第112节

binds us together. Maybe it's called

"love", or maybe there's another word for it that you and I don't know

about.

What I do know is, it will never change."

Clearwater gave him a long, searching look and then, with a wistful

sigh that seemed to imply she knew something he didn't, she said: 'That

is true, cloud warrior. The power of love cannot be destroyed. But

perhaps the world will change us..."

It was fortunate that they chose to journey disguised as Mutes and not

as captive Trackers. At the frequent cargo and passenger halts along

the canal, SideWinder saw soldiers on the quayside and heard their

officers demanding to know from the captain if he was transporting any

long-dogs. On several occasions, the wheelboat was boarded by port

officials and soldiers who examined the cargo manifest and passenger

list, then proceeded to inspect the contents of the through-decks.

Steve and the others had their slave-tags and "yellow cards" examined,

and lanterns were used to pry into dark corners where a stowaway might

be lurking. Even Cadillac's cabin was entered. No one had warned him

this might happen, but the Mute did not lose his cool. He had begun

to enjoy the respectful treatment accorded to 'Yoko Mi-Shima' and was

playing the part to perfection - right down to the fluttering fan. The

officer's polite enquiries brought equally polite replies in the

courtly language and accents of the nobility. No one suspected that

the person behind the mask was not the genuine article, and his papers

were never examined.

The first contact man had told them they would be met at the dockside

and, once again, Skull-Face's organisation delivered the goods. A

sealed carriage-box was sent aboard for 'Yoko Mi-Shims' and, after they

had been shackled, two Korean clerks steered the 'Mutes' through the

various layers of officialdom and out of the dock gates.

Steve and the others had no idea who anyone was or what they were

saying until they met up with Cadillac later. It then transpired that

the clerks were employed by.

a rich slave-dealer, none other than the man whose name Side-Winder had

given Steve during their chance meeting on the dockside at All-bani.

It was yet further proof of the mexican's tie-in with the Japs. Just

how far did this deal between the Federation and the Iron Masters go?

Chivvied along by flicks from the clerk's whipping-canes, Steve, Jodi,

Kelso and Clearwater followed the carriage-box through the bustling

streets to the slave-dealer's imposing residence. Only Cadillac was

invited to go in through the front door; the others were shunted into a

stockade at the rear and locked in a pen.

It was one of several, housing varying numbers of Mutes. Raised off

the ground, under a lean-to roof, was a slatted wooden floor covered

with a thin layer of filthy straw. There was a bucket of water to

drink or wash with - assuming anyone wanted to - and another bucket to

crap in. A big step down from the plush accommodation units Steve had

discovered in Santanna Deep.

From the bawdy exchanges Cadillac had overheard whilst being carried

out of the docks it appeared that his services - or rather those of the

masked lady in the box had also been acquired by the slave-master.

Amid the laughter and muttered asides, a garrulous tongue revealed that

the gentleman in question was a social-climber who had spared no

expense to acquire a well-connected, high-class 'entertainer'.

To Cadillac's relief, his new owner did not make any attempt during the

night to get value for money. The next morning, when he was

congratulating himself on his good fortune at being comfortably housed

while the others were freezing their butts off out in the yard, his

pampered, perfumed existence came to an abrupt end.

One of the Korean clerks who had greeted 'Yoko Mi-Shima' on the

dockside entered the bedchamber and ordered the Mute to pick up the

canvas tote-bag that had travelled with him. The clerk then opened a

concealed door and ushered Cadillac down a narrow, enclosed staircase

into a cellar illuminated by several lanterns.

Clearwater was waiting for him. The clerk told Cadillac to remove his

mask, wig and clothes. When he had done so, the clerk took everything

back upstairs.

Clearwater knelt down and searched through the contents of the bag.

Cadillac knelt down obediently beside her as she produced one of the

sets of body-paints. 'Will there be enough?"

'Yes." Using her fingertips, she began to draw the familiar lines on

his back and fill in the areas with the different coloured pigments.

It was something they had done for each other since she had been chosen

by the council of clan elders to be his soul-mate. Reverting to his

true colours was the final step in accepting that his destiny lay with

the Plainfolk.