Tower of Zanid Read Online Free Page A

considering the offer.
    “Two and one-half karda a day,” replied Fredro.
    While this was a high wage in Balhib, Fallon had just turned down a lump-sum offer of a thousand. “Sorry, Dr. Fredro. No sale.”
    “Possibly I could—I could squeeze a little more out of…”
    “No sir! Not for ten times that offer. People have tried to get into that thing before and always came to a bad end.” .
    “Well,” said Mjipa, “you’re destined for a bad end sooner or later anyway.”
    “I still prefer it later rather than sooner. As you gentlemen know, I’ll take a chancer—but that’s not a chance, it’s a certainty.”
    “Look here,” said Mjipa. “I promised Dr. Fredro assistance, and you owe me for past favors, and I particularly wish you to take the job.”
    Fallon shot a sharp look at the consul. “Why particularly?”
    Mjipa said: “Dr. Fredro, will you excuse us a few minutes? Wait here for me. Come along, Fallon.”
    “Thank you,” said Fredro.
    Fallon, scowling, followed Mjipa outside. When they found a place with nobody near, Mjipa said in a low voice: “Here’s the story. Three Earthmen have disappeared from my jurisdiction in the past three years, and I haven’t found a trace of them. And they’re not the sort of men who’d normally get into bad company and get their throats cut.”
    “Well?” said Fallon. “If they were trying to get into the Safq, that proves my point. Serves them right.”
    “I have no reason to believe they were trying to enter the Safq—but they might have been taken into it. In any case, I should be remiss in my duty, when confronted with a mystery like this, if I didn’t exhaust all efforts to solve it.”
    Fallon shook his head. “If you want to get into that monstrosity, go ahead…”
    “If it weren’t for the color of my skin, which can’t be disguised, I would.” Mjipa gripped Fallon’s arm. “So you, my dear Fallon, are going in, and don’t think you’re not.”
    “Why? To make a fourth at bridge with these missing blighters?”
    “To find out what happened. Good God, man, would you leave a fellow-Terran to the mercies of these savages?
    “That would depend. Some Terrans, yes.”
    “But one of your own kind…”
    “I,” said Fallon, “try to judge people on their individual merits, whether they have arms or trunks or tentacles, and I think that’s a lot more civilized attitude than yours.”
    “Well, I suppose there’s no use appealing, to your patriotism, then. But if you come around next ten-night for your longevity-dose, don’t be surprised if I’m just out of them.”
    “I can get them on the black market if I have to.”
    Mjipa glared at Fallon with deadly fixity. “And how long d’ you think you’d live to enjoy your longevity if I told Chabarian about your spying for the Kamuran of Qaath?”
    “My sp— I don’t know what you’re talking about,” replied Fallon, icy fear shooting down his spine.
    “Oh, yes you do. And don’t think I wouldn’t tell him.”
    “So… with all your noble talk, you’d betray a fellow-Terran to the Krishnans after all?”
    “I don’t like to, but you leave me no other choice. You’re no asset to the human race as you are—lowering our prestige, in the eyes of the natives.”
    “Then why bother with me?”
    “Because, with all your faults, you’re just the man for a job like this, and I won’t hesitate to force you to it.”
    “How could I get in without a disguise?”
    “I’ll furnish that. Now, I’m going back into that pavilion, either to tell Fredro you’ll make the arrangements, or to tell Kir’s minister about your meetings with that snake, Qais of Babaal. Which shall it be?”
    Fallon turned his bloodshot eyes upon the consul. “Can you furnish me with some advance information? A plan of the interior, for instance, or a libretto of the rites of Yesht?”
    “No. I believe the Neophilosophers know, or think they know, something about the interior of the building—but I