The Muffled Bell

Doazda frowned. His face was as if it were set in stone. When he spoke, his tones were measured, but his eyes betrayed --- what? Hesht looked into them, and he became rooted into the ground, unable to move. Was there anger there? Certainly, but it was not what Hesht had expected. Doazda did not appear to be shocked. He had a sort of quiet anger that had appeared to have been under the surface of a controlled exterior for some time, and which Doazda now worked to conceal after it had been brought to that surface. Hesht was absorbed in Doazda's expression, barely listening to his words.

"For whom were you delivering, Hesht?" Seeing Hesht's wide open brown eyes, slack jaw, and a slight quivering of his hands, Doazda added, "You do not have to answer that. I should know better. But," he added , "I have the power to set it right, or at least buy you some time. Just give me the destination. I will take care of the rest."

"I d- do not see how," said Hesht, singing a bit to force the words out.

"Trust me. When was this scheduled to go, and where?"

"Any d- d- day now." Hesht was breathing heavily.

"Ah - Ah - I'ya was g - going to fix it so that s- s- someone else would c- c- cover for me while I ---"

Doazda nodded, and then softened. "Hesht, listen. You were just following orders. I am not mad at you. But I am going to need your help. First and foremost, you have to get going tonight. And nobody is to see you and Astra until you get to my place. Shake your head if you do not understand."

Hesht nodded his head, breathing just a little easier, but still shaking.

Then Doazda said, taking out, of all things, a lump of coal, "Now, the markings on the flask. Were they something like this?" Doazda sketched a two rows of lines, dots, and angles. Hesht looked dumb for a minute, and then nodded his head and pointed at the first row of what Doazda wrote.

"I r- r- remember this being on it. Yes. I do not r- r- remember this other p - part."

"That is enough for me. I do not know where it was bound for, but I know what was in it." Doazda did not add, And who created it. He simply said, "Do not worry about the missing flask. Just get Astra on her way, and out of Golabi as soon as possible. Take this bell", he said.

Hesht grasped the little bell, which was tied to a string, and placed it around his neck. The clapper was muffled with a cloth. Why was Doazda giving him this?

Doazda answered his thought by continuing, "When you get to my place, take the cloth off the clapper. Those who work for me will know that you are coming, and you will be safe. You will then wait for my return. That may take a day or two. Whatever happens, just wait. It is very important to me."

Hesht could not understand everything that Doazda was doing, and why he insisted on him waiting when Hesht reached his place. Still, Hesht knew that he was in trouble, and Doazda acted as if he could make it go away. That was all he wanted.

1. Hesht quietly but quickly goes to the Western Bridge.

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