Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 2 - Samarkand Solution by Gary Gygax Read Free Book Online Page A

can you read in this place?"
    The pale high priest began to invoke those dweomers which would enable him to answer Inhetep. While he was so doing, the ur-kheri-heb likewise began to cast his own nets of heka, so that magick might discover what agencies were involved in the crime. Inhetep had completed this initial work and was bent examining the corpse when Matiseth finally spoke to him again. "Amazing! I cannot find anything out of the ordinary!"
    "What did you see?"
    "Fading personal power, naturally, as well as some faint impressions from the company that was here. What is remarkable is the lack of anything I expected—no curse, no malign sending, not a trace of magickal energies."
    "You found none, not even of a preternatural sort?"
    The man shook his head, his expression so plainly baffled that Inhetep would have believed him even though he was the chief cleric of Set. As it was, the fellow merely confirmed what Setne had himself learned. "Not a wisp of preternatural energy, let alone anything above it. No supernatural heka, and a total absence of entital force."
    "I see. Is there some oracular recourse available to you?"
    "Nothing elaborate or exacting," Matiseth supplied. "At best, I can see if any elemental force present might have information—asking of the Neteru must await the proper ceremonies and ritual in my temple. What of the .. . remains?"
    Of course the high priest would be unable to consult the gods here; Inhetep himself was unable to do such a thing. The suggestion Matiseth had made regarding elementals was also obvious. Without expression Setne queried, "What does the 'Samarkand Solution' mean to you, Chemres?"
    There was no narrowing of the eyes, no indrawn breath, not the slightest hint of any increased tension in him as the high priest replied, "Not a thing. Should it?"
    "I don't know." Inhetep considered asking him about "whirlwind" but dismissed the thought. "Whatever killed Ram-f-amsu seems to have separated and dispersed his nonphysical parts. See for yourself."
    Matiseth came and knelt beside the governor's body. After a few incantations, the man stood and looked up into the magister's green eyes. "I could not even call back his spirit!" Then he wiped his cheek with his hand. "But that isn't possible. For one to accomplish such a dislocation, tremendous forces are required!"
    "And neither of us can find so much as a whiff of magick here. Tell me, Chemres, what happened here after I was sent away?"
    There was a pause as the high priest of Set found a seat and gathered his thoughts. He was shaken by this terrible death. Matiseth took a deep breath and commenced recounting the few minutes between his going off with the governor and running to seek help. "His Excellent Highness was .. . well ... upset, I believe that is the best term. He thought it unwise of me to have brought you into his privy meeting."
    "I noticed that Ram-f-amsu was somewhat annoyed," interjected Inhetep dryly.
    "Yes. Well, anyway, he took me aside in order to give me the opportunity to explain matters without those unconcerned with the question . . . interrupting."
    "You were reprimanded," the magister agreed, "probably for saying too much in my hearing as well as in front of the others. Tell me how long you two were closeted, and show me the room he took you to before you get to the rest."
    The man was still too shaken to object to Inhetep's comments. "It was only a few minutes-three or four at the most. We were in Ram-f-arnsu's personal study," Matiseth told him, leading Inhetep to the inner door as he spoke.
    Beyond was a small, rather elegantly furnished, room. Maps of the city, the whole of the On sepat territory, /Egypt, and that portion of Yarth running east from central ^Eropa and Afrik to mid-Azir, decorated the long wall across from the desk. Behind that littered table were shelves and cases, evidently for storage of files as well as to keep handy such papers, scrolls, and books Ram-f-amsu might desire. Besides his own