Read Online Zollocco: A Novel of Another Universe by Cynthia Joyce Clay - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Cynthia Joyce Clay
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that it is within the best interests of the creature for it to be entered on the List, and this has been done," stated the fat man.
"Professor Raiboothnar," raged a professor, "you are fired!"
Raiboothnar held up her money. "Yes, professor, I accept your decree." She kissed the bills, stood, and walked serenely out of the room, the scroll in her hand. The board and the two silent men followed her out.
"She's in shock. We have to get her out of this cold room."
As the day wore on, I realized that somehow a stone half the size of my fist was sitting in my gut. Cold and hard, it weighed me down. I could feel its slick smooth shape; see its black dull luster. How cold it was, boring into me, sucking the warmth out of my body. But I could function, and I could think, even if I had to carry this stone around forever.
"You are going to have to get out of here," said Sunbreeze, "This school might as well be a prison as far as you are concerned."
"Not if you people unlock the doors. Give me a map."
"There are those willing to help, but the Toelakhan are monitoring the school, looking after their own interests."
"Sunbreeze, that makes no sense."
"Look, the Toelakhan is an interplanetary organization of business folk. They started the Zitam business--selling animals and plants from other universes as pets. They deal in large cargo shipping, and arms. They chafe at the Law of the Forests, and sometimes defy it completely, as they do when they sell arms between planets, and stir up trouble in the innocent zones."
"Innocent zones?"
"Peaceful civilizations, or cultures yet incapable of space travel, and places that have for one reason or another chosen to exist in seclusion."
"So those two guys who looked like thugs, and who just stood there, were they part of this organization?"
"Oh, yes. Now we have to get you out of here. Let me think. The school owns a transporter, that would be a way you could get out." "A transporter?"
"Yes, we have an instrument that can send a person through space. Your molecular composition is taken apart and put back together again somewhere else."
"You've got to be kidding."
"Why don't I show it to you, before Raiboothnar thinks to refuse you information about it."
"I thought she was fired. Why is she still around?"
"Because it's easier to keep you imprisoned here and guarded here, before she sells you. Of course, she says it is to give us an opportunity to continue our studies of you before she sells you. Oh, if you see a chance to escape, don't go without the scroll, the letter of List she has. If you leave without it, the paper can still be sold and you will be tracked down. The holder of the scroll owns you. If you get it away from her, you can in effect own yourself. The Toelakhan will still hunt you, but it will be harder for them to find you, since obviously you won't register yourself with them. And the Forests will be better able to protect you."
"Forests protect me? Sometimes you do talk nonsense. How can a Forest protect someone outside of a Forest?"
"Never mind, just come on. I want to show you where the transporter is kept.”
So off we set, down the halls until we came to an assembly room with marble floors, gilt walls, a muralled ceiling depicting a sun breaking through a foliage cover, and drapes and upholstery of deep green brocade. There was a lectern at the end of the room set on a small platform. The lectern was made of glass and contained a magic wand.
The wand stood about a yard in height. It hovered within the case, though how it did so I could not tell. The wand was made of beautiful, gnarled, dark wood with streaks of blonde wood. Jewels were set in it in a geometrical pattern. Entwined at the top by silver wires was a large, blue crystal. Maenad-type faces with wild hair were carved in the wood as adorning supports of the crystal.
"Now don't tell me this is your transporter."
"Yes, it is."
"Oh, come on."
"Don't be fooled by how ornate it is; this is one of the most powerful transporters
"Professor Raiboothnar," raged a professor, "you are fired!"
Raiboothnar held up her money. "Yes, professor, I accept your decree." She kissed the bills, stood, and walked serenely out of the room, the scroll in her hand. The board and the two silent men followed her out.
"She's in shock. We have to get her out of this cold room."
As the day wore on, I realized that somehow a stone half the size of my fist was sitting in my gut. Cold and hard, it weighed me down. I could feel its slick smooth shape; see its black dull luster. How cold it was, boring into me, sucking the warmth out of my body. But I could function, and I could think, even if I had to carry this stone around forever.
"You are going to have to get out of here," said Sunbreeze, "This school might as well be a prison as far as you are concerned."
"Not if you people unlock the doors. Give me a map."
"There are those willing to help, but the Toelakhan are monitoring the school, looking after their own interests."
"Sunbreeze, that makes no sense."
"Look, the Toelakhan is an interplanetary organization of business folk. They started the Zitam business--selling animals and plants from other universes as pets. They deal in large cargo shipping, and arms. They chafe at the Law of the Forests, and sometimes defy it completely, as they do when they sell arms between planets, and stir up trouble in the innocent zones."
"Innocent zones?"
"Peaceful civilizations, or cultures yet incapable of space travel, and places that have for one reason or another chosen to exist in seclusion."
"So those two guys who looked like thugs, and who just stood there, were they part of this organization?"
"Oh, yes. Now we have to get you out of here. Let me think. The school owns a transporter, that would be a way you could get out." "A transporter?"
"Yes, we have an instrument that can send a person through space. Your molecular composition is taken apart and put back together again somewhere else."
"You've got to be kidding."
"Why don't I show it to you, before Raiboothnar thinks to refuse you information about it."
"I thought she was fired. Why is she still around?"
"Because it's easier to keep you imprisoned here and guarded here, before she sells you. Of course, she says it is to give us an opportunity to continue our studies of you before she sells you. Oh, if you see a chance to escape, don't go without the scroll, the letter of List she has. If you leave without it, the paper can still be sold and you will be tracked down. The holder of the scroll owns you. If you get it away from her, you can in effect own yourself. The Toelakhan will still hunt you, but it will be harder for them to find you, since obviously you won't register yourself with them. And the Forests will be better able to protect you."
"Forests protect me? Sometimes you do talk nonsense. How can a Forest protect someone outside of a Forest?"
"Never mind, just come on. I want to show you where the transporter is kept.”
So off we set, down the halls until we came to an assembly room with marble floors, gilt walls, a muralled ceiling depicting a sun breaking through a foliage cover, and drapes and upholstery of deep green brocade. There was a lectern at the end of the room set on a small platform. The lectern was made of glass and contained a magic wand.
The wand stood about a yard in height. It hovered within the case, though how it did so I could not tell. The wand was made of beautiful, gnarled, dark wood with streaks of blonde wood. Jewels were set in it in a geometrical pattern. Entwined at the top by silver wires was a large, blue crystal. Maenad-type faces with wild hair were carved in the wood as adorning supports of the crystal.
"Now don't tell me this is your transporter."
"Yes, it is."
"Oh, come on."
"Don't be fooled by how ornate it is; this is one of the most powerful transporters
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