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Scared men don't think; they hide. Well, I've never been one to sit around
waiting for my problems to go away on their own. Not planning to change
now.'
He kicked the empty bench away and turned towards the door only to find
Hort
blocking his way.
'What are you going to do?' Terci called after him.
'I'm going to find an answer!' the Old Man announced, drilling the room with
his
scorn. 'And I'll find it where I've always found answers - in the sea; not at
the bottom of a wine-cup.'
With that he strode out of the door. Hort started to follow when someone
called
his name and he turned back.
'I thought that was you under those city-clothes,' Omat said without
rancour.
'Watch over him, boy. He's a little crazy and crazy people sometimes get
killed
before they get sane.'
There was a low murmur of assent from those around the table. Hort
nodded and
hurried after his father. The Old Man was waiting for him outside the door.
'Fools!' he raged. 'No money for a week and they sit drinking what little they
have left. Pah!'
'What do we do now. Old Man?'
Panit looked around then snatched up a Nya trap from a stack on the dock.
'We'll
need this,' he said, almost to himself.
'Isn't that one ofTerci's traps?' Hort asked cautiously.
'He isn't using it, is he?' the Old Man shot back. 'And besides we're only
borrowing it. Now, you're supposed to know this town - where's the
nearest
blacksmith?'
'The nearest? Well, there's a mender in the Bazaar, but the best ones are...'
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r r
The Old Man was off, striding purposefully down (he street, leaving Hort to
hurry after him.
It wasn't a market-day; the Bazaar was still sleepy with many stalls
unopened.
It was not necessary for Hort to lead the way as the sharp, ringing notes of
hammer striking anvil were easily heard over the slow-moving shoppers. The
dark
giant plying the hammer glanced at them as they approached, but continued
his
work.
'Are you the smith?' Panit asked.
This earned them another, longer, look but no words. Hort realized the
question
had been ridiculous. A few more strikes and the giant set his hammer
aside,
turning his full attention to his new customers.
'I need a Nya trap. One of these.' The Old Man thrust thetrap at the smith.
The smith glanced at the trap, then shook his head. 'Smith; not carpenter,' he
proclaimed, already reaching for his hammer.
'I know that!' the Old Man barked. 'I want this trap made out of metal.'
The giant stopped and stared at his customers again, then he picked up the
trap
and examined it.
'And I'll need it today - by sundown.'
The smith set the trap down carefully. 'Two silvers,' he said firmly.
'Two!' the Old Man snorted. 'Do you think you're dealing with the Kitty-Kat
himself? One.'
'Two,' the smith insisted.
'Dubro!'
They all turned to face the small woman who had emerged from the
enclosure
behind the forge.
'Do it for one,' she said quietly. 'He needs it.'
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r r
She and the smith locked eyes in a battle of wills, then the giant nodded and
turned away from his wife.
'S'danzo?' the Old Man asked before the woman disappeared into the
darkness from
which she'd come.
'Half.'
'You've got the sight?'
'A bit,' she admitted. 'I see your plan is unselfish but dangerous. I do not see
the outcome - except that you must have Dubro's help to succeed.'
'You'll bless the trap?'
The S'danzo shook her head. 'I'm a seer, not a priest. I'll make you a symbol
the Lance of Ships from our cards - to put on the trap. It marks good fortune
in
sea-battles; it might help you.'
'Could I see the card?' the Old Man asked.
The woman disappeared and returned a few moments later bearing the card,
which
she held for Panit. Looking over his father's shoulder, Hort saw a crudely
drawn
picture of a whale with a metal-sheathed horn proceeding from its head.
'A good card,' the Old Man nodded. 'For what you offer - I'll pay the two
silvers.' She smiled and returned to the darkness. Dubro stepped forward
with
his palm extended. 'When I pick up the trap,' Panit insisted. 'You needn't fear.
I won't leave it to gather dust.'
The giant frowned, nodded and turned back to his work. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]