第89节

arious

disguises?"

'Yeah, well . . . that's where the whole thing fell to pieces. It

appears that courtesans only travel in sealed carriage-boxes that are

either carried or wheeled by porters. Not Mutes. Clearwater was

confident she could get the money we needed from the Consul-General,

but not the ID papers, travel passes and neck-tags."

'I'm glad to hear it,' replied Skull-Face.

'And there was also the problem of the arm-stamps that slaves collect

at the various control points they pass through."

Skull-Face bared his teeth again. 'Now you know it's not just a case

of bureaucracy gone mad. It's to help keep tabs on people like you."

He reached into the saddlebags that lay to his left and produced what,

when unfolded, turned out to be a beautifully made writing box.

Pulling a moistened brush from a tube, he charged it with ink from a

solid palette and wrote an indecipherable message with swift, flowing

strokes. He then cleaned the brush, and put it back in its

container.

'Okay. There's not much time left, but we are going to help you with

your travel arrangements - assuming, of course, that you manage to

escape from the Heron Pool.

A map will be delivered to your shack in the next couple of days. We

will put it in the same place you have been hiding your radio-knife.

The map will guide you to a point near the east bank of the Uda-sona.

The field where you are to land will be marked with a hollow white

square. You will be met by one of our people."

Skull-Face checked the sheet of paper to see if the ink was dry, then

folded it into a small square and laid it in front of Steve. 'Give

this to your Japanese-speaking friend. It tells him what words our man

will use to introduce himself and what he must say in return. Once

you've identified yourselves, you can converse in Basic.

He will give you the necessary papers and tags for four Mute slaves and

the courtesan Yoko Mi-Shima. Plus boat tickets and some money for the

voyage. ?'The "lady" will be provided with a carriage-box and two

serving women. When you are ready to travel, porters will be hired to

take the box down to the ferry.

Once across the river, they'll deliver it to the dockside.

We will alert Side-Winder to expect you to board at All-bani - though I

imagine you will be in contact with him yourself. Once you're on the

wheelboat it should be plain sailing as far as Bu-faro. After that,

the ball's in your court."

It all seemed too good to be true. If his arms and shoulders hadn't

been wracked with agonising cramp, he'd have been tempted to loose the

Trail-Blazer's rebel yell. He did his best to conceal the pain, but

his voice gave him away. 'I - I don't know what to - say!" 'You don't

have to say anything,' replied Skull-Face, unmoved by Steve's growing

distress. He closed the writing box with slow, deliberate movements

and put it away. 'In this case, actions speak louder than words. If

you don't deliver your end of the deal, you won't be leaving on a boat

- or any other way. Comprendo?"

'Perfectly!" gasped Steve.

'Good." Skull-Face uncrossed his legs, picked up the curved dagger and

moved towards Steve on his knees.

Steve's heart missed a beat. The point of the blade was aimed

dangerously low but, at the last minute, Skull-Face lifted it level

with his navel and cut through the cord stretched between neck and

groin. The Jap then' got to his feet and stood back as the two guards

untied Steve's arms.

'Now get dressed."

Steve prised loose the cord that had been biting into his penis and

scrotum and gained some much needed relief. Oh, boy! As he started to

pull on his clothes he found that his arms were painfully stiff. His

fingers wouldn't grip properly. Halfway through he had to stop and

massage his arms to restore the circulation. There was nothing he

could do about the damage downstairs except hope the pain would go

away. Pulling the sash tight round his waist, he stooped down and

pocketed the folded piece of paper containing the vital passwords.