The old man stares slack-jawed at Techna. But before he can reply, there is the sound of footsteps outside. At the tent-flap appear two burly desert men who stand aside to allow the entry of a third man, extravagantly dressed in gold pantaloons, crimson slippers turned up at the toes and silver-tasselled epaulettes. The man swaggers into the tent in his tawdry finery. In spite of the clothes, Tekna sees no great man here. "So, Wa'aii, you're awake. Pleasant dreams, I hope," the man sneers faintly, looking at Tekna with vague distaste. "I see you have visitors. I won't keep you. I've come for the rest of the money you owe me - that's thirty-five, you know - for our last transaction. I see you've used your portion." He gestures at the water-pipe.
Emrei shouts, "There's no money Ba'tun! Grandfather won't pay you!"
Ba'tun's fake smile jerks down a notch as he regards Emrei and Tekna with displeasure. His eyes flick around the tent. "Silence, brat! He'll pay all right. I am a generous man, but no one gets free credit. Isn't that right, Sir Wa'aii?"
The old man looks downcast.
Tekna thinks to himself "harmony with discord ... nobility from the desert sands. A bargain was met and now a price must be paid. I wonder though if all is as it seems. Maybe some profit of exchange to be made by one who sees more deeply than others. Mayhap that one is me".
"But what have I to trade in this furious market of violent exhange. My own sturdy staff and agile hands, my knowledge of things unseen. Perhaps a bargain lurks here for me but for now I must observe and wait my moment".
Tekna fades into the background and watches for an opportunity.
Grandfather Wa'aii instructs Emrei to open his chest, to Ba'tun's smug satisfaction. Emrei reluctantly slouches over to a chest near the old man's couch. As he opens it to get out the drug-merchant's money, Tekna catches a glimpse of a five-pointed design embossed in the underside of the lid. It is a design only used by an ancient order of Mnarish wizards, the Li'Tan Order. Then the lid is closed and Emrei is handing the money to Ba'Tun, who counts it carefully, then turns on his heel and departs with his bodyguards. "A pleasure doing business with you, Wa'aii," he calls as he leaves, giving Tech-na a disapproving stare.
Once again the tent is quiet.
Tekna looks to the old man with a mixed sense of pity and peeked interest.
"I think we may profit by a discussion and sharing of our various ways along the Path".
"But <with a grin> no such discussion was ever ended profitably on an empty stomache, (to the old man) and you look like you could use a good meal".
"Boy have you eats? If not, fetch some!".
<sitting down by the grandfathers bedside>
"Now what do the Li'Tan seek in the Shadowed Desert?" (cultural reference to the dream state).
As Emrei scurries out, Grandfather Wa'aii regards Tekna curiously. "One minute the desert wanderer scolds me for abandoning my earthly responsibilities, and the next he asks about the Li'Tan! What a man of contradictions." the old man mutters, though with a faint smile.
"But I see that you are more than you appear. Maybe you are here for a reason, though there seems to be no reason left in the world...What do we seek in the Shadowed Desert? What do I seek? I seek the one who is of three worlds, the Watcher in the doorway. I seek Him who has found the secret to eternal life. I am old. I fear the perpetual gloom of Shadowland, as all men do. It is near, ever nearer. But there is one who has opened the doorway between our world, Death's realm and the land of dream. I seek Him, to learn his secret. In my dreams of the Shadowed Desert I see him, and he beckons me, but no matter how long I sleep, it is never enough for the journey....ah but I see in your eyes that you know something of which I speak. You have seen the watcher, then, in your dreams? I see that you have. Do you seek Him too? You must seek Him at Death's door!"
Emrei re-enters the tent carrying a low table with a few victuals on it, and Grandfather Wa'aii breaks off. "Good lad, good lad," he mutters vaguely as Emrei places it carefully on the carpet. "Now be off with you. Grandfather is tired."
Emrei looks at Tekna, then at his grandfather, somewhat reproachfully. Then, shrugging his shoulders, he backs out of the tent.
"Eat, if you will." Grandfather Wa'aii gestures at the table. He himself touches nothing.
"This watcher you speak of has his place in the folk-tales of my tribe.
It is told by some that in the ancient days of my people men lived for many times the fleeting span of todays creatures by strength of their knowledge of living things and life itself.
If you seek such a one, I am intrigued for perhaps in pursuit of the man, or even his gift you may reveal in passing some of the pathways my ancestors once trod.
You are wise in the pathways of knowledge, but old and weak of limb. I by contrast am young and agile and burn with desire for the knowledge of things. Mayhap in this we should ally ourselves in the pursuit of this man his gift and history.
What say you ? Tell me more of your quest ?''
The old man fixes Tekna with a piercing stare before speaking. "There are two ways," he says "of finding this one: the way of dreams and the way of the waking world. Perhaps there is a third way, the way of death, but none dare risk that path. I, as you say, am weak. The way of the waking world is no longer open to me. The way of dreams is my road, and this I can teach you, if you are willing. But I warn you this: the land of dreams is filled with dangers, hidden and potent. If you choose to follow me you must obey my commands in the dream-land. Well, what say you?"
Tekna senses hidden meanings in the old man's words, but he seems genuine.
"The path to knowledge most often begins in darkness. And in the darkness <with a smile> one is like to find dark things.
I will follow your path, wise-one, and bide your directions, so long as you do not seek to deceive or harm me.
I, like you, sense both profit and danger in this venture. But on the day that those two old friends are separated you would find me most surprised".
Standing up Tekna stamps his quarter staff on the ground.
"So tell me, what must I do first !!"
"First, you must leave me," replies Grandfather Wa'aii. "In darkness, truly this journey begins. Return to my tent just before moonrise tonight. Bring your kilim1. It will be a long night. Neither eat nor drink until then. I too must prepare myself. Now go."
"Then I shall return <cautiously>".