Nor was the style of architecture accidental either. This particular Blue Temple, true to type, was reminiscent of a fortress; even more, perhaps, of a miniature mountain, though the total bulk of this structure was somewhat less than that of the Red Temple across town, which looked less like a mountain than like a giant hive. Undoubtedly this fortress, the Blue Temple, would be an extremely good place in which to leave your money and keep your valuables on deposit. Nothing, not even an earthquake, was ever going to budge or threaten this building and its contents-that, at least, was the impression meant to be conveyed by the massive walls and foundations, and reinforced by the iron bars, each thick as a strong man’s arm, that guarded all the windows.
Wen Chang confronted all this majesty of strength undaunted. He marched majestically forward, straight across the square in the direction of the main entrance of this formidable edifice. Kasimir, walking half a step behind him, observed that here as at the Red Temple the majority of worshippers entering were men.
There was no difficulty about entering, for men so respectably dressed. Once they were inside the lobby, all cool white and pale blue, the Magistrate did not delay to look around. As if he knew exactly where he was going, he made his way straight to one side of the marble counter where a massive and yet somehow discreet sign promised information. Already, here in the outer lobby, the impression of penuriousness was beginning to fade.
The imposing manner of Wen Chang’s approach did not appear to make the least impression upon the well-dressed clerk behind the counter, who doubtless dealt every day with equally imposing folk.
Nor was the clerk shaken when the Magistrate fixed him with a narrow-eyed glare, and announced in a firm voice: “I wish to see the Director of Security.”
The expression on the clerk’s face remained perfectly neutral as he looked this grand visitor up and down. “And may I tell the Director who wishes to see him?”
The tall figure that stood in front of his marble counter became, if possible, even a little taller. “You may tell him that his callers are the Magistrate Wen Chang, and his associate Doctor Kasimir.”
The expression on the clerk’s face achieved something- not quite a real change, thought Kasimir, more like a greater intensity of neutrality. In a moment, speaking in a voice that now admitted a certain grudging courtesy, the man behind the counter invited: “Step this way, if you please, gentlemen.”
Wen Chang, with Kasimir remaining more or less half a step behind him, followed the clerk through a curtained doorway behind the information counter. On the other side of the doorway, solid steps led up. As he climbed Kasimir observed, in the materials of walls and stairs themselves, that they were now definitely entering the plusher precincts of Blue Temple administration.
The information clerk conducted them up only one level, and into a small office where he left them standing in front of the desk of another functionary. This woman, upon hearing the Magistrate’s identity, welcomed him and his associate with something approaching warmth. Then she promptly left her small office to escort the visitors on up to a higher level still.
This process repeated itself, with subtle variations, on several levels. In each new office Kasimir and Wen Chang encountered a pause in front of a new desk, new introductions, and a brief conference. All this was conducted in an atmosphere of cordiality tempered by suspicion, palpable though never openly voiced, that this imposing man might not really be who he claimed to be.
Early on in the game it became evident to Kasimir that the higher up you went in the Blue Temple, the closer you penetrated toward its center, the plusher, more luxurious, everything became. Inside this fortress it was no longer frivolity to display wealth. Instead it had become a duty to show it, or at least enough of it, to suggest how much more treasure must be available.
There was a great deal of affluence in sight already, and still he and Wen Chang had not penetrated to their goal. The Director of Security, Kasimir was thinking, must be a very important part indeed of this establishment.
But at last Wen Chang, with Kasimir at his elbow, was standing in the office of the Director himself, who came around from behind his enormous ebony desk to greet them with a moderate show of warmth, that somehow did not include revealing his name if he had one apart from his office. No great sensitivity was needed to detect a certain wariness in the Director’s manner as he pressed his callers’ hands, one after another. Inside this man’s fine robes of blue and gold his body was very lean, as if perhaps the guardianship of such mind-boggling wealth as had been entrusted to his care left him with no time to eat.
The words of the Director’s greeting, at least, sounded perfectly sincere.
“To what does our poor establishment owe the honor of this visit? Everyone has heard of the wise judge Wen Chang, whose eye is capable of penetrating with a glance to the very heart of wickedness. But I confess, Your Honor, that somehow I had pictured you as an older man.”
Wen Chang bowed, lightly and courteously. “And I, even in lands far distant from this one, have heard of the Director of Security in the Blue Temple in the great city of Eylau. But we have not come here for an exchange of compliments however pleasant. Instead we are upon a matter of the most serious business.”
“I am all ears. Please, be seated.”
Wen Chang and Kasimir helped themselves to ivory chairs, while the Director resumed his place behind his desk of ebony. Then the Magistrate continued: “It was another matter entirely that brought myself and my associate, Doctor Kasimir, here to Eylau. But in the course of our investigations in this city there has come to our attention the existence of a plot to steal from this temple the jewel known as the Great Orb of Maecenas.”
The Director blinked once, and then his face went totally blank. “What reason have you to believe that jewel is here?”
The Magistrate shook his head. “Come, come, sir, we are going out of our way to do you a favor. Do not waste my time or your own.”
At this crucial moment there was a confused bustling and whispering at the door of the Director’s office. In a moment a man entered, a fat and oily-looking man wearing a cape of almost pure gold, touched only with a little blue.
The two visitors got to their feet, and a fresh round of introductions began, this time with more ceremony than before. The new arrival was actually Theodore, Chief Priest of the Blue Temple in Eylau.
>From the moment of his arrival in the room, the Chief Priest’s manner indicated that he was at least somewhat mistrustful of everyone else, including his own Director of Security.
When all were seated again, Wen Chang repeated, for Chief Priest Theodore’s benefit, his statement about the discovery of a plot to steal the jewel.
Theodore did not trouble to deny the presence of the Orb inside his establishment. Instead he asked Wen Chang bluntly: “How do you know this?”
“The circumstances in which I gained the information are closely connected to the original investigation upon which my associate and myself were engaged. More than that I cannot tell you at present. You will appreciate that I extend to all my clients the same confidentiality I would extend to you, were I retained by you personally, or by the Blue Temple.”
This speech did not go down well with either of Wen Chang’s priestly hearers, who exchanged grim looks. Then the Director still attempted to deny the presence of the Great Orb, and even disclaimed any knowledge of its whereabouts.
The Magistrate was growing impatient with them. “Come, come! I know that the gem we are speaking of is in this city, and I am almost certain that it is within the walls of this very building.”
At this point the Chief Priest asked Wen Chang and Kasimir, politely enough, to step into another room while he had a private discussion with his Security Director.
Wen Chang signed agreement and got to his feet. “Of course, gentlemen. But I advise you not to take too long to make up your minds to listen to me. In this matter time is of great importance.”
The Director glared at him. “It seems to me that we could all save time if you would condescend to tell us the source of your alleged information.”
The Magistrate appeared to be maintaining his patience only with an effort. “Even if I was willing to break confidence with my client-which I am not-nothing I could tell you about the source would help you in the least to prevent the theft. By the way, I suppose you are perfectly sure that the stone is secure at this moment?”