"He does not wish to infect the worshippers with divinity. Were they so infected, what need would they have of priest or temple? I myself am a priest, a priest of the Red God. Do either of you know of the Red God?"

Myt-ser'eu shook her head. I said that since I was a soldier I might be a servant of the Red God.

"The ignorant masses believe the Red God evil," Sahuset taught us, "because he commands the evil xu. If he tells an evil xu to leave a man, that xu must go. They are compelled to obey him in all things." He sighed. "The Red God is the desert god."

Silence filled the crowded room that seemed too big for that small house. In it we said nothing.

"The horse and the river-horse, the pig and the crocodile are sacred to him. He has a great temple in the south-"

"Set!" Myt-ser'eu sounded frightened. "This is Set."

"The Red God has many names." Sahuset spoke as those speak who calm a frightened child. "You may use whatever name you wish. The names of gods do not matter, because no one knows the true name of any god."

"I think we'd better go," Myt-ser'eu told me, and took my arm.

I shook my head.

"You are a man of courage," Sahuset said. "I knew it. None but brave men have value. I have told you that I will earn your gratitude, if I can. You have not asked why I want it."

I said, "Then I ask now. What favor do you wish from me?"

"Only your favor," Sahuset told me, "only that. Suppose that we found a scroll in the south, a yellowing scroll inscribed with long-lost wisdom. Would you keep it for yourself?"

"Yes," I said, "if I could read it."

"If you could not?"

I shrugged.

"Bring it to me, and I will read it for you. Will you do that?"

"Certainly," I said, "if you wish it."

"Or a stone so inscribed? Any such thing?"

I nodded.

"That is all I ask. You will remember your promise to me-or I will remind you of it. Now take your hand from that."