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.It was clear hewas going to be blamed both for the deaths at the prayer rally and for the second fire.The leastthey d do would be to deprive him of his position, but he suspected they d want to make ascapegoat of him, and that opened many possibilities. And then there s the matter of your friend Jon.Argath couldn t repress a look or surprise.Dromac chuckled. Did you think the Teacher had forgotten his predecessor s interest in the man? Heevidently possessed important information of some kind.That s true, isn t it?This time, Argath knew that Dromac was bluffing.He knew something, but nothingimportant. The Teacher asked me to find him.He said that he wanted to see him. And you haven t found him, have you? No, I haven t found him. Despite the fact that everyone knows he was your business partner.And despite the factthat everyone knows that what you pretended was a used furniture business really a front formarketing stolen goods. Don t try to deny it.The Teacher s agents have rooted out every detail.Fortunately foryou, he didn t consider it important.Just another sign of the way things are done in Kar.And it snot important to me either.If you make a few ducats here and there, it matters little in the greatscheme of things.We all have our failings.Even you, Acting Prefect.And I rather like you, youknow.Indeed, I like you enough to give you a piece of advice.A piece of frank advice.Dromac clearly thought he was doing Argath a favor. If I were you, I d clean up before I went before the Teacher.A man of your standing isexpected to present a proper appearance.I don t have to tell you that the Chosen expectcleanliness.A clean body is a pure body in the eyes of God.Argath had a strong desire to slug Dromac, but instead he rose slowly and walked to thedoor.He wished he wasn t so fat and so old.He was really very tired, but he knew it would be along time before he was able to sleep. Yes, Dromac, he said. You re right.I ll have to clean myself before presenting myselfto the Teacher.I intend to go home immediately to wash and put on fresh clothing.And I mayrest for a few minutes as well it wouldn t do to yawn in the presence of the Teacher.Fromwhat you said, I assume he expects to see me before the day is out, but it may be late in theafternoon before I m fit to appear before him.I hope that s all right.Dromac wasn t sure how to respond.He knew it had been his idea to send Argath homefor a bath, but he had no intention of committing himself to anything he might get into troublefor.In such situations, he d learned it was safest to fall back on the literal meaning of words. The message was that you were to come today; it included no specific time. Then it will be late in the afternoon.I assume you ll have some communication with thepalace on this matter.Tell them for me that I will be there late in the afternoon.Before leaving headquarters, Argath sent a message to his younger son, who worked asan apprentice clerk for one of the merchants a friend of Argath s, who had been delighted bythis opportunity to serve the Prefect. Go home at once, he wrote. Tell Kalmat I need to seeyou on family business.***When Jon arrived, his father was busy packing. We must leave at once, Argath told him. I will explain later.Argath had been contemplating this moment for months.He knew that the only way he dbe able to escape Kar would be in disguise.He d spent years becoming a public figure; itaccounted for much of his success.But, as a result, he could not expect to pass unnoticed.Anticipating the need to escape, he d gotten his hands on some laborer s clothes not unlikethose Jon had worn when he d sought work on the Teacher s farm and he d also acquired awooden cane, with the thought that he might be able to pass for an old man with a bad leg.Thebad leg had been the only inventive element in his plan, and he was rather proud of it. I ve already packed your clothes, Jon, along with a few other things you may need.Butlook around and see if there s anything else you can t live without this will probably be the lastday we see this house for a long time.Jon rummaged through his belongings, found a few odd pieces of clothing he wanted totake, and added them to the bundle his father had put together. I wish we could hurry, but unfortunately I m going to have to become a cripple for thetime being.Still, there s no time to lose. Are we going to leave Kar? Jon asked. Of course can t you see that? his father said. But why? I told you I d explain once we ve started our journey.Just follow me and keep yourhead down you don t want to attract attention to yourself.It was fortunate, Argath thought, that he d apprenticed Jon to a merchant and not allowedhim to enter the army like his older brother.A military uniform might have drawn eyes on thestreet, but there were hundreds of young clerks in Kar.No one would notice Jon in a crowd.Leaving the house they made their way toward a local market.It was almost noon, andthe vendors were beginning to close shop and reload their carts.Argath instructed Jon to find outwhich farmers were traveling to the West or better yet to the North and to see if one would bewilling to give his lame father a ride in his cart. Offer him a penny, Argath said. And if he looks doubtful, add a halfpenny to the fare.But no more than a halfpenny.Any higher sum would look suspicious.Jon did as he was told, and in a few minutes Argath found himself in a farmer s cartbeing jostled over the cobblestones in the direction of the West Gate, with Jon following on foot [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]