hundred or so to see to our personal needs—really, we wouldn’t require much. Oh, the difficulties and inconveniences we’ve had to face, the last few years!”
“I can imagine,” said Lewis, doing his best to sound sympathetic.
“I don’t think so,” said Atabey severely, now clearly uncomfortable to have unburdened herself before a lesser creature. “It has been a great trial.”
“Terribly sorry, great goddess.” Lewis lowered his eyes.
“You may continue with your task,” said Atabey, and stalked off. Lewis scanned her as she went; no sign of liver fluke at all, contrary to Mendoza’s expectations.
I wonder who’s eating all the watercress, then? he wondered. He sighed, gritted his teeth, and took another haul on the sledge.
Lewis had just thrown a bundle of reeds across his shoulder and was starting up the ladder when he spotted Agueybana approaching him. He stepped back down, dropped the bundle, and dusted his hands.
“Good afternoon, god Agueybana,” he called, “Would you like a word with me in private?”
Agueybana winced and hurried nearer.
“Not so loudly, if you please,” he said in an undertone. “Or we’ll have them all about us, babbling away with their nonsense. Look here—we need to discuss a few practical matters.”
“Such as, great god?” said Lewis innocently.
“Such as a bride price, for one thing,” said Agueybana. “I’m sure your master is a practical fellow; he’s sure to see what an advantage it’ll be for him to take our Cajaya to wife. We are, after all, the most ancient of the divinities! To say nothing of the wealth of this land of ours.”
“It is, indeed, a fruitful country,” said Lewis.
“So it is,” said Agueybana, with a sly look. “Let us just say that he who weds Cajaya shall never lack for guavas, eh? But, of course, he can’t expect such advantages for nothing. We ought to be provided for properly. ”
“What did you have in mind, great one?” said Lewis.
“Mortal slaves,” said Agueybana, without hesitation. “As well as building stone and artisans. A few thousand mortals to maintain the gardens, a retinue for the house. Preferably highborn—we couldn’t be expected to put up with field slaves waiting at table.”
“Ah,” said Lewis, nodding noncommittally. He scanned the mortal for liver fluke infestation, continuing to murmur “Yes,” and “I see,” as Agueybana rambled on with demands.
No, the man was in perfect health, like the ladies…except…No! There was some trace of something after all…Lewis concentrated and focused his scan, going slightly crosseyed with effort, though Agueybana failed to notice.
“…enough slaves to make the trip to the coast again, with sledges to bring back stones…”
Signs of an old infestation, long healed. At some point in the past Agueybana had suffered from liver fluke, but made a full recovery. And seemed, overall, quite robust now. Therefore…nobody was eating the cresses? Or the fish? Perhaps the pond was merely ornamental. But…
“…glad you agree with me!” Agueybana was saying, and thumped him on the back with painful heartiness. “It’s damned annoying to be the only level-headed person in the place, but there you are. Lord Maketaurie will sympathize, I’m sure. Tell me…has he an army?”
“I’m sorry?” Lewis came alert. “An army? Oh, no, great one. Why would the ruler of the afterlife need an army?”
“Hm. I hadn’t thought of that,” said Agueybana, pulling at his lip. “Pity. It might have come in useful. Oh, well. You present my terms, anyway, understand? And I’ll see to it your master receives good report of you.”
“You are too kind,” said Lewis, genuflecting.
He was lying down on one of the two ancient cots when Mendoza entered their room, carrying another platter of guavas.
“I headed off our hostess,” she said. “Told her the dead need a little peace and quiet now and then. My God, Lewis, you look
“I can imagine,” said Lewis, doing his best to sound sympathetic.
“I don’t think so,” said Atabey severely, now clearly uncomfortable to have unburdened herself before a lesser creature. “It has been a great trial.”
“Terribly sorry, great goddess.” Lewis lowered his eyes.
“You may continue with your task,” said Atabey, and stalked off. Lewis scanned her as she went; no sign of liver fluke at all, contrary to Mendoza’s expectations.
I wonder who’s eating all the watercress, then? he wondered. He sighed, gritted his teeth, and took another haul on the sledge.
Lewis had just thrown a bundle of reeds across his shoulder and was starting up the ladder when he spotted Agueybana approaching him. He stepped back down, dropped the bundle, and dusted his hands.
“Good afternoon, god Agueybana,” he called, “Would you like a word with me in private?”
Agueybana winced and hurried nearer.
“Not so loudly, if you please,” he said in an undertone. “Or we’ll have them all about us, babbling away with their nonsense. Look here—we need to discuss a few practical matters.”
“Such as, great god?” said Lewis innocently.
“Such as a bride price, for one thing,” said Agueybana. “I’m sure your master is a practical fellow; he’s sure to see what an advantage it’ll be for him to take our Cajaya to wife. We are, after all, the most ancient of the divinities! To say nothing of the wealth of this land of ours.”
“It is, indeed, a fruitful country,” said Lewis.
“So it is,” said Agueybana, with a sly look. “Let us just say that he who weds Cajaya shall never lack for guavas, eh? But, of course, he can’t expect such advantages for nothing. We ought to be provided for properly. ”
“What did you have in mind, great one?” said Lewis.
“Mortal slaves,” said Agueybana, without hesitation. “As well as building stone and artisans. A few thousand mortals to maintain the gardens, a retinue for the house. Preferably highborn—we couldn’t be expected to put up with field slaves waiting at table.”
“Ah,” said Lewis, nodding noncommittally. He scanned the mortal for liver fluke infestation, continuing to murmur “Yes,” and “I see,” as Agueybana rambled on with demands.
No, the man was in perfect health, like the ladies…except…No! There was some trace of something after all…Lewis concentrated and focused his scan, going slightly crosseyed with effort, though Agueybana failed to notice.
“…enough slaves to make the trip to the coast again, with sledges to bring back stones…”
Signs of an old infestation, long healed. At some point in the past Agueybana had suffered from liver fluke, but made a full recovery. And seemed, overall, quite robust now. Therefore…nobody was eating the cresses? Or the fish? Perhaps the pond was merely ornamental. But…
“…glad you agree with me!” Agueybana was saying, and thumped him on the back with painful heartiness. “It’s damned annoying to be the only level-headed person in the place, but there you are. Lord Maketaurie will sympathize, I’m sure. Tell me…has he an army?”
“I’m sorry?” Lewis came alert. “An army? Oh, no, great one. Why would the ruler of the afterlife need an army?”
“Hm. I hadn’t thought of that,” said Agueybana, pulling at his lip. “Pity. It might have come in useful. Oh, well. You present my terms, anyway, understand? And I’ll see to it your master receives good report of you.”
“You are too kind,” said Lewis, genuflecting.
He was lying down on one of the two ancient cots when Mendoza entered their room, carrying another platter of guavas.
“I headed off our hostess,” she said. “Told her the dead need a little peace and quiet now and then. My God, Lewis, you look
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