Without enthusiasm Varmous followed Cugel out along the dock where finally all was quiet. Cugel boarded the Avventura and tied his rope to a ring under the bow and threw the end to Varmous. He kicked the hull with his ossip-charged boots and the vessel at once became revulsive of gravity. Debarking, Cugel untied the mooring lines and the vessel drifted up into the air, to the amazement of Varmous.
“Stretch, line, stretch!” called Cugel and the Avventura rose up into the darkness.
Together Varmous and Cugel towed the ship along the road and somewhat out of town and concealed it behind the cypress trees of the graveyard; the two then returned to the inn.
Cugel clapped Varmous on the shoulder. “We have done a good night’s work, to our mutual profit!”
“I am not apt for magic,” muttered Varmous. “Weirdness makes me eery.”
Cugel waved aside his apprehensions. “Now: for a final goblet of wine to seal our compact, then a good night’s sleep, and tomorrow, we set off on our journey!”
2
The Caravan
During the pre-dawn stillness Varmous marshaled his caravan, ordering wagons and carriages, guiding passengers to their allotted places, quieting complaints with mild comments and an ingenuous gaze. He seemed to be everywhere at once: a massive figure in black boots, a peasant’s blouse and baggy pantaloons, his blond curls confined under a flat wide-brimmed hat.
Occasionally he brought one of his passengers over to Cugel, saying: “Another person for the ‘premier’ class!”
One by one these passengers accumulated until there were six, including two women, Ermaulde and Nissifer, both of middle years, or apparently so, since Nissifer shrouded herself from head to toe in a gown of rusty brown satin and wore a clump hat with a heavy veil. Where Nissifer was dry and taciturn, and seemed to creak as she walked, Ermaulde was plump and voluble, with large moist features and a thousand copper-colored ringlets.
In addition to Nissifer and Ermaulde, four men had decided to enjoy the privileges of the ‘premier’ class: a varied group ranging from Gaulph Rabi, an ecclesiarch and pantologist, through Clissum and Perruquil, to Ivanello, a handsome young man who wore his rich garments with enviable flair and whose manner ranged that somewhat limited gamut between easy condescension and amused disdain.
Last to join the group was Clissum, a portly gentleman of good stature and the ineffable airs of a trained aesthete. Cugel acknowledged the introduction, then took Varmous aside.
“We now have assigned six passengers to the ‘premier’ category,” said Cugel. “Cabins 1, 2, 3, and 4 are those designated for passenger use. We can also take over that double cabin formerly shared by the cook and the steward, which means that our own cook and steward must go to the forecastle. I, as captain of the vessel, will naturally use the after cabin. In short, we are now booked to capacity.”
Varmous scratched his cheek and showed Cugel a face of bovine incomprehension. “Surely not yet! The vessel is larger than three carriages together!”
“Possibly true, but the cargo hold claims much of the space.”
Varmous gave a dubious grunt. “We must manage better.”
“I see no flaws in the existing situation,” said Cugel. “If you yourself wish to ride aboard, you can arrange a berth in the forepeak.”
Varmous shook his head. “That is not the problem. We must make room for more passengers. Indeed, I intended the after cabin, not for the use of either you or me — after all, we are veterans of the trail and demand no languid comforts —”
Cugel held up his hand. “Not so! It is because I have known hardship that I now so greatly enjoy comfort. The Avventura is full. We can offer no further ‘premier’ accommodation.”
Varmous showed a streak of mulish obstinacy. “In the first place, I cannot spare a cook and a steward for the delectation of six passengers and yourself. I counted upon you to fulfill this duty.”
“What!” cried Cugel. “Review, if you will, the terms of our compact! I am captain, and no more!”
Varmous heaved a sigh. “Further, I have already sold four other ‘premiers’ — aha! Here they are now! Doctor Lalanke and his party.”
Turning about, Cugel observed a tall gentleman, somewhat sallow and saturnine of countenance, with dense black hair, quizzically arched black eyebrows and a pointed black beard.
Varmous performed the introductions. “Cugel, here is Doctor Lalanke, a savant of remark and renown.”
“Tush,” said Lalanke. “You are positively effusive!”
Behind, walking in a row with long slow steps and arms hanging straight down to narrow hips, like mechanical dolls, or persons sleep-walking, came three maidens even paler than Doctor Lalanke, with short hair loose and intensely black.
Cugel looked from one to the other; they were much alike, if not identical, with the same large gray eyes, high cheekbones and flat cheeks slanting down to small pointed chins. White trousers fitted snugly to their legs and hips, which were only just perceptibly feminine; soft pale green jackets were belted to their waists. They halted behind Doctor Lalanke and stood looking toward the river, neither speaking nor displaying interest in the folk around them.
Fascinating creatures, thought Cugel.
Doctor Lalanke spoke to Varmous. “These are the component members of my little tableaux: mimes, if you will. They are Sush, Skasja and Rlys, though which name applies to which I do not know and they do not seem to care. I look upon them as my wards. They are shy and sensitive, and will be happy in the privacy of the large cabin you have mentioned.”
Cugel instantly stepped forward. “One moment! The after cabin aboard the Avventura is occupied by the captain, which is to say myself. There is accommodation for six in the ‘premier’ category. Ten persons are present. Varmous, you must repair your mistake and at once!”
Varmous rubbed his chin and looked up into the sky. “The day is well underway and we must arrive at Fierkle’s Fountain before dark. I suppose we had better inspect the ‘premier’ categories and see what can be done.”
The group walked to the grove of cypress trees which concealed the Avventura. Along the way, Varmous spoke persuasively to Cugel: “In a business such as ours, one must occasionally make a small sacrifice for the general advantage. Hence —”
Cugel spoke with emphasis: “No more wheedling! I am adamant!”
Varmous shook his head sadly. “Cugel, I am disappointed in you. Do not forget that I helped acquire the vessel, at some risk to my reputation!”
“My planning and my magic were decisive! You only pulled on a rope. Remember also that at Kaspara Vitatus we part company. You will continue to Torqual while I fare south in my vessel.”
Varmous shrugged. “I expect no difficulties except those of the next few minutes. We must discover which among our ‘premier’ passengers are truly strident and which can be induced to ride the carriages.”
“That is reasonable,” said Cugel. “I see that there are tricks to the trade, which I will be at pains to learn.”
“Just so. Now, as to tactics, we must always seem of the same mind; otherwise the passengers will play us one against the other, and all control is lost. Since we cannot confer on each case, let us signal our opinions in this fashion: a cough for the boat and a sniff for the carriage.”
“Agreed!”
