ElricAtTheEndofTime Book7ofElric byMichaelMoorcock version1.0 CONTENTS Introduction9 Elric13 ElricattheEndofTime15 TheLastEnchantment69 TheSecretLifeofElricofMelnibone84 SojantheSwordsman93 JerryCorneliusandCo.

199 NewWorldsJerryCornelius201 InLighterVein215 TheStoneThing217 Introduction ELRICATTHEENDOFTIMEwasthelaststoryIwrote aboutthealbinoprince.Insomewaysit'sanaffec tionatecommentaryonthekindoffantasyherowith whomI'mmostcloselyidentifiedandit'salsobased ontheremarkmadesomeyearsagobyM.John HarrisonthatthepeoplewhoinhabitmyEndof Timestoriesmight,fromElric'sperspective,seemto betheveryLordsofChaosthemselves.Thestory bringstogetherelementsfrommostoftheseries which,bythemidseventies,Iwascompleting.It wasfinishedin1977,originallyforabookwhichBig OintendedtopublishandwhichRodneyMatthews wouldillustrate.BigOeffectivelyfoldedbeforethe bookcouldappear.TheRodneyMatthewspaintings allexist,butonlyafewofthemhavebeenseen (principallyinRodney'sown1983Calendar)which isagreatpity,sincetheyrepresentsomeofhisbest andmostambitiouswork.Theonlypreviousap pearanceofthestorywasinTerriWindling'sand MarkArnold'sElsewhereanthology,whichcameout intheUSAin1981. TheLastEnchantmentwasmeanttobethefinal Elricstory.Itwaswrittenin1962,onlyashortwhile afterthefirsthadappearedinmagazineformand beforeIwrotewhatwastobecomeStormbringer.I gavethestorytoTedCarnellforhismagazineSci enceFantasybuthedidn'twanta"last"Elricstory.

Hepersuadedmetowritesomemorenovellasand inhiscapacityasmyagentsentTheLastEnchantment toAmerica,whereitwasrejected.Somefifteenyears laterTed'ssuccessor,LesFlood,cameacrossthe storyandreturnedittome.Iteventuallyappeared inArielmagazineintheU.S.in1978,illustratedby TimConrad.Thatwasitsonlypublicationuntilnow. LikeElricattheEndofTimeithasneverbeenpub lishedinEnglandandthisisitsfirstappearancein bookform. TheSojanstoriesaremyfirstfantasytalestobe professionallypublished.Theywerebeguninthe 1950sforTarzanAdventures,beforeIcametoeditthe magazine.Iwasseventeenwhentheystartedto appearandtheywerenotpublishedinbookform untilDaveBrittonandMikeButterworthrepublished themasSojan,thefirstbooktheydidasSavoyEdi tions.ItwasreillustratedbyJimCawthorn,theorigi nalillustratorwhohasworkedwithmethroughmy wholecareerasawriteroffantasticfiction.This bookwasprimarilyacompendiumofmyearliest work,togetherwithsomeofmywritingaboutmy ownfictionandIhaveincludedoneortwoother piecesfromSojanhere. TheStoneThingwaswritteninresponsetoare questfromEricBentcliffe,editorofthefanzineTriode, whichIusedtowriteforinthefifties.Itisoneof severalparodiesofmyownworkwhichI'vedone overtheyears(someofwhich,itcouldbeargued, werenotpublishedassuch)andit'soneI'mpar ticularlyfondof.Triodespecialisedinhumorous"fan fiction"storieswrittenaboutactualpersonalitiesin theSFfieldanddatesfromtheperiodinwhich sciencefictionfansdidnottakethemselvesquiteso seriouslyasnowadays,andthosewhomadereligion fromanenthusiasmweregenerallymockedforit.I hopethestoryitselfwillshowsomereadersthatI amneitherintouchwithsecretsupernaturalforces northespokesmanforanilluminatingnewmystical knowledge.AsamatteroffactI'mbynatureex traordinarilyscepticalofthesupernatural.Ihave alwaysconceivedmyfantasticstoriessimplyasthat fantasticstories,escapistentertainmentwhichhopes togivesomepleasuretothereader.Anyprofundi tiesinthoseromancesareatributetotheonewho discoversthemratherthantome.Foralongwhile theexaggeratedreactionofsomereaderstomyfan tasiescausedmetotrytodismissthemaltogether. However,IshouldliketosaythatIdenigratenei therthestoriesnortheirreaders,thoughIdoprefer mycomediestomymelodramasandpersonallywould putagreatervalueonbookssuchasGloriana,The ConditionofMuzak,ByzantiumEnduresorTheBrothel inRosenstrasse.I'vealwayshadahappyfacilityfor

fantasyandIsupposeit'scommonenoughforsome onetomakelessofsomethingwhichcomeseasilyto them. SomeofthenonfictionpiecesaboutElricandCo. whichwereintheoriginalSojanselectioneditedby DaveBrittonarestillhere,forwhateverinterestthey provide.IhaveDaveBrittonandMikeButterworth tothankformanythings,notleasttheirwillingness tosiftthroughlongforgottenpilesofpaperandfind manuscriptsandtearsheets(TheGoldenBargewould neverhavebeenpublishedhaditnotbeenfortheir retainingacopyofthemanuscriptwhichIhad thoughtpermanentlylost)andIshouldalsoliketo recognise,onceagain,TedCarnell'sencouragement astheeditorofmyfirstElricstories,PeterLedeboer's kindnessasthepublisherwhooriginallycommis sionedthetitlestoryasavehicleforRodneyMat thew'sillustrations,thepresentpublishersAlison Peacock,SimonScottandNickWebbofNELand theencouragement,inspirationandfriendshipof manypeople,amongstthemJimCawthorn,Eric Bentcliffe,RonBennett,AlanDodd,ArthurThom sonandEthelLindsaywhohaveknownmesince, asanenthusiasticand,I'msure,sometimesirritating fifteenyearold,IfirstbegantowritetheSojanstories. MichaelMoorcock, FulhamRoad July1983 ELRIC ElricattheEndofTime 1.InWhichMrs.PerssonDetectsAnAboveAverage DegreeofChaosInTheMegaflow RETURNINGFROMChinatoLondonandtheSpringof 1936,UnaPerssonfoundanunfamiliarqualityof pathosinmostofthefriendsshehadlastseen,as farassherecalled,duringtheBlitzonherwayback from1970.Thentheyhadbeendesperatelyhearty:it wasacomforttounderstandthattheconditionwas notpermanent.Here,atpresent,Pierrotruledand shefeltshepossessedabettergriponherpower. Thiswas,sheadmittedwithshame,herfavourite moralclimateforitencouragedinheranenormously gratifyingsenseofspiritualsuperiority:theadvan tageofhavingbeenborn,originally,intoalaterand probablymoresophisticatedage.The1960s.Some women,shereflected,wereforcedtohavechildren inordertoenjoythispleasure. Butshewasuneasy,soshereportedtothelocal TimeCentreandthebearded,sullenfeaturesofSer

geantAlvarezwhowelcomedherinwhite,apologis ingforthefactthathehadhimselfonlyjustthat morninglefttheLowerDevonianandhadnothad timetochange. "It'sthemegaflow,asyouguessed,"hetoldher, operatingtogglestorevealhiscrazydisplaysys tems."We'velostcontrol." "Weneverreallyhadit."ShelitaSherman'sand shookherlonghairbackovertheheadrestofthe swivelchair,openinghermilitaryovercoatandloos eningherwebbing."Isitworsethanusual?" "Much."Hesippedcoldcoffeefromhisbattered silvermug."Itcutsthrougheveryplanewecanpick uparoguecurrentswervingthroughthedimen sions.Somethingofatwister." "Jerry?" "He'sdormant.Wechecked.Butit'slikehim, certainly.Mostprobablyanotheraspect." "Oh,sod."Unastraightenedhershoulders. "That'swhatIthought,"saidAlvarez."Some one'sgoingtohavetodoaspotofrubato."He studiedascreen.ItwasGreektoUna.Foramoment apatternformed.Alvarezmadeanote."Yes.Itcan eitherbefixedatthenadirorthezenith.It'stoolate totryanywhereinbetween.Ithinkit'suptoyou, Mrs.P." Shegottoherfeet."Where'sthezenith?" "TheEndofTime." "Well,"shesaid,"that'ssomething." Sheopenedherbagandmadesureofherjarof instantcoffee.Itwastheonethingshecouldn'tget attheEndofTime. "Sorry,"saidAlvarez,gladthattheexperthad beenthereandthathecouldremainbehind. "It'sjustaswell,"shesaid."Thisperiod'sno goodformymoralwellbeing.I'llbeoff,then." "Someone'sgotto."Alvarezfailedtoseemsym pathetic."It'sChaosoutthere." "Youdon'thavetotellme." Sheenteredthemakeshiftchamberandwason

