Yoseh went up to the next level. It was much like the one before, except thathere and there, there were narrow ways like streets two storeys above theoriginal streets, leading not only to doorways but to some ladders andstairways going down. Some of those were being blocked by the masons, workingunder tents that kept the rain off. Most legitimate stairs and ladders wereinside, where many generations might live in the same vertical stack.
Back in the heart of the quarter there were places accessible only bydescending as many as five flights.
The third level was the highest with any access to the maze.
Yoseh had trouble imagining what it must be like when all the people weremoving around up there. Be like a swarm of bees pouring out of their hives.
Higher up there were places rounded in shape that did resemble big hives.
Other than at the center of the quarter most of the fourth-level places stoodfree.
He wondered what the quarter might have become in another hundred years if theHerodians had not forbidden this endless piling on. Six or seven levels, socomplicated nobody from outside could find his way around?
Though the sprinkle was not heavy he came across several low places whereaccumulated drainage ran in tiny brooks, into catch basins and on. At eachpool there were women filling jars. Not a lot of the water would go to waste.
One of the runoffs, though, ran into a ladder well. He imagined it must getpretty damp down in the maze when there was a lot of rain.
At the highest levels even the wooden pathways were painted white. White andwhite and white, and he the only body moving. The misty drizzle made itdifficult to see far. He felt lost in some strangely weathered desert.
He turned back, his nervous energy not diminished. But he was soggy now andgetting miserable.
What the hell was going on in Qushmarrah? Everyone seemed to be up tosomething. He could not understand his place in the middle of it all. Hewished he had stayed in the mountains- except when he thought of Tamisa.
An impossible dream, of course, but his heart quickened, anyway. Maybe theimpossibility was half the attraction.
He was thinking about asking Nogah to let him go inside the maze to explorebut there was something going on when he got back, Fa'tad digging men out ofthe alleyway and hurrying them off. Yoseh was astonished. Some had exchangedtheir Dartar black for Qushmarrahan-style clothing. Wrapped in cloaks againstthe wet, keeping their heads down, they did not give themselves away.
"What's happening?" he asked Medjhah.
"Someone came to see your girlfriend's brother-in-law. Fa'tad wants to knowwhere they go."
Naszif shook his shoulder. Aaron grumbled, "What?"
"Somebody at the door. I think this is it."
A thrill of fear. Aaron tried to bounce up but he was too sore. He had stiffened up terribly while he slept.
He put the peephole to its first use.
He closed it, whispered, "A woman. Alone. Ugly."
An almost smile from Naszif. "Let her in." He stepped over where he would be out of sight behind the door when it opened.
Aaron opened up. "May I help you?" He did not look at the woman, glancing up and down the street instead. He saw nothing but Dartars and normal traffic. No one appeared interested.
The woman said, "I'm the one you're waiting for." She sounded amused.
"Come inside." He stepped aside. "You woke me up. What do you mean, you're the one I'm waiting for?" "You have a message from one General for another, don't you?" she asked as she pushed past.
"Not me. They just figured I'd be watched. Naszif has the message." He closed the door. The woman eyed Naszif, surprised but not uneasy. "They didn't mention you.
I'll tell them to pay closer attention."
Aaron was uncomfortable. The woman talked and acted like a man. "Shall I stir up the fire and heat some water?" "I won't be here that long. Thank you, anyway. All right, Mr. Naszif. What's the message?"
"General Cado would like to speak to Colonel bel-Sidek concerning Nakar the Abomination and possible destinies of Qushmarrah. That's all I'm authorized to tell one of his agents. I could say more to his face. On my own, I'll say the General seems ready to offer whatever guarantees the Colonel feels are necessary to maintain his safety during their talks. The General thinks we've reached a crossroads. He thinks the interests of Herod and the Living may be allied at the moment." Aaron gawked at Naszif. The man always had had a tendency to be pompous, but nothing like this. Had he taken lessons when he became a Herodian? He grinned.
So did the woman. "Interesting. He might go for it out of plain curiosity.
That's all of it?" "For the moment. Unless you wish to take me to Colonel bel-Sidek."
"I don't think so. I'll see what he thinks and let you know." She turned to the door. "I urge you to waste no time. The General feels we're up against a lethal deadline. Minutes may be critical."
"I'll tell him not to fart around."
She left them aghast.
"Now what?" Aaron asked.
"Now we wait some more."
Aaron started digging around trying to find something to eat.
"There she goes," Medjhah whispered. "Give her a minute, then tell Nogah."
Yoseh looked at the woman frankly. "Walks like a man."
"They can't all be young and graceful. Unfortunately. Now. Go." Medjhah got up and strolled toward one of the wagons used by the masons. It was a large four- wheeler, covered, and the driver was huddled inside.
"Nogah?" Yoseh said into the darkness in the alley. "We saw her. Go get in the wagon with Medjhah."
Puzzled, Yoseh walked toward the wagon. Medjhah had disappeared. The driver was outside, checking the harness on his oxen. Yoseh looked inside the wagon.
It was empty except for Medjhah. "Come in, little brother."
Yoseh clambered over the tailgate. "What are we doing?"
"We're going to follow the woman."
"Why?"
"Fa'tad thinks she can lead us to the chief of the Living."
Yoseh tried to reconcile that with what he understood of what had happened last night. He could not. "Why does he want to do that?"
Medjhah shrugged. "Not now." The wagon rocked.