The Wanderers of the Water-Realm (56 page)

The young witch caught the priest’s attention.

“Would I be correct in thinking that the dark priesthood maintains its usual ability to influence the policies of this First Tribune and his administrative minions?”

“Unfortunately, no,” the Councillor answered hesitantly. “We have less influence inside the boundaries of the Empire than in almost any other portion of the Water-Realm. True, the rules governing the flow of traffic on the LifeRiver are generally observed by the various leaders of the Kaa-Rom. We also staff a network of maintenance depots close to the river’s edge that are seldom entered by imperial officials. But we hold no special privileges within the hinterland of the Empire, where the ‘Guardians of theAncient Lore’is but one of the many religious sects that are tolerated by the First Tribune and his government.”

The young witch continued with her same line of questioning.

“Is it correct that the empire was founded by a company of Roman soldiers who blundered through the eastern portal and into the Water-Realm almost two thousand cycles ago?”

“Yes indeed!” Hemm replied. “They descended the Exit River and settled close to the present city of Calar, where their discipline and fighting efficiency enabled them to maintain themselves in the midst of a hostile population. The newcomers had the impudence to levy a tax upon the traffic using the Life River and the priesthood was close to ordering their annihilation when they thought of a use for these new intruders. In those days, the land from Holy Ptah to the Southern Sea was occupied by a particularly savage race who described themselves as the ‘Kaa,’ after an obscene deity to whom they frequently offered blood sacrifices, whilst the eastern portion of their territory was often infested by parties of raiding Hix who sometimespenetrated almost as far as the Great Life River itself. The priesthood succeeded in persuading these Romans to abandon their settlement in the north and occupy the rich river-lands lying to the south of Ptah, thereby securing the Life River from savage incursions.”

Hemm paused and the hint of a smile crossed his lips.

“Unfortunately, the outcome of this strategy was not entirely what the priesthood had predicted. True, the Romans married local women and settled down to become model citizens, as expected, they pushed the Hix back into their wastelands and also drove the brutal Kaa beyond the environs of the river, for these Romans possessed superb fighting efficiency.”

The Councillor paused and shook his head.

“Then something happened that we had never foreseen. About six hundred cycles ago, the Romans and the Kaa suddenly ceased their endless conflict and united to form the Kaa-Rom Empire, creating the greatest military and political human force in the entire Water-Realm. Even today, many members of the priesthood hate this union; for it inevitably resulted in a vast reduction of our influence in the southern regions, but the Empire continues to be tolerated due to its skill in maintaining social order and its help in ensuring the security of the great river upon which we all depend.”

George shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

“Are you saying that you cannot protect us during the remainder of our voyage to the Southern Sea?” The giant boat hand asked somewhat abruptly.

“We cannot put you under the protection of the overseer’s war-galleys as we did when you foolishly ventured ashore at the ‘Island of Plenty.” The priest retorted sharply. “But we have discovered a means enabling you to reach the Southern Sea without unduly risking your lives.” Hemm paused.

“As I explained earlier, we maintain a series of depots along the southern line of the great river. These establishments hold reserves of construction material, working boats and squads of men whose task it is to remove sunken vessels and other obstacles to safe navigation. Our order often dispatches vessels from Ptah to re-supply these depots and also transport members of the priesthood to the various shrines of the ‘Ancient Lore’ that are located in Kaa-Rom territory.

It is suggested that we should commission your vessel ‘The ‘Bonny Barbara’to carry construction materials to the furthest of our maintenance depot located close to where the Life River meets the Southern Sea.

Whilst aboard your craft, you will all wear the uniform of the overseers and your craft will sail under the pennant of our order. The fact that you are in the service of the priesthood should help excuse your unfamiliar white skins and the strange lines of your Earth built vessel and possibly save you from undue molestation from the Imperial authorities.”

“Is it possible for my vessel to navigate safely across the waters of the Southern Sea?” Darryl enquired anxiously, but the priest shook his head at once.

“No. Strong winds often sweep across the surface of the sea and your small boat would not survive. You must abandon your craft at the furthest maintenance depot and pass overland to the sailing port of Ostia that is only a short distance away. We hope to be successful in obtaining passage for all three of you on one of the cargo sloops crossing the Southern Sea and trading with the clans-folk upon the opposite shore.”

The Councillor frowned. “We can give you no further assistance, once you reach that southern shoreline, for long ages have passed since any member of our order as ventured into that barbarous land. I have not the slightest doubt that you will need to use all of your combined wits to survive in that most inhospitable country. We cannot even accurately say how long it will take you to complete the journey through the mountains and reach the base of the great metal spire were the portal is situated. Time may therefore be of the essence and you had best sail from Holy Ptah as soon as possible!”

