Read Online Planet of Adventure Omnibus by Jack Vance - Free Book Online Page B

want information; then, so far as I am concerned, you may go on
your way.”
    The Dirdirman
grimaced. “You are as mad as the Phung. Still, why should I persuade you
differently?” He came a step or two forward, to inspect Reith and Traz at
closer range. “Do you inhabit this place?”
    “No; we are
travelers.”
    “Then you
would not know of a place suitable for me to spend the night?”
    Reith pointed
to a pedestal. “Climb to the top, as we have done.”
    The Dirdirman
gave his fingers a petulant flicker. “That is not to my taste, not at all. And
there may well be rain.” He looked back to the slab of concrete under which he
had taken shelter, then to the corpse of the Phung. “You are an obliging pair:
docile and intelligent. As you see, I am tired and must be allowed to rest. You
are at hand; I would like you to stand guard while I sleep.”
    “Kill the
nauseous brute!” muttered Traz in a passion.
    The Dirdirman
laughed: a queer gasping chuckle. “That’s more the way of a sub-man!” He spoke
to Reith. “Now you are a queer one. I can’t place your type. Some strange
hybrid? Where, then, is your home region?”
    Reith had
decided that the less attention drawn to himself the better; he would say no
more of his terrestrial origin. But Traz, stung by the Dirdirman’s
condescension, cried out: “Not a region! He is from Earth, a far world! The
home of true men like myself! You are a freak!”
    The Dirdirman
wagged his head reproachfully. “Of madfolk, a pair. Well, then, what can one
expect?”
    Reith,
uncomfortable at Traz’s disclosures, quickly changed the subject. “What do you
do here? Was the Dirdir flyer searching for you?”
    “Yes, I fear
so. They did not find me, I took good care to ensure.”
    “You are a
fugitive?”
    “Precisely.”
    “What is your
crime?”
    “No matter;
you would hardly understand; it is beyond your capabilities.”
    Reith, more
amused than annoyed, turned back to the pedestal. “I plan to sleep. If you
intend to live till morning, I suggest that you climb high, out of reach of the
Phung.”
    “I am puzzled
by your solicitude,” was the Dirdirman’s wry remark.
    Reith made no
reply. He and Traz returned to their pedestal and the Dirdirman gingerly
climbed another nearby.
    The night
passed. The clouds pressed heavily upon them, but produced no rain. Dawn came
imperceptibly; and presently brought light the color of dirty water. The
Dirdirman’s pedestal was bare. Reith assumed that he had gone his way. He and
Traz descended to the plaza, built a small fire to dispel the chill. Across the
plaza the Dirdirman appeared.
    Observing no
signs of hostility, he approached step by step, at last to stand a wistful
fifty feet away, a long loose-limbed harlequin with garments much the worse for
wear. Traz scowled and prodded the fire, but Reith gave him a civil greeting: “Join
us, if you’re of a mind.”
    Traz
muttered, “A mistake! The creature will do us harm! Such as he are
smooth-tongued and supercilious; and man-eaters to boot.”
    Reith had
forgotten this latter characteristic and gave the Dirdirman a frowning
inspection.
    For a period
there was silence. Then the Dirdirman said tentatively, “The longer I consider
your conduct, your garments, your gear, the more puzzled I become. Whence did
you claim to originate?”
    “I made no
claims,” said Reith. “What of yourself?”
    “No secret
there. I am Ankhe at afram Anacho; I was born a man at Zumberwal in the
Fourteenth Province. Now, having been declared a criminal and a fugitive, I am
of no greater consequence than yourselves, and I will make no pretensions
otherwise. So here we are, three unkempt wanderers huddled around a fire.”
    Traz growled
under his breath. Reith, however, found the Dirdirman’s frivolity, if such it
was, refreshing. He asked, “What was your crime?”
    “You would
find it difficult to understand. Essentially, I disregarded the perquisites of
a certain Enze Edo Ezdowirram, who