Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 3 - Death in Delhi Read Online Free PDF

dangerous for us to go by normal means? Won't there be spies watching the routes for strangers? And there is the matter of time, too. The longer we take to get to Delhi, the colder the trail."
    "By slipping magickally but undetected into
    this port, we have cut four or five days minimum from the time required to make the journey, Rachelle. If we stay on that schedule, or get even further ahead, we have the edge. You are right, of course. There will be spies and men set along the way to stop anyone coming from /Egypt to assist in recovery of the lost treasure. But such as wait will have a false security, and not be truly alert until the time we might reasonably be expected to arrive." He stopped walking, for they were nearing the shipping office, "It is a long voyage, but with what you and I learned from our little sojourn in Lyonnesse awhile back, between us we should be able to shorten that time considerably, and all without revealing our interference to either crew or others."
    Rachelle was enthusiastic. "You're a genius, Setne! They have no real concept of what can be done with spellsinging here, let alone in the farther East! Why, I can—"
    "Never mind for now, girl. Let's handle the matter at hand: finding a fast and not too uncomfortable vessel to cany us to Hind."
    Commerce between ./Egypt and the East was brisk. Many ships sailed from all parts of the world into the Mare Rubine and dropped anchor at the port of Mersa Gawasis. After a little wait, a sallow man with a bad complexion came to see what they wanted. Inhetep asked a few general questions, slipped the fellow a few dinars, and asked about passage to either Hind or Farz. The clerk thought a bit, then pulled out a sheaf of papers. After shuffling through the stack, he told them what the magister was desirous of hearing, and for that effort Inhetep passed over a few more coins.
    Accepting the man's advice, Inhetep assured him they would seek out the Handubar Swallow at pier four, bound for Ophir and then on to Farz, departing in two or three days' time. Then the magister and Rachelle left the warehouse shipping office and found the pier. The master of the Handubar Swallow was on hand and agreeable; Inhetep told him that they would indeed take berths on the ship. He paid over a small stack of silver, promising the balance upon departure, then he and Rachelle departed, ostensibly to return in two days to take up residence in the cabin reserved and await departure—which, according to the master of the ship, would be as soon thereafter as kismet would allow. When they were well away, the wizard-priest whispered, "That gives us two days, even if someone has heard of us by then." It was a sound precaution.
    "What are you talking about, Setne?"
    He hissed at her to speak softly. "There is a very fast vessel, a sort of a smuggler and valuables runner in port. She's not docked but out in the harbor, and bound to up anchor tonight according to what I have learned. Well be on her." Then he explained. Rachelle had indeed noted a silent exchange of secret signs between Setne and Mesta-f. By that means, the magister had learned that a small Hindi dhow was just readying to sail. The Blue Cloud was a fast vessel relying on its speed and valuable cargo to make up for its lack of being able to carry much in her small hold. Such ships were, of course, ripe for piracy and fair game to coast guard patrols. If they could be spotted and caught, they were easy prey and a rich prize. "It seems that the old rascal gets some of his more unusual requirements from that ship, and makes a little spare coin by putting cargos aboard, too—stuff rare and in demand in the Hindic lands. Leave it to Mesta-f to do that. ..."
    "This is dangerous for us. I don't like it."
    "Neither do I, although we come with the right recommendation, I hope. Besides, it is probably less hazardous than waiting here. Too many chances to be spotted, even attacked."
    Just an hour later, the pair were deep in