herwaytotheEndofTime. 2.InWhichTheEternalChampionFindsHimselfatthe EndofTime ELRICOFMELNIBONEshookabonewhitefistatthe greedy,glaringstarstheeyesofallthosemenwhose soulshehadstolentosustainhisownenfeebled body.Helookeddown.Thoughitseemedhestood onsomethingsolid,therewasonlymoreblackness fallingawaybelowhim.Itwasasifhehungatthe centreoftheuniverse.Andhere,too,werestaring pointsofyellowlight.Washetobejudged? Hishalfsentientrunesword,Stormbringer,inits scabbardonhislefthip,murmuredlikeanervous dog. HehadbeenonhiswaytoImrryr,tohishome,to reclaimhiskingdomfromhiscousinYyrkoonsail ingfromtheIsleofthePurpleTownswherehehad guestedwithCountSmiorganBaldhead.Magicwinds hadcaughttheFilkhariantraderasshecrossedthe unnamedwaterbetweentheVilmirianpeninsulaand theIsleofMelniboneShehadbeenborneintothe DragonSeaandthencetoTheSorcerer'sIsle,so calledbecausethatbarrenplacehadoncebeenthe homeofCranLiret,theThiefofSpells,awizard infamousforhisborrowings,whohad,atlength, beendispatchedbythosehesoughttorival.But muchresidualmagichadbeenleftbehind.Certain spellshadcomeintothekeepingoftheKrettii,a tribeofnearbruteswhohadmigratedtotheisland fromtheregionofTheSilentLandlessthanfifty yearsbefore.Theirshaman,oneGrroddYbeneEenr, hadmadeunthinkinguseofdevicesburiedbythe dyingsorcererasthespellsofhispeerssuckedlife andsanityfromthem.Elrichaddealtwithmore thanonecleverwizard,butneverwithsomindlessa power.Hisbattlehadbeenlongandexhaustingand hadrequiredthesacrificeofmostoftheFilkharians aswellastheentiretribeofKrettii.Hissorceryhad becomeincreasinglydesperate.Spritefoughtsprite, devilfellupondevil,inplanesbothphysicaland astral,allaroundtheregionofTheSorcerer'sIsle. EventuallyElrichadmountedamassivesummoning againstthealliesofGrroddYbeneEenrwiththe resultthattheshamanhadbeenatlastoverwhelmed andhisremainsscatteredinLimbo.ButElric,cap turedbyhisownmonstrousmagickings,hadfol lowedhisenemyandnowhestoodintheVoid, cryingoutintoappallingsilence,hearinghiswords onlyinhisskull: "Arioch!Arioch!Aidme!"

ButhispatronDukeofHellwasabsent.Hecould notexisthere.Hecouldnot,foronce,evenhearhis favouriteprotege. "Arioch!Repaymyloyalty!Ihavegivenyoubloodand souls!" Hedidnotbreathe.Hishearthadstopped.Allhis movementsweresluggish. Theeyeslookeddownathim.Theylookedupat him.Weretheyglad?Didtheyrejoiceinhisterror? "Arioch!" Heyearnedforareply.Hewouldhavewept,but notearswouldcome.Hisbodywascoldlessthan dead,yetnotalive.Afearwasinhimgreaterthan anyfearhehadknownbefore. "Oh,Arioch!Aidme!" Heforcedhisrighthandtowardsthepulsingpom melofStormbringerwhich,alone,stillpossessed energy.Thehiltoftheswordwaswarmtohistouch and,asslowlyhefoldedhisfingersaroundit,it seemedtoswellinhisfistandpropelhisarmup wardssothathedidnotdrawthesword.Ratherthe swordforcedhislimbsintomotion.Andnowit challengedthevoid,glowingwithblackfire,singing itshigh,gleefulbattlesong. "Ourdestiniesareintertwined,Stormbringer,"said Elric."Bringusfromthisplace,orthosedestinies shallneverbefulfilled." Stormbringerswungliketheneedleofacompass andElric'sunfeelingarmwaswrenchedroundtogo withit.Ineightdirectionstheswordswung,asifto theeightpointsofChaos.Itwasquestinglikea houndsniffingatrail.Thenayellsoundedfrom withinthestrangemetalofthebladeadistantcryof delight,itseemedtoElric.Thesoundonewould hearifonestoodaboveavalleylisteningtochildren playingfarbelow. ElricknewthatStormbringerhadsensedaplane theymightreach.Notnecessarilytheirown,butone whichwouldacceptthem.And,asadrowningmari nermustyearnforthemostinhospitablerockrather thannorockatall,Elricyearnedforthatplane. "Stormbringer.Takeusthere." Theswordhesitated.Itmoaned.Itwassuspicious. "Takeusthere!"whisperedthealbinotohisrune

sword. Theswordstruckbackandforth,upanddown,as ifitbattledinvisibleenemies.Elricscarcelykepthis griponit.ItseemedthatStormbringerwasfright enedoftheworldithaddetectedandsoughtto driveitbackbuttheactofseekinghadinitselfset thembothinmotion.AlreadyElriccouldfeelhim selfbeingdrawnthroughthedarkness,towardssome thinghecouldseeverydimlybeyondthemyriad eyes,asdawnrevealscloudsundetectedinthenight sky. Elricthoughthesawtheshapesofcrags,pointed andcrazy.Hethoughthesawwater,flatandice blue.Thestarsfadedandtherewassnowbeneath hisfeet,mountainsallaroundhim,ahuge,blazing sunoverheadandabovethatanotherlandscape,a desert,asamagicmirrormightreflectthecontrasting characterofhewhopeeredintoitadesert,quiteas realasthesnowypeaksinwhichhecrouched,sword inhand,waitingforoneoftheselandscapestofade sothathemightestablish,toadegree,hisbearings. Evidentlythetwoplaneshadintersected. Butthelandscapeoverheaddidnotfade.Hecould lookupandseesand,mountains,vegetation,asky whichmethisownskyatapointhalfwayalongthe curveofthehugesunandblendedwithit.He lookedabouthim.Snowypeaksinalldirections. Abovedeserteverywhere.Hefeltdizzy,foundthat hewasstaringdownward,reachingtocupsomeof thesnowinhishand.Itwasordinarysnow,though itseemedreluctanttomeltincontactwithhisflesh. "ThisisaworldofChaos,"hemuttered."Itobeys nonaturallaws."Hisvoiceseemedloud,amplified bythepeaks,perhaps."Thatiswhyyoudidnot wanttocomehere.Thisistheworldofpowerful rivals." Stormbringerwassilent,asifallitsenergywere spent.ButElricdidnotsheaththeblade.Hebegan totrudgethroughthesnowtowardwhatseemedto beanabyss.Everysooftenheglancedupward,but thedesertoverheadhadnotfaded,sunandsky remainedthesame.Hewonderedifhewalkedaround thesurfaceofaminiatureworld.Thatifhecontin uedtogoforwardhemighteventuallyreachthe pointwherethetwolandscapesmet.Hewondered ifthiswerenotsomepunishmentwisheduponhim byhisuntrustworthyalliesofChaos.Perhapshe mustchoosebetweendeathinthesnowordeathin thedesert.Hereachedtheedgeoftheabyssand lookeddown.

Thewallsoftheabyssfellforalloffivefeetbefore reachingafloorofgoldandsilversquareswhich stretchedforperhapsanothersevenfeetbeforethey reachedthefarwall,wherethelandscapecontinued snowandcragsuninterrupted. "ThisisundoubtedlywhereChaosrules,"said thePrinceofMelnibone.Hestudiedthesmooth, chequeredfloor.Itreflectedpartsofthesnowyter rainandthedesertworldaboveit.Itreflectedthe crimsoneyedalbinowhopeereddownatit,hisfea turesdrawninbewildermentandtiredness. "Iamattheirmercy,"saidElric."Theyplaywith me.ButIshallresistthem,evenastheydestroy me."Andsomeofhiswild,carelessspiritcameback tohimashepreparedtolowerhimselfontothe chequeredfloorandcrosstotheoppositebank. Hewashalfwayoverwhenheheardagrunting soundinthedistanceandabeastappeared,itspaws slitheringuncertainlyonthesmoothsurface,itsseven savageeyesglaringinalldirectionsasifitsought theinstigatorofitsterribleindignity. And,atlast,allseveneyesfocusedonElricand thebeastopenedamouthinwhichrowuponrowof thin,viciousteethwerearranged,andutteredagrowl ofunmistakableresentment. Elricraisedhissword."Back,creatureofChaos. YouthreatenthePrinceofMelnibone." Thebeastwasalreadypropellingitselftowards him.Elricflunghisbodytooneside,aimingablow withtheswordashedidso,succeedingonlyin makingathinincisioninthemonster'sheavilymus cledhindleg.Itshriekedandbegantoturn. "Back." Elric'svoicewasthebrave,thinsqueakofalem mingattackedbyahawk.Hedroveatthething's snoutwithStormbringer.Theswordwasheavy.It hadspentallitsenergyandtherewasnomoreto give.Elricwonderedwhyhe,himself,didnotweaken. Possiblythelawsofnaturewereentirelyabolished intheRealmofChaos.Hestruckanddrewblood. Thebeastpaused,moreinastonishmentthanfear. Thenitopeneditsjaws,pusheditsbacklegsagainst thesnowybank,andshottowardsthealbinowho triedtododgeit,losthisfooting,andfell,sprawling backwards,onthegoldandsilversurface. 3.InWhichUnaPerssonDiscoversAnUnexpectedSnag

