Maia (16 page)

"Clever work, isn' it?" said Occula. "You've got to admit these Beklans do know how to slice up a bit of stone. The whole city's full of that sort of thing. I remember Zai took me to the upper city once, to see the Barons' Palace close to. We couldn' go into the Palace, of course, but I've nevef forgotten it. There's a carved-"

"Oh-!" interrupted Maia suddenly, staring and putting a hand up to her mouth in an involuntary, startled gesture. Turning her head away, she looked at Occula in confusion, but then, despite herself, looked back again. "What- whatever-?"

Occula chuckled. "That's where they sell the girls. I've never seen it before, but someone in Thettit told me the carvers spent four years on that. They
did
rather let themselves go, didn' they? All good for trade, banzi, you know. Didn' leave much to the imagination, did they?"

"Oh, and three or four together, look-and there-" Maia became speechless. Then "And right out in the open,

where everyone can see-you'd wonder who ever thought of such things, wouldn't you?"

"Fellows who think of nothin' else, that's who," said Occula, enjoying her confusion. "It just shows you, doesn' it, what a lot of silly sods there are who've got it on the brain? See what I mean? With a bit of luck we can' go wrong. But we've got to be sharp, banzi. What it comes down to is that they want figs for nothin', but somehow or other we've got to sell figs dear. And what
that
comes down to, really, is bein' better than the competition."

"But will
we
have to-you know-stand up there with no clothes on-?"

The black girl shook her head. "Shouldn' think so. I told you, Lalloc said to Domris he'd sell me privately, into a wealthy household. Of course I can' tell them straight out that where I go you're comin' too. You're worth a lot of money-so am I-and even a rich man who buys one girl may not be able to afford two-or not two at once. But you can be sure of one thing: Lalloc'll be out to sell you to his own best advantage, whatever that is; and I doan' think a girl like you'll be thrown in with a lot of others."

As the jekzha was about to leave the market and enter the long slope of the Khalkoornil-the Street of Leaves- it was once again forced to a halt by a heavy wagon loaded with a single block of stone, which was coming slowly up the hill towards them. This was surrounded by a noisy crowd, many of whom were helping the carters and their bullocks to drag and push it the final few yards uphill into the Slave Market.

"Oh, look, Occula, it's carved in the shape of a woman, d'you see? Wonder where they're taking it?"

"That's the new statue of Airtha," said their jekzha-man over his shoulder. "Fleitil and his lads have been working on it all summer up in the quarries. Only the big statues, they always start them up there and then finish them when they've been brought down. There's hundreds been waiting down at the Gate of Lilies to give them a hand. They reckon that's lucky, see, to touch it as it comes in."

"Where's it to go?" asked Occula.

"Outside the Temple of Cran. That's U-Fleitil, look, just over there; see him?"

Maia looked over the heads of the crowd towards where

the man was pointing. Before she could pick out Fleitil, however, she became aware of someone else-a young man standing quite close by on the opposite side of the road.

He was certainly of striking appearance. Taking no part in the turmoil round the wagon, he was leaning, with a relaxed yet alert air, against the doorpost of a wine shop, eating grapes-or at any rate holding a bunch in one hand- and staring directly at her. Everything about him suggested self-confidence, wealth and aristocracy. He was tall, with long, dark hair and a short, neatly-trimmed beard; and not so much handsome in any conventional way as having an aspect and air of gallantry which made one forget to consider whether he was or not. He was wearing a close-fitting abshay of rose-colored silk, with a silver belt at the waist. Its puffed sleeves, the inverted pleats of which were inset with silver, were gathered a little below the elbow. Both this and his pale-yellow, damasked breeches were overspread with small, semiprecious stones, lustrous and blue-green in color. His sword was sheathed in a scabbard jewelled with larger stones of the same sort, while slung at his back, on a crimson-tasselled cord, was a large hat adorned with colored plumes of red and blue. On his left shoulder, worked in silver thread, was the cognizance of a leopard.

