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Authors: L. Sprague de Camp
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searched Schwerin. Ferrian explained to Reith: “He might have one of those little cameras no larger than a ghalok egg hidden about him.”
“Your Highness speaks excellent English for a Krishnan.”
Ferrian smiled grimly. “I have visited your planet. You fence well for an earthman.”
“Well enough to keep Your Highness from taking my head off. Heggstad at Novorecife beat me black and blue teaching me.”
“My apologies, Mr.—ah—”
“Reith, Fergus Reith.”
“Well then, Mr. Reith, please excuse my incivility. Legal redress is so slow and uncertain here that, when I suffer a wrong, I am often tempted to right it by self-help. How are they at Novo these days?”
Reith shrugged. “Well enough, as far as I can see.”
Ferrian spoke to the other Krishnans, handed them the ruined strips of film, and turned back to Reith. “Your little man seems innocent of more equipment, so I shall let him go. You should keep your people under tighter control.”
Reith sighed. “My authority is limited.”
Ferrian laughed shortly. “That may do on earth, but not here. Were I a tourist guide, I’d have a stout sergeant-at-arms and an assistant to keep them in order. If any disobeyed, I would have him flogged.”
“A lovely idea, sir.”
“You earthlings will learn. Again, my apologies.” Ferrian gave a stiff little bow. “When some of my projects are further advanced, I shall open Sotaspé to parties like yours. Adeus!”
###
Reith went aboard the Sárbez and sought his cabin. He poured a drink of kvad, telling himself that for once he had earned it. He had taken only the first sip when a heavy knock on his door resounded.
“Come forth, O Senhor Reith!” growled Captain Denaikh. “A man from the government demands your presence.”
The Krishnan was the inspector who had greeted them on their arrival. After Khorsh had been found to translate, the inspector said: “I have the honor to bear a message from His supreme Altitude, Penjird the Second, Dour of Zamba. It has come to the notice of our high and mighty potentate that twice in one day has the presence of your churlish barbarians led to public broils and affrays. It is therefore ordained and commanded that all of you shall, on pain of doom most dire, remain upon your ship during the residue of your stay in port. Here is your copy of the order. What is your reply?”
“I don’t know. What am I supposed to say?”
“That you humbly beg the pardon of His gracious Altitude for the misconduct of your folk and thank him for his compassionate leniency in not having you all haled ashore to suffer punishment condign.”
“Consider it said, sir.”
The inspector turned to go. Captain Denaikh spoke angrily to the inspector, who replied in kind. From the occasional Gozashtandou word he caught, Reith inferred that the captain was protesting having his passengers aboard all next day because they would get in the way of his loading. The inspector, adamant, soon departed leaving Denaikh to stamp and bellow curses. He ripped out a sentence at Reith. Khorsh explained: “He says, my son, that this is the second time this has happened. If it occur but once more, he will put the lot of you ashore, wherever he be, and sail off without you.”
###
Reith went back to his cabin and took a big drink. He examined the scroll the official had given him but could make nothing of the fishhooks.
A quarter-hour later, Reith, with more kvad inside him than he usually allowed himself, went around the deck, banging on his tourists’ cabin doors. When he had them gathered in the bow of the Sárbez, he told them of Prince Ferrian and the governmental order.
Reith expected them to take his side against the two malefactors, Considine and Schwerin, as they had against Silvester Pride. Instead, they capriciously swung round and blamed Reith for the latest imbroglio. They cried: “You mean we’ve got to stay aboard all tomorrow?” “We can’t see the temples and things?”
“Your Highness speaks excellent English for a Krishnan.”
Ferrian smiled grimly. “I have visited your planet. You fence well for an earthman.”
“Well enough to keep Your Highness from taking my head off. Heggstad at Novorecife beat me black and blue teaching me.”
“My apologies, Mr.—ah—”
“Reith, Fergus Reith.”
“Well then, Mr. Reith, please excuse my incivility. Legal redress is so slow and uncertain here that, when I suffer a wrong, I am often tempted to right it by self-help. How are they at Novo these days?”
Reith shrugged. “Well enough, as far as I can see.”
Ferrian spoke to the other Krishnans, handed them the ruined strips of film, and turned back to Reith. “Your little man seems innocent of more equipment, so I shall let him go. You should keep your people under tighter control.”
Reith sighed. “My authority is limited.”
Ferrian laughed shortly. “That may do on earth, but not here. Were I a tourist guide, I’d have a stout sergeant-at-arms and an assistant to keep them in order. If any disobeyed, I would have him flogged.”
“A lovely idea, sir.”
“You earthlings will learn. Again, my apologies.” Ferrian gave a stiff little bow. “When some of my projects are further advanced, I shall open Sotaspé to parties like yours. Adeus!”
###
Reith went aboard the Sárbez and sought his cabin. He poured a drink of kvad, telling himself that for once he had earned it. He had taken only the first sip when a heavy knock on his door resounded.
“Come forth, O Senhor Reith!” growled Captain Denaikh. “A man from the government demands your presence.”
The Krishnan was the inspector who had greeted them on their arrival. After Khorsh had been found to translate, the inspector said: “I have the honor to bear a message from His supreme Altitude, Penjird the Second, Dour of Zamba. It has come to the notice of our high and mighty potentate that twice in one day has the presence of your churlish barbarians led to public broils and affrays. It is therefore ordained and commanded that all of you shall, on pain of doom most dire, remain upon your ship during the residue of your stay in port. Here is your copy of the order. What is your reply?”
“I don’t know. What am I supposed to say?”
“That you humbly beg the pardon of His gracious Altitude for the misconduct of your folk and thank him for his compassionate leniency in not having you all haled ashore to suffer punishment condign.”
“Consider it said, sir.”
The inspector turned to go. Captain Denaikh spoke angrily to the inspector, who replied in kind. From the occasional Gozashtandou word he caught, Reith inferred that the captain was protesting having his passengers aboard all next day because they would get in the way of his loading. The inspector, adamant, soon departed leaving Denaikh to stamp and bellow curses. He ripped out a sentence at Reith. Khorsh explained: “He says, my son, that this is the second time this has happened. If it occur but once more, he will put the lot of you ashore, wherever he be, and sail off without you.”
###
Reith went back to his cabin and took a big drink. He examined the scroll the official had given him but could make nothing of the fishhooks.
A quarter-hour later, Reith, with more kvad inside him than he usually allowed himself, went around the deck, banging on his tourists’ cabin doors. When he had them gathered in the bow of the Sárbez, he told them of Prince Ferrian and the governmental order.
Reith expected them to take his side against the two malefactors, Considine and Schwerin, as they had against Silvester Pride. Instead, they capriciously swung round and blamed Reith for the latest imbroglio. They cried: “You mean we’ve got to stay aboard all tomorrow?” “We can’t see the temples and things?”
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