THEGIGANTICbeetle,rainbowcarapaceglittering, turnedasifintothewind,whichblewfromthe distantmountains,itsthick,flashingwingsbeating rapidlyasitboreitssinglepassengeroverthequeer landscape. OnitsbackMrs.Perssoncheckedtheinstruments onherwrist.EversinceManhadbeguntotravelin timeithadbecomenecessaryfortheLeaguetode veloptechniquestocompensateforthefluctuations anddisruptionsinthespacetimecontinuaperpetu allymonitoringthechronoflowandmegaflow.She pursedherlips.Shehadpickedupthesignal.She madethesemisentientbeetleswingadegreeortwo SSEandheaddirectlyforthemountains.Shewasin somesortofenclosed(butvast)environment.These mountains,aswellaseverythingsurroundingthem, layintheterritorymostutilisedbythegloomy, naturalbornWertherdeGoethe,poetandromantic, solitaryseekeraftertruthinaworldnolongerdiffer entiatingbetweenthedegreesofreality.Hewould notrememberher,sheknew,because,asfaras Wertherwasconcerned,theyhadnotmetyet.He hadnoteven,ifUnawerecorrect,experiencedhis adventurewithMistressChristia,theEverlastingCon cubine.Astoryonwhichshehaddinedoutmore thanonce,indullereras. Themountainsdrewcloser.Fromhereitwaspos sibletoseetheentirearrangement(acreationof Werther'sverymuchincharacter):adesertland scape,acentralsun,and,invertedaboveit,winter mountains.Wertherstrovetomakestatements,like somanynaiveartistsbeforehim,bypresentingsim plecontrasts:TheWorldisBleak/TheWorldis Cold/BarrenAmIAsIGrowOld/TomorrowIDie, EntombedinCold/ForSilverMyPoorSoulWasSold sherememberedhewasperhapstheworstpoetshe hadencounteredinaneternityofmeetingswithbad poets.Hehadtaughthimselftoreadandwritein old,oldEnglishsothathemightcarvethosewords ononeofhismanyabandonedtombs(halfhistime wasspentincomposingobituariesforhimself).Like somanyothersheseemedtoequateselfpitywith artisticinspiration.Inanearlieragehemighthave discoveredhispublicandbecomequiterich(self pitypassingforpassioninthepopularunderstand ing).SometimessheregrettedthepassingofWhel drake,solongago,sofaraway,inauniversebearing scarcelyanyresemblancestothoseinwhichshe normallyoperated. Shebroughtherwaveringmindbacktotheprob lem.Thebeetledippedandcircledoverthedesert,

buttherewasnosightofherquarry. Shewasabouttoabandonthesearchwhenshe heardafaintroaringoverheadandshelookedupto seeanothercharacteristicmotifofWerther'sagold andsilverchessboardonwhich,upsidedown,a monstrousdoglikecreaturewasbearingdownona tinywhitehairedmandressedinthemostabomina bletasteUnahadseenforsometime. Shedirectedtheaircarupwardsandthen,revers ingthemachineassheenteredtheopposinggrav ity,downwardstowherethebarbaricallycostumed swordsmanwasabouttobeeatenbythebeast. "Shoo!"criedUnacommandingly. Thebeastraisedabefuddledhead. "Shoo." Itlickedlipsandreturneditsseveneyedgazeto thealbino,whowasnowonhisknees,usinghis largeswordtosteadyhimselfasheclimbedtohis feet. Thejawsopenedwiderandwider.Thepaleman prepared,shakily,todefendhimself. Unadirectedtheaircaratthebeast'sunkempt head.Thegreatbeetleconnectedwithaloudcrack. Themonster'seyeswidenedindismay.Ityelped.It satonitshaunchesandbegantoslideaway,its clawsmakinganunpleasantnoiseonthegoldand silvertiles. Unalandedtheaircarandgesturedforthestranger toenter.Shenoticedwithdistastethathewasa somewhatunhealthylookingalbinowithgauntfea tures,exaggeratedlylargeandslantingeyes,ears thatwerevirtuallypointed,andglaring,halfmad redpupils. Andyet,undoubtedly,itwasherquarryandthere wasnothingforitbuttobepolite. "Do,please,getin,"shesaid."Iamheretores cueyou." "Shaarmraaamtorjistooquellahmvyeeanr,"saidthe strangerinanaccentthatseemedtoUnatobevaguely Scottish. "Damn,"shesaid,"that'sallweneed."Shehad beenanxioustoapproachthealbinoinprivate,be foreoneofthedenizensoftheEndofTimecould

arriveandselecthimforamenagerie,butnowshe regrettedthatWertherorperhapsLordJaggedwere nothere,forsherealisedthatsheneededoneof theirtranslationpills,thosetinytabletswhichcould "engineer"thebraintounderstandanewlanguage. Byaflukeorperhapsbecauseofherpresencehere sooftenthepeopleattheEndofTimecurrently spokeformalearlytwentiethcenturyEnglish. Thealbinowhoworeakindoftartandivided kilt,kneelengthboots,ablueandwhitejerkin,a greencloakandasilverbreastplate,withavarietyof leatherbeltsandmetalbuckleshereandthereupon hispersonwasvehementlyrefusingherofferofa lift.Heraisedtheswordbeforehimashebacked away,slippedonce,reachedthebank,scrambled throughsnowanddisappearedbehindarock. Mrs.Perssonsighedandputthecarintomotion again. 4.InWhichThePrinceofMelniboneEncountersFurther Terrors XIOMBARGHERSELF,thoughtElricasheslidbeneath thesnowsintothecave.Well,hewouldhaveno dealingswiththeQueenofChaosnotuntilhewas forcedtodoso. Thecavewaslarge.Inthethinlightfromthegap abovehisheadhecouldnotseefar.Hewondered whethertoreturntothesurfaceorriskgoingdeeper intothecave.Therewasalwaysthehopethathe wouldfindanotherwayout.Hewasattemptingto recallsomerunethatwouldaidhim,butallheknew dependedeitherupontheaidofelementalswhodid notexistonthisplane,orupontheLordsofChaos themselvesandtheywereunlikelytocometohis assistanceintheirownRealm.Hewasmarooned here:thesinglemouseinaworldofcats. Almostunconsciouslyhefoundhimselfmoving downwards,realisingthatthecavehadbecomea tunnel.Hewasfeelinghungrybut,apartfromthe monsterandthewomaninthemagicalcarriage,had seennosignoflife.Eventhecaverndidnotseem entirelynatural. Itwidenedtherewasphosphorescentlight.He realisedthatthewallswereoftransparentcrystal and,behindthewalls,wereallmannerofartefacts. Hesawcrowns,sceptresandchainsofpreciousjew elscabinetsofcomplicatedcarvingweaponsof strangelyturnedmetalarmour,clothing,things whoseusehecouldnotguessandfood.There weresweetmeats,fruits,flansandpies,alloutof

reach. Elricgroaned.Thiswastorment.Perhapsdeliber atelyplannedtorment.Athousandvoiceswhispered tohiminabeautiful,alienlanguage:"Biemeee... Biemeee..."thevoicesmurmured."Baagenbaa gen..." Theyseemedtobepromisingeverydelight,if onlyhecouldpassthroughthewallsbuttheywere oftransparentquartz,litfromwithin.Heraised Stormbringer,halftemptedtotrytobreakdownthe barrier,butheknewthatevenhisswordwas,atits mostpowerful,incapableofdestroyingthemagicof Chaos. Hepaused,gapingwithastonishmentatagroup ofsmalldogswhichlookedathimwithlargebrown eyes,tongueslolling,andjumpedupathim. "O,NeeTubbens!"intonedoneofthevoices. "Gods."screamedElric."Thistortureistoomuch!" Heswunghisbodythiswayandthat,threatening withhissword,butthevoicescontinuedtomurmur andpromise,displayingtheirrichesbutneverallow inghimtotouch. Thealbinopanted.Hiscrimsoneyesglaredabout him."Youwoulddrivemeinsane,eh?Well,Elricof Melnibonehaswitnessedmorefrightfulthreatsthan this.Youwillneedtodomoreifyouwoulddestroy hismind!" Andheranthroughthewhisperingpassages,look ingtoneitherhisrightnorhisleft,until,quitesud denly,hehadrunintoblazingdaylightandstood staringdownintopaleinfinityablueandendless void. Helookedup.Andhescreamed. Overheadwerethegentlehillsanddalesofarural landscape,withrivers,grazingcattle,woodsand cottages.Heexpectedtofall,headlong,buthedid not.Hewasonthebrinkoftheabyss.Thecliffface ofredsandstonefellimmediatelybelowandthen wasthetranquilvoid.Helookedback:"Baagen... O,NeeTubbens..." Abittersmileplayedaboutthealbino'sbloodless lipsas,decisively,hesheathedhissword. "Well,then,"hesaid."Letthemdotheirworst!" And,laughing,helaunchedhimselfoverthebrink

ofthecliff. 5.InWhichWertherdeGoetheMakesAWonderful Discovery WITHAgestureofquietpride,WertherdeGoethe indicatedhisgiganticskull. "Itisverylarge,Werther,"saidMistressChristia, theEverlastingConcubine,turningapowerringto adjusttheshadeofhereyessothattheyperfectly matchedtheday. "Itismonstrous,"saidWerthermodestly."Itre mindsusalloftheInevitableNight." "Whowasthat?"enquiredgoldenhairedGafthe HorseinTears,atpresentstudyingancientlegendry. "SirLewGrady?" "ImeanDeath,"Werthertoldhim,"whichover whelmsusall." "Well,notus,"pointedouttheDukeofQueens, asusualatrifleliteralminded."Becausewe'reim mortal,asyouknow." Wertherofferedhimasad,pityinglookandsighed briefly."Retainyourdelusions,ifyouwill." MistressChristiastrokedthegloomyWerther's long,darklocks."There,there,"shesaid."Wehave compensations,Werther." "WithoutDeath,"intonedtheLastRomantic,"there isnopointtoLife." Asusual,theycouldnotfollowhim,butthey noddedgravelyandpolitely. "Theskull,"continuedWerther,strokingtheside ofhisaircar(whichwasintheshapeofalargeflying reptile)tomakeitcircleandheadforthelefteye socket,"isaSymbolnotonlyofourMorality,but alsoofourFruitlessAmbitions." "Fruit?"BishopCastle,drowsingattherearofthe vehicle,becameinterested.Hishobbywascurrently orchards."Less?Mypinetrees,youknow,areprov ingaproblem.TheapplesaremuchsmallerthanI wasledtobelieve." "Theskullislovely,"saidMistressChristiawith valiantenthusiasm."Well,nowthatwehaveseen it..." "Theoutwardshell,"Werthertoldher."Itiswhat

