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gowns that bore the tiny D'AA mark identifying them as D'Assas
Anon employees, a Sephardic Jew, a fat man wearing swimming trunks . . .
Motley was the only word for this group.
As the guru looked at them, the people once more began to submit their pleas.
Lutt had trouble distinguishing separate requests.
"If you could only . . . I am afraid that my . . . When will . . . You said my
husband . . . Where is . . ."
"Silencio!" Raj Dood shouted.
In the abrupt silence, he lamented: "I am too kind. It's time to change my
magic words."
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"I don't see how they could've prevented a rapist from attacking Nishi," Lutt
said. "By the time she spoke those words it'd all have been over." He
touched the guru's arm as he spoke.
"You touched me!" Raj Dood gasped. His face twisted in dismay. "Never touch
a holy man!"
"Why not?" Lutt asked.
"It's a rule, that's all," the guru said. He touched his sweatband.
Lutt noted now that the band appeared to be metal. It was scratched and
dented.
"You are right about the length of the incantation," the guru said. "I will
make the new one shorter." He clasped his hands in front of his robed stomach
and stared pensively at Lutt.
"Uncle Dudley, I'd like to know how that cylinder works," Lutt said.
"You will address me as Raj Dood," the guru said. "The cylinder, as you call
it, does not work.
It just is."
"Is that what you and Father fought about?"
"The past is only the past," the guru said. "Observe."
Without knowing how it happened, Lutt saw visions from his past, a parade of
scenes, images from a quarter century ago when Uncle Dudley visited. Most of
the visions involved dinners at the long refectory table in the Hansons' main
house above a lake, sessions where Uncle Dudley tried to explain his ideas to
L.H. Sometimes there were arguments, and once L.H. left the table without
finishing his meal. The visions ended with Uncle Dudley departing and Lutt
realized he was seeing the last visit. Uncle Dudley never returned.
"I asked why you never returned," Lutt said. "One of the help said you and
Father had a fight."
"Reliable help is difficult to find," Uncle Dudley said. "Now, be still while
I decide what is best. We cannot permit a fratricide. Morey must be
frustrated. As for Woon, it is time we tested his will to live."
Lutt found himself impressed. Uncle Dudley displayed a profound sense of
dignity.
But what does he know of the Spirals? Ryll demanded.
"Ryll must not disturb my meditations," the guru said.
He eavesdropped on my conversation with Nishi!
"I did not eavesdrop. It is not necessary. I always know what I need to
know. Be still, Ryll.
Your predicament is not my immediate concern."
A hush fell over the room as the guru closed his eyes and bowed his head.
Presently, he looked at
Nishi.
"Yes, marriage would be best." He looked at Lutt. "One of you must always
dominate your body but with cooperation from the partner. To thwart Morey,
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you go to Earth immediately."
"I have unfinished business here," Lutt protested.
"You cannot have a dancing foot and a praying knee on the same leg," the guru
said. "Benign monarchy is best."
What's he talking about? Lutt wondered.
He's telling us to be tolerant of each other. He reminds me of Habiba.
"Physical and ethereal are not truly separate," the guru said. He waved an
arm and the throng vanished from the waiting room, leaving only Lutt and Nishi
with him.
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"I wish you'd explain how you do that," Lutt said.
"You would try to understand and that would prevent your understanding," the
guru said. "Think of it as magic." Once more he looked at Nishi. "You love
the part of him that did not knuckle under to his father. That is fortunate."
"Uncle Dudley," Lutt said, "I have to know about these whispers that come out
of nowhere and the people with bizarre names who appear so mysteriously to --"
"Do you love Nishi?" the guru interrupted.
"Yes, but --"
"In your own way, I see, you do."
Nishi felt a rush of warmth. Lutt admitted he loved her! This made her feel
responsible to him.
"How can we leave when our negotiations with the Legion are incomplete?" she
asked.
"Others can conclude your business with the Legion," the guru said. "Will you
marry her, Lutt?"
"My legal department will draw up a marriage contract," Lutt said. "You'll
get a negotiator's percentage."
"Never try to snow a guru," the Raj Dood said. "Nishi, guard Ryll's
interests. I fear he may never return to Dreenor. Now, off you go. Osceola
awaits."
"Wait!" Lutt objected. "I have to ask you about vorspirals and --"
"The essence never waits!" the Raj Dood shouted, adding in a lower tone, "Of
course, all that about essence is bullshit but I teach it anyway. Now,
indeed, you go to Earth."
Woon is on the Moon.
-- Raj Dood incantation
"I tell you it's like you set fire to an anthill!"
Prosik's buddy, Hollis Weatherbee, his helmet thrown back, stood in the living
room-bedroom of
Subiyama's Gorontium quarters. The red-headed Zone Patrolman frowned at
Prosik, who stood in green shorts near Subiyama's shoulder. Subiyama towered
over him like a Sumo wrestler in an immense pink robe with a golden belt.
"You were right to come immediately with this," she said. "What time is it?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]