Read Online Marune: Alastor 933 by Jack Vance - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Vance
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am a man of high rank! He looked up at the clerk, surprising a shrewd and intent scrutiny. “You are curious,” said Efraim. “There is no mystery. I have been off-planet and have just returned. I know nothing of what has happened in my absence. The Kaiark Jochaim is dead?”
“Yes, Your Force. There has been uncertainty and confusion, so I understand. You have been the subject of concern, since now, of course, you are the Eightieth Kaiark, and the allowable lapse has almost transpired.”
Efraim nodded slowly. “So now I am Kaiark of Scharrode.” He returned to the almanac, conscious of the clerk’s gaze.
The other faces on the page were three. From Jochaim a second green line descended to the face of a handsome dark-haired woman with a pale high forehead, blazing black eyes, a keen high-bridged nose. The caption identified her as Kraike Singhalissa. From Singhalissa vermilion lines led first to a dark-haired young man with the aquiline features of his mother: Kang Destian, and a girl, dark-haired and pale, with pensive features and a mouth drooping at the corners, a girl in fact of rather remarkable beauty. The caption identified her as the Lissolet Sthelany.
Efraim spoke in a voice he tried to keep matter-of-fact: “What do you recall of our visit here to Port Mar?”
The clerk reflected. “The two trismets, of Scharrode and Eccord, arrived in concert, and in general conducted themselves as a single party. The younger persons visited New Town, while their elders transacted business. Certain tensions became evident. There followed a discussion of the visit to New Town, of which several of the older persons disapproved. Most exercised were the Kraike Singhalissa, and the Kaiark Rianlle, who thought that the expedition lacked dignity. When you failed to appear by isp 25 of the Third Cycle, everyone felt concern; evidently you had failed to apprise anyone of your departure.”
“Evidently,” said Efraim. “Did mirk occur during our visit?”
“No; there was no mirk.”
“You heard no remarks, you recall no circumstances which might explain my departure?”
The clerk looked puzzled. “A most curious question, Your Force! I remember nothing of consequence, though I was surprised to hear that you had acquainted yourself with that off-world vagabond.” He sniffed. “No doubt he took advantage of your condescension; he is known as a persuasive rogue.”
“Which off-world vagabond is this?”
“What? Do you not remember exploring New Town with the fellow Lorcas?”
“I had forgotten his name. Lorcas, you say?”
“Matho Lorcas. He consorts with New Town trash; he is fugleman for all these sebal cretins at the university.”
“And when did Kaiark Jochaim die?”
“Soon after his return to Scharrode, in battle against Gosso, Kaiark of Gorgetto. You have returned opportunely. In another several days you would no longer be kaiark, and I have heard that Kaiark Rianlle has proposed a trisme to unite the realms of Eccord and Scharrode. Now that you are returned, conditions may be altered.” The clerk turned pages in the almanac. “Kaiark Rianlle is an intense and determined man.” The clerk tapped a photograph. Efraim saw a handsome distinguished face, framed by a casque of shining silver ringlets. The Kraike Dervas, looked forth blankly; her face seemed to lack distinctive character. The same was true of the Lissolet Maerio, who stared forth expressionlessly, but who nonetheless displayed a youthful if rather vacuous prettiness.
The clerk asked cautiously: “Do you plan to stay with us, Force?”
“I think not. And I wish you to say nothing whatever of my return to Marune. I must clarify certain circumstances.”
“I quite understand, Force. Thank you very much indeed!” - this last for the ten ozols which Efraim had placed on the counter.
Efraim emerged from the hotel into a melancholy umber. He walked slowly back down the Avenue of Black Jangkars, and coming once more to the square he now
“Yes, Your Force. There has been uncertainty and confusion, so I understand. You have been the subject of concern, since now, of course, you are the Eightieth Kaiark, and the allowable lapse has almost transpired.”
Efraim nodded slowly. “So now I am Kaiark of Scharrode.” He returned to the almanac, conscious of the clerk’s gaze.
The other faces on the page were three. From Jochaim a second green line descended to the face of a handsome dark-haired woman with a pale high forehead, blazing black eyes, a keen high-bridged nose. The caption identified her as Kraike Singhalissa. From Singhalissa vermilion lines led first to a dark-haired young man with the aquiline features of his mother: Kang Destian, and a girl, dark-haired and pale, with pensive features and a mouth drooping at the corners, a girl in fact of rather remarkable beauty. The caption identified her as the Lissolet Sthelany.
Efraim spoke in a voice he tried to keep matter-of-fact: “What do you recall of our visit here to Port Mar?”
The clerk reflected. “The two trismets, of Scharrode and Eccord, arrived in concert, and in general conducted themselves as a single party. The younger persons visited New Town, while their elders transacted business. Certain tensions became evident. There followed a discussion of the visit to New Town, of which several of the older persons disapproved. Most exercised were the Kraike Singhalissa, and the Kaiark Rianlle, who thought that the expedition lacked dignity. When you failed to appear by isp 25 of the Third Cycle, everyone felt concern; evidently you had failed to apprise anyone of your departure.”
“Evidently,” said Efraim. “Did mirk occur during our visit?”
“No; there was no mirk.”
“You heard no remarks, you recall no circumstances which might explain my departure?”
The clerk looked puzzled. “A most curious question, Your Force! I remember nothing of consequence, though I was surprised to hear that you had acquainted yourself with that off-world vagabond.” He sniffed. “No doubt he took advantage of your condescension; he is known as a persuasive rogue.”
“Which off-world vagabond is this?”
“What? Do you not remember exploring New Town with the fellow Lorcas?”
“I had forgotten his name. Lorcas, you say?”
“Matho Lorcas. He consorts with New Town trash; he is fugleman for all these sebal cretins at the university.”
“And when did Kaiark Jochaim die?”
“Soon after his return to Scharrode, in battle against Gosso, Kaiark of Gorgetto. You have returned opportunely. In another several days you would no longer be kaiark, and I have heard that Kaiark Rianlle has proposed a trisme to unite the realms of Eccord and Scharrode. Now that you are returned, conditions may be altered.” The clerk turned pages in the almanac. “Kaiark Rianlle is an intense and determined man.” The clerk tapped a photograph. Efraim saw a handsome distinguished face, framed by a casque of shining silver ringlets. The Kraike Dervas, looked forth blankly; her face seemed to lack distinctive character. The same was true of the Lissolet Maerio, who stared forth expressionlessly, but who nonetheless displayed a youthful if rather vacuous prettiness.
The clerk asked cautiously: “Do you plan to stay with us, Force?”
“I think not. And I wish you to say nothing whatever of my return to Marune. I must clarify certain circumstances.”
“I quite understand, Force. Thank you very much indeed!” - this last for the ten ozols which Efraim had placed on the counter.
Efraim emerged from the hotel into a melancholy umber. He walked slowly back down the Avenue of Black Jangkars, and coming once more to the square he now
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