Simony glared at him. ‘You?’ he said. ‘Why should I get
Brutha backed away.
‘I’m not!’
‘On the ship, when the captain sounded you, you just said nothing,’ said Simony. ‘You’re not one of us.’
‘I don’t think I’m one of them, either,’ said Brutha. ‘I’m one of mine.’
He gave Didactylos an imploring look, which was a wasted effort, and turned it towards Urn instead.
‘I don’t know about this soldier,’ he said. ‘All I know is that Vorbis means to have you killed and he
‘And don’t listen to him,’ said Simony. He dropped on one knee in front of Didactylos, like a supplicant. ‘Sir, there are … some of us … who know your book for what it is … see, I have a copy …’
He fumbled inside his breastplate.
‘We copied it out,’ said Simony. ‘One copy! That’s all we had! But it’s been passed around. Some of us who could read, read it to the others! It makes so much sense!’
‘Er …’ said Didactylos. ‘What?’
Simony waved his hands in excitement. ‘Because we know it — I’ve been to places that — it’s true! There
‘Urn? No one’s stripped the copper off the roof, have they?’ said Didactylos.
‘Don’t think so.’
‘Remind me not to talk to this chap outside, then.’
‘You don’t understand!’ said Simony. ‘I can save you. You have friends in unexpected places. Come on. I’ll just kill this priest …’
He gripped his sword. Brutha backed away.
‘No! I can help, too! That’s why I came. When I saw you in front of Vorbis I knew what I could do!’
‘What can you do?’ sneered Urn.
‘I can save the Library.’
‘What? Put it on your back and run away?’ sneered Simony.
‘No. I don’t mean that. How many scrolls are there?’
‘About seven hundred,’ said Didactylos.
‘How many of them are important?’
‘All of them!’ said Urn.
‘Maybe a couple of hundred,’ said Didactylos, mildly.
‘Uncle!’
‘All the rest is just wind and vanity publishing,’ said Didactylos.
‘But they’re
‘I may be able to take more than that,’ said Brutha slowly. ‘Is there a way out?’
‘There … could be,’ said Didactylos.
‘Don’t tell him!’ said Simony.
‘Then all your books will burn,’ said Brutha. He pointed to Simony. ‘He said you haven’t got a choice. So you haven’t got anything to lose, have you?’
‘He’s a—’ Simony began.
‘Everyone shut up,’ said Didactylos. He stared past Brutha’s ear.
‘There may be a way out,’ he said. ‘What do you intend?’
‘I don’t believe this!’ said Urn. ‘There’s Omnians here and you’re telling them there’s another way out!’
‘There’s tunnels all through this rock,’ said Didactylos.
‘Maybe, but we don’t
‘I’m inclined to trust this person,’ said Didactylos. ‘He’s got an honest face. Speaking philosophically.’
‘
‘Anyone stupid enough to expect us to trust him in these circumstances
‘I can walk out of here right now,’ said Brutha. ‘And where will your Library be then?’
‘You see?’ said Simony.
‘Just when things apparently look dark, suddenly we have unexpected friends everywhere,’ said Didactylos. ‘What is your plan, young man?’
‘I haven’t got one,’ said Brutha. ‘I just do things, one after the other.’
‘And how long will doing things one after another take you?’
‘About ten minutes, I think.’
Simony glared at Brutha.
‘Now get the books,’ said Brutha. ‘And I shall need some light.’
‘But you can’t even read!’ said Urn.
‘I’m not going to read them.’ Brutha looked blankly at the first scroll, which happened to be
‘Oh. My god,’ he said.
‘Something wrong?’ said Didactylos.
‘Could someone fetch my tortoise?’
Simony trotted through the palace. No one was paying him much attention. Most of the Ephebian guard was outside the labyrinth, and Vorbis had made it clear to anyone who was thinking of venturing inside just what would happen to the palace’s inhabitants. Groups of Omnian soldiers were looting in a disciplined sort of way.
Besides, he was returning to his quarters.
There
He hated himself for doing it. The stupid priest had ruined everything! But Didactylos had made him promise, and Didactylos was the man who knew the Truth.
All the way there he had the impression that someone was trying to attract his attention.
‘You can remember them just by looking?’ said Urn.
‘Yes.’
‘The whole scroll?’
‘Yes.’
‘I don’t believe you.’