to carry the gold by sea to Port Wanawato, which is near Fortlez. He could be trusted because his government is anxious for trade with us, he came here officially. The treasure had already been loaded. Of course, when your raid came, the ship also took those women who had been at the palace. But can you not spare them? There is more loot in the foreign ship than your whole fleet can lift.”
“By Oktai!” whispered Loklann.
He turned from her, paced up and down, finally stopped and stared out the window. He could almost hear the gears turn in his head. It made sense! The palace had been disappointing. . . oh, yes, a lot of damask and silverware and whatnot, but nothing like the cathedral. Either the calde was less rich than powerful, or he concealed his hoard. Loklann had planned to torture a few servants and find out which. Now he realized there was a third possibility.
Better interrogate some prisoners anyway, to make sure— No, there wasn’t time. Given a favoring wind, that ship could outrun any rover without working up a sweat. It might already be too late to overhaul. But if not— Hm. Assault would be no cinch. That lean, pitching hull was a small target for paratroops, and with so much rigging in the way. . . . No, wait, bold men could always find a road. How about grappling to the upper works? If the strain tore the rigging loose, so much the better: a weighted rope would then give a clear slideway to the deck. If the hooks held, though, a storming party could nevertheless go along the lines, into the topmasts. Doubtless the sailors were agile too, but had they ever reefed a rover sail in a Merikan thunderstorm, a mile above the earth?
He could improvise as the battle developed. At the very least, it would be fun to try! And at most, he might be reborn a world conqueror, for such an exploit in this life.
He laughed aloud, joyously. “We’ll do it!”
Tresa rose. “You will spare the city?” she whispered hoarsely.
“I never promised any such thing,” said Loklann blandly. “Of course, the ship’s cargo will crowd out some of the stuff and peo
plc we might take otherwise. Unless, hm, unless we decide to sail the ship up to Calf orni, loaded, and meet it there with more royers. Yes, why not?”
“You oathbreaker,” she said, with a heilful of scorn.
“I only promised not to sell you,” said Loklann. His gaze went up and down her. “And I won’t.”
He took a stride forward and gathered her to him. She fought, cursing; once she managed to draw Ruori’s knife from his belt, but his cuirass stopped the blade.
Finally he rose. She wept at his feet, her breast marked red by her father’s chain. He said more quietly, “No, I will not sell you, Tresa. I will keep you.”
VI
“Blimp ho-o-o-!”
The lookout’s cry hung lonesome for a minute between wind and broad waters. Down under the mainmast, it seethed with crewmen running to their posts. –
Ruori squinted eastward. The land was a streak under cumulus clouds mountainous and blue-shadowed. It took him a while to find the enemy, in all that sky. At last the sun struck them. He lifted his binoculars. Two painted killer whales lazed his way, slanting down from a mile altitude.
He sighed. “Only two,” he said.
“That may be more than enough for us,” said Atel Hamid. Sweat studded his forehead.
Ruori gave his mate a sharp look. “You’re not afraid of them, are you? I daresay that’s been one of their biggest assets, superstition.”
“Oh, no, captain. I know the principle of buoyancy as well as you do. But those people up there are tough. And they’re not trying to storm us from a dock this time; they’re in their element.”
“So are we.” Ruori clapped the other man’s back. “Take over. Tanaroa knows just what’s going to happen, but use your own judgment if I’m spitted.”
“I wish you’d let me go,” protested Atel. “I don’t like being safe down here. It’s what can happen aloft that worries me.”