WHOM ZITU CHANGED
Dawn was breaking on Palos as he opened his eyes. The nurse dozed not
far from his couch. He waked her and demanded his clothing. She brought
it in some doubt and assisted him to put it on. Ten minutes later he
sat on the edge of the couch a Palosian in all physical seeming. Yet
the woman regarded him still in a more or less uncertain fashion.
Croft smiled. "Thank you for your kindness, my nurse," he said. "I
shall ask my father to remunerate you for it. Now I would eat."
She nodded and hurried from the room, to return with food. Hardly had
Croft disposed of the meal with a zest evoked of his physical needs,
that Sinon of Nodhur appeared.
Croft rose and stood as the man came in. "We return home today, my
father," he declared.
Sinon seemed embarrassed before the words of his son. "Aye, if you
wish," he made answer after a pause. "Sit you, my son. We must speak
together. Your sickness has wrought changes within you. You are not the
Jasor to whom I wrote it were useless to remain in Scira. The glance of
your eye, the sound of your voice, even the lines of your face, have
changed."
Croft smiled. "That is true," he agreed. "Yet even so it is of small
value to remain in Scira, since now I know all and more than the
learned men can teach me, were I to linger among them for many more
cycles that I have."
"Zitu!" Sinon regarded him oddly. "My son, is this change to make you a
braggart instead of a dullard?" he began slowly after a time.
"Not so," Croft returned. "My father, I am as one born anew. I shall
prove my words, yet not until I have returned to our home. Let us begin
the journey this day."
"It shall be as you wish," Sinon said, and left the room.
Later Abbu came and was admitted. To him Croft explained that he was
going south to Nodhur with his father. He went further and questioned
the priest concerning Sinon himself, learning that he was a wealthy
merchant, residing in Ladhra, capital of the southern state.
The information was a considerable shock to Croft. The merchant caste,
while exercising great influence and weight in Tamarizian affairs, were
not of noble blood. Hence now, at the very beginning he found himself
confronted by a gulf of caste separating him from Naia of Aphur hardly
less completely than before he had made Jasor's body his own. For a
moment the thought occurred to him that he had chosen that body rather
badly. Then his natural determination came to his aid, and he set his
lips as he resolved to find a way to win to Naia's side.
Abbu rather drew back before the gleam which crept into his eyes.
"Jasor, since I know you by no other name," he cried, "wherein have I
given offense?"
Croft laughed. He rose and flexed his arms and stared into Abbu's
face. "In nothing; I was but thinking," he made answer. "Abbu, give
me tablets to the priesthood at Himyra, stating those things you have
seen."
Abbu nodded. "You stop at Himyra?" he said.
"Aye." The first step of winning to the woman of his soul flashed into
Croft's brain, even as his plan for winning a body had flashed there
days before.
But he kept it to himself, locked safely in his breast, as he set
forth for his new home, with his parents, Sinon and Mellia, that
afternoon.
That Sinon of Nodhur was wealthy he was assured when he saw the galley
in which the homeward journey was to be made. It was a swift craft,
gilded and ornate as to hull and masts and spars. Ten rowers furnished
power on its two banks of oars, seated on the benches in the waist of
the hull. Behind them were the cabin and a deck under an awning of the
silklike fabric, a brilliant green in hue. Not only did all this show
Croft his supposed father's financial condition, but he learned from
Sinon that he was owner of a fleet of merchant craft which plied up and
down the Na, and across the Central Sea. In addition, the largess Sinon
bestowed on the nurse was evidence of a well-filled purse.
* * * * *
All these things Croft considered in the intervals of conversation with
Sinon and Mellia while the galley ran south. In his boyhood Jason had
been possessed of a natural aptitude for mechanics. In later manhood he
had owned and operated his own automobiles, making most of the repairs
upon the cars himself. Learning now of his father's line of business,
it occurred to him to revolutionize transportation on Palos as a first
step toward making his name a word familiar to every tongue.
To this end he approached Sinon the first evening as he and Mellia
reclined on the deck.
"My father," he said, "what if the trip to Ladhra could be shortened by
half?"
