Inferno: A Chronicle of a Distant World (The Galactic Comedy) Read Free

second, she had no desire to show off the state of her weaponry, so she nodded her acquiescence.
    "Perhaps if you stay long enough, you can watch our young warriors embark on a Plainstalker hunt," suggested Tubito.
    "Do you hunt them to protect your stock animals?" she asked.
    Tubito shook his head. "No male can become an adult without killing a Plainstalker in physical combat."
    "I think I might enjoy watching such a hunt," she said. "Speaking of animals, on my walk from my ship to your city, I passed some huge herbivores, standing twice as tall as an Enkoti at the shoulder. I'm surprised they haven't eaten the vegetation down."
    "Often they do," answered Tubito. "But then it rains, and everything grows again."
    "How often does it rain?"
    "Almost every afternoon."
    They made their way back to the village through a profusion of flowers, shrubbery and fruit trees. Beddoes stopped twice to admire the colorful avians that flew overhead, and once to examine a small ten-legged purple-and-white insect that Tubito caught for her.
    "Thank you," she said as he handed it to her.
    "The sitate says you are interested in insects. I am happy to help."
    "That was very thoughtful of you."
    "I do the sitate's bidding," he answered. "Though I am glad that it makes you happy."
    "Tell me about him."
    "The sitate?"
    "Yes," said Beddoes.
    "He has been a good ruler," replied Tubito. "He is firm but compassionate, and the justice he metes out is swift and fair. Under Disanko our kingdom has prospered, and he has actually fought very few wars with our neighbors, preferring to negotiate."
    "From a position of strength, of course."
    "One cannot negotiate from a position of weakness," said Tubito.
    They found Disanko waiting for them, and she was immediately ushered into his dwelling, a multi-chambered structure that seemed to go on forever. Just when she was wondering where the dining room was, they emerged into a courtyard that was surrounded by thorn fencing, with warriors standing guard every ten feet, and she realized that the tour of the "palace" had been performed simply to impress her.
    She was led to one side of a low, hand-carved wooden table, while Disanko stood opposite her.
    "Wilson McConnell ate our meat animals when he was here, and suffered no ill effects," announced the sitate. "Therefore, I assume they will not harm you." He clapped his hands, and two females staggered in bearing a huge tray containing more meat than Beddoes could have eaten in a month. "Please sit down."
    Beddoes seated herself on a small stool, much lower than Disanko's, as the females bowed and left.
    "You seem uncomfortable," he noted.
    "I am," she admitted.
    "You may sit on the floor, if you prefer." He paused. "I know you would prefer a higher stool, but there is only one sitate's chair, and no one else may sit upon it."
    She considered her options and lowered herself to the floor. Before either she or Disanko could take a bite of anything, one of the warriors stepped forward, pulled out his dagger, and cut off a piece of meat. He chewed it thoroughly, swallowed it, and stepped back to his position against the thorn wall. Then another warrior approached and ate a small purple fruit. This went on until every variety of food had been tasted by one of the warriors.
    "A precaution," explained Disanko. "I am not without my enemies, those who wish to become sitate and those who simply wish for any sitate other than myself. I may someday be killed in battle, but at least I know I will not be poisoned."
    A colorful avian, about the size of a large crow, flew down from an overhanging branch and perched on the corner of the table. Disanko flipped a piece of fruit onto the ground, and the avian swooped down, grabbed it in its claws, and, screeching happily, flew back to its perch in the tree.
    If Beddoes expected to speak to Disanko about her mission or anything else, she was disappointed, for the sitate began eating and never said a word or looked up until he was finished.