Soldier of Sidon by Gene Wolfe Read Free Book Online Page A

service to the Great King and the death of my friends. I know this because Muslak and Myt-ser'eu have told me. Now they say that I must write, as I do. This is what I remember now.
    We were at this inn. A woman came, a strange and silent woman whose eyes do not move as other women's do. She spoke to Muslak, saying that we were to go with her at the setting of the moon. Neht-nefret was afraid, and Muslak would not go. She spoke to me, the last time I heard her speak, saying that if I wished to remember I must come with her. Myt-ser'eu and I said we would both go, but sleep a little first, for the moon was not yet high.
    I wrote. Afterward we went to a room here, barred the door, and made love. It was long and slow and very good, for Myt-ser'eu knows much of love. When it was done, I slept.
    I woke. Myt-ser'eu slept beside me, and the silent woman sat upon a stool on the other side. I supposed that Myt-ser'eu had admitted her while I slept. She says she did not.
    The silent woman woke Myt-ser'eu and beckoned to us. We followed her; her name is Sabra. She led us very far, through dark streets, to the house of Sahuset. It is a small house in a large garden. I held Sabra's hand and Myt-ser'eu mine; even so, it was hard to keep to the path. There was an animal that watched us, or something that appeared to be an animal. It did not snarl or roar, but I saw its green eyes gleaming like emeralds in the shadows.
    Sahuset's door stood wide. Someone I could not see lit a lamp as we entered, and Sahuset entered from another room. That was when he dismissed the silent woman, calling her Sabra. I expected her to leave the room; she did not, but went to a corner and stood motionless there, regarding Sahuset and us with an unseeing stare.
    "You cannot remember, Latro. I have asked you to come here that I might help you." Each time that Sahuset uttered a word, one of the crocodiles hanging from his ceiling stirred.
    I said that if he could help me see again the days now long past, I would be most grateful.
    "I seek your gratitude. I seek the good will of this woman and of all who will be with us in the south, too. But yours I desire most of all. You have been cursed by a god. That is an ill thing, for you. Yet numinous."
    Seeing that I did not understand, he added, "To be cursed by a god is to be touched by a god. To be touched by any god is to share divinity in some small measure. When the high priest leaves the sanctuary he strips off his clothing and bathes. Did you know that? His clothing is burned."
    I said that I did not. Myt-ser'eu said she did, but I think she lied.
    "He does not wish to infect the worshippers with divinity. Were they so infected, what need would they haveof priest or temple? I myself am a priest, a priest of the Red God. Do either of you know of the Red God?"
    Myt-ser'eu shook her head. I said that since I was a soldier I might be a servant of the Red God.
    "The ignorant masses believe the Red God evil," Sahuset taught us, "because he commands the evil xu. If he tells an evil xu to leave a man, that xu must go. They are compelled to obey him in all things." He sighed. "The Red God is the desert god."
    Silence filled the crowded room that seemed too big for that small house. In it we said nothing.
    "The horse and the river-horse, the pig and the crocodile are sacred to him. He has a great temple in the south--"
    "Set!" Myt-ser'eu sounded frightened. "This is Set."
    "The Red God has many names." Sahuset spoke as those speak who calm a frightened child. "You may use whatever name you wish. The names of gods do not matter, because no one knows the true name of any god."
    "I think we'd better go," Myt-ser'eu told me, and took my arm.
    I shook my head.
    "You are a man of courage," Sahuset said. "I knew it. None but brave men have value. I have told you that I will earn your gratitude, if I can. You have not asked why I want it."
    I said, "Then I ask now. What favor do you wish from me?"
    "Only your favor," Sahuset told me,