"Shortened, in what fashion?" Sinon asked, turning a swift glance
toward Croft.
"By increasing the speed."
Sinon smiled. "The galley is the best product of our builders," he
replied.
"Granted," said Croft. "But were one to place a device upon it, to do
the work of the rowers with ten times their strength?"
"Zitu!" Sinon lifted himself on his couch. "What, Jasor, is this? What
mean you, my son? What is this device?"
"One I have in mind," Croft told him. "Come. You make your money with
ships. Apply some of it to making them more swift of motion. Let me
make this device, and they shall mount the Na more swiftly than now
they run with the current and the wind."
Sinon turned his eyes to the woman at his side. "And this is our son,
who was a dullard!" he exclaimed.
"In whom I always have had faith," Mellia replied with a smile of
maternal joy on her face.
"You have faith in this thing he proposes?" Sinon went on.
"Aye. I think Zitu himself spoke to him in his deathlike sleep," the
woman said.
"Then, by Zitu--he shall make the attempt!" Sinon roared. "Should he
succeed, the king himself would make him a knight for his service to
the state."
Croft's heart leaped and ran racing for a minute at the words.
Knighthood! That was the answer to the question in his brain--the
bridge which should cross the gulf between Naia of Aphur and himself.
He crushed back his emotions, however, and faced Sinon again. "Then I
may carry out my plan?"
"Aye--to the half of my wealth," Sinon declared. "Jasor, I do not
understand the change which has come upon you. But this thing you may
do if you can."
"Then we stop at Himyra," Croft announced.
"At Himyra!" Sinon stared.
"Aye. I would see Jadgor of Aphur so quickly as I may."
"See Jadgor? You?" Sinon protested. "Think you Jadgor receives men of
our caste without good cause?"
"He will see Jasor of Nodhur," Croft told him with a smile. "Wait, my
father, and you shall witness that, and more."
And now all doubt, all foreboding left him, and he planned. That night
as he lay in his bunk aboard the galley, he smiled. To him it seemed
that any doubt must have been transferred to the minds of Sinon and
Mellia. He heard them speaking above the lap of the waters and the
squeak of the oars. He realized how much of an enigma he had become to
these two who believed themselves his parents--how wonderful to them
must be the change in their son.
But his own mind was coolly collected and calm. He would see Jadgor.
He would use his knowledge of that monarch's present wishes to interest
him in his plans. He would become not a knight of Nodhur, but a knight
of Aphur instead. And then--then--Croft smiled and fell asleep.
The next day he questioned Sinon concerning the nature of the oil used
in the lamps, and found it a vegetable product, as he had feared.
But--he had been given evidence that the wine supply of the country
held no small alcoholic content, which could be recovered in pure
form with comparative ease. And--he knew enough of motors to know
that slight changes would enable them to burn alcohol in lieu of
petroleum-gas. Straightway he asked for something on which to draft his
plans.
Sinon, eager now in the development of his son's remarkable plan,
furnished parchment and brushes with a square of color, something like
India ink, and Croft set to work during the remainder of the trip. He
had assembled more than one motor in his day, and after deciding upon
his type of construction he immediately went to work. At the end of
four days, while the galley was mounting the Na toward the gates of
Himyra, he finished the first drafting of parts, and was ready for
Jadgor the king. Yet he did not go to Jadgor first, when once he has
stepped ashore.
"Wait here," he requested Sinon. "After a time I shall return."
"Hold, my son," Sinon objected at once. "What have you in mind?"
"To see the priest of Zitu without delay," Croft replied without
evasion. "Shall Jadgor not give ear, if the priest of Zitu asks?"
"And the priest?" Sinon asked.
"I carry a message to him from Abbu of Scira." Croft held up the
tablets that Abbu had inscribed.
"My son!" Sinon gave him a glance of admiration. "Go, and Zitu go with
you. We shall wait for you here."
Croft nodded and left. He had purposely had the galley moored as near
the Palace as he might. Now he rapidly made his way to the bridge
across the Na, and along it to the middle span. And there he paused and
gazed about him, at the palace, the pyramid, the vista of the terraced
stream. This was Himyra--this was the home of Naia. Today he stood here
unheralded and unknown. Yet he stood there because of the dominant
spirit which was his, which had dared all to stand there, and--it
should not be long until all Himyra--all Tamarizia knew of Jasor of
Nodhur, as he surely must be known.
