第85节

tors, the five top students had

reached a remarkably high standard and were now rehearsing the

exhibition routine that he and Steve had worked out.

Dozens of gardeners aided by gangs of Mutes were busy tidying up the

landscape. A brand-new access road now linked the highway to the

eastern side of the flying field where a hundred Korean craftsmen were

building a wooden grandstand with boxes at the front for the two

domain-lords and the other top VIPs and several tiers of benches for

those of inferior rank.

The euphoria generated by the achievements of all concerned and the

preparations for what was obviously going to be a major spectacle - of

which he was the principal architect - swept away Cadillac's doubts

about his future prospects. If all went well, it could signal the

beginning of a new, and even more glorious, stage in his career.

Looking back on what had been accomplished in the last few weeks made

the notion that his services might be dispensed with seem totally

absurd. He should never have revealed his temporary feelings of

insecurity.

But had he not done so, the fair-haired Tracker would not have been so

forthcoming about his plans to escape.

Yes. Only one cloud marred an otherwise dazzling horizon: Brickman.

What the stones had foretold was coming true. Sooner or later Brickman

would carry Clearwater away to the dark world beneath the deserts of

the south. And many would die. Cadillac did not fear for his own

life. Mr Snow, who spoke with the Sky Voices, had assured him that he

and Clearwater would both live. For he was to be the sword and she the

shield of Talisman.

The meaning of Mr Snow's words was unclear, but in any case it referred

to some future event. What concerned Cadillac was the here and now.

The cloud warrior's presence had disinterred the crushing sense of

guilt he had tried so hard to bury. His betrayal of Mr Snow's trust,

his indifference to Clearwater's present fate and the abandonment of

his duty towards the clan M'Call were the main reasons why he sought

nightly oblivion with the aid of sake.

Yes, guilt was one element of his present unease but the root cause was

envy - generated by his own reaction at having to measure up to and

work with his rival. A rival who did not even bother to compete; whose

sense of superiority was so crushing he cheerfully accepted the

demeaning role of a Mute slave, tackling the menial tasks he was given

with the same enthusiasm he brought to solving a knotty problem of

aerodynamics. What made it worse was knowing that he could not have

got this far without Brickman's shrewd counsel and unflagging

cooperation.

The realisation that he was still not the equal of the cloud warrior

increased Cadillac's smouldering resentment. But it was worse than

that. He needed Brickman. His presence acted as a spur; made him

sharper, helped his own brain to function better. But to be dependent

on someone you could not trust was both foolish and dangerous.

Cadillac cursed himself for not denouncing Brickman at the very

beginning. It was now too late, and he doubted whether he could ever

have done it. He already had too many betrayals on his conscience.

No... escape was the answer. Let him take Clearwater. Provided the

manner of their departure did not jeopardise his own situation, he

would be happy to be rid of both of them.

He had meant what he had said to Brickman about there being nothing for

him to go back to. The will of Talisman might one day bring Clearwater

back into his life, but for the foreseeable future he had lost her.

The hopes he had nurtured about patching up their relationship had

vanished with Brickman's arrival in Ne-Issan.

If he went back to the clan, he would be obliged to resume his role as

Mr Snow's apprentice; his obedient shadow. He would only acquire

proper standing in the eyes of the clan after Mr Snow's death. But the