Despite his elegance and flamboyant dress, his bearing suggested not so much the fop as the courtier and nobleman capable of turning soldier at need. He was plainly quite unconcerned to conceal his interest in Maia. She, abashed and self-conscious, looked quickly away, pulling up the bodice which Occula had disarranged. Yet when she looked round it was only to meet once more the young man's unwavering gaze.

"Smile, you fool," whispered Occula out of the side of her mouth.

Maia, feeling as awkward as a plowboy called to the side of a lady's carriage to tell her the way, tried to smile but found she seemed to have lost the trick. However, at this moment the young man smiled at her, tossed his grapes into the lap of a near-by beggar and strolled across the street, the crowd seeming to part before him as undergrowth parts before a hound on the scent.

Putting one hand on the rail at the girls' feet and looking up at Maia with an air expressive of admiration both given

and received (as though to say "It's pleasant to be beautiful-don't you agree?"), he said, "To my own great surprise, I don't seem to know your name. Still, I dare say you can put that right for me, can't you?"

"Oh-sir-I-that's to say-"

Maia's confusion was so clearly unfeigned that the young man, for a moment at all events, appeared to lose his own self-possession. With a slightly puzzled look he said, "I hope I've not embarrassed you or made a mistake. But if you're not shearnas-and very pretty ones at that-why are you riding through the lower city in an open jekzha, with no escort?"

"We're here from Thettit-Tonilda, sir," said Occula, smiling at him and leaning forward to put her hand for a moment on his, "with a recommendation to U-Lalloc."

"Oh, I see," said the young man, with an air of disappointment. "You mean he's going to sell you?"

"I'm very sorry; I'm afraid not, sir," answered Occula, as though he had made a request which she was obliged to decline with regret. "We're already promised to a noble house."

"I'm not at all surprised to hear it," said the young man. "Well, perhaps we may meet again. If that-er-
noble house
-"he smiled, giving an ironical, emphasis to the words-"should ever wish to part with you, perhaps you'll contrive to let me know, will you?"

With this he pressed a kiss on Maia's bare foot, turned on his heel and was gone across the market-place, his feathered hat tossing on his shoulders.

As the jekzha moved on, neither girl spoke for a minute or two. Then Maia, still bewildered by the encounter, said "But he never told us who he was."

"You're supposed to know who he is," answered Occula. "It wouldn' occur to him that you didn'. He's a Leopard, obviously."

"Do
you
know?"

"No, 'course I doan'. But it might be a good idea to find out, doan' you think?"

"Oh, I felt so terrible-"

"You doan' know your own strength, banzi, that's your trouble," said the black girl, smacking at a fly on her forearm. "You did fine. He woan' forget us in a hurry. Cran! I'm hungry, aren't you? Surely it can' be much further now."

In fact it was no distance at all. Hardly had they passed, on their right, the dark column of the Tower of Leaves, with its foliated, circular balcony projecting a hundred feet above their heads, when Zuno's jekzha turned off under a low stone arch. Following him, they found themselves in a narrow lane, which made a turn and opened into a paved courtyard. Here Zuno had already got down, and motioned to them to do the same. Together they unloaded Occula's box and stood waiting while he settled with the jekzha-man. His raised-eyebrow technique was no less effective than it had been with the footpads. After a short conversation, and assuming a slightly pained manner, he murmured, "Nonsense, my good man; you're well paid," walked across to a door on the courtyard's further side and unlocked it with a key taken from his pocket.

About to enter, however, he suddenly stopped and, turning to Occula, said, "The-er-young nobleman who spoke to you just now: what might he have said to you?"

"He paid us compliments, sir."

"Did he express any interest in purchase?"

"Not seriously, sir: I think he was just amusin' himself. I simply told him that if he was interested he'd better speak to U-Lalloc."

Zuno paused. "Do you know who he is?"

"No, sir."

"That is Elvair-ka-Virrion, only son of the Lord General Kembri-B'sai."

Thereupon, without waiting for an answer from Occula, he went indoors.

Occula and Maia, carrying the box between them, stepped through the doorway into a kind of cloister about twenty yards square. Its center, open to the sky, was a rough garden-a grassed area with a few flowers and a pool on one side. This was surrounded by a low wall, from which rose plain stone columns supporting the roof of a covered way running round the four sides of the enclosure. At intervals along this ambulatory were various doors-and windows also, for the rooms behind the doors had no openings except those looking inwards onto the covered way.

