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"Fifty or sixty satch," said Hunnar. He added conversation-ally, "But first we
have to reach the
Place-Where-'The-Earth's--Blood-Burns."
There was a crash.
"I ... my clumsiness shames me," said one of the Broth-ers. He pushed back his
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chair and knelt to help one of the servers gather up the shards of broken mug.
"Alas, Brother Podren's development has gone wholly to the brain," chuckled
the Prior easily. The other Brothers made the tran laugh-equivalent. To Ethan
it seemed a little forced.
The Prior continued as though nothing had happened.
"Do not be surprised at Brother Podren's reaction. Not many folk travel to the
Place-Where-The-
Earth's-Blood-Burns."
"Why not?" asked September a little sharply, and then Ethan knew he wasn't
alone in detecting their hosts' reactions.
The Prior spread his arms, opened his paws. "Superstition. The common folk say
strange things about the great smoking mountain."
"It is a volcano, then," muttered Ethan to himself. They'd assumed as much all
along, but it was nice to have additional confirmation.
"Could you elaborate, Prior?" September pressed.
"Surely. Those who pass too close are said to have their minds affected. Some
report seeing odd visions, while others see nothing at all and remain
untouched. Others, they say, are drawn toward the mountain as a starring being
may be drawn to food. Again, their companions may experience nothing. There is
no soil and little grows there. None would live there anyway."
"Superstition is all that keeps them away?" asked Ethan.
"That, and the fact that the mountain throws out melted earth and choking
black dust very often."
"Oh."
"But you've been there," said September shrewdly.
The old tran nodded. "I have been close by the place," he conceded. "I did not
set foot on the ground."
"Because of the superstitions?" September toyed with his pseudo-pudding.
"No. Because at the time it was throwing out melted stone in huge quantities
and the heat was appalling. The danger was real and not imaginary. My spirit
was quite safe, but there was a real danger to the body. So the ship I was on
did not linger in the area. Hopefully, you will have better luck."
"We expect to," September replied.
"And now, tell me once more of your miraculous sky-boat and its unfathomable
mechanisms. I did not understand the first time and probably will not this
time either, but there is merit in trying."
Dinner ended with a pleasant little liqueur. Conversation continued for
another hour or so. Then
Colette yawned widely, and Budjir confessed that he had to rise early on the
morrow to help oversee the setting of the new bowsprit. So the' Prior declared
the gathering at an end.
The group of visiting humans and trap were guided back to their communal
sleeping room. Ethan walked next to Septem-ber.
"What do you think of our hosts?" said the big man.
"Hmmm? Oh, I guess they're okay. A little dry and self- centered maybe, but
okay. For a second
file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%20...20Dean%20-%20Icerigger%201%20
-%20Icerigger.txt (161 of 179) [1/16/03 7:07:12 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Alan%20Dean%20Foster/Foster,%20Alan%20Dean%20-%20Icerigger%201%
20-%20Icerigger.txt there, when Hunnar mentioned our destination and
what's-his-name dropped his mug ... "
"Podren.
"Yes, Podren. I thought there was something very unfriendly in his expression.
He covered it fast, though, and I'm sure no expert at interpreting alien
facial expressions. On the other hand, it didn't seem to affect the Prior at
all."
"He was probably right ... our going to a place regarded as a home for devils
and spirits and what-
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not, young feller. Leaking gases could explain the hallucinations and weird
re-actions among passing natives."
"I suppose so. In any case, we'll have the chance to find out for ourselves
before long."
They reached the room. The central firepit was crackling and spitting merrily,
throwing welcome heat to every corner of the room. It had apparently been
burning during the meal, as a respectable pile of coals had accumulated in the
bottom of the pit. These added to the pleasant heat.
Ethan made his goodnights to everyone else. There were no dividers between the
beds. It wasn't a problem, however, since none of the humans had any intention
of exposing their bare skin to the still-frigid air.
He climbed into bed. Hunnar and September split up and set about extinguishing
the lamp-, that burned on the walls. Ethan would have helped, but they hung at
tran height and that was a bit too high for him.
There were fewer furs and blankets on the bed than he'd grown used to. Their
hosts, of course, had no way of knowing that the hairless strangers were far
more affected by the cold than Hunnar and the squires and Elfa. Then, too, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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