The Blue World Read Online Free PDF Page A

know
better. I simply cannot understand a mentality which so arrogantly
preempts to itself a decision concerning the welfare of the whole
float.”
    Sklar Hast at last
was stung. He gave a sarcastic chuckle. “I understand your
mentality well enough. If it weren’t for King Kragen, you’d have to
work like everyone else. You’ve achieved a sinecure, and you don’t
want a detail changed, no matter how much hardship and degradation
are involved.”
    “Hardship?
There is plenty for all! And degradation? Do you dare use the word in
connection with myself or Arbiter Myrex or Master Hoodwink Rohan? I
assure you that these men are by no means degraded. and I believe
that they resent the imputation as keenly as I do myself!”
    Sklar Hast grinned.
“There’s a dictum to cover all that: ‘If the shoe fits,
wear it.”
    Zander Rohan burst
out, “This caps all! Sklar Hast, you disgrace your caste and
your calling! I have no means of altering the circumstances of your
birth, but thankfully, I am Guild-Master. I assure you that your
career as a hoodwink is at an end!”
    “Bah,”
sneered Sklar Hast. “On what grounds?”
    “Turpitude of
the character!” roared Zander Rohan. “‘This is a passage of
the bylaws, as well you know!”
    Sklar Hast gave
Zander Rohan a long, slow inspection, as before. He sighed and made
his decision. “There’s also a passage to the effect that a man
shall be Guild-Master only so long as he maintains a paramount
proficiency. I challenge not only your right to pass judgment but
your rank as Guild-Master as well.”
    Silence held the
inn. Zander Rohan spoke in a choked voice. “You think you can
outwink me?”
    “At any hour
of the day or night.”
    “Why have you
not made this vaunted ability manifest before?”
    “If you want
to know the truth, I did not wish to humiliate you.”
    Zander Rohan
slammed his list upon the table. “Very well. We shall see who is
to be humiliated. Come: to the tower!”
    Sklar Hast raised
his eyebrows in surprise. “You are in haste?”
    “You said,
‘Any hour of the day or night.’”
    “As you wish.
Who will judge?”
    “Arbiter
Myrex, of course. Who else?”
    “Arbiter Myrex
will serve well enough, provided we have others to keep time and note
errors.”
    “I appoint
Semm Voiderveg; he reads with great facility.”
    Sklar Hast pointed
to others in the room, persons he knew to be keen of eye and deft at
reading winks. “Rubal Gallager—Freeheart Noe—Herlinger Showalter. I appoint these to read winks and note errors.”
    Zander Rohan made
no objection; all in the inn arose and crossed to the tower. The
space under the tower was enclosed by a wall of withe and varnished
pad-skin. On the first level was a shed given over to practice
mechanisms; on the second were stores: spare hoods, oil for the
lamps, connection cords, and records; the third and fourth levels
housed apprentices, assistant hoodwinks on duty, and maintenance
larceners.
    Into the first
level trooped Zander Rohan and Sklar Hast, followed by those whom
they had appointed judges, and ten or twelve others—as many
as the shed could contain. Lamps were turned up, benches pushed back,
window shutters raised for ventilation.
    Zander Rohan went
to the newest of the two practice machines, ran his fingers over the
keys, kicked the release. He frowned, thrust out his lip, went to the
older of the machines, which was looser and easier but with
considerably more backlash. The tighter machine required more effort
but allowed more speed. He signaled to the apprentices, who stood
looking down from the second level. “Oil. Lubricate the
connections. Is this how you maintain the equipment?”
    The apprentices
hastened to obey.
    Sklar Hast ran his
fingers over the keys of both machines and decided to use the newer,
if the choice was his. Zander Rohan went to the end of the room where
he conferred in quiet tones with Ixon Myrex and Semm Voiderveg. All
three turned, glanced at Sklar Hast, who stood