The Blue World by Jack Vance Read Free Book Online

pole raised farther, braced by the angle of the ropes. With
majestic deliberation the thrashing kragen was lifted from the water
and swung up into the air. From the others who watched passively came
a murmurous moan of fascination. Semm Voiderveg, who had been
standing somewhat apart, made a gesture of horror and walked swiftly
away.”
    Ixon Myrex, the
Arbiter, for reasons best known to himself, was nowhere to be seen,
nor was Zander Rohan. The kragen made gulping noises, reached its
vanes this way and that, to no avail. Sklar Hast surveyed the
creature, somewhat at a loss as to how next to proceed. His helpers
were looking at the kragen in awe, uncomfortable at their own daring.
Already they stole furtive glances out over the ocean, which,
perfectly calm, glistened with the reflections of the blazing
constellations.
    Sklar Hast thought
to divert their attention. “The nets!” he called out to
those who watched. “Where are the hooligans? Repair the nets
before we lose all our fish! Are you helpless?”
    Certain net-makers,
a trade dominated by the Hooligans, detached themselves from the
group and went out to repair the broken net.
    Sklar Hast returned
to a consideration of the dangling kragen. At his orders the hawsers
supporting the tilted pole were made fast to ribs on the surface of
the pad; the men now gathered gingerly about the dangling kragen and
speculated as to the best means to kill the creature. Perhaps it was
already dead. To test this theory, a lad of the Belrods prodded the
kragen with a length of stalk and suffered a broken collarbone from a
quick blow of the fore-vane.
    Sklar Hast stood
somewhat apart, studying the creature. Its hide was tough; its
cartilaginous tissue even tougher. He sent one man for a float-hook,
another for a sharp femur-stake, and from the two fashioned a spear.
    The kragen hung
limp, the vanes swaying, occasionally twitching. Sklar Hast moved
forward cautiously, touched the point of the spear to the side of the
turret, thrust with all his weight. The point entered the tough hide
perhaps half an inch, then broke. The kragen jerked, snorted, a vane
slashed out. Sklar Hast sensed the dark flicker of motion, dodged;
and felt the air move beside his face. The spear shaft hurtled out
over the pond; the vane struck the pole on which the kragen hung,
bruising the fibers.
    “What a
quarrelsome beast!” muttered Sklar Hast. “Bring more rope;
we must prevent such demonstrations.”
    From the side came
a harsh command: “You are madmen; why do you risk the
displeasure of King Kragen? I decree that you desist from your rash
acts!”
    This was the voice
of Ixon Myrex, who now had appeared on the scene. Sklar Hast could
not ignore Ixon Myrex as he had Semm Voiderveg. He considered the
dangling kragen, looked about at the faces of his comrades. Some were
hesitating; Ixon Myrex was not a man to be trifled with.
    Sklar Hast spoke in
a voice which he felt to, be calm and reasonable. “The kragen is
destroying our arbors. If the King is slothful about his duties, why
should we permit—“
    Ixon Myrex’s voice
shook with wrath. “That is no way to speak! You violate the
Covenant!”
    Sklar Hast spoke
even more politely than before. “King Kragen is nowhere to be
seen. The intercessors who claim such large power run back and forth
in futility. We must act for ourselves; is not this the free will and
independence men claim as their basic right? So join us in killing
this ravenous beast.”
    Ixon Myrex held up
his hands, which trembled with indignation. “Return the kragen
to the lagoon, that there—“
    “That thereby
it may destroy more arbors?” demanded Sklar Hast. “This is
not the result I hope for. Nor do you order the support you might.
Who is more important—the men of the Floats or the kragen?”
    This argument
struck a chord in his comrades, and they all shouted: “Yes, who
is more important—men or kragen?”
    “Men rule the
floats, King Kragen rules the ocean,” stated Ixon