Through Darkest Zymurgia!

I am not often at a loss for words, and the memory of it is painful to me. By the time we were settled in our chairs in the lounge, however, I felt sufficiently recovered to call for refreshment. As it was too early in the day for sherry, Baxter was soon at hand with tall glasses of Zymurgian beer. Sipping the excellent brew, I waved at Carbuncle to get on with it. Allow me to draw a curtain over the next few minutes; it is sufficient for me to state that that worthy man Carbuncle finally succeeded in convincing Philpott that we had no idea what he was speaking of. With gentle words and the persistence of a Pelham fishmonger, Carbuncle reminded him that we had not been privy to his conversations with Cadbury and Mukden, and persuaded him to start at the beginning.

Philpott pondered, pursing his lips. "The beginning...well, Thomas, I very much wanted to come to Zymurgia, and so I paid a call on you and Leon in your rooms. You can't have forgotten so quickly."

"Thad, let's assume we all have a fairly good grasp of events up until yesterday noon, when the barge arrived," said Carbuncle.

"Do we?" Philpott looked quizzically at Carbuncle. "I'm not at all sure that we do. I've hardly started analyzing my notes from Lyricum Town yet."

"For the sake of discussion, let's assume we do." Carbuncle paused, looking brightly at Philpott. "Now, just tell us what's happened since yesterday noon."

"Well," said Philpott. "The first thing that caught my attention, of course, was the ceremony when the trader arrived. I could not understand the words precisely, but I knew it was no common greeting."

"Traders of all kinds are often given a warm welcome by remote villages like this one," I said. "They bring news, entertainment, valued goods." I was objecting for form's sake, as I began to see where Philpott was headed.

"Yes," he nodded, "but this was more like a subject greeting a king. Mukden standing there, looking so stern in his regalia, and waiting to be formally greeted; Cadbury bowing so low, and speaking so submissively. I knew then that something was up. Cadbury is a good fellow, but he's as proud as any man here."

Carbuncle nodded. "He's right there, Leon. Remember that time in Phillipi, when he broke Lord Woolsey's arm?"

"Cadbury broke the arm of a peer of the realm?" Philpott was plainly shocked.

"The damn fool had tried to thrash Cadbury with his cane for not bowing and scraping," said Carbuncle.

"And anyway," I said, "Woolsey was only a viscount."

"A damn fool of a viscount," said Carbuncle. "His father was paying him to stay out of Angland, as I recall. But do go on, young Thad."

Well, then there was the feast," said Philpott. "A trader's visit might be sufficient cause for a feast, and they might even invite the trader, but I doubt they'd make him guest of honor."

Carbuncle and I nodded throughtfully, but kept silence.

"Finally, there was the ceremony we just saw."

"The trading, you mean?" asked Carbuncle.

"Trading? I didn't see any trading," said Philpott. "What I saw were villagers bringing tribute to the envoy of a ruling nation."

"But they were trading," I said. "None of them took any beer until they had paid for it in some way."

"That's the second oddest thing about the whole proceedings," said Philpott. He slouched in his chair and stared at his feet, which were stretched out in front of him. "I really don't see where the beer fits in. Cadbury wouldn't let me question Mukden about it."

"And what was the first oddest thing, young Thad?" asked Carbuncle.

Philpott chewed on his lip as he continued to stare at his shoes. "It's so obvious, Thomas," he said, looking up. "Mukden is clearly an envoy of Zymurgia to this village. This village has clearly given him extraordinary honors; the Ophir himself wouldn't have been treated any better. For all practical purposes, these people are Zymurgian subjects." He rubbed his nose, frowning. "And yet, neither Cadbury nor Mukden seems to realize it."

"What do you mean, Thaddeus?" I asked. "How can Mukden be an envoy, and not know it?"

"You saw how stiff and formal Mukden was in public, Leon. But in Cadbury's house he was as easy and merry as his two brothers. I asked him to translate the welcoming ceremony for me, and he couldn't."

"Mukden didn't understand it either?" I sat up straight in my chair, signalling Baxter to refresh my glass.

"He and Cadbury explained to me that that is simply how it's always been done. Every detail, from Mukden's silly little hat to the way the offerings are brought, is just as it has been done several times a year for as long as anyone can remember." It clearly piqued Philpott that it didn't all make perfect sense. "Cadbury told me that the villagers don't dare change anything, for fear that the traders won't return. Why the Zymurgians keep it up, I don't know."

"That tells us one thing, at least," I said, somewhat flippantly, I'm afraid. "The Zymurgians are as tradition-bound as the Serosans."

Philpott brightened at that. "Yes, you're right, Leon, they are. I had not thought of that, being concerned with the other enigma. An excellent observation."

