Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [584]
‘Boy. Is good. Not like girl. Boy do much work, soon have biwack, maybe one year.’
Moub sat up and laughed. ‘You no make good biwack, you fool sherb. This boy belong Fashnalgid.’
They both burst into laughter. He went across and hugged her. They kissed each other over and over.
This scene so much took everyone’s attention that they did not heed whistles of warning from outside. Three police carrying rifles at the ready entered the barn from the road end.
The leader said coolly, ‘We have offence orders against you all. Uuundaamp, you and that woman have a number of murders to your name. Luterin Shokerandit, we have followed you from Rivenjk. You are an accomplice in blowing up an army lieutenant, and killing a soldier in the course of his duties. Also guilty of deserting from the army. In consequence of which, you, Toress Lahl, slave, are also guilty of escaping. We have a dispensation to execute you at once here in Noonat.’
‘Who these humans people?’ asked Uuundaamp, pointing indignantly at Shokerandit and Toress Lahl. ‘I no see them. They just come here one minute, cause plenty kakool.’
Ignoring him, the police leader said to Shokerandit, ‘I have orders to shoot you if you try to escape. Throw down any arms you have. Where is your recent companion? We want him too.’
‘Who do you mean?’
‘You know who. Harbin Fashnalgid, another deserter.’
‘I’m here,’ said an unexpected voice. ‘Drop your rifles. I can shoot you and you can’t hit me, so don’t try. I’ll count three and then I shall shoot one of you in the stomach. One. Two.’
The rifles dropped. By then they had seen the revolver poking through one of the slit windows.
‘Grab the guns, then, Luterin, look alive.’
Shokerandit unfroze and did as he was told. Fashnalgid entered by the rear door, setting all the asokins barking.
‘How did you come so providentially?’ Toress Lahl asked.
He scowled. ‘I imagine the same way these dummies did. By following that unmistakable red-and-yellow striped blanket. Otherwise I had no idea where you were. As you see, I’m going in for disguise.’
They had noticed. Fashnalgid had had his immense moustache shaved off and his hair cut short. He kept his revolver levelled at the police in a professional manner as he spoke.
‘Rifle get much money,’ Uuundaamp suggested. ‘Cut these man throat first, ishto?’
‘Never mind that, you little scab-devourer. If your shaggie was here, I’d drop him. Luckily he is not, because this place is swarming with police and soldiers.’
‘We’d better leave fast,’ Shokerandit said. ‘Excellent timing, Harbin. You’ll make an officer yet. Uuundaamp, if we keep these three police quiet, can you and Moub get the dogs harnessed up really quickly?’
The Ondod became very active. He got the two women to drag the sledge into the barn and grease the runners, which he insisted was necessary. The police were made to stand with their trousers round their ankles and their hands up the wall. Everyone stood back as lead dog Uuundaamp was unleashed and he and the other seven asokins were secured to the traces, each in its appropriate place. As he worked, Uuundaamp cursed each of them in different tones of affection.
‘Please hurry,’ said Toress Lahl once, betraying her nervousness.
The Ondod went and sat down on the plank where his wife had recently given birth.
Jus’ take small rest, ishto?’
They waited it out, no one moving, until his honour was satisfied. Snow came in through the rear door as he methodically checked over the harness.
From the direction of the street they could hear shouts and whistles. The three police had already been missed.
Uuundaamp picked up his whip.
‘Gumtaa. Get on.’
The rifles were tucked hastily under the sledge straps as they jumped aboard. Uuundaamp called encouragingly to Uuundaamp, and the sledge started to move. The police at once began to shout at the top of their voices. Answering shouts came. The sledge bumped out of the rear door.
Outside, ravening asokins