MAN OR MOUTH?
The thing was cut and dried. Even a public appearance was, it would
seem, arranged. The church of the nation had given him forth as a
spirit divinely sent as a teacher, gaining physical expression through
the body of Jasor of Nodhur. And--what was Croft to do? To disclaim--to
compel Zud to retract--would strike, as he knew, not only at his own
powers of future accomplishment, discredit him as it were, but would
aim a blow at the very foundation of the social structure, if Zud
were shown to have made so terrible an error as he had. And yet--and
yet--to accept--to go on--to pose as what he was not. The thought was
distasteful, and worse, since to go on might mean the loss of Naia, as
well as that position he had expected to hold in the newly organized
republic of Tamarizian states.
For the political end of the matter he cared very little to tell the
truth, but even the thought of Naia sent a quiver throughout his
body--caused a sudden dizzy whirling of his brain. Once more he felt
baffled, trapped, enraged. And so far as any escape from the situation
he confronted was concerned, he could see no possible way out. For a
moment a wild impulse to seize the kneeling man at his feet, lift him
up and shake him, hurl against him a scorching torrent of passion-urged
words for his curious meddling, assailed him. But he choked it and
stood as one who considers, and when he spoke his words were once more
calm:
"Enough. What things Zitu wills, those things shall be done. Yet have I
a body, as thou seest, that has lain unnourished full long. Rise, Zud
of Zitra. Command me food. I would eat while we talk."
"Even now it waits." Zud rose and went backward toward the door. He set
it open. As Croft seated himself once more on his couch there filed
in a group of brothers, the foremost bearing a short-legged table of
molded copper, the others dishes and flagons in their hands.
The dishes were of gold and silver. There were goblets of glass which
the Tamarizians made of magnificent quality and design. One of the
latter was placed before Croft and filled with a mild and blood-red
wine. Their service ended the lay brothers bent in genuflexion and
retired. Zud remained standing in watchful silence until Croft bade him
be seated, when he drew up a stool and sat down.
While he ate Croft plunged into a series of questions concerning
affairs in the Tamarizian states.
"The reign of Tamhys will terminate in fourteen suns (days)?"
"Aye."
"Thereafter we shall adopt the new government as it was decided, the
elections being held as in the choice of the former assemblies in each
kingdom--each decktaron to elect a representative, by whose vote shall
be the choice of president?"
"Aye." Zud inclined his head. "So has it been proclaimed."
"What candidates have been selected?"
"Jadgor of Aphur, and Tammon, Tamhys's son."
Croft considered the names as he sipped his wine. Jadgor, he knew, had,
before the Zollarian war, had an eye on the Zitran throne--had hoped to
mount it, and strengthen the entire nation by a change of that policy
of pacifism which, by its continuation for something like fifty years,
made Tamarizia weak, despite the wonderful resources in wealth and
men which were hers--which would seemingly have led to her overthrow
through Zollaria's arms and Cathur's defection, had not Croft appeared.
So it was not at all surprising, in view of his popularity not only in
Aphur, but in Nodhur and Milidhur as well, and because of his prominent
part in the war, that he should have been chosen as a candidate for the
nation's first president. Nor for that matter was it to be questioned
that the retiring occupant of the throne should have put up his eldest
son. Of course, Croft had expected to enter the field himself, but now
he brushed the point aside.
"It is well," he gave his decision and set down his glass. "And the
governors of the states?"
Zud mentioned a list of names covering each former kingdom. "In Aphur
Robur, Jadgor's son alone. There is no other, because of his part
with you in all that has been done. In Cathur, Mutlos, a man of the
people, and Koryphon, Scythys's second son, who ascended the throne, as
you know, after Kyphallos fled and destroyed himself in Berla before
Kalamita's eyes. As your directions were understood before the time of
your recent sleeping, in Hiranur the president controls also the state
affairs."
"Aye," Croft agreed. His heart had warmed at the announcement that
Robur stood for election in Aphur alone. Of all its people he had
known, save Naia only, he had come to love Robur best, had found him
a true friend, a man of broad and intelligent mind, under each and
every test. By Jadgor's own edict Robur had been his main assistant and
lieutenant in all that he had done. He felt very much toward him as he
might toward a younger brother. He had even discussed those periods
when his body lay unconscious with the Aphurian crown prince in so far
as he could, and there had been a time when the only confidante of
his love for Naia had been Gaya, Robur's wife. Suddenly he felt that
in these two he might find once more true friends and allies in the
situation in which he found himself.
"And where is Robur?" he asked.
"In Zitra, lord. He and Lakkon and Jadgor desire speech with thee so
soon as thou shalt have waked."
* * * * *
A quiver of comprehension stirred in Croft's breast. The desire of
Lakkon and Jadgor for an interview with himself he could understand.
The former it was who had pledged his daughter to the Hupor Jasor, as
he was then known, as wife. And Jadgor had approved of the pact. It
was but natural that now they should wish some explanation at least,
some understanding as to the girl's position, in view of Zud's most
extraordinary proclamation. He threw up his head and stared the high
priest in the eyes, and found them a trifle uncertain, his whole
expression more or less puzzled, even somewhat abashed.
"What troubles you, Zud?" he inquired with the feeling that the man
knew what it was really that Lakkon and Jadgor desired.
