[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

and, dipping their fingers in the water, drew pallid threads from the drops.
Certain conches and whelks had aroused their disapproval through impudence,
and they discussed a great urn lying on the off-shore seabottom.
Cugel finally tired of the conversation and rose to his feet, at which the
shell-creatures once more gave him their attention. "Must you fare forth so
soon? Just when we were about to inquire
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/JackVance-TheEyesofTheOverworldUC.txt (18 of 84)
[5/21/03 2:47:13 AM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/JackVance-TheEyesofTheOverworldUC.txt the reason
for your presence; passers-by are few along Great Sandy Beach, and you seem a
man who has journeyed far."
"This is correct," said Cugel, "and I must journey yet farther. Notice the
sun: it starts down the western curve, and tonight I wish to house myself at
Cil."
One of the shell-creatures lifted up its arms and displayed a fine garment it
had woven from water-
threads. "This garment we offer as a gift. You seem a sensitive man and so may
require protection from wind and cold." It tossed the garment to Cugel. He
examined it, marveling at the suppleness of the cloth and its lucent shimmer.
"I thank you indeed," said Cugel. 'This is generosity beyond my expectation."
He wrapped himself in the garment, but at once it reverted to water and Cugel
was drenched. The four in the shells shouted loud in mischievous glee, and as
Cugel stepped wrathfully forward they snapped their shells shut.
Cugel kicked the shell of the creature which had tossed him the garment,
bruising his foot and exacerbating his rage. He seized a heavy rock and dashed
it down upon the shell, crushing it.
Snatching forth the squealing creature, Cugel hurled it far up the beach,
where it lay staring at him, head and small arms joined to pale entrails.
In a faint voice it asked, "Why did you treat me so?
45
The Eyes of the Overworld
For a prank you have taken my life from me, and I have no other."
"And thereby you will be prevented from further pranks," declared Cugel.
"Notice you have drenched me to the skua!"
"It was merely an act of mischief; a small matter surely." The shell-creature
spoke in a fading voice. "We of the rocks know little magic, yet I am given
the power to curse, and this I now pronounce: may you lose your
heart's-desire, whatever its nature; you shall be bereft before a single day
is gone."
"Another curse?" Cugel shook his head in displeasure. "Two curses already I
have voided this day;
am I now inflicted with another?
"This curse you shall not void," whispered the shell-creature. "I make it the
final act of my life."
"Malice is a quality to be deplored," said Cugel fretfully. "I doubt the
efficacy of your curse;
nevertheless, you would be well-advised to clear the air of its odium and so
regain my good opinion."
But the shell-creature said no more. Presently it collapsed into a cloudy
slime which was absorbed into the sand.
Cugel set off down the beach, considering how best to avert the consequences
of the shell-
Page 25
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
creature's curse. "One must use his wits in dealing with maledictions," Cugel
said for the second time. "Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?" No
stratagem came to mind, and he proceeded along the beach pondering the matter
in all its aspects.
The headland to the east grew distinct. Cugel saw it to be cloaked in tall
dark trees, through which appeared glimpses of white buildings.
Slaye showed himself once more, running back and forth across the beach like
one departed of his senses. He approached Cugel and fell on his knees. "The
amulet, I beg of you! It belongs to the
House of Slaye; it conferred upon us the rule of Cil! Give it to me and I will
fulfill your heart's-desire!"
Cugel stopped short. Here was a pretty paradox! If he surrendered the amulet,
Slaye evidently would betray him, or at the very least fail to make good his
promise assuming the potency of the curse. On the other hand, if
46
The Eyes of the Overworld
Cugel retained the amulet, he would lose his heart's-desire to no less a
degree assuming the potency of the curse but the amulet would yet be his.
Slaye misinterpreted the hesitation as a sign of pliancy. "I will make you
grandee of the realm!"
he cried hi a fervent voice. "You shall have a barge of carved ivory, and two
hundred maidens shall serve your wants; your enemies shall be clamped into a
rotating cauldron o'nly give me the amuletl
"The amulet confers so much power?" inquired CugeL "It is possible to achieve
all this?"
"Indeed, indeedl" cried Slaye, "when one can read the runes!"
"Well then," said Cugel, "what is their import?"
Slaye gazed at him in woeful injury. "That I cannot say; I must have the
amulet!"
Cugel flourished his hand hi a contemptuous gesture. "You refuse to gratify my
curiosity; in my
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/JackVance-TheEyesofTheOverworldUC.txt (19 of 84)
[5/21/03 2:47:13 AM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/JackVance-TheEyesofTheOverworldUC.txt turn I
denounce your arrogant ambitions!"
Slaye turned to look toward the headland, where white walls gleamed among the
trees. "I understand all. You intend to rule Cil in your own right!"
There were less desirable prospects, thought Cugel, and Firx, appreciating
something of this, performed a small monitory constriction. Regretfully Cugel
put aside the scheme; nevertheless, it suggested a means to nullify the
shell-creature's curse. "If I am to be deprived of my heart's-
desire," Cugel told himself, "I would be wise to fix upon a new goal, a
fervent new enthusiasm, for at least the space of a day. I shall therefore
aspire to the rule of Cil, which now becomes my heart's-desire." So as not to
arouse the vigilance of Firx, he said aloud, "I intend to use this amulet to
achieve highly important ends. Among them may well be the lordship of Cil, to
which I
believe I am entitled by virtue of my amulet."
Slaye gave a wild sardonic laugh. "First you must convince Derwe Coreme of
your authority. She is of the House of Domber, gloomy and fitful; she looks
little more than a girl, but she manifests the brooding carelessness of a
forest grue. Beware of Derwe Coreme; she will order you and my amulet plunged
into the ocean's deep!"
"If you fear to this extent," said Cugel with asperity, 47
The Eyes of the Overworld
"instruct me in the use of the amulet, and I will prevent that calamity."
But Slaye mulishly shook his head. "The deficiencies of Derwe Coreme are
known; why exchange them for the outlandish excesses of a vagabond?"
Page 26
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
For his outspokenness Slaye received a buffet which sent him staggering. Cugel
then proceeded along the shore. The sun wallowed low upon the sea; he hastened
his steps, anxious to find shelter before dark.
He came at last to the end of the beach. The headland loomed above, with the
tall dark trees standing still higher. A balustrade surrounding the gardens
showed intermittently through the foliage; somewhat below, a colonnaded [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]