Jack Vance Tschai 3 The DirDir

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Additionally your attitudes are disrespectful. You are guilty."
"I refuse to accept your verdict," said Reith, "unless you can enforce it. I
hold you to account."
The Immaculate regarded Reith with scorn and revulsion. "You challenge me, an
Immaculate?"
"It seems to be the only way I can prove my innocence."
The Immaculate looked at the Dirdir Excellent. "Am I so obligated?"
"You are so obligated."
The Immaculate measured Reith. "I will kill you with my hands and teeth as
befits a Dirdirman."
"As you please. First, remove this chain from my neck."
"Remove the chain," said the Dirdir Excellent.
The Immaculate said fretfully, "Vulgarity! I lose dignity performing before a
gaggle of sub-
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men."
"Do not complain," said the Excellent. "It is I, Captain of the Hunt, who
loses a trophy.
Continue; enforce your arbitration."
The chain was removed. Reith stretched, relaxed, stretched, relaxed, hoping to
restore tone to his muscles. He had hung all night by his wrists, his body
felt heavy with fatigue. The Dirdirman stepped forward. Reith became a trifle
light-headed.
"What are the rules of combat?" asked Reith. "I do not wish to commit any
fouls upon you."
"There are no fouls," said the Immaculate. "We use hunt rules: you are the
game!" He uttered a wild screech and launched himself upon Reith, in what
seemed an ineffectual sprawl, until Reith touched the creature's white body
and found it all tense muscle and gristle. Reith fended aside the rush, but
was ripped by artificial talons. He attempted an armlock, but could not secure
a leverage. He struck the Immaculate a blow under the ear, tried to hack the
larynx and missed. The
Immaculate stood back in annoyance. The spectators gasped in excitement. The
Immaculate again launched himself upon Reith, who caught the long forearm and
sent the Dirdirman staggering.
Woudiver could not contain himself; he rushed out and struck Reith a buffet
across the side of his head. Traz yelled in protest and whipped his chain
across Woudiver's face. Woudiver screamed in agony and sat squashily upon the
ground. Anacho wrapped his chain around Woudiver's neck and yanked it tight.
The Elite Dirdirman leaped forward, snatched away the chain. Woudiver lay
gasping, his face the color of mud.
The Immaculate had taken advantage of Woudiver's attack to seize Reith and
bear him to the ground. The wire-tense arms clasped Reith's body; sharp long
teeth tore at his neck. Reith freed his arms. With all his force he clapped
his cupped hands upon the white ears. The Immaculate emitted a strangled
squeal and rolled his head in agony. Momentarily he went limp. Reith straddled
the thin body, as if he rode a white eel. He began to work at the bald head.
He tore away the false effulgences, teased the head this way and that, then
gave a great twist. The Immaculate's head hung askew; his body thrashed and
floundered, then lay still.
Reith rose to his feet. He stood shaking and panting. "I am vindicated," he
said.
"The charges of the fat sub-man are invalid," intoned the Excellent. "He may
therefore be held to account."
Reith turned away. "Halt!" said the Excellent, its voice taking on a throaty
vibrato. "Are there further charges?"
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A Dirdir of the Elite caste, effulgences rigid and sparkling with crystal
coruscations, spoke:
"Does the beast still call dr'ssa?"
Reith swung around, half-intoxicated by fatigue and the aftermath of struggle.
"I am a man, you are the beast."
"Do you demand arbitration?" the Excellent asked. "If not, let us be away."
Reith's heart sank. "What are the new charges?"
The Elite stepped forward. "I charge that you and your henchmen trespassed
upon the Dirdir
Hunting Preserve and there treacherously slaughtered members of the Thisz
Sept."
"I deny the charge," said Reith in a hoarse voice. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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