Councillor Hemm summoned a uniformed attendant by pressing one of the coloured panels situated in the metal wall.

“Your escort will now take you to the dockyard where the skeleton crew of your craft ‘The ‘Bonny Barbara’ are eagerly awaiting your return. You have much to consider and I will summon you again when plans for your departure are further advanced. In the meantime, may the unseen powers give you wisdom and happiness?”

Wilakin eagerly grasped the boatmaster’s hand as he stepped onto the deck of the ‘Bonny Barbara.’

“Greetings master!” He said with tears in his eyes. “I prayed to every deity in the Water-Realm that you would be allowed to return safely from your perilous journey to the east. The craft awaits your inspection, but my gaze has never left the dockyard staff and I feel sure that your vessel is as sound as the day it first entered the water.”

The sailing master also welcomed Myra and George back aboard and the returning trio where also greeted by Tess and Tom-Tess who chattered away like a pair of startled do-fowl.

Later, the threetravellers and the sailing master crowded into the tiny cabin of the narrowboat and discussed the prospects of the forthcoming voyage to the Southern Sea.

Wilakin appeared to be more than a little worried about the projected trip and he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“I must admit that I have never ventured farther than Ptah in the whole of my sailing career.” He said slowly. “But I have often talked to mariners who have ventured as far as theriver’s junction with the Southern Sea. All of them stated that the waterway south from Ptah is particularly easy to navigate and is almost free from pirates, due to the constant vigilance of the Imperial authorities. However, the same civil and military establishments are said to be very intrusive and merchant craft using the waterway are sometimes boarded and searched on the pretext of ‘hunting for pirates’ although such an interference with the movement of trade is strictly forbidden by order of the Dark Priests. Astute merchants are said to keep a few bolts of good cloth handy for use as a ‘Gift’ to ensure a swift search and a quick end to the unwelcome molestation. The imperial government maintains havens where boat crews can find a night’s lodgings ashore, but these establishments are invariably expensive and a mariner can find himself paying substantial sums in fines and taxes to the officials who run these hostelries. Small wonder that most traders find it advisable to keep to the water as much as possible. However, we shall be sailing beneath the pennant of the Dark Priests and this should save us from many such difficulties. We should also be able to put into the priest’s maintenance depots when we need supplies or a night ashore and this should enable us to avoid the attentions of prying officials.”

Darryl nodded in agreement. “Aye, we shall certainly avoid putting into strange shores if it can be avoided. That business on the ‘Island of Plenty’has persuaded me to do my sightseeing from a good distance and I resolved, in future, to keep a good stretch of water between myself and any possible danger!”

The boatmaster turned and looked Wilakin straight in the eye.

“You have served me well, sailing master.Any debt that you owed me has long been discharged.You are under no obligation to face further perils on my account, but if you are determined to remain in my service, then I will reward you by making you a gift of the ‘Bonny Barbara’once we reach the Southern Sea, for you will have earned its price many times over.”

Wilakin knelt and grasped the boatmaster’s hands.

“I willingly and gratefully accept your offer,” he said. “Furthermore, I will cherish your craft for as long as I live. I will paint your name on the boat’s hull and you will be remembered in the Water-Realm for as long as your craft ploughs the water.”

“What of those two youngsters, Tom and Tom-Tess?” Darryl asked.

“Do you suppose they would be prepared to crew for us on the voyage, in return for a substantial sum in discs?”

“Without a doubt,” The navigator answered. “Master that pair would sail to the land of the dead if you asked it of them!”

George raised his hand for attention.

“What of that quantity of scrap copper lying behind the bulkhead in the bows? Shall we need to sell it in order to pay for the supplies used during our voyage to the sea?”

The boatmaster thought for a moment. “No, for we still have a sizeable sum in hand from the sale of the rare timbers we shipped from Calar, also, one of the overseers at the priests headquarters said that any craft sailing under the pennant of the Dark Priests, has the right to draw supplies, free of charge, from any of the maintenance depots lying along the line of the Life River. No, we will leave the metal in its hiding place for use should some unforeseen emergency arise.”

The occupants of the cabin fell silent and Darryl waited for a moment before pushing the door open with his foot.

“Darkness is falling, my friends, so let us drink and dine to repletion in that little tavern standing by the dockyard gates.

Move your bulk, George.” He said with a laugh. “Let’s go and see if the proprietor’s Thoa-nut beer is still the very best to be had in the whole of Holy Ptah!”