Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 55: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

108 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION was a low line of clouds. His gaze traveled along the horizon, and he noted that the clouds seemed a little darker forward. Still, he felt uneasy, and alone. “See what I meant?” “Ooh! Yeah. Yeah! I see. What a backlash that was! I’ve got the grand- father of all headaches, and I won't be able to think straight for a week. Wonder how Musa feels—But I got results, anyway.” “Yes. You got results. So did I once, when I tried something similar. But I'll live a long time before I try it again. How about you?” “Don’t worry. Next time I try to exert direct mental control on another entity, this planet’ll have space travel. Wonder if some klordon tablets’Il help any. “Might. Try one, then let’s get busy and scatter a few more communicators around that ship. Be more practical than beating our brains out.” As the days passed, Musa became familiar with the shipboard routine and lost some of his early uneasiness regarding his traveling companions He became acquainted with other traders, finding them to be average men, engaged in the same trade as himself. He talked to members of the ship’s company, and found them to be normal men, who worked at their trade in a competent manner. Only the four priests held aloof. Ignoring officers sailors, and traders alike, they spoke only to their slaves, who passed their comments to the ship’s company. } On the morning of the tenth day, Musa came to the deck, to find the sea rougher than usual. Waves rose, scattering their white plumes for the wind to scatter. Ahead, dark clouds hid the sky, and occasional spray came aboard, spattering the deck and the passengers. : Just outside the cabin entrance, a small knot of traders were gathered As Musa came out, they separated. Musa went over to the rail, looking overside at the waves. The two kontars were not in sight. He looked about, noting the sailors, who hurried about the deck and into the rigging, securing their ship for foul weather. Close b Ladro and Min-ta were talking. “It is quite possible,” said Ladro, “that someone aboard has broken a law of the great Kondaro, and the kontars have gone to report the sin.” He glanced at Musa calculatingly. “Yes,” agreed Min-ta, “we—” An officer, hurrying along the deck, stopped. ‘‘All passengers wi to go below,” he said. ““We’re in for bad cance me fori sted ed anyone overboard.” ‘Could this be the wrath of Kondaro?” asked Ladro. The officer glanced at him questioningly. “It could be, yes. Why?” Again, Ladro cast a look at Musa, then he caught the seaman by the arm, pulling him aside. The two engaged in a low-toned conversation directing quick glances at Musa. At last, the officer nodded and went aft. to approach one of the slaves of Kondaro. Musa started across the deck to the ladder, his heart thudding painfully. Surely, he thought, he had done nothing to offend even the eae Pegtenins THE PLAYERS 109 of deities. Yet, the implications of Ladro’s glances and his conversation with the ship’s officer were too obvious for even the dullest to misinterpret. Musa took a long, shuddering breath. His fears on that other day had been well grounded, then. He gazed at the lowering sky, then out at the waves. Where could a lone, friendless man find help in this waste of wind and water? Slowly, he climbed down the ladder leading to his tiny cubicle. Once inside, he again started checking over his personal items. There was nothing there to help. Hopelessly, he looked at the collection in the chest, then he got out a scroll of prose and went to the central table to read in an effort to clear his mind of the immediate circumstances. Minutes later, he went back to his bunk and threw the scroll aside. Possibly, he was just imagining that he was the target of a plot. Possibly there was a real sea god named Kondaro—an omnipotent sea deity, who could tell when persons within his domain were too curious, or harbored impious thoughts, and who was capable of influencing the actions of the faithful. Possibly, his opinions of the priesthood had been noted and had offended. Or, perhaps, that peculiar little device he had seen a priest studying was capable of warning the god that it had been profaned by an unsanctified gaze. Possibly, this storm was really the result of such a warning. He was sure the priest hadn’t seen him, but it could be that the device itself might— Musa threw himself on his bunk. A deep voice resonated through the room. “Musa of Karth,” it said, ““my master, Dontor, desires your presence on deck.” Musa came to his feet. Two of the slaves of Kondaro stood close by, swords in hand. One beckoned, then turned. Musa followed him into the short passage, and up the ladder. As they gained the deck, the small procession turned aft, to face the senior priest. Dontor stood on the raised after deck, just in front of the helmsman. The wind tugged at his gold and crimson robe, carrying it away from his body, so that it rippled like a flag, and exposed the bright blue trousers and jacket. Dontor, chief priest of the Bordeklu, stood immobile, his arms folded, his feet braced against the sway of his vessel. As the trio below him stopped, he frowned down at them. : ‘“‘Musa of Karth,” he intoned, “it has been revealed to me that you have displayed undue curiosity as to the inner mysteries of the worship of the Great God. In your conversations, you have hinted at knowledge forbidden any but the initiated. “You came to us, a stranger, and we trusted you. But now, we are all faced with the wrath of the Great One as a result of your impieties. A sacrifice, and only a sacrifice, will appease this wrath. Can you name any reason why we should protect you further, at the expense of our own lives? What say you?” Musa stared up at him. The cotton 1 ad b thick, and intensely bitter. fences 1°) AS oks. Eom