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.The zachinko for more formal dealings.The strapan or the krodatch for your social inferiors—in your case, should you wish to insult someone.The gomapard[v] or the double-kamanthil[vi] for ceremonials." He considered a moment."The crebarin, the water-lute and the slobo are highly useful also—but perhaps you'd better learn the other instruments first.They should provide at least a rudimentary means of communication.""Aren't you exaggerating?" suggested Thissel."Or joking?" Rolver laughed his saturnine laugh."Not at all.First of all, you'll need a houseboat.And then you'll want slaves."Rolver took Thissell from the landing field to the docks of Fan, a walk of an hour and a half along a pleasant path under enormous trees loaded with fruit, cereal pods, sacs of sugary sap."At the moment," said Rolver, "there are only four outworlders in Fan, counting yourself.I'll take you to Welibus, our Commercial Factor.I think he's got an old houseboat he might let you use."Comely Welibus had resided fifteen years in Fan, acquiring sufficient strakh to wear his South Wind mask with authority.This consisted of a blue disk inlaid with cabochons of lapis-lazuli, surrounded by an aureole of shimmering snake-skin.Heartier and more cordial than Rolver, he not only provided Thissell with a houseboat, but also a score of various musical instruments and a pair of slaves.Embarrassed by the largesse, Thissell stammered something about payment, but Welibus cut him off with an expansive gesture."My dear fellow, this is Sirene.Such trifles cost nothing.""But a houseboat-"Welibus played a courtly little flourish on his kiv.'I’ll be frank, Ser Thissell.The boat is old and a trifle shabby.I can't afford to use it; my status would suffer." A graceful melody accompanied his words."Status as yet need not concern you.You require merely shelter, comfort and safety from the Night-men.""Night-men?""The cannibals who roam the shore after dark.""Oh yes.Ser Rolver mentioned them.""Horrible things.We won't discuss them." A shuddering little trill issued from his kiv."Now, as to slaves." He tapped the blue disk of his mask with a thoughtful forefinger."Rex and Toby should serve you well." He raised his voice, played a swift clatter on the hymerkin."Avan esx trobu!"A female slave appeared wearing a dozen tight bands of pink cloth, and a dainty black mask sparkling with mother-of-pearl sequins."Fascu etz Rex ae Toby."Rex and Toby appeared, wearing loose masks of black cloth, russet jerkins.Welibus addressed them with a resonant clatter of hymerkin, enjoining them to the service of their new master, on pain of return to their native islands.They prostrated themselves, sang pledges of servitude to Thissell in soft husky voices.Thissell laughed nervously and essayed a sentence in the Sirenese language."Go to the houseboat, clean it well, bring aboard food."Toby and Rex stared blankly through the holes in their masks.Welibus repeated the orders with hymerkin accompaniment.The slaves bowed and departed.Thissell surveyed the musical instruments with dismay."I haven't the slightest idea how to go about learning these things."Welibus turned to Rolver."What about Kershaul? Could he be persuaded to give Ser Thissell some basic instruction?"Rolver nodded judicially."Kershaul might undertake the job."Thissell asked, "Who is Kershaul?""The third of our little group of expatriates," replied Welibus, "an anthropologist.You've read Zundar the Splendid? Rituals of Sirene? The Faceless Folk? No? A pity.All excellent works.Kershaul is high in prestige, and I believe visits Zundar from time to time.Wears a Cave Owl, sometimes a Star-wanderer or even a Wise Arbiter.""He's taken to an Equatorial Serpent," said Rolver."The variant with the gilt tusks.""Indeed!" marveled Welibus."Well, I must say he's earned it.A fine fellow, good chap indeed." And he strummed his zachinko thoughtfully.Three months passed.Under the tutelage of Mathew Kershaul Thissell practised the hymerkin, the ganga, the strapan, the kiv, the gompard, and the zachinko [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]