der. He played then upon his pipes one night, however,
the bearing of which would have been enough to gain
the old Krishna forgiveness for near anything. But it
was not the true magic we heard mat night, for there is
only one true Krishnaўswart and hairy, bis eyes so red
26 ROGER ZELAZNY
and blazing. This one did dance upon the tables,
causing much havoc, and his musical accompaniment
was insufficient."
"Paid he for this carnage with other than a song?"
She laughed. "Come now, Yama. Let there be no
rhetorical questions between us."
He snorted smoke.
"Surya, the sun, is now about to be encompassed,"
said Ratri, staring out and upward, "and Indra slays
the dragon. At any moment, the rains will arrive."
A wave of grayness covered over the monastery. The
breeze grew stronger, and the dance of the waters began
upon the walls. Like a beaded curtain, the rain covered
that open end of the porch at which they stared.
Yama poured more tea. Ratri ate another sweetmeat.
Tak made his way through the forest. He moved
from tree to tree, branch to branch, watching the trail
below him. His fur was moist, for the leaves shook
small showers down upon him as he passed. Clouds
mounted at his back, but the sun of early morning still
shone in the eastern sky and the forest was a swarm of
colors in its red-gold light. About him, birds were
singing from within the tangle of branches, vines, leaves
and grasses mat stood like a wall upon either side of the
trail. The birds made their music, insects hummed and
occasionally there was a growl or bark. The foliage was
stirred by the wind. Below him, the trail bent sharply,
entering a clearing. Tak dropped to the ground, pro-
ceeded on foot. At the other side of the clearing he took
to the trees again. Now, he noticed, the trail was run-
ning parallel to the mountains, even inclining slightly
back in their direction. There was a distant rattle of