ithideswhichismoreimportant.Man'sFoolish Yearningsareallencompassedtherein.HisGreed, hisNeedfortheImpossible,theHeatofhisPas sions,theColdnesswhichmustFinallyOvertake him.Throughthiseyesocketyouwillencountera littleinventionofmyowncalledTheBargainBase mentoftheMind..." Hebrokeoffinastonishment. Onthetopedgeoftheeyesocketatinyfigure hademerged. "What'sthat?"enquiredtheDukeofQueens,cran inghisheadback."Arandomthought?" "Itisnotmineatall!" Thefigurelauncheditselfintotheskyandseemed tofly,withflailinglimbs,towardsthesun. Wertherfrowned,watchingthetinymandisap pear."Thegravityfieldisreversedthere,"hesaid absently,"inordertomakethemostoftheparadox, youunderstand.Thereisasnowscape,adesert..." Buthewasmuchmoreinterestedinthenewcomer. "Howdoyouthinkhegotintomyskull?" "Atleasthe'senjoyinghimself.Heseemstobe laughing,"MistressChristiabentaneartowardsthe thinsound,whichgrewfainterandfainteratfirst, butbecamelouderagain."He'scomingback." Werthernodded."Yes.Thefield'snolongerre versed."Hetouchedapowerring. Thelaughterstoppedandbecameayellofrage. Thefigurehurtleddownonthem.Ithadaswordin onewhitehandanditsredeyesblazed. Hastily,Wertherstrokedanotherring.Thestranger tumbledintothebottomoftheaircarandlaythere panting,cursingandgroaning. "Howwonderful!"criedWerther."Oh,thisisa travellerfromsomerich,romanticpast.Lookathim! Whatelsecouldhebe?Whataprize!" Thestrangerrosetohisfeetandraisedthesword highabovehishead,defyingtheamazedandde lightedpassengersashescreamedatthetopofhis voice: "Heegeegrowinaz!" "Goodafternoon,"saidMistressChristia.She reachedinherpurseforatranslationpillandfound

one."Iwonderifyouwouldcaretoswallowthis it'squiteharmless..." "Yakooom,oomglallio,"saidthealbinocontemptu ously. "Aha,"saidMistressChristia."Well,justasyou please." TheDukeofQueenspointedtowardstheother socket.Ahuge,whirringbeetlecamesailingfromit. Initsbackwassomeoneherecognisedwithplea sure."Mrs.Persson!" Unabroughtheraircaralongside. "Isheinyourcharge?"askedWertherwith undisguiseddisappointment."Ifso,Icouldoffer you..." "I'mafraidhemeansalottome,"shesaid. "Fromyourownage?"MistressChristiaalso recognisedUna.Shestillofferedthetranslationpill inthepalmofherhand."Heseemsamitesuspi ciousofus." "I'dnoticed,"saidUna."Itwouldbeusefulifhe wouldacceptthepill.However,ifhewillnot,oneof us..." "Iwouldbehappy,"offeredthegenerousDukeof Queens.Hetuggedathisgreenandgoldbeard. "WertherdeGoethe,Mrs.Persson." "PerhapsIhadbetter,"saidUnanoddingto Werther.Theonlyproblemwithtranslationpillswas thattheydidtheirjobsothoroughly.Youcould speakthelanguageperfectly,butyoucouldspeak noother. Wertherwas,foronce,positive."Let'salltakea pill,"hesuggested. EveryoneattheEndofTimecarriedtranslation pills,incaseofmeetingavisitorfromSpaceorthe Past. MistressChristiahandedherstoUnaandfound another.Theyswallowed. "CreaturesofChaos,"saidthenewcomerwith cooldignity,"Idemandthatyoureleaseme.You cannotholdamortalinthisway,notunlesshehas struckabargainwithyou.Andnobargainwasstruck whichwouldbringmetotheRealmofChaos."

"It'sactuallymoreorderlythanyou'dthink,"said Wertherapologetically."Yourfirstexperience,you see,wastheworldofmyskull,whichwasdeliber atelymuddled.ImeanttoshowwhatConfusion wastheMindofMan..." "MayIintroduceMistressChristia,theEverlast ingConcubine,"saidtheDukeofQueens,onhis bestmanners."ThisisMrs.Persson,BishopCastle, GaftheHorseinTears.WertherdeGoetheyour unwittinghostandIamtheDukeofQueens.We welcomeyoutoourworld.Yourname,sir...?" "Youmustknowme,mylordduke,"saidElric. "ForIamElricofMelnibone,EmperorbyRightof Birth,InheritoroftheRubyThrone,Bearerofthe Actorios,WielderoftheBlackSword..." "Indeed!"saidWertherdeGoethe.Inawhispered asidetoMrs.Persson:"Whatamarvellousscowl! Whatanoblesneer!" "Youareanimportantpersonageinyourworld, then?"saidMistressChristia,flutteringtheeyelashes shehadjustextendedbyhalfaninch."Perhapsyou wouldallowme..." "Ithinkhewishestobereturnedtohishome," saidMrs.Perssonhastily. "Returned?"Wertherwasastonished."Butthe MorphailEffect!Itisimpossible." "Notinthiscase,Ithink,"shesaid."Forifheis notreturnedthereisnotellingthefluctuationswhich willtakeplacethroughoutthedimensions..." Theycouldnotfollowher,buttheyacceptedher tone. "Aye,"saidElricdarkly,"returnmetomyrealm, sothatImayfulfillmyowndoomladendestiny..." Wertherlookeduponthealbinowithaffectionate delight."Aha!Afellowspirit!I,too,haveadoom ladendestiny." "Idoubtitisasdoomladenasmine."Elricpeered moodilybackattheskullasthetwoaircarsfled awaytowardsagentlehorizonwhereexotictrees bloomed. "Well,"saidWertherwithaneffort,"perhapsitis not,thoughIassureyou..." "Ihavelookeduponhellbornhorror,"saidElric,

"andcommunicatedwiththeveryGodsoftheUt termostDarkness.Ihaveseenthingswhichwould turnothermen'smindstouselessjelly..." "Jelly?"interruptedBishopCastle."Doyou,in yourturn,haveanyexpertisewith,forinstance, blackbirdtrees?" "Yourwordsaremeaningless,"Elrictoldhim, glowering."Whydoyoutormentmeso,mylords?I didnotasktovisityourworld.Ibelongintheworld ofmen,intheYoungKingdoms,whereIseekmy weird.Why,Ihavebutlatelyexperiencedadven tures..." "Idothinkwehaveoneofthosebores,"mur muredBishopCastletotheDukeofQueens,"so commonamongsttimetravellers.Theyallbelieve themselvesunique." ButtheDukeofQueensrefusedtobedrawn.He haddevelopedalikingforthefrowningalbino.Gaf theHorseinTearswasalsoplainlyimpressed,for hehadfashionedhisownfeaturesintoarough likenessofElric's.ThePrinceofMelnibonepretended insouciance,butitwasevidenttoUnathathewas frightened.Shetriedtocalmhim. "PeoplehereattheEndofTime..."shebegan. "Nosoftwords,mylady."Acynicalsmileplayed aboutthealbino'slips."Iknowyouforthatgreat unholytemptress,QueenoftheSwords,Xiombarg herself." "Iassureyou,Iamashumanasyou,sir..." "Human?I,human?Iamnothuman,madam thoughIbeamortal,'tistrue.Iamofolderblood, thebloodoftheBrightEmpireitself,thebloodof R'linK'renA'awhichCranLiretmocked,notunder standingwhatitwashelaughedat.Aye,though forcedtosummonaidfromChaos,Imadenobar gaintobecomeaslaveinyourrealm..." "Iassureyouumyourmajesty,"saidUna,"that wehadnotmeanttoinsultyouandyourpresence herewasnodoingofours.Iam,asithappens,a strangerheremyself.Icameespeciallytoseeyou,to helpyouescape..." "Ha!"saidthealbino."Ihaveheardsuchwords before.Youwouldluremeintosomeworsetrap thanthis.Tellme,whereisDukeArioch?He,at least,Iowesomeallegianceto."

"Wehavenooneofthatname,"apologisedMis tressChristia.SheenquiredofGaf,whoknewev eryone."Notimetraveller?" "None,"GafstudiedElric'seyesandmadeasmall adjustmenttohisown.Hesatback,satisfied. Elricshudderedandturnedawaymumbling. "Youareverywelcomehere,"saidWerther."I cannottellyouhowgladIamtomeetoneasessen tiallymorbidandselfpityingasmyself!" Elricdidnotseemflattered. "Whatcanwedotomakeyoufeelathome?" askedMistressChristia.Shehadchangedherhairto aratherglossyblueinthehope,perhaps,thatElric wouldfinditmoreattractive."Isthereanythingyou need?" "Need?Aye.Peaceofmind.Knowledgeofmy truedestiny.AquietplacewhereIcanbewith Cymoril,whomIlove." "WhatdoesthisCymorillooklike?"Mistress Christiabecamejustatrifleovereager. "Sheisthemostbeautifulcreatureintheuni verse,"saidElric. "Itisn'tverymuchtogoon,"saidMistressChristia. "Ifyoucouldimagineapicture,perhaps?Thereare devicesintheoldcitieswhichcouldvisualiseyour thoughts.Wecouldgothere.Ishouldbehappyto fillinforher,asitwere..." "What?Youoffermeasimulacrum?Doyounot thinkIshoulddetectsuchwitcheryatonce?Ah,this isloathsome!Slayme,ifyouwill,orcontinuethe torment.I'lllistennolonger!" Theywerefloatingnow,betweenhighcliffs.Ona ledgefarbelowagroupoftimetravellerspointedup atthem.Onewaveddesperately. "You'veoffendedhim,MistressChristia,"said Wertherpettishly."Youdon'tunderstandhowsen sitiveheis." "YesIdo."Shewasaggrieved."Iwasonlybeing sympathetic." "Sympathy!"Elricrubbedathislong,somewhat pointedjaw."Ha!WhatdoIwantwithsympathy?"