The whole place, secure as any prison, comprised Lalloc's premises, where he kept his stock and from which he carried on his business.

Maia had caught no more than a glimpse of four or five rather rough-looking girls playing with a ball near the pool, before Zuno conducted them both into a small room off the ambulatory. This was furnished with a heavy table, two or three benches, a closet and a bed covered with two or three cushions and a thick rug. On the bed was lounging a big, brawny-looking woman of about thirty, who climbed heavily to her feet as Zuno came in.

"Ah, Vartou," said Zuno, sitting down on one of the benches and helping himself to wine from a jug on the table. "Is U-Lalloc here?"

"No, he isn't, U-Zuno," replied the woman. "He's gone to the upper city on business, but he said he'd be in again early tomorrow. Did you have a good journey from Thet-tit?"

"Oh-quite uneventful, thank you," replied Zuno with an air of slight impatience. "Well, in that case I suppose
you
had better take delivery of these two girls. I received them from Megdon at Hirdo."

"At
HirdoT'
asked the woman.

"Yes-yes." Zuno closed his eyes wearily. "Perdan will be bringing the normal quota on foot, as usual. I imagine he will be here tomorrow or the day after. The young black woman is here at her own request-an arranged sate- from the Lily Pool at Thettit. This is a letter, which she's brought with her, from the Saiyett Domris to U-Lalloc." He handed it over.

"Oh, I see; Saiyett Domris's girl. Yes, she's expected. U-Lalloc knows about her."

"The other girl, I understand, is not part of Megdon's quota at all. Apparently she is in the nature of a fortuitous acquisition. Megdon told me he gave a considerable sum for her. Since I gather he was dealing with a peasant woman-a totally inexperienced vendor-he may well be lying, but af all events there is his receipt. It means very little, since the woman was evidently illiterate-a thumb-print, as you can see. U-Lalloc may want to go further into the matter, but Megdon could reasonably argue, I suppose, that it's all clear profit. Anyway, that will be a matter for U-Lalloc when Megdon renders his accounts next month. And now I must be going. Good evening!"

As soon as he had gone, the woman turned to Occula and Maia with an air of truculence.

"Well, and why were you sent here ahead of Megdon's quota? Some trouble, was there? What's the rights of it, eh?"

"U-Megdon thought we were both a little out of the ordinary, saiyett," replied Occula, "and wished U-Lalloc to see us as soon as possible."

"Huh!" said the woman. "So you think you're out of the ordinary, do you, with your black skin?"

"
I
think nothin', saiyett. I'm simply tellin' you what U-Megdon said."

"And why were
you
sold to Megdon?" asked the woman, turning to Maia. "Some baron basted you and then got tired of you, did he?"

At her coarse, unfriendly manner Maia, hungry and tired out, felt the tears starting to her eyes.

"With respect, saiyett," said Occula, "my friend will be ready to tell U-Lalloc everythin' that he may want to know tomorrow. Perhaps we could leave it at that. You see a great many slaves, I'm sure. They're not usually overanxious to talk about their bad luck, are they?"

"Hoity-toity, miss!" cried the woman, "and who do you think you're talking to, hey?"

"Merely a suggestion, saiyett." Occula, looking her calmly in the eye, said no more.

The woman, opening the closet behind her, took out a pliant ash-stick. "D'you see this?" she said. "It's for girls who give trouble. Any more impudence and you'll be making its closer acquaintance."

Occula remained impassive and silent and the woman, after glaring at her for a few more moments, put the stick down on the table.

"Well," she said, "you can both come with me now and I'll show you your quarters. Bring that box along with you."

She led the way out of the room and along the ambulatory. Maia, limping on her swollen ankle as she helped to carry the box, could hardly keep up. Coming, at the corner, to a door standing open in the wall, Vartou, who was unusually tall, stooped under it and then stood to one side as they followed her through.

