Books In English "City Of Illusions" Ursula K. Le Guin | Page 33

morning, which dazzled his eyes like a midsummer noon. He stopped
inside the door because of that dazzlement, and because a motionless
figure stood just outside.
"Come out," said the weak, hoarse voice of the big man, Argerd.
"Wait. I can't see yet."
"Come out. And keep going. Don't even turn your head, or I'll burn it
off your neck."
Falk came into the doorway, then hesitated again. His thoughts in the
dark served some purpose now. If they did let him go, he had thought, it
would mean that they were afraid to kill him.
"Move!"
He took the chance. "Not without my pack," he said, his voice faint in
his dry throat.
"This is a laser."
"You might as well use it. I can't get across the continent without my
own gun."
Now it was Argerd who hesitated. At last, his voice going up almost
into a shriek, he yelled to someone: "Gretten! Gretten! Bring the stranger's
stuff down here!" A long pause. Falk stook in the darkness just inside the
door, Argerd, motionless, just outside it. A boy came running down the
grassy slope visible from the door, tossed Falk's pack down and
disappeared.
"Pick it up," Argerd ordered; Falk came out into the light and obeyed.
"Now get going."
"Wait," Falk muttered, kneeling and looking hastily through the
disarrayed, unstrapped pack. "Where's my book?
"Book?"
"The Old Canon. A handbook, not electronic—"
"You think we'd let you leave here with that?"
Falk stared. "Don't you people recognize the Canons of Man when
you see them? What did you take it for?"
"You don't know and won't find out what we know, and if you don't
get going I'll burn your hands off. Get up and go on, go straight on, get
moving!" The shrieking note was in Argerd's voice again, and Falk
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