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when someone clapped outside the front door. "Answer it, will you?" he called
to Dunedin. Before Monkey-face got to the door, though, whoever was out there
started pounding on it.
That didn't sound good, Park thought. Maybe Pauljuu was worried about his
sister's virtue. Even as the idea crossed his mind, Dunedin stuck his head
into the bedroom and said, "There's a big Skrelling outside who wants to see
you."
"I don't much want to see him," Park said. He went out anyhow, looking for
something that would make a good blunt instrument as he did so. But it was not
Pauljuu standing there. "Ankowaljuu!"
"Whom were you outlooking?" The tukuuii riikook fixed Park with the knowing,
cynical gaze he remembered from the ship.
"Never mind. Come in. I'm glad to see you." Aware that he was babbling, Park
took a deep breath and made himself slow down. He waved Ankowaljuu to a chair.
"Here, sit down and tell me what I can do for you."
"You came here to stop a war, not so?" the Skrelling demanded.
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"Aye, I did, and a fat lot of good it's done me or anybody else," Park said
bitterly. "Tjiimpuu just gave me my walking papers." Seeing Ankowaljuu frown,
he explained: "He told me my sending here was done, and that I would have to
backgo to Vinland: the Son of the Sun would order war outspoken against the
Emirate of the Dar al-Harb."
"That's sooth," Ankowaljuu said. "He's done it. But then, you never got a
chance to set the whole dealing before Maita Kapak himself." He made the
ritual eye-shielding gesture.
"Before Maita Kapak?" Park was too upset to bother with Tawantiinsuujan
niceties if Ankowaljuu didn't like it, too bad. "How could I go before Maita
Kapak? The way the Son of the Sun is hedged round with mummery, it's a wonder
any of his wives get to see him." He realized he might have gone too far.
"Forgive me, I pray. I am not trying to wound you."
"It's all rick, Judge Scoglund. There are those among us who say the like I
not least. But as for getting the let to see him remember, I am tukuuii
riikook.
I have the rick of a seeing at any time I think needful. I think this is such
a time. A wain is waiting outside for us."
Park hadn't heard it come up, but that meant nothing, not with the silent
steam engines this world used.
He started for the door. "Let's go!"
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"Nay so quick." Ankowaljuu sprang up, made as if to head him off. "You needs
must pack first."
"Pack?" Park gaped as if he'd never heard the word before. "What the hell for?
Are you shifting me into the kingly palace? Otherwise, what's the point?"
"The palace has naught to do with it. Maita Kapak" again the eye-shielding,
which had to be as automatic as breathing for Tawantiinsuujans "left by
airwain this morning, to lead our warriors to winning against the heathen who
deny Patjakamak and slay his worshipers. I have another airwain waiting on my
ordering at the airfield. I want us on it, as fast as doable."
Park wasted a moment regretting that Kurrikwiljor's bronze body would not be
his tonight. Then he dashed for the bedroom, shouting to Monkey-face, "Come
on, Eric, goddammit, give me a hand here."
Dunedin was right behind him. They flung clothes into a trunk. "Hey, wait a
minute." Park pointed to a shirt. "That's yours. We won't need it. Take it
out."
His thane shook his head. "Don't need it indeed. What do you reckon me to wear
on this trip?"
"I didn't reckon you to wear anything and I don't mean I thock you'd come
along naked, either. I
reckoned you'd let Tjiimpuu ship you home; that'd be easiest and safest both."
"So it would, if I meant to leave. But I don't. My job is to caretake you, and
that's what I aim to do." He gave Allister Park a defiant stare.
Park slapped him on the back, staggering him slightly. "You're a good egg,
Eric. All rick, you can come, but don't say I didn't warn you." He thought of
something: this world's steam-powered planes were anything but powerful
performers. "Will the airwain bear his heft, Ankowaljuu?"
"Reckon so," the Skrelling said. "I'm more afeared for all the books you're
heaving into that case, Judge
Scoglund."
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"I need these," Park yelped, stung. "What's a judge without his books?"
"A lickter lawyer," Ankowaljuu retorted. "Well, as may be. I reckon we'll fly.
Be you ready?"
"I guess we are." Park looked around the room at everything he and Dunedin
were leaving behind.
"What'll happen to all this stuff, though?"
"It'll be kept for you. We're an orderly folk, we Tawantiinsuujans; we don't
wantonly throw things away." Having seen how smoothly Kuuskoo ran, Park
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