03. Gods at the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker Page A

creature with no ego or sense of  self-worth unless it was defined by what she could do for Lori. That creature,  too, was gone, and for the first time she was an individual again with the  qualities and capabilities she desired. She didn't want to be anyone else. Here  the heavy weights placed upon her by her past and by the Well World and Erdomese  culture and biology had been lifted, revealing a real person. Now it seemed as  if some of that weight was being forced back upon her, and there was nobody else  who could understand her problem. 
     
    It had to be done, of course, but it seemed as if freeing Lori was the worst  thing that could happen to her. 
     
      
     
    If everyone elsewhere noted that the Dillians were genetic twins, it was harder  for them to tell one Agonite from another. That meant that the creature who  showed up at the police station in Subar where they'd been instructed to check  in looked very much like all the other natives, except that he wore a yellow  sleeveless shirt and a pair of baggy denimlike trousers. It was clear from the  reaction of the police in the station, though, that he was far more important  than he looked. 
     
    "My name is Chief Inspector Janwah Kurdon," the newcomer told them, "of internal  security." 
     
    "We are-" Anne Marie started, but the newcomer waved her off. 
     
    "I know who you are. I know who all three of you are and how you came to be  here. What I don't know is why you are here in Agon or still anywhere in this  region. After all this time, I'd think that you would have grown weary and be on  your way home by now." 
     
    Anne Marie gestured toward a sullen Alowi. "She has lost her husband. In her  culture that is about as close to being killed as you can get. Her honor demands  that she find him or, for her, life would not be worth living. Since she's alone  and friendless and because we don't like being pushed around and, yes, betrayed  ourselves, we've remained with her." 
     
    Alowi said nothing. She didn't want to disillusion the Dillians or make them  feel as if they'd wasted their time for nothing, and frankly, she'd taken an  instant dislike to this chunky little reptile. 
     
    The secret policeman sighed. "So what did you think you could do?" "Us? Probably not much. Not without a great deal of help, anyway. On the other  hand, we must do something. Even if we fail, we can't simply let this go. Surely  you understand that." 
     
    "I understand that you were stuck in a strange country with no resources and you  actually thought you could find and take on one of the most powerful criminal  organizations in the history of the Well World," Kurdon replied. "Amateurs," he  sighed. "You realize, I hope, that these people will kill at the drop of a leaf  and that they can do things far worse than death." 
     
    "We more or less assumed that, yes," Tony put in. "We are not unfamiliar with  such groups. They exist on our original native world as well." Kurdon glanced around. "Come. We will walk a bit together. It is a nice  afternoon for the highlands." 
     
    They walked from the police station, one of the few buildings that was large  enough for the Dillians to comfortably enter, and out into the street, following  the inspector. For a while he said little except to comment on the nice weather  and give a little inconsequential local history, but eventually they reached a  large public park. Some locals were there playing various games or sitting  around, but much of the area was empty in the predinner hour and the inspector  was able to find a large area without trees or nearby people. 
     
    "I prefer to discuss other things in settings like this," he told them. "Of  course, we can still be spied upon, but it is much more difficult to do so  without being obvious. Subar is a nice peaceful city, but it is also one of our  most corrupt." He reached into his pocket and brought out a small conical device  that