"Ineverheardanyonewhowanteditmore."Mis tressChristiawaskind."You'relikealittleboy, really,aren'tyou?" "ComparedtotheancientLordsofChaos,Iama child,aye.Butmybloodisoldandcold,theblood ofdecayingMelnibone,aswellyouknow."And withahugesighthealbinoseatedhimselfatthefar endofthecarandrestedhisheadonhisfist."Well? Whatisyourpleasure,mylordsandladiesofHell?" "Itisyourpleasureweareanxioustoachieve," Werthertoldhim."Isthereanythingatallwecan do?Someenvironmentwecanmanufacture?What areyouusedto?" "Usedto?Iamusedtothecrackofleatherydragon wingsinthesweet,sharpairoftheearlydawn.Iam usedtothesoundofredbattle,thedrummingof hoovesonbloodyearth,thescreamsofthedying, theyellsofthevictorious.Iamusedtowarring againstdemonsandmonsters,sorcerersandghouls. Ihavesailedonmagicshipsandfoughthandto handwithreptiliansavages.Ihaveencounteredthe JadeManhimself.Ihavefoughtsidebysidewith theelementals,whoaremyallies.Ihavebattled blackevil..." "Well,"saidWerther,"that'ssomethingtogoon, atanyrate.I'msurewecan..." "LordElricwon'tbestaying,"beganUnaPersson politely."Youseethesefluctuationsinthemega flownottomentionhisowndestiny...Heshould notbehere,atall,Werther." "Nonsense!"Wertherflungablackvelvetarmabout thestiffshouldersofhisnewfriend."Itisevident thatourdestiniesareone.LordElricisasgrief hauntedasmyself!" "Howcanyouknowwhatitistobehauntedby grief...?"murmuredthealbino.Hisfacewashalf buriedinWerther'sgeneroussleeve. Mrs.Perssoncontrolledherself.Sherosefrom Werther'saircarandmadeforherown."Well,"she said,"Imustbeoff.Ihopetoseeyoulater, everybody." Theysangouttheirfarewells. UnaPerssonturnedherbeetlewestward,towards CastleCanaria,thehomeofheroldfriendLord Jagged.

Sheneededhelpandadvice. 6.InWhichElricofMelniboneResiststheTemptationsof theChaosLords ELRICREFLECTEDonthesubtlewayinwhichlaughing LordsofChaoshadcapturedhim.Apparently,he wasmerelyaguestandquitefreetowanderwhere hewouldintheirRealm.Actually,hewasintheir powerasmuchasiftheyhadchainedhim,forhe couldnotfleethisflyingdragonandtheyhadal readydemonstratedtheirenormousmagicalgiftsin subtleways,primarilywiththeirshapechanging.Only theonewhocalledhimselfWertherdeGoethe(plainly aleaderinthehierarchyofChaos)stillhadtheface andclothinghehadwornwhenfirstencountered. Itwasevidentthatthisrealmobeyednonatural laws,thatitwasmutableaccordingtothewhimsof itspowerfulinhabitants.Theycoulddestroyhim withabreathandhad,subtlyenough,givenhim evidenceofthatfact.Howcouldhepossiblyescape suchdanger?BycallingupontheLordsofLawfor aid?Butheowedthemnoloyaltyandthey,doubt less,regardedhimastheirenemy.Butifhewereto transferhisallegiancetoLaw... Thesethoughtsandmorecontinuedtoengage him,whilehiscaptorschattedeasilyintheancient HighSpeechofMelnibone,itselfaversionofthe verylanguageofChaos.Itwasoneoftheother waysinwhichtheyrevealedthemselvesforwhat theywere.Hefingeredhisrunesword,wonderingif itwouldbepossibletoslaysuchalordandstealhis energy,givinghimselfenoughpowerforalittlewhile tohurlhimselfbacktohisownsphere... TheonecalledLordWertherwasleaningoverthe sideofthebeastvessel."Oh,comeandsee,Elric. Look!" Reluctantly,thealbinomovedtowhereWerther peeredandpointed. Theentirelandscapewasfilledwithamonstrous battle.Creaturesofallkindsandallcombinations toreatoneanotherwithhugeteethandclaws.Shape lessthingsslitheredandhoppedgiants,nakedbut forhelmetsandgreaves,slashedatthesebeastswith greatbroadswordsandaxes,butwerebornedown. Flameandblacksmokedriftedeverywhere.There wasasmell.Thestinkofblood? "Whatdoyoumissmost?"askedthefemale.She pressedasoftbodyagainsthim.Hepretendednot

tobeawareofit.Heknewwhatmagicfleshcould hideonashewitch. "Imisspeace,"saidElricalmosttohimself,"andI misswar.ForinbattleIfindakindofpeace..." "Verygood!"BishopCastleapplauded."Youare beginningtolearnourways.Youwillsoonbecome oneofourbestconversationalists." ElrictouchedthehiltofStormbringer,hopingto feelitgrowwarmandvibrantunderhishand,butit wasstill,impotentintheRealmofChaos.Heut teredaheavysigh. "Youareanadventurer,then,inyourownworld?" saidtheDukeofQueens.Hewasbluff.Hehad changedhisbeardtoanordinarysortofblackand waswearingascarletcostumequilteddoubletand tightfittinghose,withablueandwhiteruff,an elaboratelyfeatheredhatonhishead."I,too,am somethingofavagabond.Asfar,ofcourse,asitis possibletobehere.Abuccaneer,ofsorts.Thatis, myactionsareinthemainbolderthanthoseofmy fellows.Morespectacular.Vulgar.Likeyourself,sir. Iadmireyourcostume." ElricknewthatthisDukeofHellwasreferringto thefactthatheaffectedthecostumeofthesouthern barbarian,thathedidnotwearthemorerestrained coloursandmorecleverlywroughtsilksandmetals ofhisownfolk.Hegavetitfortatatthistime.He bowed. "Thankyou,sir.Yourownclothesrivalmine." "Doyouthinkso?"Thehelllordpretendedplea sure.IfElrichadnotknownbetter,thecreature wouldseemtobeswellingwithpride. "Look!"criedWertheragain."Look,LordElric weareattacked." Elricwhirled. Frombelowwererisingoddlywroughtvessels somethinglikeships,butwithhugeroundwheelsat theirsides,likethewheelsofwaterclockshehad seenonceinPikarayd.Colouredsmokeissuedfrom chimneysmountedontheirdeckswhichswarmed withhugebirdsdressedinhumanclothing.The birdshadmulticolouredplumage,curvedbeaks,and theyheldswordsintheirclaws,whileontheirheads werestrangelyshapedblackhatsonwhichwere blazedskullswithcrossedbonesbeneath. "Heaveto!"squawkedthebirds."Orwe'llputa

shotacrossyourbowels!" "Whatcantheybe?"criedBishopCastle. "Parrots,"saidWertherdeGoethesoberly."Oth erwiseknownasthehawksofthesea.Andthey meanusnogood." MistressChristiablinked. "Don'tyoumeanpirates,dear?" Elrictookafirmgriponhissword.Someofthe wordstheChaosLordsusedwereabsolutelymean inglesstohim.Butwhethertheattackingcreatures wereoftheirownconception,orwhethertheywere trueenemiesofhiscaptors,Elricpreparedtodo bloodybattle.Hisspiritsimproved.Atleasthere wassomethingsubstantialtofight. 7.InWhichMrs.PerssonBecomesAnxiousAbouttheFu tureoftheUniverse LORDJAGGEDofCanariawasnowheretobefound. Hishugecastle,ofgoldandyellowspires,an embellishedreplicaofKingsCrossstation,waspop ulatedentirelybyhisquaintrobots,whomJagged foundatoncemoremysteriousandmoretrustwor thythanandroidorhumanservants,fortheycould answeronlyaccordingtoalimitedprogramme. UnasuspectedthatJaggedwas,himself,upon somemission,forhe,too,wasamemberofthe LeagueofTemporalAdventures.Butsheneeded aid.SomehowshehadtoreturnElrictohisown dimensionswithoutcreatingfurtherdisruptionsin thefabricofTimeandSpace.TheConjunctionwas notdueyetand,ifthingsgotanyworse,might nevercome.SomanyplansdependedontheCon junctionoftheMillionSpheresthatshecouldnot riskitsfailure.Butshecouldnotrevealtoomuch eithertoElricorhishosts.AsaGuildmembershe wassworntotheutmostandindeednecessaryse crecy.EvenhereattheEndofTimetherewere certainlawswhichcouldbedisobeyedonlyat enormousrisk.Wordsaloneweredangerouswhen theydescribedideasconcerningthenatureofTime. Sherackedherbrains.Sheconsideredseekingout JherekCarnelian,butthenrememberedthathehad scarcelybeguntounderstandhisowndestiny.Be sides,therewerecertainsimilaritiesbetweenJherek andElricwhichshecouldonlysenseatpresent.It wouldbebesttogocautiouslythere. Shedecidedthatshehadnochoice.Shemust

returntotheTimeCentreandseeiftheycould detectLordJaggedforher. Shebroughtthenecessarycoordinatestogetherin hermindandconcentrated.Foramomentallmemo ries,allsenseofidentitylefther. SergeantAlvarezwasbesidehimself.Hisscreens werenolongercompletelywithoutform.Instead, peculiarshapescouldbeseeninthearrangementsof lines.Unathoughtshesawfaces,beasts,landscapes. Thathadneveroccurredbefore.Theinstruments,at least,hadremainedsane,evenastheyrecorded insanity. "It'sgettingworse,"saidAlvarez."You'vehardly anyTimeleft.Whatthereis,I'vemanagedtobor rowforyou.Didyoucontacttherogue?" Shenodded."Yes.Butgettinghimtoreturn...I wantyoutofindJagged." "Jagged?Areyousure?" "It'souronlychance,Ithink." Alvarezsighedandbentatensebackoverhis controls. 8.InWhichElricandWertherFightSideBySideAgainst AlmostOverwhelmingOdds SOMEWHERE,ITseemedtoElric,asheparriedand thrustattheattackingbirdmonsters,richandrous ingmusicplayed.Itmustbeadelusion,broughton bybattlemadness.Bloodandfeatherscoveredthe carriage.HesawtheonecalledChristiacarried offscreaming.BishopCastlehaddisappeared.Gaf hadgone.Onlythethreeofthem,shouldertoshoul der,continuedtofight.Whatwasdisconcertingto ElricwasthatWertherandtheDukeofQueensbore swordsabsolutelyidenticaltoStormbringer.Perhaps theywerethelegendaryBrothersoftheBlackSword, saidtoresideinChaos? Hewasforcedtoadmittohimselfthatheexperi encedasenseofcomradeshipwiththesetwo,who werebraverthanmostindefendingthemselves againstsuchdreadful,unlikelymonstersperhaps somecreationoftheirownwhichhadturnedagainst them. HavingcapturedtheLadyChristia,thebirdsbe gantoreturntotheirowncraft. "Wemustrescueher!"criedWertherastheflying

