Night of Light

Carmody started to rise. Something flashed just before his head came above the window of the car. He was hurled backward, blinded and deafened.

When he managed to get to his feet again, he was enveloped in bitter smoke. Fire spurted upward from the interior of the car and revealed, through the blown-open door on his side, the body half-hanging out of the car.

He ran back to the house and beat the knocker repeatedly against the tightly shut door. There was no sound within. He did not blame the old woman for not answering him; probably she was calling the police.

He picked up his mask, replaced it over his head, and started walking. The ringing went out of his ears and the dazzle out of his eyes. In two minutes he was inside a public phone booth. He called Gilson at the hotel, but the operative did not answer. He tried Lieftin. This time, a Kareenan policeman appeared on the screen.

At the policeman’s request, Carmody took his mask off. The Kareenan’s eyes widened on seeing the Earth Father of Yess, and his ma

“The Terrestrial, Lieftin, escaped over an hour ago,” he said. “Apparently, he used some sort of thermite to melt the bars over the windows and lowered himself by a rope he must have had in his luggage. We have an all-points out for him, but he is in a costume. He had it delivered by a bellhop.”

“Check on the Terrestrial, Raphael Abdu, for me, will you?” Carmody said. “Do you know where Gilson is?”

“Gilson left shortly after Lieftin escaped. Wait. We’ll check on Abdu for the Father.”

Carmody’s watch indicated five minutes passed before the officer’s face appeared again. He said, “The Terrestrial Abdu is in his room, Father.”

His face disappeared, but his voice said, “Just a moment.”

Apparently, he was talking to somebody else. “All right,” the policeman muttered. His face came back. “Gilson just sent in a message for you. You’re to call him at this number.”

Carmody spoke the number given him into the receiver. Gilson’s face came into view. Loud voices and laughter came through the receiver.

“I’m in a tavern on Wiilgrar and Tuwdon Streets,” Gilson said. “Just a minute while I put my mask back on. I took it off so you’d be sure it was me.”

“What’s up?” Carmody said. “By the way, I know about Lieftin’s escape.”

“You do? Well, I tailed him. He’s in the tavern here, talking with another fellow. A Kareenan, I’m sure. I got a good look at his fingernails and the back of his neck. Lieftin is dressed in a brown costume that’s supposed to represent some sort of animal. The Kareenan equivalent of a deer, I guess. His mask is an animal face with antlers. His buddy is dressed in a catlike outfit.”

Probably Ardour and Eeshquur, Carmody thought. He knew enough about the prominent figures of Kareenan mythology and fairy tale to identify them. But he did not take time to acquaint Gilson with his knowledge.

“Can you stick around there until I get a taxi? I’ll tell you what happened to me later.”

He cut Gilson off and phoned for a taxi. It was ten minutes before one showed up. However, stimulated by the large sum of money Carmody offered, the driver broke every traffic law as the opportunity offered itself. Carmody could not complain that the trip took longer than it should.

Tiiwit’s Tavern was well off the main street of the city of Rak, but it was crowded tonight. The festive mobs had spilled out this way after the parade had broken up. Gilson, costumed in the trogur dress similar to the priest’s, was waiting outside. Carmody talked with him for a minute, then followed him in.

Lieftin and the Kareenan were sitting at a table in the shadowy rear. The Kareenan was gesticulating in a ma

“It’s Abog,” Carmody said to Gilson, “Rilg’s secretary. Now, what in hell is he doing here talking with Lieftin?”

Abog would not be doing this on his own, just for pleasure. Was his boss, Rilg, a member of the Algulist underground? He could have heard of the assassin sent by the Earth fanatics and decided to use him for his own purposes.

“Listen, Gilson,” Carmody said, “we’d better be careful from now on when we’re dealing with the police. Some of them may be working for Rilg. You get out of here and go back to the hotel. If I’m picked up, I stand a better chance of careful treatment. I’ll stick close to Lieftin.”

Gilson said, “I hate to let you do it.”

“I know this world better than you. Besides, unless you’re pla

The operative left, wishing Carmody good luck. The priest stood by the bar for a while, sipping Kareenan beer. When a couple rose from a table near Lieftin’s and staggered out, Carmody seated himself. So noisy was the tavern, he could not hear what Lieftin and Abog were saying. It was unfortunate that he had not taken a tapper with him. With it, he could have beamed in on the two and eavesdropped.

Abruptly, the two rose and walked swiftly toward the door. Carmody waited a moment before following. Evidently they were on the alert, for Abog kept glancing behind him. The two went out the door when Carmody was halfway across the room.

A moment later, three policemen appeared in the doorway, blocking it. Carmody stopped and looked back. More policemen were coming through the back door.

Could Abog and Lieftin have spotted him or Gilson? Carmody did not believe it. More likely, they were just taking precautions—making sure that anyone trying to follow them would be held up by the police.

Carmody angled off, staggering, toward the washroom. He went through the door just as whistles shrilled and the alarmed patrons began to shout. Unobserved, he went through the open window of the washroom.

As he dropped like a cat onto the paved alley, a voice said, “Hold it! Hands above the head!”

Lifting his hands, Carmody turned. He saw a policeman standing there with a gun pointed at him.

“Turn back around! Hands on the wall! Quick!”

“I ain’t doing nothing, officer!” Carmody whined in lower-class Kareenan. He started to obey, then lifted his mask, flipped it at the policeman’s face and continued his turn, violently. The policeman said, “Ugh!” The gun fired, and the bullet exploded against the stone wall. Flying stone chips struck Carmody. He rolled into the officer’s legs, knocked him over forward. Before the officer could get up, he found Carmody astride his back. Then he went limp as the priest pressed with his thumbs on the areas just behind the ears.

Carmody picked up the gun and mask. As he ran toward the far end of the alley, he put the mask on and stuck the gun in his belt. There were whistles behind him, then shouts. As Carmody threw himself forward on the ground, bullets shattered chips off the wall ahead of him. He kept on rolling around the corner, was up on his feet and ru

There was not much for him to do now; he had lost Abog and Lieftin. He might as well go back to the hotel.

From the hotel lobby, he phoned Gilson’s room. There was no reply. He called Tand and was told by a servant that Tand was not expected back until early in the morning. Carmody went up to his floor with two policemen, unlocked the door, and asked them to search his suite. They reported that it was empty of intruders and seemed to contain no suspicious devices. He thanked them and bolted the door after them.

After drinking a cup of wine, Carmody made up his bed to look as if someone were sleeping under the covers. He spread a blanket under a table and, concealed by the heavy tablecloth, curled up and went to sleep.