Swords: 06 - The Third Book of Lost Swords - Stonecutter's Story Read Online Free PDF Page A

hearty voices as they worked.
           So far there was no sign that anyone among the road-building crew had become aware of the approach of Wen Chang and his party.
           A moment after Wen Chang reined in his riding-beast he had dismounted, and was closely inspecting the sides of the cut. Whatever he saw made him nod with satisfaction.
           In an instant Kasimir had dismounted too, and was standing mystified beside the older man. But the young physician’s puzzlement was only momentary.
           “These are strange marks in the ridge,” he breathed, with something like awe. “Long and smooth and easy, like those a knife or an ordinary sword might make in cheese or butter. I take these marks to mean that the Sword called Stonecutter has been used on this rock.” And he gave Wen Chang a glance of open admiration.
           “Exactly so.” Wen Chang looked around, and it seemed to Kasimir for a moment that the Magistrate was almost purring with satisfaction. “Lieutenant,” Wen Chang ordered, “send a few of your men secretly around to the other side of this work camp. If anyone should attempt to sneak out that way when we enter, detain them, whether they are carrying a Sword or not, and bring them to me.”
           The lieutenant had made no comment on the discovery of the Sword’s marks in the cut rock, though Kasimir thought he could hardly have failed to be impressed. Now Komi saluted and turned back to his small column to deliver some low-voiced orders.
           Presently Wen Chang remounted, and, with Kasimir beside him, and Lieutenant Komi, now attended by only seven troopers, supporting him in the rear, rode boldly forth, through the divided ridge, along the just-completed last hundred meters of the road in the direction of the laborers’ camp. In a moment the first of the scores of workers had become aware of their approach, and the sounds of labor faltered. But almost at once the whips of several overseers cracked, and the chink of metal on stone picked up again.
           From the square of shade produced by a square of faded cloth supported on rude poles, a foreman was now coining forward to receive his visitors. He was a corpulent man of modest height and middle age, wearing over his tunic a broad leather belt with an insignia of the Hetman’s colors, gray and blue. He looked worried, not unreasonably, at the sight of all these armed men in the garb of desert warriors, who outnumbered his small staff of overseers. Still, he managed to put a bold tone into his salutation.
           “Greetings, gentlemen! Our road, as you see, is not yet complete. But if you are willing to wait a few days, my brave men here and I will do our best to finish it for you.”
           Wen Chang squinted into the shimmering reach of emptiness extending to the horizon ahead of the road-builders, and allowed himself a smile. “My good man, if you continue to labor to such good effect as you did when cutting your way through this ridge behind me—why then I have no doubt that a few more days should see you at your destination, whatever it may be. What is it, by the way?”
           The smile had congealed unhappily upon the foreman’s beefy face. “I am given only a general direction, sir, in which we are to extend the road. Beyond that—” He shrugged.
           “Of course, of course. It does not matter. My name is Wen Chang, and my companion here is Doctor Kasimir, a physician; and this is Lieutenant Komi, who with his soldiers serves Prince al-Farabi of the Firozpur. And your name is—?”
           “I am honored indeed to meet all Your Excellencies! I am Lednik, foreman of this gang of the Hetman’s road-builders, and holding the rank of supervisor both of the Hetman’s prisons and his roads.” Having bowed deeply, Lednik looked up suddenly and slapped both palms upon his leather belt. “Ho, there! Keep those fellows working! No one has told