shipsbegantoretreat."Quickly!Inpursuit!" "Shouldwenotseekreinforcements?"askedElric, furtherimpressedbythecourageofthisChaosLord. "Notime!"criedtheDukeofQueens."Afterthem!" Werthershoutedtohisvessel."Followthoseships!" Thevesseldidnotmove. "Ithasanenchantmentonit,"saidWerther."We arestranded!Ah,andIlovedhersomuch!" Elricbecamesuspiciousagain.Wertherhadshown nosigns,previously,ofanyaffectionforthefemale. "Youlovedher?" "Fromadistance,"Wertherexplained."Dukeof Queens,whatcanwedo?Thoseparrotswillransom hersavagelyandmishandleherobjectsofvirtue!" "Dastardlypoltroons!"roaredthehugeduke. Elriccouldmakelittlesenseofthisexchange.It dawnedonhim,then,thathecouldstillhearthe rousingmusic.Helookedbelow.Onsomesortof daisinthemiddleofthebizarrelandscapealarge groupofmusicianswasassembled.Theyplayedon, apparentlyobliviousofwhathappenedabove.This wastrulyaworlddominatedbyChaos. Theirshipbeganslowlytofalltowardstheband. Itlurched.Elricgaspedandclungtothesideasthey struckyieldinggroundandbumpedtoahalt. TheDukeofQueens,apparentlyelated,wasal readyscramblingoverboard."There!Wecanfollow onthosemounts." Tetherednearthedaiswasaherdofcreatures bearingsomeslightresemblancetohorsesbutina varietyofdazzling,metalliccolours,withhornsand bonyridgesontheirbacks.Saddlesandbridlesof alienworkmanshipshowedthattheyweredomestic beasts,doubtlessbelongingtothemusicians. "Theywillwantsomepaymentfromus,surely," saidElric,astheyhurriedtowardsthehorses. "Ah,true!"Wertherreachedintoapurseathis beltanddrewforthahandfulofjewels.Casuallyhe flungthemtowardsthemusiciansandclimbedinto thesaddleofthenearestbeast.ElricandtheDukeof Queensfollowedhisexample.ThenWerther,witha

whoop,wasoffinthedirectioninwhichthebird monstershadgone. ThelandscapeofthisworldofChaoschanged rapidlyastheyrode.Theygallopedthroughforests ofcrystallinetrees,overfieldsofglowingflowers, leaptriversthecolourofbloodandtheconsistency ofmercury,andtheirtirelessmountsmaintaineda headlongpacewhichneverfaltered.Throughclouds ofboilinggaswhichwept,throughrain,through snow,throughintolerableheat,throughshallowlakes inwhichoddlyfashionedfishwriggledandgasped, untilatlastarangeofmountainscameinsight. "There!"pantedWerther,pointingwithhisown runesword."Theirlair.Oh,thefiends!Howcanwe climbsuchsmoothcliffs?" Itwastruethatthebaseofthecliffsrosesome hundredfeetbeforetheybecamesuddenlyragged, liketherottingteethofthebeggarsofNadsokor. Theywereofdusky,purpleobsidianandsosmooth astoreflectthefacesofthethreeadventurerswho staredatthemindespair. ItwasElricwhosawthestepscutintothesideof thecliff. "Thesewilltakeusupsomeoftheway,atleast." "Itcouldbeatrap,"saidtheDukeofQueens.He, too,seemedtoberelishingtheopportunitytotake action.AlthoughaLordofChaostherewassome thingabouthimthatmadeElricrespondtoafellow spirit. "Letthemtrapus,"saidElriclaconically."We haveourswords." Withawildlaugh,WertherdeGoethewasthe firsttoswinghimselffromhissaddleandruntowards thesteps,leapingupthemalmostasifhehadthe powerofflight.ElricandtheDukeofQueensfol lowedmoreslowly. Theirfeetslippinginthenarrowspacesnotmeant formortalstoclimb,everawareofthedizzyingdrop ontheirleft,thethreecameatlasttothetopofthe cliffandstoodclingingtosharpcrags,staringacross aplainatacrazycastlerisingintothecloudsbefore them. "Theirstronghold,"saidWerther. "Whatarethesecreatures?"Elricasked."Whydo theyattackyou?WhydotheycapturetheLady

Christia?" "Theynurseanabidinghatredforus,"explained theDukeofQueens,andlookedexpectantlyat Werther,whoadded: "Thiswastheirworldbeforeitbecameours." "Andbeforeitbecametheirs,"saidtheDukeof Queens,"itwastheworldoftheYargtroon." "TheYargtroon?"Elricfrowned. "Theydispossessedthebodilessvampiregoatfolk ofKia,"explainedWerther."Who,inturn,destroyed orthoughttheydestroyedtheGrashTuXem,a raceofOldOnesolderthananyOldOnesexcept theElderOldOnesofAncientThriss." "OldereventhanChaos?"askedElric. "Oh,farolder,"saidWerther. "It'salmostcompletelycollapsed,it'ssoold,"added theDukeofQueens. Elricwasbaffled."Thriss?" "Chaos,"saidtheduke. Elricletathinsmileplayabouthislips."Youstill mockme,mylord.ThepowerofChaosisthegreat estthereis,onlyequalledbythepowerofLaw." "Oh,certainly,"agreedtheDukeofQueens. Elricbecamesuspiciousagain."Doyouplaywith me,mylord?" "Well,naturally,wetrytopleaseourguests..." Wertherinterrupted."Yonderdoomyedificeholds theoneIlove.Somewherewithinitswallssheis incarcerated,whileghoulstauntatheranddevils threaten." "Thebirdmonsters,...?"beganElric. "Chimerae,"saidtheDukeofQueens."Yousaw onlyoneoftheshapestheyassume." Elricunderstoodthis."Aha!" "Buthowcanweenterit?"Wertherspokealmost tohimself. "Wemustwaituntilnightfall,"saidElric,"and

enterunderthecoverofdarkness." "Nightfall?"Wertherbrightened. Suddenlytheywereinutterdarkness. SomewheretheDukeofQueenslosthisfooting andfellwithamuffledcurse. 9.InWhichMrs.PerssonAtLastMakesContactWith HerOldFriend THEYSTOODtogetherbeneaththestripedawningof thetentwhileashortdistanceawayarmouredmen, mountedonarmouredhorses,jousted,wereinjured ordied.Thetwomembersworeappropriatecos tumesfortheperiod.LordJaggedlookedhandsome inhissurcoatandmail,butUnaPerssonmerely lookeduncomfortableinherwimpleandkirtle. "Ican'tleavejustnow,"hewassaying."Iam layingthefoundationsforaveryimportantdevelop ment." "WhichwillcometonothingunlessElricisre turned,"shesaid. Aknightwithabrokenlancethunderedpast, coveringthemindust. "WellplayedSirHolger!"calledLordJagged."An ancestorofmine,youknow,"hetoldher. "Youwillnotbeabletorecognisetheworldofthe EndofTimewhenyoureturn,ifthisisallowedto continue,"shesaid. "It'salwaysdifficult,isn'tit?"Buthewaslistening tohernow. "Thesedisruptionscouldaseasilyaffectusand leaveusstranded,"sheadded."Wewouldloseany freedomwehavegained." Hebitintoapomegranateandofferedittoher. "Youcanonlygettheseinthisarea.Didyouknow? ImpossibletofindinEngland.Inthethirteenthcen tury,atanyrate.Theideaoffreedomissucha nebulousone,isn'tit?Mostofthetimewhenangry peoplearespeakingof'freedom'whattheyareactu allyaskingforismuchsimplerrespect.Dothosein authorityorthosewithpowereverreallyrespect thosewhodonothavepower?"Hepaused."Ordo theymean'power'andnot'freedom.'Orarethey thesame...?"

"Really,Jagged,thisisnotimeforselfindulgence." Helookedabouthim."There'slittleelsetodoin theMiddleEastinthethirteenthcentury,Iassure you,excepteatpomegranatesandphilosophise..." "YoumustcomebacktotheEndofTime." Hewipedhishandsomechin."Yoururgency,"he said,"worriesme,Una.Thesemattersshouldbe handledwithdelicacyslowly..." "Theentirefabricwillcollapseunlessheisre turnedtohisowndimension.Heisanimportant factorinthewholeplan." "Well,yes,Iunderstandthat." "Heis,inonesenseatleast,yourprotege." "Iknow.Butnotmyresponsibility." "Youmusthelp,"shesaid. Therewasaloudbangandacrash. AsplinterflewintoMrs.Persson'seye. "Oh,zounds!"shesaid. 10.InWhichTheCastleIsAssaultedAndThePlot Thickened AMOONhadappearedabovethespiresofthecastle whichseemedtoElrictohavechangeditsshape sincehehadfirstseenit.Hemeanttoaskhiscom panionsforanexplanation,butatpresenttheywere allsworntosilenceastheycreptnearer.Fromwithin thecastleburstlight,emanatingfromgutteringbrands stuckintobracketsonthewalls.Therewaslaughter, noiseoffeasting.Hiddenbehindarocktheypeered throughonelargewindowandinspectedthescene within. Theentirehallwasfullofmenwearingidentical costumes.Theyhadblackskullcaps,loosewhite blousesandtrousers,blackshoes.Theireyebrows wereblackindeadwhitefaces,evenpalerthan Elric'sandtheyhadbrightredlips. "Aha,"whisperedWerther,"theparrotsarecele bratingtheirvictory.Soontheywillbetoodrunkto knowwhatishappeningtothem." "Parrots?"saidElric."Whatisthatword?" "Pierrots,hemeans,"saidtheDukeofQueens.

