soumjiana.”
“You expect them to do so?”
“I expect nothing. I will take precautions against everything.”
“You would seem to be most vulnerable on the way to the bank.”
Kathcar’s black eyebrows lofted high. “I said nothing about the bank! How did you know?”
“No matter. But you may rest easy since we will accompany you and guard your safety.”
Kathcar said coldly: “You may dismiss this plan. I neither want nor need your interference!”
“You must think of it as an
“For poor Kathcar we are bad news. In addition to his other worries, now he must deal with these callow Bureau B lollopers, when all he wanted was a relaxing voyage. Kathcar is now pacing his cabin, cursing in all religions at once, and sorting through his options.”
Chilke drank from his goblet and considered the flowing stars of Mircea’s Wisp.
“Kathcar must bite the bullet,” said Chilke. “He has no other choice. In a few moments he will come out and try to ingratiate himself, with a show of candor and good fellowship, meanwhile bamboozling us from right to left.”
“That seems a reasonable program. Still, Kathcar’s mind works in peculiar ways. For instance, out of a thousand disguises, Kathcar chose to confront the world as a Mascarene Evangel.”
“I will be curious to observe his strategy.”
“Here is Kathcar now,” said Glawen. “He is not even wearing his disguise.”
Kathcar approached and, at Glawen’s invitation, seated himself. Chilke poured Blue Ruin into a goblet and pushed it across the table. “This will bring the roses back to your cheeks.”
“Thank you,” said Kathcar. “I seldom take ardent spirits or balms; I cannot believe that they contribute to good internal hygiene. Still -” he lifted the goblet and tasted the effervescent liquid “- this is not offensive.”
“Two or three jugs a day will shorten the voyage. Time will go like a flash.”
Kathcar gave Chilke a glance of austere disapproval. “That is an experiment I am not prepared to make.”
“Out of curiosity, where are you bound for?”
“I believe that Soum is the first port of call. I may stop over for a period and visit the rural areas; in fact, I would like to make at least a brief study of the ‘Gnosis 1 ,’ which is based upon a graduated system of ‘Ameliorations.’ Sir Denzel knew the system well.”
“That sounds interesting,” said Chilke. “And where will you go from Soum?”
“I have no firm plans.” Kathcar showed his wolfish gap-toothed grin. “My enemies, therefore, will be equally uncertain, which pleases me.”
“You lead an interesting life,” said Chilke. “What have you done to deserve such revenge?”
“It is not what I have done but what I am about to do.”
“And what is that?”
Kathcar frowned. In a spirit of bravado he had over-spoken himself. He drank from the goblet of Blue Ruin and set the vessel down with a thump. “That is a pleasing beverage. It stimulates the oral cavity and cleanses the sinuses with its invigorating activity. The flavor is mild yet pungent, without rancidity or after-burn. I will take a bit more, with your permission.”
Chilke refilled the goblets and signaled to the steward.
“Yes sir?”
“Another jug of Blue Ruin. We are about to get serious so throw away the cork.” Chilke leaned back in his chair. “What were we talking about?”
“Kathcar was telling us that he wanted to visit the back country of Soum.”
“In disguise?” asked Chilke.
Kathcar frowned. “I think not. Of course I will be cautious.”
“But first you will fulfill Sir Denzel’s final instructions?”
Kathcar’s manner became austere. “This is confidential business which I cannot discuss.”
“You still fear your enemies, even on Soum?”
“Certainly! There were three days during which they might have hired a space yacht and preceded me to
Soumjiana.”
“You expect them to do so?”
“I expect nothing. I will take precautions against everything.”
“You would seem to be most vulnerable on the way to the bank.”
Kathcar’s black eyebrows lofted high. “I said nothing about the bank! How did you know?”
“No matter. But you may rest easy since we will accompany you and guard your safety.”
Kathcar said coldly: “You may dismiss this plan. I neither want nor need your interference!”
“You must think of it as an
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