Books In English "City Of Illusions" Ursula K. Le Guin | Page 75

"Will you tell me that she brought you here?"
"She fell sick; I was seeking water. Is she—"
"Hold your tongue. I am glad you did not say she brought you here.
Do you know this place?"
"No."
"This is the Kansas Enclave. I am its master. I am its lord, its Prince
and God. I am in charge of what happens here. Here we play one of the
great games. King of the Castle it's called. The rules are very old, and are
the only laws that bind me. I make the rest."
The soft tame sun glowed from floor to ceiling and from wall to wall
behind the speaker as he rose from his chair. Overhead, far up, dark vaults
and beams held the unflickering golden light reflected among shadows.
The radiance silhouetted a hawk nose, a high slanting forehead, a tall,
powerful, thin frame, majestic in posture, abrupt in motion. As Falk moved
a little the mythological beast beside the throne stretched and snarled. The
juniper-scented liquor had volatilized his thoughts; he should be thinking
that madness caused this man to call himself a king, but was thinking
rather that kingship had driven this man mad.
"You have not learned your name, then?"
"They called me Falk, those who took me in."
"To go in search of his true name: what better way has a man ever
gone? No wonder it brought you past my gate. I take you as a Player of the
Game," said the Prince of Kansas. "Not every night does a man with eyes
like yellow jewels come begging at my door. To refuse him would be
cautious and ungracious, and what is royalty but risk and grace? They
called you Falk, but I do not. In the game you are the Opalstone. You are
free to move. Griffon, be still!"
"Prince, my companion—"
"—is a Shing or a tool or a woman: what do you keep her for? Be still,
man; don't be so quick to answer kings. I know what you keep her for. But
she has no name and does not play in the game. My cowboys' women are
looking after her, and I will not speak of her again." The Prince was
approaching him, striding slowly across the bare floor as he spoke. "My
companion's name is Griffon. Did you ever hear in the old Canons and
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