11: ON THE ROAD

It soon became clear that Occula's assessment of Zuno had been as shrewd as most of her judgments. He was certainly a good cut above Megdon: fastidious, detached and (as the girl had guessed) prepared to treat Maia and herself reasonably well provided they fell in with what he wanted; which, in a word, was deference. Having become part of his equipage, it was necessary that they (like the cat) should reflect his own conception of his personal elegance and

style. Occula, by her docility and readiness not only to comply with but plainly to appreciate the wisdom of his every decision, contrived to convince him that she was an intelligent girl who could be trusted to behave sensibly.

The authority flowing naturally from a man who is well-dressed, constrained in manner but clear and confident in his instructions, ensured that the girls were adequately fed and treated with consideration, despite the innkeeper's wife's obvious wish to see the back of them as soon as possible. (She was hardly to be blamed, for Occula's sense of mischief had led her first to beg the innkeeper-who needed little pressing-to be so good as to look for a fly in her eye and then to take a thorn-which was not there- out of Maia's foot.) They were certainly not hurried into an early start, for it was not until some three hours before noon that Zuno had them summoned to join him outside the tavern.

He himself (with the cat) was traveling in a jekzha-a light, wicker-sided cart with two high wheels and an awning to keep off the sun. This was actually the property of Lalloc (a fact of which Occula took good care to seem ignorant), as were the two Deelguy slaves pulling it. These men, who understood only a little Beklan, clearly expected no attention apart from their orders, but conversed together- and even laughed and joked-in their own language throughout the day's journey.

As the party was about to leave, Occula asked Zuno whether he might feel able graciously to permit her companion and herself to walk beside the jekzha without actually being tied to it.

"I'm sure you will already be aware, sir," she said, standing before him with folded hands and eyes on the ground, "that it's at my own request that I've been so fortunate as to be purchased from Madam Domris by U-Lalloc. There's no question of my not wishing to go to Bekla. As for this girl, you'll already have perceived that she's barely more than a child. If you'll be graciously pleased to accept my assurance, I'll answer entirely for her good behavior."

"Very well," replied Zuno, yawning. "What have you got in that box? Is it heavy?"

"No, sir. Only a few poor clothes and trinkets of my own."

"Then you may put it in here, next to mine," said Zuno. "Now, you are both to keep a steady pace, remain close

behind and bear yourselves quietly and properly throughout the day. Otherwise you will be chained. Understand that, for I shan't repeat it."

"There'll be no need for you to do so, sir."

From Hirdo to Bekla was some thirty-five miles, over which Zuno planned to take two-and-a-half days. He was in no hurry, for a leisurely progress consorted best with his own idea of his standing. In any case, their progress was more or less imposed by the location of such inns along the road as could offer reasonable lodgings; at Khasik, thirteen miles from Hirdo, and at Naksh, some fourteen miles beyond that. Paradoxically, it was the girls themselves wtio would have preferred a swifter journey. Maia, despite further intermittent pangs of homesickness and loss, was in better spirits than the day before-largely on account of Occula's protective affection. Also, something of the black girl's pluck and self-sufficiency was beginning to rub off on her. There were even moments when she found herself excited by the prospect of Bekla. "Why, even Tharrin's never been thereV she thought. "Reckon if I can only stick with Occula, might p'raps work out all right one way or t'other. Anyhow, no good worrying 'fore it's time." And with this she settled herself to the day's journey.

The cool breeze which had sent her back to bed at dawn was pleasant enough as the sun rose higher. The leaves fluttered, gazefinches and gray cracker-birds darted in and out of the bushes beside the road, and the long spokes of the jekzha turned rhythmically at her elbow. She could have walked faster, and twice Occula had to warn her, silently, to maintain the demure pace that Zuno's consequence required.

The country into which they were journeying was lonely and uncultivated. On either side of the road was nothing but rough, dried-up grass, patches of woodland and tall scrub. At one time, in the days of Senda-na-Say, the highway had been policed, and parties travelling in convoy had been able to rely upon armed escorts. Now, after six and a half years of Leopard rule, the road was in poor repair, and travellers perforce made their own plans for safety. Lalloc's arrangements, somewhat expensive but at any rate reliable, extended to the protection not only of his servants, but also of whatever human goods they might happen to be conveying on his behalf.

Before mid-day the girls experienced a signal instance

of Zuno's detachment from and contempt for the tedious vulgarity of mere danger. They had reached the foot of a long, gradual slope, up which the road wound through brake and tall trees, and the Deelguy, having slackened their pace, were leaning well forward, hands raised to the bar, when suddenly three ragged, villainous-looking men, each armed with a cudgel, stepped out from the undergrowth and stood silently barring the way. The slaves came to a halt. Occula, reaching out a hand to Maia, drew her against her.

"This could mean a whole lot of trouble, banzi," she whispered. "Whatever you do, doan' act frightened; but if I say so, run like buggery."

For several seconds not a word was spoken on either side. The Deelguy, as though aware that if anyone were going to be attacked it would not be them, simply stood like bullocks, waiting. Then Zuno, speaking coldly and displaying no trace of agitation said, "Would you very much mind standing out of the way, please?"

"Ah, when we've done what we come for," replied one of the ruffians: and at this all three moved forward, pressing round the offside wheel. Occula, her arm still round Maia, moved back a pace.

"Stay where you are, will you?" drawled Zuno to the girls over his shoulder: and then, turning back to the men, "May I inquire whether you work for Shion?"

"What's that to you?" replied another. The first, however, as though to establish his authority, silenced him with a gesture and then, sneering up at Zuno, said, "You can inquire what you like, milord. We're not here to answer your basting questions."

"Are you not?" said Zuno equably. "Then pray allow me at least to show you something which may be of interest to you." His air of disdainful indifference seemed already to have thrown the footpads into some uncertainty, for none made any further move as he bent down to search under the seat.

"Ah! This," he continued at length, straightening up and extending one arm over the side of the jekzha with an air of detached distaste, "is Shion's token of safe-conduct, issued personally to U-Lalloc at Bekla. If you do in fact work for Shion, you will no doubt recognize it. If you do not, I would strongly advise you to remove yourselves

altogether from this length of road, which Shion regards as his territory."

The leader looked at the token, but whether he recognized it neither Occula nor Maia could tell. It was plain, however, that both he and his mates were disconcerted. Muttering, they drew together on one side of the road. As they did so, Zuno very deliberately returned the token to his scrip, put the scrip back under the seat, snapped his fingers to the two slaves and then, settling himself comfortably, said, "Go on! And be careful to keep clear of those pot-holes in front."