“By Oktai,” murmured Loklann. “Only a woman could imagine we—” He stopped. “Did you say you came back?”
She nodded. “On the people’s behalf. I know I have no legal authority to make terms, but in practice—”
“Forget that!” he rapped. “Where did you come back from?”
She faltered. “That has nothing to do with—”
There were too many eyes around. Loklann bawled orders to start systematic plundering. Then he turned to the girl. “Come aboard the airship with me,” he said. “I want to discuss this further.”
Her eyes closed, for just a moment, and her lips moved. Then she looked at him, he thought of a cougar he had once trapped, and said in a flat voice: “Yes. I do have other arguments.”
“Any woman does,” he laughed, “but you more than most!”
“Not that!” she flared. “I meant— No. Marl, pray for me.” As he pushed a way through his men, she followed him.
They went past furled sails, to a ladder let down from the gallery. A hatch stood open to the lower hull, showing storage space and leather fetters for slaves. A few guards were posted on the gallery deck. They leaned on their weapons, sweating from beneath helmets, swapping jokes; when Loklann led the girl by, they yelled good-humored envy.
He opened a door. “Have you ever seen one of our vessels?” he asked. The upper gondola contained a long room, bare except for bunk frames on which sleeping bags were laid. Then a series of partitions defined cabinets, a sort of galley, and at last, in the very bow, a room with maps, tables, navigation instruments, speaking tubes. Its walls slanted so far outward that the glazed windows would give a spacious view when the ship was aloft. On a shelf, beneath racked weapons, sat a small idol, tusked and four-armed. A pallet was rolled on the floor.
“The bridge,” said Loklann. “Also the captain’s cabin.” He gestured at one of four wicker chairs, lashed into place. “Be seated, Doflita. Would you like something to drink?”
She sat down but did not reply. Her fists were clenched on her lap. Loklann poured himself a glass of whiskey and tossed off
half at a gulp. “Ahhh! Later we will get some of your own wine for you. It is a shame you have nq art of distilling here.”
Desperate eyes lifted to him, where he stood over her. “S’flor,” she said, “I beg of you, in Canto’s name—well, in your mother’s then—spare my people.”
“My mother would laugh herself ill to hear that,” he said. Then, leaning forward: “See here, let us not spill words. You were escaping, but you came back. Where were you escaping to?”
“I— Does that matter?”
Good, he thought, she was starting to crack. He hammered: “It does. I know you were at the palace this dawn. I know you fled with the dark foreigners. I know their ship departed an hour ago. You must have been on it, but left again. Not so?”
“Yes.” She began to tremble.
He sipped molten fire and asked reasonably: “Now tell me, Doflita, what you have to bargain with? You cannot have expected we would give up the best part of our booty and a great many valuable slaves, for a mere safe-conduct. All the Sky kingdoms would disown us. Come now, you must have more to offer, if you hope to buy us off.”
“No . . . not really—”
His hand exploded against her cheek, so her head jerked from the blow. She huddled back, touching the red mark, as he growled:
“I have no time for games. Tell me! Tell me this instant, what thought drove you back here from safety, or down in the hold you go. You’d fetch a good price when the traders next visit Canyon. There are many homes waiting for you: a woods runner’s cabin in Oregon, a Mong khan’s yurt in Tekkas, a brothel as far east as Chai Ka-Go. Tell me now, truly, what you know, and you will be spared that much.”
She looked downward and said raggedly: “The foreign ship is loaded with the calde’s gold. My father had long wanted to remove his personal treasure to a safer place than this, but dared not risk a wagon train across country. There are still many outlaws between here and Fortlez d’ S’ Ernán; so much loot would tempt the military escort itself to turn bandit. Captain Lohannaso agreed