Carbuncle smiled at the expression on my face, and leaned forward. "Did Mukden tell you anything about himself, young Thad?"

"A little," replied Philpott. "I gather that he and his brothers live in a village near the edge of the plateau, not far from where the hoist is. His family has been trading beer--he calls it 'dispersing the waters of Basenis', Leon--they've been trading beer with Seros for generations."

"Do they brew the beer in his village, Thad?"

"I don't know, Leon. I couldn't ask, so all I know is the little Mukden let drop. I don't think so, though." Philpott stared at his shoes for a while longer. "I hesitate to even say this, Leon, because I've got no real evidence to back it up. But Mukden seems to treat the goods he got in exchange for the beer as so much gravy. He'll gladly take them back with him, but it almost seems as if getting rid of the kegs of beer was his primary concern."

"That would explain why no guard was kept on the barge," Carbuncle noted. "And why they dumped the contents of the last few kegs overboard."

Silence reigned supreme in the lounge for several minutes, as we all pondered this.

"I see two mysteries," I said at last. Philpott and Carbuncle looked at me expectantly. "First, there is the beer, the 'Water of Basenis'. There is some significance to it that we clearly do not understand. I'll warrant that the villagers don't broach a single keg until Mukden is well on his way."

"That's very true," said Philpott. "Cadbury told me so."

"I'd like to know why they bother making it, if they won't drink it," said Carbuncle.

"Second," I went on, "there is Mukden arriving like the conquering king. None of the historical sources refer to the Zymurgians as anything but traders, and shrewd traders at that. Cadbury might be willing to swallow his pride in anticipation of swallowing his beer, but I'd guess the ancient kings of Seros weren't so open-minded."

I took a deep breath, and swallowed my own pride. "Thank you, Thaddeus, excellent work. We're twice as far in the dark as we were yesterday morning, so we must be making excellent progress."

"You're welcome, Leon."

"Yes." I turned to other business. "I gather from our brief exchange at the feast that Mukden is willing to help us to the top of the plateau?" Philpott nodded. "Will there be any problem hauling all of us up at once?"

"None at all," said Philpott. "So long as he doesn't have to man the windlass himself, Mukden said he doesn't care how many loads have to be hauled up the cliff. And he said that his people will be so happy with the goods he is bringing back, they won't mind either. But he winked as he said it."

"What about transport once we reach the top?"

"I don't know, Leon. We didn't ask about that."

"Very well. And when is he leaving?"

"Tomorrow. He'll dine with the village elders and Cadbury tonight, and get an early start in the morning."

"Very good. Well, then, gentlemen," I said breezily, "we've got a lot to get together for tomorrow morning, and I believe that luncheon is first on the list. Let's get to it!"

Despite my breeziness, there was in fact quite a lot to do. Carbuncle went to see to our camping gear, our instruments, and his toolkit. I needed to have a word with each member of our exploration party, expecially Cadbury, who was still in the village. I thought of sending Philpott to look for him, but immediately rejected the idea; I'd likely not see either of them until the next morning. In the end I had the steward roust out Hodgins for me, asked Hodgins to go to the village and roust out Cadbury for me, and went to pay a call on my ex-student.

Young Frederick had had a regrettably dull time over the previous days. Despite the captain's words about "parole", he didn't trust the young man and had confined him to the ship. Indeed, Frederick had spent the feast and the subsequent trading confined to his cabin. He had only just been allowed out when I found him standing near the bow, his hands clasped behind his back, staring at the falls across the lake. Their muted roar was everywhere; there is no true silence near Lake Saco.

"A sublime sight, Fox, don't you agree?" I asked as I joined him at the rail. "Imagine what it shall look like from above."

He turned to face me. "You're determined that I shall go with you, then?" His tone was dispassionate; it wasn't really a question.

I continued to take in the view. "Oh, yes, Frederick, most determined. I say, can you see that small spur of rock sticking out of the falls, about halfway down? I honestly think there is a tree on it."

"I'm surprised you trust me enough to allow me to come."

"Allow you to come, Frederick? Do you think this is a treat I'm handing out?" I looked at him, mock-surprise on my face.

"I rather expect you think so, Professor." His mouth quirked, but it wasn't really a smile.

"I suppose I do at that, Frederick," I said, turning to face him for the first time. "We shall be leaving tomorrow. I trust you will have your gear together?"

"It's little enough, Professor."

"Very good, Frederick, very good. I shall see you in the morning, then." I turned to leave, took a step, and then said, "Oh, Frederick?"

"Yes, Professor?" He had turned back to face the falls again.

"I suggest you not try to swim to shore tonight. Those monstrous trout are still fairly active in the vicinity, and I understand that one of them nearly had Jackson's hand off." I smiled briefly, then, and continued on my way.