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The factor finally made some sort of concession, which Ramus Ymph accepted
without gratitude. He summoned Torquasso. I
cannot finalize my business here, said Ramus Ymph. The factor lacks
authority. I must travel to a place called Durruree. I will return in four
days; be ready to sail on the tide. He immediately departed with the factor,
and Torquasso sits now at Tanglefoot Tavern, drinking toddy and renewing his
friendship with the house-girls.
What of Jubal Droad?
He has gone to make inquiries of the factor.
And what then?
We await Ramus Ymph s return, so I expect.
Four days? With nothing to do except stare across Erdstone Pool? Already I am
bored!
Erdstone is not totally dull, said Shrack. Up the lane yonder is the
market, where you can deal for amethyst, sachet and magic shoes. If you wander
out of town you will surely find someone dancing in his grove; by Skay-light
the sight is entrancing. You can inspect the boatyards, where every plank is
shaped by hand, to imaginary plans. They cut the wood into strips and then
weld them to the hull withmais the stuff of life , which they keep in
bottles of black glass. What ismais ? No one knows but the Waels. If they
curse a ship, themais loosens in mid-ocean and the ship becomes a tangle of
sticks.
They seem a captious race. I have heard of their superstitions.
The Waels are like no one else of Maske. Ask them aboutmais . You will hear
frank and solemn remarks but learn nothing. They will pet you and comb your
hair and oblige you as you like. If you hurt them they sing a strange music,
and you are perplexed. But ask a Wael for truth and you are asking water to
flow backward.
Mieltrude looked off to the tree-covered hills behind Erdstone Town. How can
Ramus Ymph expect to transact business with folk so capricious?
I can t say, knowing nothing of Ramus Ymph s business. The Waels lack food;
they plant their sacred jin trees in all the good soil, and Waels say that
this is how it must be. Yet, hungry men have little energy for dancing, and if
Ramus Ymph can provide food to their taste, no doubt they will listen.
Mieltrude gave an irritated shrug. I am not anxious to confront Ramus Ymph;
what else but humiliation
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for us both? Jubal Droad does not consider my feelings; he is naïve and
tiresome.
Shrack went to look along the dock. Jubal was nowhere to be seen.
Mieltrude demanded: So now what must we do?
Wait.
The afternoon passed. Mora sank behind the hills into a sky the color of
persimmons and plums. The tide drained Erdstone Pool, then came rushing back
through the Ballows.
Shrack became uneasy. He told Mieltrude: If Jubal Droad intends to absorb all
the toddy at Tanglefoot and console all the wenches, why should he work alone?
It is only fitting that I join him.
Mieltrude cried out: Again you leave me here, at the mercy of every skulker!
I am bored sitting alone on this boat!
Shrack considered her sidelong. There are no skulkers at Erdstone Pool,
except perhaps Torquasso. Still, come along if you re of a mind; the vessel
will tend itself. Hurry; the light is fading.
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I am ready.
As they jumped from the boat to the dock they were met by a Wael youth clad
only in a two-tufted red head-cloth and a white kirtle about his hips. I
carry a message for Shrack of the vesselClanche .
Shrack took the message and held it up to the glow of the sky. He read, then
passed the paper to
Mieltrude, who glanced along the script with studied unconcern. The note read:
I have divined Ramus Ymph s plans. He is more wicked than you can conceive. I
am going to Durruree, to thwart him before he can gain the safety of Wellas.
Shrack spoke to the messenger: When did you take the message?
During the day.
Why did you not bring it before?
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The messenger began to move away, respectful but distrait, his mind full of
the twilight. The needful was done.
Where is the man who gave you the message?
He has gone to the place we call Durruree.
Where is this place?
Over the hills and through the Werwood.
Can you take me there?
It is too far to go. The messenger, smiling over his shoulder, went off down
the dock. Presently, as if impelled by uncontrollable exuberance, he broke
into a long spring-legged run and disappeared into the dusk.
Shrack muttered: We ll still go to the Tanglefoot.
Chapter 17
Jubal rode a scape of a style out of memory. The scape, guided by some unseen
system, moved in profound silence barely ten feet above the forest floor.
Foliage overhead alternately obscured and revealed the great half-face of
Skay. Occasionally Jubal saw wavering lights to right or left; once a lonely
dancer glided away through the forest.
Jubal settled back into the cushions. He dozed, waking to wonder at the
tree-tops moving above him.
Skay slid across the sky. Jubal slept again. He awoke to find a gray rime in
the east. A man in a three-
tufted white head-cloth sat cross-legged at the end of the scape. Jubal lifted
up on his elbow. The man spoke in a soft voice. This is an important matter.
Yes, said Jubal. I agree to this.
Aren t you afraid?
Afraid of what?
Of concerning yourself in affairs so important?
Jubal blinked his eyes and wondered if he were dreaming. I suppose so, to
some extent.
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There will be a judgment, you know.
A judgment of whom?
Of you.
Jubal sat up and rubbed his forehead. I haven t done anything wrong.
Don t be too confident. At Durruree you must never bluster.
I ll try not to, said Jubal shortly. When do we arrive at Durruree?
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