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is head and listened as slow footsteps shuffled through the thick leaves below the trees。 But no warrior appeared； just the thick and twisted figure of his fester； headdress bobbling； laps moist with flecked 。saliva。
〃What did you see？〃 the king asked at last。
〃Gone； Majesty。 All gone。 Just lake all of those who have gone before。 Vanished among the trees around the lake。 None returned。 〃
〃None ever return； 〃 the king said； sorrow and defeat dragging him down。 He stood that way； unknowing； unseeing as a young man appeared and strode towards him； a silent gray dog walked at his side。 The jester； jaw agape； spittle pendulous； hacked away as the stranger approached。
〃Why do you grieve； oh king？〃 he asked in a light and clear voice。
〃1 grieve for there is part of the forest in my kingdom where men do go…but none return。 They go in tens and twenties…but none is ever seen again。
〃I will go；〃 the young man said； 〃but I will go alone。〃
He snapped his fingers and； without another word being spoken； man and dog walked off into the forest。 Beneath the trees and pendant mosses； around the hedges and nodding cattails to the edge of a dark pond。 The young man stopped to look at it and a hand； sudden and dripping； rose from the water and seized the dog。 Pulled it beneath the surface。 The ripples died away and the surface was still。
The young man did not cry or flee； just nodded。
〃This must be the place；〃 he said。
The darkness faded and light returned。 Iron John was gone； the chamber was empty。 I looked at Floyd who seemed just as bewildered as I was。
〃Did I miss the point somehow？〃 I asked。
〃I feel sorry for the dog；〃 Floyd said。 We both looked at Steengo who was nodding thoughtfully。
〃That's only the beginning；〃 he said。 〃You'll understand what is happening when you see the rest。〃
〃You wouldn't like to； maybe； explain just what you are talking about？〃
Steengo shook his head in a solemn no。 〃Later； perhaps。 But I don't think I will have to。 You will see for yourselves。〃
〃You've seen this holoflick before？〃 Floyd asked。
〃No。 But I have read my mythology。 It's better 'that you see the rest before we talk about it。〃
I started to protest； shut my mouth。 Realized that there was no point in probing further。 The door opened and our guide reappeared。
〃Just the man we are looking for；〃 I said； remembering our earlier decision。 〃We have heard； from reliable sources； that there is to be an outdoor market at。 dawn tomorrow。〃
〃Your sources are correct。 Tomorrow is the tenth day and that is market day。 Always on the tenth day because the nomads remember by marking a finger each day with soot until all fingers are 。 。 。〃
〃Right； thanks。 I can count to ten without dirty fingers。 My fellow musicians and I would like to visit this market…is this possible？〃
〃You have but to ask； great Jim of The Stainless Steel Rats。〃
〃I've asked。 Can someone show us the way in the morning？〃
〃Tis more fit that you use the Chariots of Fire 。 。 。〃
〃I agree； more fit。 But more fit that we be fit。 Walking is a wonderful exercise。〃
〃Then walk you shall； if that is your desire。 An escort will be provided。 It is now the hour of dining and a banquet has been prepared in your honor。 Will you be so kind as to follow me？〃
〃Lead on； my friend。 As long as it is not polpettone again we are your avid customers。〃
As we followed him out I discovered that my fingers had a fife of their own。 Or； more probably； were being twitched into activity by my worried subconscious。 They flicked over the puter controls and the glowing numbers appeared before me。
Nineteen and a pulsing red eleven。
Eleven days to go。 The morning market had better produce something。
CHAPTER 15
〃It is going to be such a lovely day；〃 the voice said。
Each word shot through my head like a rusty arrow； grating and scraping against the growing headache that was throbbing there。 I opened one eye blurrily and bright light added to the pain。 I had only enough energy to twist my lips into a surly snarl as our gold…clad host flitted about our quarters。 Opening curtains； picking up discarded clothing； generally being as obnoxious as possible at this predawn hour。 Only when I heard the outer door slam did I crawl from the bed； turn off the searing lights； stumble on all fours to my pack where it rested against the wall。 On the third fumbling attempt I managed to open it and click out a Sobering Effect pill。 I swallowed it dry and sat motionlessly while I waited for its beneficent chemicals to seep through my fractured body。
〃What was in that green beer？〃 Floyd said hoarsely； then began to cough。 Moaning in agony between coughs as his aching head was kicked about。 My headache was seeping away so I clicked out a pill for him and walked unsteadily across to his bed of pain。
〃Swallow。 This。 Will。 Help。〃
〃Quite a party last night；〃 Steengo said benevolently； joined fingers resting fortably on the ample bulge of his stomach。
〃Die；〃 Floyd gasped； unsteady fingers groping for the pill。 〃And burn painfully in hell forever。 Plus one day。〃
〃A bit hungover are we？〃 Steengo asked cheerfully。 〃I suppose there is good reason； considering the length of the nights here。 Their parties must go on forever。 Or maybe it just seems that way。 Eat a bit； sleep a bit。 Eat a bit； drink a bit。 Or maybe more than a bit。 I thought that the beer tasted a little on the nasty side。 So I only had one。 But the meat courses！ Tremendous； vegetables； good gravy； liked the bread and red sauce； plus 。 。 。〃
His voice died away as Floyd crawled out of bed and staggered； groaning； from the room。
〃You are cruel；〃 I said； smacking my dry lips together and feeling a little better。
〃Not cruel。 Just pointing out a few truths。 This mission first。 Overdrinking； hangovers and Technicolor yawns saved for our victory celebration。〃
There was nothing I could say。 He was right。
〃Message received；〃 I said； reaching for my clothes。 〃The quiet life and plenty of rest and raw vegetables。 Think positive。〃
Dawn brightened the window。 A new day。 Ten days to deadline。 I was thinking negative and I shook myself like a wet dog and tried to shrug off the mood。 〃Let's go to the fair。〃
When we emerged from the BOQ； Sergeant Ljotur was waiting for us。 He snapped to attention and gave a mighty salute…as did the squad of soldiers from the gate guard that he had brought with him。
〃We take you to the market！〃 he called out。 〃These men are all volunteers； eagerly happy to carry any purchases finest musicians in galaxy may make。〃
〃Greatly appreciated。 Lead on；〃 I said as we stepped out briskly on the red brick road。
The sun was a glowing crimson disk on the horizon when me reached the market。 The Fundamentaloid nomads must lave been early risers because everything was in great swing already。 I ready。 And gory too； I thought I heard a low moan from Floyd； but the baaing and farting of the sheots tended to drown out most other sounds。 plain they might as the butchered carcasses of their late panions were unloaded from their backs。 But there had to be more than a meat market here； eyes averted we hurried past the sanguineous display。
Now bearded nomads solicited our attenti