back it’ll be soon – we’ll be leaving at once. Have everything we’ll need for a
long journey packed into that bag. Just clothes and eating utensils and the
medicine. If Kheem has a relapse, give her Smhee’s powders.’
Wallu wailed then, and Masha had to quiet her down.
‘Hide the money. No! Leave one shaboozh where Eevroen will find it when he looks
for money. Conceal the rest where he can’t find it. He’ll take the shaboozh and
go out to drink, and you won’t be bothered with him or his questions.’
When the flaming brass bowl of the noon sun had reached its apex, Smhee came.
His eyes looked very red, but he didn’t act fatigued. He carried a carpet bag
from which he produced two dark cloaks, two robes, and the masks which the
priests of Shalpa wore in public.
He said, ‘How did you get rid of your mother and the children?’
‘A neighbour is keeping the children until mother gets back from shopping,’ she
said. ‘Eevroen still hasn’t shown up.’.
‘Nor will he for a long time,’ Smhee said. ‘I dropped a coin as I passed him
staggering this way. He snatched it, of course, and ran off to a tavern.
‘The Sailfish will be leaving port in three days. I’ve arranged for passage on
her and also to be hidden aboard her if her departure is delayed. I’ve been very
busy all morning.’
‘Including taking a bath,’ she said.
‘You don’t smell too good yourself,’ he said. ‘But you can bathe when we get to
the river. Put these on.’
She went into her room, removed her clothes, and donned the priest’s garb. When
she came out, Smhee was fully dressed. The bag attached to his belt bulged