Marune: Alastor 933 by Jack Vance Read Free Book Online

landscape.
    Remarkable the alteration! In a few hours, from a person uninformed, vague, and confused, Pardero had become a man purposeful and integrated; a man, so Kolodin would guess, of strong passions under stern control, and after all was not this the way of the Rhunes? “For the sake of argument, let us assume that this enemy exists,” said Kolodin laboriously. “He knows you; you do not know him. You will arrive at Port Mar at a disadvantage, and perhaps at considerable risk.”
    Pardero seemed almost amused. “So then, must I avoid Port Mar? I reckon on this risk; I intend to prepare against it.”
    “And how will you so prepare?”
    “First I want to learn as much as possible about the Rhunes.”
    “Simple enough,” said Kolodin. “The knowledge is in Chamber 933. What next?”
    “I have not decided.”
    Sensing evasion, Kolodin pursed his lips. “The Connatic’s law is exact: Rhunes are allowed neither energy weapons nor airvehicles.”
    Pardero grinned. “I am no Rhune until I learn my identity.”
    “In a technical sense, this is true,” said Kolodin cautiously.
     
    Something over a month later Kolodin accompanied Pardero to the Central Spaceport at Commarice, and out across the field to the Dylas Extranuator. The two said goodbye at the embarkation ramp. “I probably will never see you again,” said Kolodin, and much as I would like to know the outcome of your quest, I probably will never learn.”
    Pardero replied in a flat voice, “I thank you for your help and for your personal kindness.”
    From a Rhune, thought Kolodin, even an occluded Rhune, this was almost effusiveness. He spoke in a guarded voice: “A month ago you hinted at your need for a weapon. Have you obtained such an item?”
    “No,” said Pardero. “I thought to wait until I was beyond the range of the Connatic’s immediate attention, so to speak.”
    With furtive glances to left and right Kolodin tucked a small carton into Pardero’s pocket. “You are now carrying a Dys Model G Skull-splitter.
    Instructions are included in the package. Don’t flourish it about; the laws are explicit. Good-by, good luck, and communicate with me if possible.”
    “Again, thank you.” Pardero clasped Kolodin’s shoulders, then turned away and boarded the ship.
    Kolodin returned to the terminal and ascended to the observation deck. Half an hour later he watched the black, red and gold spaceship loft into the air, slide off and away from Numenes.

Chapter 4
    During the month previous to his departure, Pardero spent many hours in Chamber 933 along the Ring of Worlds. Kolodin occasionally kept him company; Oswen Ollave, as often, came down from his offices to discuss the perplexing habits of the Rhunes.
    Ollave prepared a chart which he insisted that Pardero memorize.
                              FURAD                  OSMO            MADDAR              CIRCE
    AUD                      X                            X                        X *                         X *       *either or both
    ISP                                                       X                        X                            X*        *with or without
    CHILL ISP                                           X
    UMBER                 X
    LORN UMBER     X
    ROWAN                                                                            X                          X
    RED ROWAN                                                                   X
    GREEN ROWAN                                                                                          X
    MIRK
     
    “The chart indicates Marune’s ordinary conditions of daylight 1 , during which the character of the landscape changes