Time Crime by Henry Beam Piper
page 62 of 149 (41%)
page 62 of 149 (41%)
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"May Safar's hand work with the hands of your gods for it," he said, making what, to a non-Calera, would have been an extremely ribald sign. "The gods watch over us," Atarazola said, lifting his head. "They are near us even now; they have spoken words of comfort in my ear."' Ganadara nodded. The gods to whom his partner prayed were a couple of paratime policemen, crouching over a radio a mile or so down the ridge. "My brother," he told Coru-hin-Irigod, "is much favored by our gods. Many people come to him to pray for them." "Yes. So you told me, now that I think on it." That detail had been included in the pseudo-memories he had been given under hypnosis. "I serve Safar, as do all Caleras, but I have heard that the Jeserus' gods are good gods, dealing honestly with their servants." * * * * * An hour later, under the walls of the town, Coru-hin-Irigod drew one of his pistols and tired all four barrels in rapid succession into the air, shouting, "Open! Open for Coru-hin-Irigod, and for the Jeseru traders, Ganadara and Atarazola, who are with him!" A head, black-bearded and sun-bonneted, appeared between the brick merlons of the wall above the gate, shouted down a welcome, and then turned away to bawl orders. The gate slid aside, and, after the |
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