spread out on it. He stank of rancid butter.
Smhee approached him slowly, then grabbed the thin curly hair of the mage’s
topknot and raised the head.
There was water on the desk, and water ran from the dead man’s nose and mouth.
‘What happened to him?’ she whispered. .
Smhee did not reply at once. He lifted the body from the chair and placed it on
the floor. Then he knelt and thumped the mage’s chest.
The fat man rose smiling.
‘What happened is that the reversal of the wheels’ motion caused the water which
should have fallen off the paddles to go instead to the mage. The conversion of
physical energy to magical energy was reversed.’
He paused.
‘The water went into the mage’s body. He drowned\’
He raised his eyes and said, ‘Blessed is Weda Krizhtawn, the goddess of water!
She has her revenge through her faithful servant, Rhandhee Ghee!’
He looked at Masha.’ That is my true name, Rhandhee Ghee. And I have revenged
the goddess and her worshippers. The defiler and thief is dead, and I can go
home now. Perhaps she will forgive some of my sins because I have fulfilled her
intent. I won’t go to hell, surely. I will suffer in a purgatory for a while and
then, cleansed with pain, will go to the lowest heaven. And then, perhaps…’
‘You forget that I am to be paid,’ she said. ‘No, I didn’t. Look. He wears
golden rings set with jewels of immense value. Take them, and let’s be off.’
She shuddered and said, ‘No. They would bring misfortune.’
‘Very well. The next room should be his treasure chamber.’ It was. There were