Almost everyone who saw his gaunt, robed figure knew who he was. And did a doubletake. One just did not see an elder sage walking alone in the city; invariably some of then-disciples were with them, certainly when there was something to be carried. But Panni Vempravvo had told his people he must go alone this time, and that he might be back before winter.
Though somewhat bulky, the parcel Panni carried wasn't heavy. It consisted of a spare robe wrapped around a few belongings—eating bowl, toothbrush, prayer mat, and three or four rags for whatever uses. He carried it over his shoulder, tied to the end of a three-foot-long stick.
No one offered to carry it for him, or rather, no adult did, though several felt an urge to and somehow held back. Only a boy about eleven actually offered, an offer that was accepted. Accompanied by half a dozen playmates, he carried it until Panni stopped, straight-faced but twinkly-eyed, put out a hand and received the bundle back. Then the sage bowed deeply to the boy and turned up a narrow, climbing sidestreet. The children turned back toward the small square where they'd been playing.
Only a block farther, Panni came to the building whose penthouse was occupied by Tassi Vermaatio. His skinny legs climbed the many steps slowly but without pause, and he reached the top with no sign of labor, not even sweat. Crossing the roof to the penthouse, he entered and stopped. There were eight men there besides Tassi. Three still sat on a bench, eating supper; another was washing his bowl. Panni's eyes went to Master Dazzlik, the head of Tassi's household, who got up from his prayer mat and bowed. Panni bowed back, put down his bundle, and spoke courteously.
"I would like to stay here, on the roof of your penthouse, and meditate." There was more, unspoken, not even articulated mentally.
Dazzlik's answer was partly voiced, partly silent. (Sense of: We have been waiting for you.) "We are happy that you have come." (Sense of: Your needs will be seen to.) He turned to a youthful disciple and spoke mildly. "Felsettos, bring supper to the Lamp of Hrum. Then obtain a ladder by which he can mount to the roof."
That said, the master bowed again and lowered himself to his prayer mat, paying no more attention to the visiting sage. Folding his long, skinny legs, Panni too sat down, opened his bundle and took forth his bowl. The young disciple went to a sack hanging on the wall and took out a leafy green head of sallto as large as his two fists. He presented it to Panni with a bow, took the sage's bowl and brought it back full of a vegetable stew with bits of meat. Then he hurried from the room. Panni began with the sallto, eating slowly so that it lasted till Felsettos returned, sweaty and breathing hard, to bow again.
"The ladder is outside the door," he said. "Orros Vencarrnos, who has the honor of owning this building, says the ladder is yours as long as you wish to keep it."
The sage's eyes met Felsettos', and without speaking he grinned. Picking the morsels from the stew one by one, he ate them slowly, drank the broth, licked his fingers and wiped them on a rag, unfolded his legs, got easily up, and washed his bowl in the pan provided. Then he gathered his bundle loosely in one hand, went outside and climbed the ladder to the roof of the penthouse. Laying out his prayer mat, he sat down on it, facing south across the city, the lowering sun brightening his right profile, and almost at once entered a trance.
* * *
Elver Brokols no longer fooled himself that he would, or could, play both sides of the game. So it felt peculiar to him to sit again at his wireless; peculiar and somehow dangerous. But it also seemed necessary to continue the pretense with Kryger. And to otherwise mislead, perhaps confuse, and just possibly learn something.
Almost he wished Kryger's sounder would remain silent, but after a moment his signal was acknowledged. Looking at the message he'd drafted, Brokols began to send:
"Have returned to Theedalit from week with army unit. Stop. Hrummean discipline and morale excellent. Stop. Have had crossbow constructed and interested army in it. Stop."
The two statements out of three were deliberate lies. He had, of course, not been with the army. Also the expert Hrummean longbowmen had greater range and much faster rate of fire than crossbows could provide, and their accuracy was excellent. But he was willing to bet that discipline and morale were strong indeed.
"Government has accepted that Djez Gorrbul is the threat. Stop. Almeon too far away. Stop. Public belief increasingly follows government position. Stop. Brokols end."
After a few seconds the sounder began to rattle.
* * *
MESSAGE RECEIVED STOP CONTINUE EFFORTS STOP KRYGER END COMPLETED
* * *
The sounder stilled, and Brokols frowned at Kryger's reply. It told him nothing new, nothing of value. "Kryger end. Completed." No questions, no probing—the apparency of disinterest. Perhaps Kryger had written him off as too uncertain a quantity to waste attention on.
I'll keep checking in from time to time though, Brokols told himself. It was desirable that Kryger not speculate too much on what he might be doing here in Hrumma, and it seemed to Brokols that such speculation was more likely if he stopped reporting entirely.
* * *
It was not long after daylight, and his disciples were eating their morning porridge—when Tassi Vermaatio got up! It took all of them by surprise except the two masters. When he stood, the ancient skinny calves, the scrawny arms, looked somehow even more fragile than usual.
It was not the customary time of the week for him to stand up. Just two days earlier he'd relieved himself, sipped satta and eaten a crust.
He looked around interestedly, his gaze absorbing who was there, and he bobbed his head, acknowledging their presence. Then he went to the door and outside. Two of the younger disciples hurried after him without orders from the masters, who continued eating unconcernedly. To their astonishment and concern, the old man stepped to the ladder and climbed slowly to the flat roof.
Panni's head turned toward him, eyes focusing, and he grinned. Tassi grinned toothlessly back, and without a mat, sat down a few feet away, legs folded, back straight. Both sages' eyes slipped out of focus then, and they returned to their trances.