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then he broke into frag-ments and the fragments faded.
Maksim didn t move until the last wisps of the pres-ence had
vanished utterly, then he sighed, shuddered, lay back limp in the chair,
eyes closed. For several min-utes he lay there breathing deep and slow.
Finally, as the need to sleep began to overwhelm him, he forced his eyes open,
used the staff to lever himself out of the chair. He stood and stretched,
yawned enormously, then flicked himself up to his bedroom for a few hours of
the sleep he needed so badly.
Todichi Yahzi cooed protests as he hovered about watching Maksim
dress himself for the Lot ceremony.  Sleep, he warbled,  anyone can see
you are ex-hausted, Mwahan, you do not need to be there, you do not enjoy
being there, why do you go? He repeated this until Maksim snarled him into
silence.
Later, as Maksim strode through the murmuring park toward the Yron, he
regretted his harshness and made a mental note to apologize when he got back.
Poor old Tbdich, he kept pecking and pecking at a place, but he couldn t know
how sore that spot already was. One had to take responsibility for one s acts,
one doesn t slide away and pretend that nothing s happening. He d set that
burden on himself in those wild first days when Cheo-nea teetered on the verge
of a slide into chaos. when he knew he d have to use BinYAHtii. The stone had
to be fed when it was used or it fed itself from the user. Forty
years he d fed BinYAHtii, ten times a year, once a month. Forty years, once a
month he d walked this path and climbed to the high seat behind the
austere stone railing and watched the children file in.
Self-flagella-tion, reminding him not to forget why he was doing these things.
If he allowed himself to be corrupted by wealth, power, by the infinite
capacity in the human soul for self-justification, then these children were
torn from their parents for nothing, then one of the three chosen died for
nothing at all.
At his private entrance the waiting Servant opened the door for him and bowed
him inside.
 Kori. Polatea s voice broke into confused dreams suffused with sick anxiety.
Kori stirred, sat up, rubbed at grainy eyes.  What time ..
 Breakfast in five minutes; wash and dress, come down as soon as you can, I ll
save some food for you.  Polatea brushed the straggles of hair out of Kori s
eyes.  You can sleep some, more, if you want, after the Lot.
 If I m not chosen. 
A long sigh.  If you re not chosen.
Tre looked her over.  Your skods are crooked. 
Kori clicked her tongue, adjusted the covered cords that held her headcloth in
place. She and
Tre were to-gether in the Hostel court, waiting to be put in line. She used
one end of the headcloth to rub at her eyes, not sure she could manage to keep
on her feet till the Lot was over; she felt as if she were walking two feet
under water that was sloshing about, threatening to knock her over.
 I got everything done, she muttered, hiding her mouth behind the corner of
the cloth.  It s started. 
Tre stepped closer, nestled against her.  You think it ll make any diference,
Kori? Do you f think she s got a chance against HIM?
 A chance? Yes. There s more than just her. Daniel s in. You didn t dream?
 No. 
Sinan blew the cow s horn and the lines began sorting themselves out, girls in
one, boys in the other, eldest at the front. The gave her arm a last squeeze
and drifted back to the end of his line, he was the youngest boy this year.
She was two from the front of her line. Dessi Bacharikss was two months older,
Lilla Farazilss a week and a half. Dessi s twin Sparran led the boys line, he
was a tall rather skinny boy with a wild imagination and a grin that was
starting to make Kori s toes tingle. He looked around at her winked, then
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straightened and sobered as the signalhorn hooted and the lines began to
move.
Maksim watched the children file in, grave and rather frightened, their
sandals squeaking on the polished marble. Ignoring the boys, he
scanned the first few girls, smiled tightly as he saw Kori s
red-eyed, weary face. He crossed his arms, his hands hidden in the wide black
sleeves of his heavily embroidered and appliquéd for-mal overrobe, began the
gestures and the internal chant that would bring the blue lot to Kori s
searching fingers. His smile broadened a hair. There was no sign of the
interference that had protected her last night.
Kori thrust her arm deep into the bowl; the capsules seemed oddly slippery
this year, it was a breath or two before she could get hold of one and bring
it out. She took a deep breath and moved on, hearing the capsules
rattle behind her as Sallidi Xoshallarz reached for hers. She crossed
to the gilt bowl, tried to ignore the feeling that HE was staring down at her
ill-wishing her; it was easier to grab this time, she got her second egg and
went to take her place on the girls
bench.
It is done. I have her, little ferret, ah what a fine fierce girl she is,
tired now but she doesn t give in to it. Look how straight and bold she sits,
waiting to see if fate will pass her by. Not this year, little ferret.
Your last year, isn t it. You shouldn t have got so busy with things you don t
understand. We ll have to do something with you; not one of Amortis whores,
that would break you faster than marrying one of your clod-cousins and
disappearing into the nursery with half your mind shut down; lunm, you could [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]