| 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 |
| 1 | 20 | 40 | 59 | 79 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
But he could not seem to get the idea through his head. "I can believe now that
you are not of Caspak," he admitted, "for no Caspakian would have permitted
such an opportunity to escape him." This, however, I found later to be an
exaggeration, as the tribes of the west coast and even the Kro-lu of the east coast
are far less bloodthirsty than he would have had me believe. "And your weapon!"
he continued. "You spoke true words when I thought you spoke lies." And then,
suddenly: "Let us be friends!"
I turned to Ajor. "Can I trust him?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Why not? Has he not asked to be friends?"
I was not at the time well enough acquainted with Caspakian ways to know that
truthfulness and loyalty are two of the strongest characteristics of these primitive
people. They are not sufficiently cultured to have become adept in hypocrisy,
treason and dissimulation. There are, of course, a few exceptions.
"
We can go north together," continued the warrior. "I will fight for you, and you
can fight for me. Until death will I serve you, for you have saved So-al, whom I
had given up as dead." He threw down his spear and covered both his eyes with
the palms of his two hands. I looked inquiringly toward Ajor, who explained as
best she could that this was the form of the Caspakian oath of allegiance. "You
need never fear him after this," she concluded.
"
"
What should I do?" I asked.
Take his hands down from before his eyes and return his spear to him," she
explained.
I did as she bade, and the man seemed very pleased. I then asked what I should
have done had I not wished to accept his friendship. They told me that had I
walked away, the moment that I was out of sight of the warrior we would have
become deadly enemies again. "But I could so easily have killed him as he stood
there defenseless!" I exclaimed.
"Yes," replied the warrior, "but no man with good sense blinds his eyes before one
whom he does not trust."
It was rather a decent compliment, and it taught me just how much I might rely
on the loyalty of my new friend. I was glad to have him with us, for he knew the
country and was evidently a fearless warrior. I wished that I might have recruited
a battalion like him.
As the women were now approaching the cliffs, Tomar the warrior suggested that
we make our way to the valley before they could intercept us, as they might
4
1
Page
Quick Jump
|