"Perhaps they have now learned how to duplicate the rings," I ventured.
"That seems to me unlikely for two reasons," said Samos. "First, if the ring could be duplicated, surely in the course of Kur history, particularly before the substantial loss of their technology and their retreat to the steel worlds, it would have been. Secondly, given the secretive nature of the rings' inventor, Prasdak of the Cliff of Karrash, I suspect there is an additional reason which mitigates against the dismantlement of the ring and its consequent reproduction."
"The secret, doubtless, could be unraveled by those of the Sardar," I said. "What progress have they made with the ring from the Tahari?"
"The Tahari ring never reached the Sardar," said Samos. "I learned this only a month ago."
I did not speak. I sat behind the table, stunned.
"To whom," I then asked, "did you, entrust the delivery of the ring to the Sardar."
"To one of our most trusted agents," said Samos.
"Who?" I asked.
" Shaba, the geographer of Anango, the explorer of Lake Ushindi, the discoverer of Lake Ngao and the Ua River," said Samos.
"Doubtless he met with foul play," I said.
"I do not think so," said Samos.
"I do not understand," I said.
"This ring," said Samos, indicating the ring on the table, "was found among the belongings of the girl in the tharlarion cell below. It was with her when her ship was captured by Bejar."
"It surely, then, is not the fifth ring," I said.
"But what is its purport?" asked Samos.
I shrugged. "I do not know," I said.
"Look," said Samos. He reached to one side of the table, to a flat, black box, of the sort in which papers are sometimes kept. In the box, too, there is an inkwell, at its top, and a place for quilled pens. He opened the box, below the portion containing the inkwell and concave surfaces for pens.
He withdrew from the box several folded papers, letters. He had broken the seal on them.
"These papers, too, were found among the belongings of our fair captive below," said Samos.
"What is their nature?" I asked.
"There are passage papers here," he said, "and a declaration of Cosian citizenship, which is doubtless forged. Too, most importantly, there are letters of introduction here, and the notes for a fortune, to be drawn on various banks in Schendi's Street of Coins."
"To whom are the letters of introduction," I asked, "and to whom are made out the notes?"
"One is to a man named Msaliti," said Samos, "and the other is to Shaba."
"And the notes for the fortunes?" I asked.
"They are made out to Shaba," said Samos.
"It seems then," I said, "that Shaba intends to surrender the ring to agents of Kurii, receive fees for this, and then carry to the Sardar this ring we have before us."
"Yes," said Samos.
"But Priest-Kings could surely determine, as soon as the switch was depressed, that the ring was false," I said. "Ah, yes," I said.
"I fear so," said Samos. "I suspect the depression of the switch, presumably to be accomplished in the Sardar, will initiate an explosion."
"It is probable then," I said, "that the ring is a bomb."
Samos nodded. He, through my discussions with him, and his work with the Sardar, was familiar with certain technological possibilities. He had himself, however, like most Goreans, never witnessed, first-hand, an explosion.
"I think it would be like lightning," he said, picking his words slowly.
"Priest-Kings might be killed," I said.
"Distrust and dissension might be spread then between men and Priest-Kings," said Samos.
"And in the meantime, the Kurii would have regained the ring and Shaba would be a rich man."
"It seems so," said Samos.
"The ship, of course, was bound for Schendi?" I asked.
"Of course," he said.
"Do you think the girl below knows much of this?"
"No," said Samos. "I think she was carefully chosen, to do little more than convey the notes and the ring. Probably there are more expert Kur agents in Schendi to receive the ring once it is delivered."
"Perhaps even Kurii themselves," I said.
"The climate would be cruel upon Kurii," he said, "but it is not impossible."
" Shaba is doubtless in hiding," I said. "I do not think it likely I could locate him by simply voyaging to Schendi."
"Probably he can be reached through Msaliti," said Samos.
"It could be a very delicate matter," I said.
Samos nodded. " Shaba is a very intelligent man," he said. "Msaliti probably does not know where he is. If Shaba, whom we may suppose contacts Msaliti, rather than the opposite, suspects anything is amiss, he will presumably not come forth."
"The girl is then the key to locating Shaba," I said. "That is why you did not wish me to question her. That is why she must not even know she has been in your power."
"Precisely," said Samos. "She must remain totally ignorant of the true nature of her current captivity."
"It is known, or would soon be known, that her ship was taken by Bejar," I said. "It is doubtless moored prize at his wharfage even now. She cannot be simply released and sent upon her way. None would believe this. All would suspect she was a decoy of some sort, a lure to draw forth Shaba."
"We must attempt to regain the ring," said Samos, "or, at worst, prevent it from falling into the hands of the Kurii."
" Shaba will want the notes for the fortunes," I said. "Kurii will want the false ring. I think he, or they, or both, will be very interested in striking up an acquaintance with our lovely prisoner below."
"My thoughts, too," said Samos.
"It is known, or will soon be known, she was taken by Bejar," I said. "When his other women prisoners are put upon the block, let her be put there with them, only another woman to be sold."
"They will be sold as slaves," said Samos.
"Of course," I said, "let her, too, be sold as a slave."
"I will have the iron ring removed from her throat," said Samos, "and have her, tied in a slave sack, sent to Bejar."
"I will attend her sale, in disguise," I said. "I will see who buys her."
"It could be anyone," said Samos. "Perhaps she will be bought by an urt hunter or an oar maker. What then?"
"Then she is owned by an oar maker or an urt hunter," I said. "And we shall consider a new plan."
Urt hunters swim slave girls, ropes on their necks, beside their boats in the dark, cool water of the canals, as bait for urts, which, as they rise to attack the girl, are speared. Urt hunters help to keep the urt population in the canals manageable.
"Agreed," said Samos.
He handed me the ring on the table and the letters of introduction, and notes.
"You may need these," he said, "in case you encounter Shaba. Perhaps you could pose as a Kur agent, for he does not know you, and obtain the true ring for the Kurii notes. The Sardar could then be warned to intercept Shaba with the false ring and deal as they will with him."
"Excellent," I said. "These things will increase our store of possible strategies." I placed the ring and the papers in my robes.
"I am optimistic," said Samos.
"I, too," I said.
"But beware of Shaba," he said. "He is a brilliant man. He will not be easily fooled."
Samos and I stood up.
"It is curious," I said, "that the rings were never duplicated."
"Doubtless there is a reason," said Samos.
I nodded. That was doubtless true.
We went toward the door of his hall, but stopped before we reached the heavy door.
Samos wished to speak.
"Captain," said he.
"Yes, Captain," said I.
"Do not go into the interior, beyond Schendi," said Samos. "That is the country of Bila Huruma."