"Don'tyou,Werther?"Therewereevidentlycertain wordswhichdidnottranslateeasilyintotheHigh SpeechofMelnibone. "Sshh,"saidtheLastRomantic,"theywillcapture usandtortureustodeathiftheydetectourpresence." Theyworkedtheirwayaroundthecastle.Itwas guardedatintervalsbygiganticwarriorswhomElric atfirstmistookforstatues,savethat,whenhelooked closely,hecouldseethembreathingveryslowly. Theywereunarmed,buttheirfistsandfeetwere disproportionatelylargeandcouldcrushanyintruder theydetected. "Theyaresluggish,bythelookofthem,"said Elric."Ifwearequick,wecanrunbeneaththemand enterthecastlebeforetheyrealiseit.Letmetryfirst. IfIsucceed,youfollow." Wertherclappedhisnewcomradeontheback. "Verywell." Elricwaiteduntilthenearestguardhaltedand spreadhishugefeetapart,thenhedashedforward, settlinglikeaninsectbetweenthegiant'slegsand flinginghimselfthroughadimlylitwindow.He foundhimselfinsomesortofstoreroom.Hehadnot beenseen,thoughtheguardcockedhisearforhalf amomentbeforeresuminghispace. Elriclookedcautiouslyoutandsignalledtohis companions.TheDukeofQueenswaitedforthe guardtostopagain,thenhe,too,madeforthe windowandjoinedElric.Hewaspantingandgrin ning."Thisiswonderful,"hesaid. Elricadmiredhisspirit.Therewasnodoubtthat theguardcouldcrushanyofthemtoapulp,even if(asstillnaggedathisbrain)thiswasallsomesort ofcomplicatedillusion. Anotherdash,andWertherwaswiththem. Cautiously,Elricopenedthedoorofthestore room.Theylookedontoadesertedlanding.They crossedthelandingandlookedoverabalustrade. Theyhadexpectedtoseeanotherhall,butinstead therewasaminiaturelakeonwhichfloatedthe mostbeautifulminiatureship,allmotherofpearl, brassandebony,withgoldensailsandsilvermasts. Surroundingthisshipweremermaidsandmermen bearingtraysofexoticfood(remindingElrichow hungryhestillwas)whichtheyfedtotheship's onlypassenger,MistressChristia. "Sheisunderanenchantment,"saidElric."They

beguileherwithillusionssothatshewillnotwishto comewithusevenifwedorescueher.Doyou knownocounterspells?" Wertherthoughtforamoment.Thenheshookhis head. "YoumustbeveryminorLordsofChaos,"said Elric,bitinghislowerlip. Fromthelake,MistressChristiagiggledanddrew oneofthemermaidstowardsher."Comehere,my prettypiscine!" "MistressChristia!"hissedWertherdeGoethe. "Oh!"Thecaptivewidenedhereyes(whichwere nowbothlargeandblue)."Atlast!" "Youwishtoberescued?"saidElric. "Rescued?Onlybyyou,mostalluringofalbinoes!" Elrichardenedhisfeatures."Iamnottheonewho lovesyou,madam." "What?Iamloved?Bywhom?Byyou,Dukeof Queens?" "Sshh,"saidElric."Thedemonswillhearus." "Oh,ofcourse,"saidMistressChristiagravely, andfellsilentforasecond."I'llgetridofallthis, shallI?" Andshetouchedoneofherrings. Ship,lakeandmerfolkweregone.Shelayon silkencushions,attendedbymonkeys. "Sorcery!"saidElric."Ifshehassuchpower,then why?" "Itislimited,"explainedWerther."Merelytosuch tricks." "Quite,"saidMistressChristia. Elricglaredatthem."Yousurroundmewithillu sions.YoumakemethinkIamaidingyou,when really..." "No,no!"criedWerther."Iassureyou,LordElric, youhaveourgreatestrespectwell,mineatleastwe areonlyattemptingto" Therewasaroarfromthegalleryabove.Rank

uponrankofgrinningdemonslookeddownupon them.Theywerearmedtotheteeth. "Hurry!"TheDukeofQueensleapttothecush ionsandseizedMistressChristia,flingingherover hisshoulder."Wecanneverdefeatsomany!" Thedemonswerealreadyrushingdownthecircu larstaircase.Elric,stillnotcertainwhetherhisnew friendsdeceivedhimornot,madeadecision.He calledtotheDukeofQueens."Getherfromthe castle.We'llkeepthemfromyouforafewmo ments,atleast."Hecouldnothelphimself.He behavedimpulsively. TheDukeofQueens,swordinonehand,Mistress Christiaovertheothershoulder,ranintoanarrow passage.ElricandWertherstoodtogetherasthe demonsrusheddownonthem.Blademetblade. Therewasanunbearableshrillingofsteelmingled withthecacklingsandshrieksofthedemonsasthey gnashedtheirteethandrolledtheireyesandslashed atthepairwithswords,knivesandaxes.Butworst ofallwasthesmell.Thedreadfulsmellofburning fleshwhichfilledtheairandthreatenedtochoke Elric.Itcamefromthedemons.ThesmellofHell. Hedidhisbesttocoverhisnostrilsashefought, certainthatthesmellmustoverwhelmhimbefore theswords.Abovehimwasasetofmetalrungs fixedintothestones,leadinghighintoakindofa chimney.Asapausecamehepointedupwardto Werther,whounderstoodhim.Foramomentthey managedtodrivethedemonsback.Wertherjumped ontoElric'sshoulders(againdisplayingastrange lightness)andreacheddowntohaulthealbinoafter him. Whilethedemonswailedandcackledbelow,they begantoclimbthechimney. Theyclimbedfornearlyfiftyfeetbeforetheyfound themselvesinasmall,roundroomwhosewindows lookedoutoverthepurplecragsand,beyondthem, toasceneofbleakrockypavementspittedwith holes,likesomevastunlikelycheese. Andthere,rollingoverthisrelativelyflatland scape,infulldaylight(forthesunhadrisen)wasthe DukeofQueensinacarriageofbrassandwood, studdedwithjewels,anddrawnbytwobovinecrea tureswhichlookedtoElricasiftheymightbethe fabulousoxenofmythologywhohaddrawnthe warchariotofhisancestorstodobattlewiththe emergingnationsofmankind. MistressChristiawasbesidetheDukeofQueens.

TheyseemedtobewaitingforElricandWerther. "It'simpossible,"saidthealbino."Wecouldnot getoutofthistower,letalonethosecrags.Iwonder howtheymanagedtomovesoquicklyandsofar. Andwheredidthechariotitselfcomefrom?" "Stolen,nodoubt,fromthedemons,"saidWerther. "See,therearewingshere."Heindicatedaheapof feathersinthecorneroftheroom."Wecanuse those." "Whatwizardryisthis?"saidElric."Mancannot flyonbirdwings." ''Withtheappropriatespellhecan,"saidWerther. "Iamnotthatwellversedinthemagicarts,of course,butletmesee..."Hepickeduponesetof wings.Theyweresoftandglintedwithsubtle,rain bowcolours.HeplacedthemonElric'sback,mur muringhisspell: Oh,forthewings,forthewingsofadove, Tocarrymetotheone1love... "There!"Hewasverypleasedwithhimself.Elric movedhisshouldersandhiswingsbegantoflap. "Excellent!Offyougo,Elric.I'lljoinyouina moment." Elrichesitated,thensawtheheadofthefirstde monemergingfromtheholeinthefloor.Hejumped tothewindowledgeandleaptintospace.Thewings sustainedhim.Againstalllogicheflewsmoothly towardsthewaitingchariotandbehindhim,came WertherdeGoethe.Atthewindowsofthetower thedemonscrowded,shakingfistsandweaponsas theirpreyescapedthem. Elriclandedratherawkwardlybesidethechariot andwashelpedaboardbytheDukeofQueens. Wertherjoinedthem,droppingexpertlyamongst them.Heremovedthewingsfromthealbino'sback andnoddedtotheDukeofQueenswhoyelledat theoxen,crackinghiswhipastheybegantomove. MistressChristiaflungherarmsaboutElric'sneck. "Whatcourage!Whatresourcefulness!"shebreathed. "Withoutyou,Ishouldnowberuined!" ElricsheathedStormbringer."Weallthreeworked togetherforyourrescue,madam."Gentlyhere movedherarms.Courteouslyhebowedandleaned againstthefarsideofthechariotasitbumpedand

hurtledoverthepeculiarrockysurface. "Swifter!Swifter!"calledtheDukeofQueenscast ingurgentlooksbackward."Wearefollowed!" Fromthedisappearingtowertherenowpoureda hostofflying,gibberingthings.Onceagainthecrea tureshadchangedshapeandhadassumedtheform ofstriped,wingedcats,allglaringeyes,fangsand extendedclaws. Therockbecameviscous,cloggingthewheelsof thechariot,astheyreachedwhatappearedtobea silveryroad,flowingbetweenthehightreesofan alienforestalreadytouchedbyaweirdtwilight. Thefirstoftheflyingcatscaughtupwiththem, slashing. ElricdrewStormbringerandcutback.Thebeast roaredinpain,bloodstreamingfromitsseveredleg, itswingsflappinginElric'sfaceasithoveredand attemptedtosnapatthesword. Thechariotrolledfaster,throughtheforestto greenfieldstouchedbythemoon.Thedayswere short,itseemed,inthispartofChaos.Apath stretchedskyward.TheDukeofQueensdrovethe chariotstraightupit,headingforthemoonitself. Themoongrewlargerandlargerandstillthe demonspursuedthem,buttheycouldnotflyasfast asthechariotwhichwentsoswiftlythatsorcery mustsurelyspeedit.Nowtheycouldonlybeheard inthedarknessbehindandthesilvermoonwas huge. "There!"calledWerther."Thereissafety!" Ontheyraceduntilthemoonwasreached,the oxenleapingintheirtraces,gallopingoverthegleam ingsurfacetowhereawhitepalaceawaitedthem. "Sanctuary,"saidtheDukeofQueens.Andhe laughedawild,fulllaughofsheerjoy. Thepalacewaslikeivory,carvedandwroughtby amillionhands,everyinchcoveredwithdelicate designs. Elricwondered."Whereisthisplace?"heasked. "DoesitlieoutsidetheRealmofChaos?" Wertherseemednonplussed."Youmeanour world?"

