The temple steps and portico, built of stone blocks, faced east across the precinct, presenting a solemn and majestic front. The rear of the building, however, rather like that of a theater (which to some extent it was), comprised all manner of storage and robing rooms, administrative quarters and other odd corners-the priests' refectory and kitchen, offices for conducting temple business, tally-rooms, cellars, a yard and shed where parts of the mechanism of the Tamarrik Gate were overhauled and maintained-and so on. Nennaunir, slipping quickly along a sunk path running beside the temple's south wall, turned, between two out-buildings, into a paved yard piled with firewood on one side and empty wine-casks on the other. Here a dark, scowling young man, dressed in the gray-green smock of a temple slave, was sitting on a stool, peeling brillions into a pail with a broken-bladed knife. He had dirty finger-nails and a stubble of beard, which he scratched with the knife as he paused, looking up at the newcomers.
"Hullo, Sednil," said Nennaunir, halting beside him in a cloud of perfume and trailing gauzes. "Found you easily, didn't I? How are you, my darling?"
The young man looked up at her with a grin which, while probably meant to express bravado, only succeeded in making him look mortified and rather pathetic.
"I was all right until just now. What d'you want to come round here for, looking like that?"
"I didn't come here to torment you," said Nennaunir. "Really I didn't, Sednil. Cheer up! Honestly, I believe it won't be much longer-"
"Three years," said he. "D'you call that long or short?"
"It might be'much less," answered Nennaunir. "It might, Sednil, truly. I'm doing my best, but it's a matter of finding the right person and the right moment."
''Like when you're on your back with someone else, you mean?" said Sednil, spitting into the peel-bucket.
"Well, that might turn out to be a good time, yes. You must be realistic, darling. I shan't miss any opportunity I get, I promise you."
Sednil made no reply, only continuing to gaze at her like a man looking through the barred window of a cell.
"Sednil, it
"Cran help them!" said Sednil. "Why aren't they squashed flat?"
"Well, there you are, you see; there's always someone worse off. They want to go in and watch the ceremony. You'll help them, won't you?"
Sednil said nothing.
"Won't you?"
"It's risky," said Sednil.
"I'm sure they'd really appreciate it. They'd show themselves very very grateful, I expect."
At this moment there rang across the city the clangor of the gongs striking noon, and from the steps of the temple a trumpet sounded.
"Yes or no?" said Nennaunir. "I'll have to be quick: I've got a friend waiting."
"Oh, twenty, I dare say," answered Sednil bitterly. "All in line." He turned to the girls. "Well, come on, then!"
By this time Maia, who had not been paying much attention to the talk, was as much agog as a child being taken to a treat. Smiling at the young man and taking his arm, she thanked Nennaunir warmly and then set off with him through the door, across an untidy, deserted kitchen and along a stone-floored passage.
"You're a friend of Nennaunir?" she asked conversationally.
"I used to be," said he.
"Before you came to the temple, you mean?" Maia was puzzled.
"How long did you get?" asked Occula from behind them.
"Five years. Oh, she's not a bad sort, I suppose. All the
same, she knew the truth of it and never said a word. Oh, never mind! What's the use?"
Maia still felt none the wiser.
"You mean you're here against your will? Couldn't you- well, run away or something? I mean, all these crowds of people from all over the empire-"
"Run away? Where d'you come from, lass? Look!" Sed-nil, pausing by a window on the staircase they were now climbing, stretched out one hand. Across the back extended a white scar, fully three inches broad, in the shape of a pair of crossed spears. In parts the flesh was proud, and in one place the wound had not entirely healed.
"M'm-so that's the forced service brand, is it?" said Occula, craning over Maia's shoulder. "I've never seen one before. Did it hurt?"
" 'Course it basting well hurt!" replied Sednil irritably. "What d'you think?"
"I don't understand," said Maia. "You mean it's-"
"If a man who's been branded like that can't show a token-either from whoever he's workin' for or else a 'released' token once his time's up-it's death straight away," said Occula.
"Yes, but Nennaunir persuaded one of the priests to ask for me, on a promise of good conduct. She's got friends everywhere, that girl-priests and all. I've seen one or two things while I've been here, I can tell you."