* * * * *
He went on across the bridge and approached the pyramid. It lifted its
vast pile above him. He found an inclined way and began to mount. After
a considerable time he reached the top and entered the temple itself.
The huge statue of Zitu sat there as he had seen it in his former
state. Now almost without volition he bent his knees before it. After
all, it stood for the One Eternal Source. He gave it reverence as such.
A voice spoke to him as he knelt. He rose and confronted a priest.
"Who art thou?" the latter asked, advancing toward him. "How come you
here at no hour appointed for prayer?"
Croft smiled and held forth the tablets he had brought.
The priest took them, unbound them, and looked at the salutation. His
interest quickened. "Ye come from Scira?" he said.
"Aye. Carrying these tablets from the good Abbu, as you see."
The priest considered. "Come," he said again at last, and led the way
back of the statue to the head of a descending stair.
Together they went down, along the worn tread of stone steps, turning
here and there, until at length they came into a lofty apartment where
sat a man in robes of an azure blue.
Before him Croft's guide bowed. "Thy pardon, Magur, Priest of Zitu," he
spoke, still in his stilted formal way. "But one comes carrying tablets
inscribed with thy name. Even now he knelt in the Holy Place, so that I
questioned--asking what he sought."
Magur, high priest in Himyra, at least as Croft judged, took the
tablets and scanned each leaf. As he read, his expression altered, grew
at first well-nigh startled, and after that nothing short of amazed.
In the end he waved the lay brother from the room and faced Croft
alone. "Thou art called how?" he began.
"Jasor of Nodhur--son of Sinon and Mellia of Nodhur," Croft replied.
"Whom, Abbu writes, Zitu hath changed?"
"Aye."
"Thou comest to Himyra, why?"
"To assist the State--to safeguard Tamarizia from the designs of
Zollaria perhaps."
"Hold!" Magur cried. "What know ye of Zollaria's plans?"
"Zollaria desires Cathur and plots the downfall of Tamarizia, Priest of
Zitu. Think that I bring no knowledge to my task?"
"Yet, were you Jasor indeed, thou mightest know somewhat of Zollaria's
plans to some extent," said the priest.
"And Jasor was a dullard, as the schools of Scira will declare," Croft
flashed back. "Let my works show whether I stand a fool or not."
"Thy works?" Magur inquired.
"Aye--those I shall do in Tamarizia's name. The first shall be one
which shall span the desert twenty times as quickly as the sarpelca
caravan--or drive a boat without sails or oars, or propel a carriage
without any gnuppa, and so haul ten times the load."
"Thou canst do this?" Magur laid the tablets on the lap of his robe and
sat staring at the man who spoke such words.
"Aye."
"And what do you desire of me?"
"An audience with Jadgor," Croft replied: "Since Aphur's king suspects
the things Zollaria plans."
Magur frowned. Croft's knowledge seemed to have swept him somewhat off
his feet. For moments he sat without motion or sound. But after a time
he raised his head. "To me Abbu seemeth right in this," he said. "In
this Zitu's hand is. This thing shall be arranged."
He clapped his hands. A brown-robed priest appeared.
"Prepare my chariot for use," the high priest said.
The other bowed and withdrew.
Thereafter Magur sat through another period of silence ere he rose and,
signing to Croft, led him through a passage to a small metal platform
which, when Magur pulled on a slender cord, began to descend.
Croft smiled. It was a primitive sort of elevator as he saw while they
sank down a narrow shaft. He fancied it not unlike the ancient lifts
employed in Nero's palace in Rome. But he made no comment as they
reached the bottom of the shaft and emerged past double lines of bowing
priests to the waiting chariot.
Magur mounted and took the reins. Croft stepped into a place at his
side. The gnuppas leaped forward at a word. They rumbled down the
street and out upon the bridge. Croft had crossed it alone and on foot
an hour before. Now he rode back in the car of Zitu's priest.