The two girls found themselves in a stone-floored room, perhaps fifty feet long, with three barred windows opening

inwards on the covered way and a hearth in the opposite wall, where a fire was burning. All round were beds, separated by wooden partitions, and in the center stood a long, rough table with benches. The floor was clean and the whole place looked a good deal tidier than anything Maia was used to.

"This is the room for women and grown girls," said Vartou, "but there's only five other girls in here just now, so you can more or less suit yourselves for beds. The bathhouse is next door; and damned well
use
it, d'you see? There's soap and there's sulphur. If you've got lice, get rid of them. Any girl found with lice on her gets whipped- and soundly, too. Your ankle's swollen," she went on unexpectedly, turning to Maia. "Does it hurt?"

"Yes, saiyett."

"Come to me when you've bathed and I'll strap it up for you. Any kind of cut or ailment, you tell me and I treat it, do you understand? That's a strict rule. Except for children, rations are given out mornings and evenings and you cook them for yourselves. That's what the fire's for."

She paused; then said emphatically, "Now understand this once and for all. This is a high-class establishment. You're lucky. Girls who come here are valuable property and treated accordingly. They're always surprised to find it's better than the homes they've left. Good food, comfortable beds, fresh clothes for those who need them, plenty of towels, soap and water. Do either of you have fits or wet the bed?"

"No, saiyett."

"Anyone who fouls or smashes anything is severely punished, and anyone who isn't clean is punished. U-Lalloc will want to see you both tomorrow."

And with this she was gone.

Occula thumbed her nose after her. "Lice who come here are lucky and val'able, banzi. They're so surprised, they have fits and wet the bed. Bastin' old bitch! Lice, indeed! Come on, let's pitch camp over here, away from the fire. These two beds'll do." She punched one of them tentatively, then flung herself down on it. "Airtha tairtha! She was right enough, though; they
are
comfortable! If the rations are as good, we're well away. Can you cook?"

"Sort of," said Maia. " Tends what it is."

"More 'n I can. Never had to-not since the Govig,

anyway. Look, banzi, we'd better not both go and bathe at once. We doan' know what sort may be here: one of us had better stay with this box. Would you like to go first?"

"No, darling," said Maia. "I'm all right. We had a bath with the soldiers, remember?"

"Sounds marvelous! How long ago was that? Did I enjoy it? Anyway, I'm ready for another. Why doan' you have a nice little rest till I come back? I suppose the towels must be in the bath-house."

Left to herself, Maia lay down on her bed. The wooden partition at her elbow was incised all over with names and other rough scrawls. "Maydis of Dari" she spelt out slowly; and a date five years earlier. Then-and here she had the help of a crude but remarkably graphic illustration-"Thylla bastes like a sow."

Having dozed for a time, she had just begun studying a third inscription when a big-built, rough-looking girl of about seventeen, with dark hair and a noticeable squint, walked into the room gnawing an apple. At the sight of Maia she stopped short, looked her up and down for a few moments and then said, unsmilingly and with a kind of wary belligerence, "Hullo; who are you?"

Maia sat up on the edge of her bed and smiled at her. "My name's Maia: I come from Tonilda."

"Come from Delda, did you say?" answered the girl. "Great Cran, you look like it, too! Stack 'em on the shelf at night, do you?"

Her disagreeable, sneering manner made it impossible to take this as either a joke or a compliment. Still, I'd better be careful, thought Maia. She's too big for me. Besides, for all I know her friends may be in any minute.

"What d'you want to quarrel for?" she said. "Aren't we both in enough trouble as it is?"

"You
may be," returned the girl. "Speak for yourself. Going to have a big belly as well, are you?"

"I didn't mean that-"

"What's in that box?" interrupted the girl, walking up to the bed and looking down at it.

"You let that alone!" said Maia sharply. "That's Oc-cula's box-my friend's. She'll be back directly."

"Boccula's ox?" said the girl, mimicking her Tonildan accent and blowing three or four apple pips over her. "Well, then, dear, I'm afraid darling Shockula's in for a bit of an

ock." She laughed briefly at this witticism, stooped and flung back the lid.

Maia grasped her wrist. "I said, let it alone!"

