Read Online Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 2 - Samarkand Solution by Gary Gygax - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gary Gygax
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manage to get some rest?" the magister inquired politely.
"Enough. This is your treat, Utchat-neb—-this place is too expensive for anyone living on wages paid by the prefecture."
"I suggested the meeting," Inhetep agreed. "A table for two?"
"Unless you're expecting someone."
They were seated by a perfectly correct steward, and almost instantly a man appeared to see to their needs. Tuhorus asked their waiter for wine, and Inhetep ordered his usual: a tall glass of mint tea, heavily sweetened. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the wizard-priest asked, "Have you any theory as to Ram-f-amsu's murder?"
"Perhaps, but I will hear your own first."
Inhetep refused to be annoyed by the man's rudeness. "How can I have any significant idea as to the governor's death? You know that there was no magick involved, and I hadn't time to do more than find out the names of the witnesses of the incident. For all I know at this point, the death was due to an act of the gods."
Inspector Tuhorus stared at him. "Take it from me, Inhetep, that mightn't be far from the final conclusion we report to the prefect. Sixteen witnesses to that death, all of whom provide perfect alibis for the rest—you being an agent of Pharaoh ices the cake, Magister! Between you and Hem-neter-tepi Matiseth, there are no loose ends."
The priest-wizard shook his head. "That won't wash, Inspector Tuhorus. The High Priest Matiseth Chemres testified there was no aural reading present to indicate any entital presence, nor any sort of magickal residue from that sort of heka."
"All right, then it was persons or powers unknown."
"I think not."
"Think as you like, Inhetep. What proof can be found? Do you have anything to provide to me for a different sort of report?"
"Did you get a complete account from Matiseth?" Inhetep asked sharply. "He and I went over the scene of the murder for some time, and Chemres had at least one interesting impression to report." The magister didn't pause for an answer, pressing ahead to stimulate the police official into taking a more positive and aggressive view. "It is a difficult case, sir, that's undeniable. We are dealing with some genius—who else could perform such a crime in front of a throng of prominent witnesses and have you baffled? There must be clues, though. The high priest of Set detected a nullity. That must be pursued."
"And you, Magister? You have information which you are keeping to yourself. Of that I am certain. I think you wish to gain the credit for solving this case for yourself. That's why you are trying to find out what I have learned."
As with master criminals, good policemen knew when they were being watched or spied upon magickally. Inhetep refrained from using any casting or power to pierce the man's thinking, not even employing his innate "sixth sense." Instead, he assessed Tuhorus' knowledge against what he thought Matiseth Chemres would have told him. "You must be referring to my asking the high priest if he knew what the 'Samarkand Solution' meant."
The homely inspector cocked an eyebrow at Inhetep. "And '...?"
"And nothing. He knew no information regarding that, nor have I any firm idea of what it means—or is meant by it."
"But 'whirlwind,' Utchat-neb, 'whirlwind'! Isn't that another matter?"
Inhetep couldn't refrain from stiffening at that. "I noted that word as a faint thought-impression clinging to Ram-f-amsu's corpse—but I made no mention of it to Matiseth!"
"No. Nor to me, Inhetep!" Tuhorus was scowling at the wizard-priest. "It just so happens that we small-time city investigators have powers of detection to employ, too. The Saa Scarab we use is more highly developed then anyone knows. The same thought-feelings you found by your heka were discovered by the Saa Scarab, You might have mentioned your findings earlier. That you did not points to an inescapable conclusion."
"True. You have reached the wrong conclusion, however, Inspector Tuhorus. Yes, I did omit mention of that
"Enough. This is your treat, Utchat-neb—-this place is too expensive for anyone living on wages paid by the prefecture."
"I suggested the meeting," Inhetep agreed. "A table for two?"
"Unless you're expecting someone."
They were seated by a perfectly correct steward, and almost instantly a man appeared to see to their needs. Tuhorus asked their waiter for wine, and Inhetep ordered his usual: a tall glass of mint tea, heavily sweetened. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the wizard-priest asked, "Have you any theory as to Ram-f-amsu's murder?"
"Perhaps, but I will hear your own first."
Inhetep refused to be annoyed by the man's rudeness. "How can I have any significant idea as to the governor's death? You know that there was no magick involved, and I hadn't time to do more than find out the names of the witnesses of the incident. For all I know at this point, the death was due to an act of the gods."
Inspector Tuhorus stared at him. "Take it from me, Inhetep, that mightn't be far from the final conclusion we report to the prefect. Sixteen witnesses to that death, all of whom provide perfect alibis for the rest—you being an agent of Pharaoh ices the cake, Magister! Between you and Hem-neter-tepi Matiseth, there are no loose ends."
The priest-wizard shook his head. "That won't wash, Inspector Tuhorus. The High Priest Matiseth Chemres testified there was no aural reading present to indicate any entital presence, nor any sort of magickal residue from that sort of heka."
"All right, then it was persons or powers unknown."
"I think not."
"Think as you like, Inhetep. What proof can be found? Do you have anything to provide to me for a different sort of report?"
"Did you get a complete account from Matiseth?" Inhetep asked sharply. "He and I went over the scene of the murder for some time, and Chemres had at least one interesting impression to report." The magister didn't pause for an answer, pressing ahead to stimulate the police official into taking a more positive and aggressive view. "It is a difficult case, sir, that's undeniable. We are dealing with some genius—who else could perform such a crime in front of a throng of prominent witnesses and have you baffled? There must be clues, though. The high priest of Set detected a nullity. That must be pursued."
"And you, Magister? You have information which you are keeping to yourself. Of that I am certain. I think you wish to gain the credit for solving this case for yourself. That's why you are trying to find out what I have learned."
As with master criminals, good policemen knew when they were being watched or spied upon magickally. Inhetep refrained from using any casting or power to pierce the man's thinking, not even employing his innate "sixth sense." Instead, he assessed Tuhorus' knowledge against what he thought Matiseth Chemres would have told him. "You must be referring to my asking the high priest if he knew what the 'Samarkand Solution' meant."
The homely inspector cocked an eyebrow at Inhetep. "And '...?"
"And nothing. He knew no information regarding that, nor have I any firm idea of what it means—or is meant by it."
"But 'whirlwind,' Utchat-neb, 'whirlwind'! Isn't that another matter?"
Inhetep couldn't refrain from stiffening at that. "I noted that word as a faint thought-impression clinging to Ram-f-amsu's corpse—but I made no mention of it to Matiseth!"
"No. Nor to me, Inhetep!" Tuhorus was scowling at the wizard-priest. "It just so happens that we small-time city investigators have powers of detection to employ, too. The Saa Scarab we use is more highly developed then anyone knows. The same thought-feelings you found by your heka were discovered by the Saa Scarab, You might have mentioned your findings earlier. That you did not points to an inescapable conclusion."
"True. You have reached the wrong conclusion, however, Inspector Tuhorus. Yes, I did omit mention of that