The Wizard of Anharitte by Colin Kapp Read Free Book Online Page A

loss of the entry would not affect the position, because the rights of ownership of the bond would not be contested. But in this case the ownership to will be called into question by the Pointed Tails acting on your behalf. As prefect, Lord Di Irons won’t be very happy about the situation, but in order to uphold the law he’ll have to impound Zinder until the matter is settled. That leaves Dion-daizan with two courses of action. He can take the case to the supreme court in Gaillen—where he would win, of course, except that the litigation could take a year—’
    ‘Or?’
    ‘He could take the quicker course of accepting the fact that he has no provable right to Zinder’s bond. In that case Zinder would be put into the slave market, from which Dion-daizan could hope to buy her back.’
    ‘As a very rich man he should have no trouble on that score,’ said Vestevaal dubiously.
    ‘No. But it’s an open market. Anyone can bid who’s entitled to hold a slave-bond. That rules you out as a direct participant, but it doesn’t stop the Pointed Tails from acting on your behalf. If we bid against Dion, using our backing from the Galactic Bank as guarantee, we could force up the price to where even Dion’s resources would be strained. We could make him cripple himself financially in order to save her.’
    The director smote his knee in lusty approval.
    ‘You know, Tito, you’ve something of a genius for this sort of thing. Keep up this level of skulduggery and we’ll see you on the Free Trade Council yet.’
    Heartened, Ren strolled down to the lodge of the Pointed Tails, The place always impressed and fascinated him. Here the ancient Ahhn customs and architecture had been carefully preserved from outworld influences. The walls and ceilings of the lodge were ornamented with red and gold reliefs showing stylized pictures of legendary battles, with captions worded in the original but now lapsed High-Ahhn cuneiform script. The whole establishment was richly carpeted, hung with remarkably descriptive tapestries and scented with delicate fragrances. It was the closest the Ahhn had ever come to creating a temple. In its halls the history of a proud and intelligent race was set out to show its richness and cohesion and a depth of culture that could have been the envy of many older civilizations.
    Catuul Gras seemed to be expecting him and Ren was not surprised. He knew the intimate web of observation and communication with which the societies laced the city.
    ‘Does the director approve of the plan to contest Zinder’s bond?’ Catuul asked.
    ‘He does. We’re to proceed as planned. I think we’d best make our move this afternoon, in case some suspicion of what we intend leaks back to the Imaiz .’
    ‘I agree, friend Tito. Speed and secrecy are essential. We will watch for Zinder to come to the fruit market today. As soon as I’m sure she’s there I’ll have my colleague, Mallow Rude, lay formal complaint at the prefecture and demand her impoundment.’
    ‘And the entry in the register?’
    ‘That’s already taken care of. The matter only waits for us to draw it to the prefect’s attention. But news travels with the flies in Anharitte. I suggest neither you nor your director show yourselves outside your chambers until the watchmen have arrested her. I hope the prefect will have enough sense to bring sufficient men to prevent any trouble. As the director’s agent, it will be necessary for you to be present at the formal discussion of the case afterward. It might be safer if the director didn’t expose himself at all for a day or two.’
    ‘I doubt he’ll agree,’ said Ren. ‘But I’ll try to get the point over to him. How’s the work going on collecting information for preparing histories on the slaves?’
    ‘Slowly. As fast as we get the lists complete, we’re sending them by runner to Dr. Hardun at the spaceport.’
    ‘Good. Have we any results as yet?’
    ‘Most interestingly, yes. We can’t produce