those gods occasionally really do mess around with
mortals. The human capacity for selective blindness appears to be
infinite.
For me the religion business becomes problematic when the gods
outnumber their worshippers.
Well, in some cases. One of which I seem to have stumbled into.
I told the Dead Man, “You sound like you’re actually
interested. Maybe I ought to be suspicious. But I don’t think
there’s time.”
Exactly. Long hours and rigorous self-discipline lie ahead.
Your first chore will be to visit the Royal library and sweet-talk
your friend into loaning us whatever books they have devoted to
these religions.
“Uh . . . that might not be so
easy.”
Make peace.
“It’s not that. Linda Lee and I get along fine. I
found some rare books she let get away.”
Find me some books. Dean! Put aside your prejudice for a
moment. Go to Mr. Dotes’
establishment . . .
“That may not be any good either. Morley has gone upscale.
He might be trying to put his whole past behind him.”
Must you interrupt?
He rooted around inside my head. He
never does that unless he is seriously provoked or concerned. He
reviewed my experiences during his nap. Usually he is overly
careful to respect my privacy.
His behavior was troubling. I had to suspect that he knew
something that had not occurred to me.
Who do we know who has the ability to read? Other than
yourself?
“Playmate,” I replied, puzzled. “But not real
good. Winger, a little. Morley. Barking
Dog . . . ”
Winger?
Astonishment.
“She’s been learning. The better to con you with, my
dear. Always a surprise, Winger is.”
Not good enough. Try to get your librarian friend to come
in.
“Why?” Talk about astonishment. The Dead Man asking
for a woman to be brought into the house?
Any books you do obtain will have to be read to me. It is
too difficult for me to do it by myself.
Turning the pages is a bitch when you’re dead. Though he
could manage it if he had to.
“I got you.”
An even bigger problem is that he has a hard time seeing if he
can’t use somebody’s else’s eyes.
Once you have dealt with Linda Lee I want you to go to the
Dream Quarter. Examine the temples involved in this business. Move
carefully. Waste no time but take all the time you need to study
the places right while maintaining your personal safety.
“What? Shouldn’t I look for this key?”
That is of no concern now. Information is. If you collect
the available information I will sift the clues. I am not as
powerful as these gods, but I am far smarter.
“No self-image problem over there,” I told Dean, who
had made no effort to leave.
Much the same can be said of you, Garrett. I do not recall
the Godoroth well, but do believe Magodor may be the only one
smarter than a four-year-old.
Wonderful.
Time is wasting, Garrett. To the library. Then to the Dream
Quarter.
“What about the Shayir?”
What about them?
“Apparently they were on to me even before the Godoroth.
What do I do if they close in on me?”
Use your wits, guided by experience. You have your weapons
and your physical skills. In any event, you will achieve nothing
standing there. Dean. After you have spoken to Mr. Dotes, locate
Mr. Tharpe. If Mr. Tharpe is unavailable, find Mr. Playmate. As a
last resort, call upon Miss Winger. Then return here quickly. I
will have more for you to do. Garrett.
I paused at the door. I will say this about the Dead Man. It is
blue-haired hell getting him started, but once he is into something
he is a take-charge kind of guy. “What?”
Take the parrot.
“What? Are you crazy? I got lucky a while ago, but you
know my luck ran out. He’ll get me killed before I walk a
block. He’ll tell some giant his mother does trolls, and
they’ll find parts of me all over town.”
Take the parrot. Put a lanyard on his leg if you feel the
need. I believe he will be more cooperative than usual.
“Dead would be more cooperative than usual.”
Garrett.
He was
mortals. The human capacity for selective blindness appears to be
infinite.
For me the religion business becomes problematic when the gods
outnumber their worshippers.
Well, in some cases. One of which I seem to have stumbled into.
I told the Dead Man, “You sound like you’re actually
interested. Maybe I ought to be suspicious. But I don’t think
there’s time.”
Exactly. Long hours and rigorous self-discipline lie ahead.
Your first chore will be to visit the Royal library and sweet-talk
your friend into loaning us whatever books they have devoted to
these religions.
“Uh . . . that might not be so
easy.”
Make peace.
“It’s not that. Linda Lee and I get along fine. I
found some rare books she let get away.”
Find me some books. Dean! Put aside your prejudice for a
moment. Go to Mr. Dotes’
establishment . . .
“That may not be any good either. Morley has gone upscale.
He might be trying to put his whole past behind him.”
Must you interrupt?
He rooted around inside my head. He
never does that unless he is seriously provoked or concerned. He
reviewed my experiences during his nap. Usually he is overly
careful to respect my privacy.
His behavior was troubling. I had to suspect that he knew
something that had not occurred to me.
Who do we know who has the ability to read? Other than
yourself?
“Playmate,” I replied, puzzled. “But not real
good. Winger, a little. Morley. Barking
Dog . . . ”
Winger?
Astonishment.
“She’s been learning. The better to con you with, my
dear. Always a surprise, Winger is.”
Not good enough. Try to get your librarian friend to come
in.
“Why?” Talk about astonishment. The Dead Man asking
for a woman to be brought into the house?
Any books you do obtain will have to be read to me. It is
too difficult for me to do it by myself.
Turning the pages is a bitch when you’re dead. Though he
could manage it if he had to.
“I got you.”
An even bigger problem is that he has a hard time seeing if he
can’t use somebody’s else’s eyes.
Once you have dealt with Linda Lee I want you to go to the
Dream Quarter. Examine the temples involved in this business. Move
carefully. Waste no time but take all the time you need to study
the places right while maintaining your personal safety.
“What? Shouldn’t I look for this key?”
That is of no concern now. Information is. If you collect
the available information I will sift the clues. I am not as
powerful as these gods, but I am far smarter.
“No self-image problem over there,” I told Dean, who
had made no effort to leave.
Much the same can be said of you, Garrett. I do not recall
the Godoroth well, but do believe Magodor may be the only one
smarter than a four-year-old.
Wonderful.
Time is wasting, Garrett. To the library. Then to the Dream
Quarter.
“What about the Shayir?”
What about them?
“Apparently they were on to me even before the Godoroth.
What do I do if they close in on me?”
Use your wits, guided by experience. You have your weapons
and your physical skills. In any event, you will achieve nothing
standing there. Dean. After you have spoken to Mr. Dotes, locate
Mr. Tharpe. If Mr. Tharpe is unavailable, find Mr. Playmate. As a
last resort, call upon Miss Winger. Then return here quickly. I
will have more for you to do. Garrett.
I paused at the door. I will say this about the Dead Man. It is
blue-haired hell getting him started, but once he is into something
he is a take-charge kind of guy. “What?”
Take the parrot.
“What? Are you crazy? I got lucky a while ago, but you
know my luck ran out. He’ll get me killed before I walk a
block. He’ll tell some giant his mother does trolls, and
they’ll find parts of me all over town.”
Take the parrot. Put a lanyard on his leg if you feel the
need. I believe he will be more cooperative than usual.
“Dead would be more cooperative than usual.”
Garrett.
He was
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