Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 3 - Death in Delhi by Gary Gygax Read Free Book Online

nobody ever questioned why the openings never clogged with that inpouring.
    There were sometimes raids; nasty things crept forth from time to time to feed. Not a heavy price to pay for such convenience and cleanliness. Yarth had no waste disposal problems, by and large. Of course, there was also commerce between those below and mankind on the crust of vfiarth. All profited from that, especially those directly involved: the products of the light world traded in return for the minerals hidden in the dark and the strange handicrafts of those below. That a city of such size, probably one -with a million inhabitants crowded inside and against its walls, was filth-ridden was incomprehensible! "But if that's so, why have such a metropolis here?"
    "Up those steps, girl, and stop fretting about the wretches in this slum. They don't care, and neither do those who are lords of the city." The magister was irritated with himself for choosing this particular part of the waterfront for them to land. He knew now that he should have been less anxious and waited for a spot nearer the northern edge. If had been more than a decade since he had been to Bombay. Only now was his memory serving him by enabling him to recall what he knew and had learned. He did remember some facts about this portion of the crescent-shaped eastern waterfront of the city. The bay was an excellent anchorage, but the city fronting it was the worst. He had opted to land in the poorest sector of that undesirable curve. As they finally climbed up and out of it, making a meandering way north and east, Inhetep admitted a little of his error to Rachelle. "We're now heading for the upper portion of Bombay. Well come to either the Girna or the Kurla Gate soon. Either will do."
    "Where do they lead?"
    "The Girna is a river gate whose road generally follows that watercourse northeast. The Kurla exit leads northward to the town of the same name up the coast—but we can follow a side road from there going more directly toward our destination." They were beginning to attract a few curious stares in this portion of the city. Setne looked around for a public house.
    Rachelle spotted what he was searching for before the magister did. "Over to the right, Setne. There's a sign there which seems to indicate a tavern or the like."
    "More probably a tea and eating house, but let's see." They entered, and Inhetep employed his fluent Hindi to inquire as to exactly what the establishment offered. The woman whom he asked was suspicious, but answered quickly and made it plain that whatever the two foreigners wanted, they would have to pay first. "We need a room and breakfast," Setne said carefully.
    "Twenty chuckrums!" the proprietress shot back instantly.
    She named a silver coin whose value equalled 250 /-Egyptian dinars. Inhetep laughed and countered, "Ten annas."
    The woman threw up her hands in disgust but quickly said, "Ten chuckrums."
    "Twelve annas, and we'll have tea and vegetable curry brought to us in our room at that price."
    "The third door to the right," she said without a smile. "Be sure to give the boy something when he brings you your tray." She called something to a man nearby, and he went off toward the back, hopefully to get the food ordered.
    The room was smallish and not too dirty. The door was flimsy, the bed rickety. There was a stand with wash bowl and water pitcher, though. The only other furnishing in the place was a battered brass table centered on a threadbare rug. "Home at last," Rachelle breathed in mock satisfaction at what she saw. "Dare I . . . ?" she asked, eyeing the bed.
    "I'll rid it of vermin," Inhetep said, as he hastily employed a minor charm to do so. "There, my dear. Make yourself comfortable." She did just that, while the magister pulled out the coffer from his knapsack and began to rummage around inside. Rachelle, knowing about that container, wasn't surprised to see his arms disappear past the elbow despite the coffer's seemingly shallow depth. The