And for a moment Zud made no answer; for a moment he seemed to study
Croft's face before he began in apologetic fashion: "What I have done
I have done for the best, as I now call Zitu to witness; yet are there
some things I do not understand."
"You refer to the maiden Naia, who by your permission was taken into
the quarters of the Gayana?" An opening--an advantage appeared to
Croft's mind in a flash.
And plainly his question disturbed Zud more than a little.
"Aye," he said scarcely above a whisper at length and inclined his head.
"To whom ere I slept, by consent of her father and Jadgor, I was
pledged?"
"Aye, lord. Jadgor and Lakkon also ask themselves--"
"Why the Mouthpiece of Zitu should seek a union in the flesh?"
Zud clasped his hands before him. He sat with eyes downcast. By an
effort, at length he once more lifted his face. "Thou hast spoken,
lord," he said.
Croft held him with a level regard. "And what says Zud, the high
priest?"
"That the ways of Zitu are beyond mortal understanding," Zud responded
slowly.
"Yes," Croft took him up sharply. "Zud, the high priest, endeavored to
understand--toward which end, though Abbu of Scira had sworn by Zitu to
keep silent, he induced him to talk."
"I--I--lord, I absolved him of the oath of silence," Zud faltered, and
began a nervous twisting of his interlacing fingers.
"And since when may even the high priest rescind that which Zitu has
recorded?"
A tremor shook the priest. A twitching seized his face. He shrank back
and sat staring, staring at the strange individual before him, with
whose affairs he had dared to interfere, who now arraigned him with a
face and manner gone well-nigh impersonally cold. One could no longer
doubt that he had been sincere in what he had done, at least--what he
had proclaimed of Croft, he himself believed. Of so much Croft felt
convinced as he once more spoke:
"High priest of Zitu, in what words was your proclamation to Tamarizia
concerning him until now known as the Hupor Jasor made?"
* * * * *
Zud wet his lips and made answer. "It was said that Zitu had sent us
a teacher--one who should reveal to all men his will, through whom he
revealed his pleasure--one who was his mouthpiece indeed."
"And this you believed?"
"Aye, lord." Zud moved. He left the stool on which he was sitting. He
would have knelt had not Croft stayed him:
"_Hilka!_ Hold!"
"Aye, lord." Zud stood erect. His knees seemed knocking together, and
he swayed. Something like pity stirred in Croft's breast. The man was
overwrought, keyed to a vast tension, troubled in his mind, well-nigh
dismayed. His confidence, born of years of unquestioned authority,
was shaken; he appeared beaten down and crushed. And Croft was minded
to maintain his advantage toward his individual ends. He spoke again:
"Think you that as Zitu's Mouthpiece I shall find it easy to take
my place as heretofore in the Himyra or Ladhra shops, where the
instruments designed for Tamarizia's use shall be brought forth? Do men
work best with one such as you would name me, or with another man, O
Zud?"
"Lord, lord!" Zud bowed his head.
"Or think you that were I the mouthpiece of Zitu, I would have pledged
myself to this maid save by his will? Yet today even Zud bends the
knee in my presence since his proclamation. Is this thing known to the
Gayana as well as to the priests?"
"Yes, it is known," Zud told him slowly.
"The maid is still there?"
"Yes."
"She has heard the truth?"
"Yes." Zud flung up his head. Croft's last word seemed to give him
courage. "She knows--the truth," he said. "She requested an audience
after she had heard, and I went to her. I told her those things Abbu
said."
"That my spirit was not Jasor's?" The words burst from Croft's lips in
an instinctive exclamation. For an instant he felt his control once
more slipping. Naia knew--that the body of the man to whom she was
promised was the body of one who had died--that its life was due not
to the presence of Jasor's spirit, but another. Zud had told her. He
had told her the truth. Croft had meant to tell her before the marriage
in so different a way from that in which the high priest must have
explained. And--what must have been the effect of such an announcement
upon her--what must she, could she think?
"Yes." Zud's answer but served to accentuate and confirm the dilemma
his meddling had produced.
"And what said she?" Croft forced himself to ask.
"She is a maiden of spirit," said Zud in the tone of one who palliates
an offense. "She is unused to restraint. She refused to give credence
to Abbu's story or accept its truth save from your own lips."
Croft thrilled. Here was fidelity and trust--the absolute confidence
which should exist between true mates. If Naia of Aphur had dared to
refuse acceptance to the words of the high priest, she would dare much.
Things might not turn out so badly as he had feared. There would seem
to be time still for the true explanation he had meant to make to the
girl herself. The purpose fired him to immediate determination.
"She remains with the Gayana?"
"Aye--until such time as you awaken."
"I will see her. Send one to guide me to her at once."
"Lord!" Zud's tone was aghast.
"Stop!" Croft cut short his incipient protest. "Would question my
demands?"
"But the Gayana--" Zud began a faltering explanation.
His companion took a single step toward him. His jaw thrust out in an
almost menacing manner, indicative of a will to brook no opposition:
"May be entered by him who wears the wings of the Angel of Life as well
as the high priest."
For a long, breathless instant the glances of the two men met and
crossed, engaging the one with the other. And then Zud was beaten down.
He yielded.
"Permit that I show you," he said, and led the way.