The girl, easily twisting her wrist free, stuffed her apple core down Maia's neck just as Occula, a towel round her waist, came back into the room carrying her orange metlan and an iron frying-pan.

"Banzi," she said, "I found this outside. Why doan' we-" Seeing the girl standing over her opened box, she stopped. "What's goin' on? Did you open that or did she?"

"She did," panted Maia. "I tried to stop her-"

"This'll stop her," said Occula, and without a moment's hesitation hit the girl over the head with the frying-pan, which rang like a gong.

The girl staggered and went down on the floor, but was up again in a moment, spittle dribbling down her chin. Occula, having quickly tossed her metlan and the frying-pan to Maia, was waiting as she rushed at her. They closed and Maia was horrified to see her friend go down under the girl's much heavier weight. While they lay struggling on the floor, three or four more girls came running into the room and gathered round, shouting excitedly.

Occula, lying beneath the girl, clutched her tightlyabout with her arms and legs. "Now
hit
her, banzi, hard!"

Maia, swinging back the frying-pan in both hands, hit the back of the girl's head as hard as she could. The girl collapsed across Occula's body just as Vartou came rushing into the hall.

"What's all this basting row?"

There was instant silence. It was plain that all the girls were afraid of her.

Vartou stooped and without the least effort lifted Occula's assailant bodily, threw her across Maia's bed and slapped her face. She would probably have gone on to deal with Occula in the same way, but the black girl was already up, shutting her box and getting dressed as though nothing had happened.

"And what the hell d'you think
you're
doing?" said Vartou, turning towards her.

''Gettin'dressed, saiyett."

"I'll give you getting dressed, you black trollop!"

Standing over Occula, she fixed her with a terrifying stare, which the black girl met unwaveringly.

"Get up!" said Vartou at length, turning back to the

other girl, who instantly obeyed her, albeit in a somewhat dazed manner. "Now, listen. I don't want to hear anything from either of you about who started this: you can save ypur damned breath. If you weren't both due to be seen by U-Lalloc tomorrow I'd thrash you both within an inch of your dirty little lives. But there are ways of hurting girls without leaving any mark on them, and if there's any more trouble that's What'll happen, d'you see?"

"Yes, saiyett," replied Occula. "May I please be allowed to put my box in a safe place? Then I dare say you woan' be put to the trouble of havin' to defend me again."

"You've got a blasted sight too much to say for yourself," said Vartou. "Since you're so particular, you can take it back to my room now, you and your precious friend; and you can draw the rations as well. Time you did some work, both of you."

Both girls were astonished by the issued rations. There was about half a pound of lean meat for each girl in the hall; fresh vegetables, milk, bread, cheese and fruit. They had to make two trips.

"Perhaps you see now, do you," said Vartou sourly, "how much better you're treated here than you deserve? Everything's to be cleared away and clean by the time I come round; if it's not, there'll be trouble." Then, suddenly, to Occula, "You seem to have your wits about you, black or not. That's a rough lot of girls-rougher than most. You'd better help to keep them in order, d'you see?"

"Very well, saiyett."

An hour and a half later Maia, bathed and dressed, her ankle tightly bandaged over a cold compress, was lying on her bed digesting a heavy meal in a state as close to satisfaction as she had known since the commencement of her misfortunes five days before. As not infrequently happens when two tough characters have had a scrap and cooled off, Occula and the cast-eyed girl had become guardedly friendly. The latter, while helping Maia to cook the supper, had unbent to the extent of telling her that her name was Chia and that she had arrived, two weeks before, in a slave quota from Urtah.

"And the curse of the Streels on that bastard of an elder who picked on me," she added. "He had a down on my father, Surdad did. I wasn't well when we started and it was all of sixty miles. Once we got here I went down delirious-didn't know where I was for four or five days.

That's why I haven't been sold yet, see? I'm supposed to be getting my health back.
You'll
be all right," she said, looking enviously at Maia. "Don't know why you're here, really. Girls like you don't become slaves as a rule-not where I come from, anyway. Who d'you think's going to want
me?
Washing-up girl in some pot-house'll be about the size of it, I dare say."