第86节

ned

surprise.

'What's eating him?" asked Flying-Tiger.

'It was his idea to send Cadillac and Clearwater to the Iron Masters.

None of us wanted to make a' trade for the rifles. He pushed us into

it."

'What have you decided?"

Flying-Tiger responded with a helpless gesture. 'We're taking them, of

course. What else can we do?" He rolled his eyes heavenwards.

'That's the trouble with wordsmiths. 'If you don't take their advice,

you never hear the last of it."

The trade-council murmured approvingly.

Steve laid a hand on the Mute's shoulder. 'Leave it with me." He went

in search of Mr Snow and eventually found him sitting on a rock by the

shore about a quarter of a mile down the beach to the left of the

wheel-boats.

The old wordsmith ignored his arrival and continued to stare moodily

out to sea.

'I think I know the answer to my question, Old One . . ."

Mr Snow glanced at him briefly but said nothing.

'You're sending eighteen clan brothers and sisters down river. Let me

take the place of one of them."

'You must be out of your mind..."

'On the contrary. I've never been more serious in my life. I will go

to Beth-Lem, find Cadillac and Clearwater, and bring them back to you

safe and sound."

Mr Snow's eyes remained on the horizon while he weighed up the

proposition then turned to Steve. 'Did your masters tell you anything

about Beth-Lem? Do you have any idea of what you're getting into?"

'Nope, I haven't a clue. I'm just going to have to play it by ear."

He laid a reassuring hand on the old man's shoulder. 'Look, don't

worry, we'll make it. You want 'em back don't you?"

'Of course I do."

'So do I. For all kinds of reasons."

Mr Snow still looked doubtful. 'Well, obviously I appreciate the

gesture. I just hope you don't live to regret it."

Steve smiled. 'You've got it wrong. If I live, why on earth should I

have any regrets? Listen, there's just one thing. I think they've

made up the loading manifest for the journey-men and handed out the

tallies. Will you be able to get me on board?"

It was Mr Snow's turn to smile. 'No problem. To these dinks, one Mute

looks pretty much like another. But we might need to dye your hair."

'Then we'd better get started."

The life seemed to flow back into the old Mute's face.

He slid down from the rocky perch and gripped Steve's shoulders. 'This

is the last time I'll ask - are you sure you want to go through with

this?"

Steve grimaced. 'I don't have any choice. Probably never did. "The

Wheel turns" - isn't that what the Plainfolk say? In fact, I have a

feeling that when you told the clan I had returned to perform a mighty

deed in the name of Talisman you probably knew this was going to

happen."

Mr Snow shrugged. 'You've built up such a flattering picture of my

powers, I'd hate to disillusion you.

Especially now." They began to walk towards the lines.

'There's something I need to know."

'Fire away..."

'Is there any chance of smuggling a blade, or this quarterstaff

aboard?"

'Absolutely none. And to try could endanger others beside yourself."

Steve grimaced. 'How about if you were to use a little magic?"

Mr Snow rolled his eyes heavenwards. 'I'm a summoner, not a

conjuror.

At the risk of rupturing myself I can move bits of heaven and earth

around but I can't make things disappear, or produce eggs from under

people's armpits."

'Okay, okay, I get the picture."

'There's something else I think you ought to know."

Mr Snow grimaced reluctantly like someone about to impart bad news.