3. A Rival Navy

           ThewordsofTathowerenosleepingdraughtformethatnight.IbegantothinkthatIhadmadesomewhatamistakeinwrappingmyselfupsoentirelyinmygovernmentofYucatan,andnotcontrivingtokeepmoreintouchwitheventsthatwerepassingathomeinAtlantis.Formanyyearspastithadbeeneasytoseethatthemarinerfolkwhodidtrafficacrosstheseasspokewithrestraint,andthatonlywhatnewstheEmpresspleasedwasallowedtooozeoutbeyondherborders.But,asIsay,Iwasfullyoccupiedwithmyworkinthecolony,andhadnocuriositytopullawayaveilintentionallyplaced.Besides,ithasalwaysbeenagainstmyprinciplestoputtothetorturemenwhohadreceivedordersforsilencefromtheirsuperiors,merelythattheyshallbreaktheseordersformyprivateconvenience.

           However,theirondisciplineofourPriestlyClanleftmenochoiceofprocedure.Aswascustomary,Ihadbeendeprivedofmyofficeatamoment’snotice.Fromthattimeon,allpapersandauthoritybelongedtomysuccessor,and,althoughbycourtesyImightbepermittedtoremainasaguestinthepyramidthathadsorecentlybeenmine,toseeanothersunrise,itwasclearlyenjoinedthatImustleavetheterritorythenatthetopmostofmyspeedandhastentoreportinAtlantis.

           Tatho,togivehimcredit,wasanxioustofurthermyintereststotheutmostinhispower.Hewasbymysideagainbeforethedawn,puttingallhisresourcesatmydisposal.

           Ihadlittleenoughtoaskhim.“Ashiptotakemehome,”Isaid,“andIshallbeyourdebtor.”

           Therequestseemedtosurprisehim.