The Citadel of the Autarch by Gene Wolfe Read Free Book Online

to the lazaret, and which had seemed to subside on the day previous, returned. I felt its heat in every limb
    —it seemed to me that I must glow, that the very glaciers of the south would melt if I came among them. I took out the Claw and clasped it to me, and for a time even held it in my mouth. My fever sank again, but left me weak and dizzied.
    That morning the soldier came to see me. He wore a white gown the Pelerines had given him in place of his armor, but he appeared wholly recovered, and told me he hoped to leave the next day. I said I would like to introduce him to the acquaintances I had made in this part of the lazaret and asked if he now recalled his name.
    He shook his head. "I can remember very little. I am hoping that when I go among the units of the army I will find someone there who knows me."
    I introduced him anyway, calling him Miles since I could think of nothing better. I did not know the Ascian's name either and discovered that no one did, not even Foila. When we asked him what it was, he only said, "I am Loyal to the Group of Seventeen."
    For a time Foila, Melito, the soldier, and I chatted among ourselves.
    Melito seemed to like him very well, though perhaps only because Wolfe,_Gene_-_Book_of_the_New_Sun_4_-_The_Citadel_of_the_Autarch of the similarity of the name I had given him to his own. Then the soldier helped me into a sitting posture, lowered his voice, and said,
    "Now I have to talk to you privately. As I said, I think I will leave here in the morning. From what I have seen of you, you won't be getting out for several days—maybe not for a couple of weeks. I may never see you again."
    "Let us hope that isn't so."
    "I hope not either. But if I can find my legion, I may be killed by the time you're well. And if I can't find it, I'll probably go into another to keep from being arrested as a deserter." He paused.
    I smiled. "And I may die here, of the fever. You didn't want to say that. Do I look as bad as poor Melito?"
    He shook his head. "Not as bad, no. I think you'll make it—"
    "That's what the thrush sang while the lynx chased the hare around the bay tree."
    Now it was his turn to smile. "You're right; I was about to say that."
    "Is it a common expression in that part of the Commonwealth where you were brought up?"
    The smile vanished. "I don't know. I can't remember where my home is, and that's part of the reason I have to talk to you now. I remember walking down a road with you at night—that's the only thing I do remember, before I came here. Where did you find me?"
    "In a wood, I suppose about five or ten leagues south of here. Do you recall what I told you about the Claw as we walked?"
    He shook his head. "I think I remember you mentioning such a Wolfe,_Gene_-_Book_of_the_New_Sun_4_-_The_Citadel_of_the_Autarch thing, but not what you said."
    "What do you remember? Tell me all of it, and I'll tell you what I know, and what I can guess."
    "Walking with you. A lot of darkness… I fell, or maybe flew through it. Seeing my own face, multiplied again and again. A girl with hair like red gold and enormous eyes."
    "A beautiful woman?"
    He nodded. "The most beautiful in the world."
    Raising my voice, I asked if anyone had a mirror he would lend us for a moment. Foila produced one from the possessions beneath her cot, and I held it up for the soldier. "Is this the face?"
    He hesitated. "I think so."
    "Blue eyes?"
    "… I can't be sure."
    I returned the mirror to Foila. "I will tell you again what I told you on the road, and I wish we had a more private place in which to do it. Some time ago a talisman came into my hands. It came innocently, but it does not belong to me, and it is very valuable—
    sometimes, not always, but sometimes—it has the power to heal the sick, and even to revive the dead. Two days ago, as I was traveling north, I came across the body of a dead soldier. It was in a forest, away from the road. He had been dead less than a day; I would say it's likely he had died