The Players | Page 7

poor man, but I'm not a wealthy
holiday seeker, either. This voyage has to pay."
The other smiled. "Exactly why I advised you as I did. Come into this

wineshop, and I'll tell you the story."
* * * * *
Over the drinks, the older man explained himself. An experienced
trader, he had been operating between the mainland and Norlar for
many years. It had been a profitable business, for the island had been
dependent upon the mainland for many staple items, and had in return
furnished many items of exquisite craftsmanship, as well as the
produce of its extensive fisheries and pearl beds.
Then, the prophet, Sira Nal, had come with his preachings of a great
sea god, Kondaro, ruler of the Eastern Sea. Tonda told of the unbelief
that had confronted the prophet, and of the positive proof that Sira Nal
had offered, when he had gathered a group of converts, collected
enough money to purchase a ship, and made a highly successful voyage
to the distant lands to the east. Upon his return, Sira Nal had found a
ready market for the strange and wonderful products he had brought.
He also had found many more converts for his new religion.
His original group, now a priesthood, were the only men who could
give protection and guidance to a ship in a voyage past the sea demons
who frequented the Eastern Sea, and they demanded large offerings to
compensate for their services. Of course, a few adventurous shipowners
had attempted to duplicate Sira Nal's feat without the aid of a priest, but
no living man had seen their ships or crews again.
The profits from the rich, new trade, plus the alms of the traders
visiting Tanagor, had rapidly filled the coffers of Kondaro. A great
temple had been built, and the priests had become more and more
powerful, until now, not too many years after the first voyage of Sira
Nal, they virtually ruled the island.
For some years, Tonda, a conservative man and a firm believer in his
own ancestral gods, had paid little attention to this strange, new
religion. Upon arrival at Tanagor, to be sure, he had sometimes placed
small offerings in the votive bowl, but more often, he had merely strode
past the Slave of Kondaro, and gone upon his affairs.

At last, however, attracted by the great profits in the new, oversea trade,
he had decided to arrange for a voyage in one of the great ships. Then,
the efficiency of the priestly bookkeeping methods had become
apparent. The Great God had become incensed at Tonda's impiety
during his many previous trips across the channel, and a curse had been
placed upon him and upon his goods. Of course, if Tonda wished to do
penance, and to make votive offerings, amounting to about two
thousand caldor, it might be that the Great God would relent and allow
his passage, but only with new goods. His former possessions had been
destroyed by the angry Kondaro in his wrath at Tonda's attempts to
place them in one of the sacred ships. Empty-handed, Tonda had
returned to the mainland.
"But why did you return with more goods?" inquired Musa.
Tonda smiled. "The wrath of Kondaro extends only to the Great Sea.
And, even though I cannot go farther east, trade here in Tanagor is
quite profitable." He paused, smiling, as he sipped his drink.
"I think the priests like having a few penitents around to explain things
to newcomers, and to furnish examples of the power of Kondaro."
Musa smiled in response. "But my ten caldor make me and my goods
acceptable?"
Tonda looked around quickly, then turned a horrified face toward his
protégé.
"Never say such things," he cautioned in a low tone of voice. "Don't
even think them. Your piety makes you acceptable, so long as you
continue in a way pleasing to the great Kondaro. The money means
nothing. It is only the spirit of sacrifice that counts."
"I see." Musa's face was solemn. "And how else may I be sure I will
remain acceptable?"
Tonda nodded approvingly. "I thought you were a man of good sense
and prudence." He launched into a description of the technicalities of

the worship of Kondaro, the god of the Eastern Sea.
At length, Musa left his tutor, and repaired to an inn, where he secured
lodging for the night.
* * * * *
The following morning, in obedience to the advice given him by Tonda,
Musa took his way toward the Temple of the Sea. As he threaded
through the crowds already gathering in the streets, he took note of the
types of merchandise displayed in the booths, and hawked by the street
peddlers. Suddenly, one of these roving sellers approached him. In his
hands he