Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [353]
As she was talking, he was removing some silver pieces from his body belt. He held them out to her, smiling. Abath came closer and, as she reached out to take the money, he grasped her wrist tightly with his other hand. She gave a cry of pain.
‘Now, girl, you can have this money, but first I’m going to get a confidence out of you. You know that Ottassol is a big port?’
He squeezed her wrist till she hissed, ‘Yes.’
‘You know there are therefore many foreigners in this big port?’
Squeeze. Hiss.
‘You know among those foreigners are people from other continents?’
Another squeeze. Another hiss.
‘Like Hespagorat, for instance?’
Squeeze and hiss.
‘And even far Sibornal?’
Squeeze, hiss.
‘Including people of the Uskut race?’
Squeeze – pause – hiss.
Although it seemed from the furrowing of Muntras’s brow that this catechism was not over, he let go of the wrist, which had grown red during interrogation. Abath took the silver coins and tucked them into a pocket in the roll of luggage she had by her, making no comment beyond a dark look.
‘Sensible girl. Take what you can in life. And I am correct in thinking that you had some dealings with a certain man of Uskut race, in Matrassyl, in the way of the usual commodities. Isn’t that so?’
She looked defiant again and stood alertly as if thinking of attacking him.
‘What usual commodities might those be?’
‘The ones you and your mother trade in, my dear – money and kooni. Look, it is no secret to me, because I had the word off your mother and have kept it under my palm ever since. It’s been so long that I need you to remind me of the name of that man of Uskut race with whom you exchanged those commodities.’
Abath shook her head. Tears gleamed in her eyes. ‘Look, I thought you were a friend. Forget it! The feller’s left Matrassyl anyhow, and gone back to his own country. He got into trouble … That’s why I came south, if you want to know. My mother should have held her slanje tongue.’
‘I see. Your money supply ran out – or ran away … Now, I just want to hear you pronounce his name, and then you’re free.’
She put her hands up to her face and said into them, ‘Io Pasharatid.’
A moment’s silence.
‘You did aim high, my little fillock. I hardly believed it. The ambassador of Sibornal, no less! And not only kooni but guns involved. Did his wife know?’
‘What do you think?’ She was defiant again. She outshone her mother.
He became brisk. ‘Very well. Thank you, Abathy. You now are clear that I have a hold on you. You have a hold on me. You know about Billish. Nobody else must know about Billish. You must keep quiet and never mention his name, not even in your sleep. He was just one more customer. Now he has gone, and you’ve been paid.
‘If you mention Billish to anyone, I shall slip a little note to the Sibornalese representative here, and you will be in trouble. In this religious land, intercourse between Borlienese ladies and foreign ambassadors is strictly illegal. It always leads to blackmail – or murder. If word gets out about you and Pasharatid, you’ll never be seen again. Do we understand each other?’
‘Oh, yes, you hrattock! Yes.’
‘Good. That’s sensible. My advice is to keep your mouth and your legs closed. I’m going to take you to a friend of mine whom I have to see. He’s a scholar. He needs a housemaid. He will pay you regularly and well. I’m not a natural bully, Abathy, although I enjoy getting my way. So I am doing you a favour – for your mother’s sake as well as yours. You’d soon go to the bad on your own in Ottassol.’
He paused to see what she said, but she merely watched him with untrusting eyes.
‘Remain with my scholarly friend in his comfortable home, and you will have no need to turn into a whore. You can probably find a good husband – you’re pretty and not a fool. It’s a disinterested offer.’
‘And your friend’ll keep an eye on me for you, I suppose?’
He looked at her and pushed his lips forward in a pout ‘He’s recently married and won’t molest you. Come. We’ll