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No, insisted the man in the middle. I think he is just perceptive. Funny. The woman was staring at Simna. He doesn t look perceptive. Ehomba hastened to draw the conversation away from his companion. We were told that we were brought here because our thinking was not in alignment with the kind of thinking you have decreed for this country. I never heard of such a thing. How can you decree what people can think? Not what, the woman corrected him. How. It s the way people think that we are concerned with. What they think about is not our concern. Absolutely not, added the man on the far end. That would constitute an inexcusable invasion of privacy. Ehomba was unconvinced. And telling people how to think does not? Not at all. The beaming monk in the center unfolded his hands and placed them flat on the table. The subdued light in the chamber made the gold symbols on his robe dance and sparkle. It leads to a thriving and prosperous society. Wouldn t you agree that what you ve seen of Tethspraih is flourishing, that the people are as healthy and attractive as their surroundings? I would, the herdsman conceded. Not only had these people allowed him and Simna to keep their weapons during the interrogation, but the litah had also been permitted to accompany them into this inner Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html sanctum. This suggested great confidence. But in what? The armed servitors who had escorted him and his friends were stationed outside the chamber. Insofar as he could tell, not one of the monks carried so much as a dagger. What could they do to defend themselves if, for example, someone like Simna lost his temper and leaped at them with sword drawn? Sitting behind their table, they appeared quite indifferent to any danger the armed strangers might pose. Ehomba was simultaneously impressed and wary, and curious to know why. All right. The swordsman sighed. Tell us what we have to do to get out of here. If it s a fine, we ll try to come up with the money to pay it. Oh no. Fining you would be a useless gesture characteristic of primitive extortionate regimes. The woman was smiling at him once again. We might as well put a knife to your ribs in the middle of the street. We d never think of doing such a thing. No indeed, the middle monk added. We are not an agency of punishment, fiduciary or physical. Simna relaxed a little. Hoy, that s good to hear. Then what do you want of us? Unlike his friend, Ehomba did not relax. Why have we been brought here? Why, so you can be helped, of course. The smiles of the three were brighter than ever. At this pronouncement the swordsman lost his composure. What do you mean, helped ? The monk on the end gazed across at him with infinite compassion. To think appropriately, of course. Simna ibn Sind did not like the sound of that. He did not like the sound of it one bit. Thanks, but I ve been thinking for myself for nigh on thirty-one years now, and I m comfortable with the process just as it is. Set in my ways, you might say. Oh, that s all right, the monk assured him. It s a consideration common to many improper thinkers, and one easily corrected. Don t worry we ll take care of it for you. By Gambrala, do I have to spell it out for you? I don t want it taken care of! Ehomba put a calming hand on his companion s shoulder. A by now highly agitated Simna shook it off, but out of consideration for his friend held back the stream of words his tongue was preparing to launch. Why do you care how we think? The herdsman addressed the panel in a voice calm with respect and genuine interest. We come from other lands and are just passing through your country. With luck we will be beyond the borders of Tethspraih and inside Phan in a few days. Then our way of thinking will no longer concern you. The woman was shaking her head slowly. If we allowed that to happen we would be derelict in our duty to our fellow man. All of us would have to do penance. If you treat every visitor this way I d think you wouldn t have much trade with your neighbors. Simna had calmed down a little. Some of our neighbors are amenable to persuasion, the monk on the end informed them. With others Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html we have treaties that, regrettably, prohibit us from exposing them to the satisfactions that come with decreed thinking. But we have no such treaty with you. And because of that, the man in the center added, we have a wonderful opportunity to spread right thinking to countries whose names we may not even know! Because when you return to your homelands it will be as disciples for the Tethspraih way of life. I got news for you, Simna retorted. The only way of life I m a disciple for is the Simna ibn Sind way of life. It s pretty popular in its own right, and while I m real fond of it myself, I d no more run around trying to inflict it on someone else than I would try to make them eat my favorite pudding. We can fix that. The man on the end wore a big smile that thoroughly belied the implied threat behind his words. No one said anything to us about such things when we entered your country, Ehomba told them. If they had, we would have avoided Tethspraih, and gone around its borders. The sheepherder should have told you. The woman shook her head sadly. What a waste of a fine mind. The majority of his thinking is improper. When he had first met Lamidy Coubert, Ehomba had been unable to understand why such a gregarious and congenial individual would choose a life of isolation in the high mountains. Now he knew. Perhaps Roileé had helped him to escape. But the average citizen of Tethspraih had no bitch witch to assist him or her in flight. Prosperous and successful they might be, but they were trapped here. Or perhaps, he corrected himself, their bodies were free, and only their minds were ensnared. I do not know what you mean by proper or improper thinking, he told them. I know only that my friend Simna thinks the way he thinks, and I think the way I think, and Ahlitah thinks the way he thinks and that is how we will continue to think. We are not concerned about the great cat, the woman replied. Such beasts are creatures of instinct and not reason. At these words the litah paused momentarily in cleaning its face, then resumed licking and brushing. It seemed content to let Ehomba deal with the controversy. But you and your friend will be brought into the fold. And you will be the happier for it. I m already happy enough, an angry Simna retorted. And I ll stomp anyone who says different! His fingers grasped the hilt of his sword. Despite this openly hostile gesture, none of the three monks behind the table reacted apprehensively. From what Ehomba could see, they did not even tense. Where was their protection? he found himself wondering. How were they able to remain completely unruffled in the face of an implied challenge from an obviously agitated, intemperate personality like Simna? Despite their intransigent words, he was still hoping to avoid a confrontation. With that in mind, he again tried to divert their attention from the combative swordsman. I do not understand. How did you know how we were thinking when we entered your country? Something must have told you or you would not have been able to send your servitors, your police, to that tavern to find us. [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ] |