Non-Stop - Brian W. Aldiss [63]
‘You couldn’t!’ There was something in the strange creature’s tone which compelled respect. Scoyt evidently felt it, for he told the man to get up and dust himself down and take a drink of water. While he did so, Scoyt asked, ‘How many men in Gregg’s gang?’
Hawl put the drinking utensil down and stood defiantly with hands on hips.
‘That your man will be told when he comes with me to arrange terms,’ he said. ‘Now I’ve said all I’m going to say, and you’ll have to make up your minds whether you agree or not. But remember this – if we come here, we shall be no trouble. And we shall fight for you rather than against. This also we swear.’
Scoyt and Vyann looked at each other.
‘It’s worth trying if we can get a foolhardy volunteer,’ he said.
‘It’ll have to go to the Council,’ she said.
Complain had not spoken yet, awaiting his opportunity. Now he addressed Hawl.
‘This man you call Captain,’ he said. ‘Has he another name than Gregg?’
‘You can ask him that when you’re arranging terms,’ Hawl repeated.
‘Look at me carefully, fellow. Do I resemble your Captain in any way? Answer.’
‘The Captain has a beard,’ Hawl said evasively.
‘He should give it you to cover your head with!’ Complain snapped. ‘What do you say to this then? – I had a brother who ran amok into Deadways long ago. His name was Gregg – Gregg Complain. Is that your Captain, man?’
‘Gord’s guts!’ Hawl said. ‘To think the Captain has a brother lounging in this bed of pansies!’
Complain turned excitedly to Master Scoyt, whose heavy face creased with surprise. ‘I volunteer to go with this man to Gregg,’ he said.
The suggestion suited Master Scoyt well. He immediately turned his vast energy to getting Complain on his way as soon as possible. The full force of his persuasiveness, genial but relentless, was applied to the elders of the Council of Five, who convened at once under his direction; Tregonnin was urged reluctantly from the library, Zac Deight disentangled from a theological argument with Marapper, and Billyoe, Dupont and Ruskin, the other three of the Council, lured from their various interests. After a private discussion, they had Complain brought before them, instructed him on the terms to lay down before Gregg, and dismissed him with their expansions. He would have to hurry to be back before the next dark sleep-wake descended upon them.
Though the disadvantages of having Gregg’s band in Forwards were obvious, the Council was keen to welcome them in; it would mean an end to most of the skirmishing on Forwards’ perimeter and the acquiring of an experienced ally to fight against the Outsiders.
An orderly returned Complain’s dazer and torch to him. He was in his room strapping them on when Vyann entered, closing the door behind her. On her face was a comically defiant expression.
‘I’m coming with you,’ she said, without preamble.
Complain crossed to her, protesting. She was not used to the ponics, danger might lurk there, Gregg might well play them false, she was a woman – She cut him short.
‘It’s no good arguing,’ she said. ‘This is Council’s orders.’
‘You got round them! You arranged it!’ he said. He could see he guessed rightly, and was suddenly deliriously glad. Seizing her wrist, he asked, ‘What made you wish to come?’
The answer was not as flattering as he might have wished. Vyann had always wanted to hunt in the ponics, she said; this was the next best thing. And suddenly Complain was reminded – without pleasure – of Gwenny and her passion for the hunt.
‘You’ll have to behave yourself,’ he said severely, wishing her reason for joining him could have been more personal.
Marapper appeared before they left, seeking a word alone with Complain. He had found a mission in life: the people of Forwards needed to be reconverted to the Teaching; since the more lenient rule of the Council began, the Teaching had lost its grip. Zac Deight in particular was against it – hence Marapper’s argument with him.
‘I don’t like that man,’ the priest grumbled. ‘There’s something horribly sincere about him.’
‘Don’t stir up trouble here,