"Aye." "Itisstillpartofourworld,"saidtheDukeof Queens. "Isthepalacetoyourliking?"askedWerther. "Itislovely." "Atriflepaleformyowntaste,"saidtheLast Romantic."ItwasMistressChristia'sidea." "Youbuiltthis?"thealbinoturnedtothewoman. "When?" "Justnow."Sheseemedsurprised. Elricnodded."Aha.Itiswithinthepowerof Chaostocreatewhateverwhimsitpleases." Thechariotcrossedawhitedrawbridgeanden teredawhitecourtyard.Initgrewwhiteflowers. Theydismountedandenteredahugehall,whiteas bone,inwhichredlightsglowed.AgainElricbegan tosuspectmockery,butthefacesoftheChaoslords showedonlypleasure.Herealisedthathewasdizzy withhungerandweariness,ashehadbeenever sincehehadbeenflungintothisterribleworldwhere noshapewasconstant,noideapermanent. "Areyouhungry?"askedMistressChristia. Henodded.Andsuddenlytheroomwasfilledby alongtableonwhichallkindsoffoodwereheaped andeverything,meatsandfruitsandvegetables, waswhite. Elricmovedtotaketheseatsheindicatedandhe putsomeofthefoodonasilverplateandhetouched ittohislipsandhetastedit.Itwasdelicious.Forget tingsuspicion,hebegantoeatheartily,tryingnotto considerthecolourlessqualityofthemeal.Werther andtheDukeofQueensalsotooksomefood,butit seemedtheyateonlyfrompoliteness.Werther glancedupatthefarawayroof."Whatawonderful tombthiswouldmake,"hesaid."Yourimagination improves,MistressChristia." "Isthisyourdomain?"askedElric."Themoon?" "Oh,no,"shesaid."Itwasallmadeforthe occasion." "Occasion?" "Foryouradventure,"shesaid.Thenshefellsilent.

Elricbecamegrave."Thosedemons?Theywere notyourenemies.Theybelongtoyou!" "Belong?"saidMistressChristia.Sheshookher head. Elricfrownedandpushedbackhisplate."Iam, however,mostcertainlyyourcaptive."Hestoodup andpacedthewhitefloor."Willyounotreturnme tomyownplane?" "Youwouldcomebackalmostimmediately,"said WertherdeGoethe."ItiscalledtheMorphailEffect. Andifyoudidnotcomehere,youwouldyetremain inyourownfuture.ItisinthenatureofTime." "Thisisnonsense,"saidElric."Ihaveleftmyown realmbeforeandreturnedthoughadmittedlymem orybecomesweak,aswithdreamspoorlyrecalled." "NomancangobackinTime,"saidtheDukeof Queens."AskBrannartMorphail." "He,too,isaLordofChaos?" "Ifyoulike.Heisacolleague." "Couldhenotreturnmetomyrealm?Hesounds acleverbeing." "Hecouldnotandhewouldnot,"saidMistress Christia."Haven'tyouenjoyedyourexperienceshere sofar?" "Enjoyed?"Elricwasastonished."Madam,Ithink ...Well,whathashappenedthisdayisnotwhat wemortalswouldcall'enjoyment'!" "Butyouseemedtobeenjoyingyourself,"saidthe DukeofQueensinsomedisappointment."Didn't he,Werther?" "Youweremuchmorecheerfulthroughthewhole episode,"agreedtheLastRomantic."Particularly whenyouwerefightingthedemons." "Aswithmanytimetravellerswhosufferfrom anxieties,"saidMistressChristia,"youappearedto relaxwhenyouhadsomethingimmediatetocapture yourattention..." Elricrefusedtolisten.ThiswascleverChaostalk, meanttodeceivehimandtakehismindfromhis chiefconcern. "IfIwasanyhelptoyou,"hebegan,"Iam,of

course..." "Heisn'tverygrateful,"MistressChristiapouted. Elricfeltmadnesscreepingneareragain.Hecalmed himself. "Ithankyouforthefood,madam.Now,Iwould sleep." "Sleep?"shewasdisconcerted."Oh!Ofcourse. Yes.Abedroom?" "Ifyouhavesuchathing." "Asmanyasyoulike."Shemovedastoneonone ofherrings.Thewallsseemedtodrawbacktoshow bedchamberafterbedchamber,inallmannerofstyles, withbedsofeveryshapeandfashion.Elriccon trolledhistemper.Hebowed,thankedher,said goodnighttothetwolordsandmadeforthenearest bed. Asheclosedthedoorbehindhim,hethoughthe heardWertherdeGoethesay:"Wemusttrytothink ofabetterentertainmentforhimwhenhewakesup." 11.InWhichMrs.PerssonWitnessesTheFirstSignOf TheMegaflow'sDisintegration INCASTLECANARIALordJaggedunrolledhisantique charts.Hehadhadthemdrawnforhimbyabaffled astrologerin1590.Theywereoneofhismanyaffec tations.Atthemoment,however,theywereofcon siderablygreaterusethanAlvarez'selectronics. Whileheusedawristcomputertocheckhisfig ures,UnaPerssonlookedoutofthewindowof CastleCanariaandwonderedwhohadinventedthis particularlandscape.Agreenandorangesuncast sickeninglightovertheherdsofgrazingbeastswho resembled,fromthisdistanceatanyrate,nothingso muchasgigantichumanhands.Inthemiddleofthe scenewasraisedsomekindofbuildingintheshape ofavasthelmet,vaguelyGreekinconception.Beyond thatwasalow,greymoon.Sheturnedaway. "Imustadmit,"saidLordJagged,"thatIhadnot understoodtheextent..." "Exactly,"shesaid. "Youmustforgiveme.Acertainamountof amnesiaeuphoria,perhaps?alwayscomesover oneintheseveryremoteperiods."

"Quite." Helookedupfromthecharts."We'veafewhours atmost." Hersmilewasthin,hernodbarelyperceptible. Whileshemadethemostofhavingtoldhimso, LordJaggedfrowned,turnedapowerringandpro ducedanalreadylitpipewhichheplacedthought fullyinhismouth,takingitoutagainalmostimmedi ately."Thatwasn'tDunhillStandardMedium."He laidthepipeaside. Therecamealoudbuzzingnoisefromthewin dow.Thesceneoutsidewasdisintegratingasifmelt ingonglass.Aneeriegoldenlightspreadeverywhere, floodingfromanapexofdeepergold,asifforminga funnel. "That'sarupture,"saidLordJagged.Hisvoice wastense.Heputhisarmabouthershoulders. "I'veneverseenanythingofthesizebefore." Rushingtowardsthemalongthefunneloflight therecameanentirecityofturretsandtowersand minaretsinawidevarietyofpastelcolours.Itwas setintoasaucershapedbasewhichwasalmostcer tainlyseveralmilesincircumference. Foramomentthecityseemedtoretreat.The goldenlightfaded.Thecityremained,somedis tanceaway,swayingalittleasifonagentletide,a coupleofthousandfeetabovetheground,thegrey moonbelowit. "That'swhatIcallmegaflowdistortion,"saidUna Perssoninthatinappropriatelyfacetioustoneadopted bythosewhoaredeeplyfrightened. "Irecognisetheperiod."Jaggeddrewatelescope fromhisrobes."SecondCandlemaker'sEmpire, mainlybasedinArcturus.Thisisavillagebytheir standards.Afterall,Earthwasmerelyaruralpark duringthattime."Heretreatedintoacademe,his ownresponsetofear. Unacranedherhead."Isn'tthatsomesortof vehicleheadingtowardsthecity.Fromthemoon goodheavens,they'vespotteditalready.Arethey goingtotrytoputthewholethingintoamenagerie?" Jaggedhadtheadvantageofthetelescope."Ithink not."Hehandedhertheinstrument. Throughitshesawascarletandblackchariot

bornebywhatseemedtobesomeformofflying fairgroundhorses.Inthechariot,armedtotheteeth withlances,bows,spears,swords,axes,morningstars, macesandalmosteveryotherbarbarichandweapon, cladinquasimythologicalarmour,wereWertherde Goethe,theDukeofQueensandElricofMelnibone. "They'reattackingit!"shesaidfaintly."Whatwill happenwhenthetwogroupsintersect?" "Threegroups,"hepointedout."Untanglingthat inafewhoursisgoingtobeevenharder." "Andifwefail?" Heshrugged."Wemightjustaswellgiveour selvesuptothebiggestchronoquaketheuniverse haseverexperienced." "You'reexaggerating,"shesaid. "Whynot?Everyoneelseis." 12.TheAttackOnTheCitadelOfTheSkies "MELNIBONE!MELNIBONE"!criedthealbinoasthechar iotcircledoverthespiresandturretsofthecity. Theysawstartledfacesbelow.Strangeengineswere beingdraggedthroughthenarrowstreets. "Surrender!"Elricdemanded. "Idonotthinktheycanunderstandus,"saidthe DukeofQueens."Whatafind,eh?Awholecity fromthepast!" Wertherhadbeenreluctanttoembarkonanad venturenotofhisowncreation,butElric,realising thathereatlastwasachanceofescape,hadbeen anxioustobegin.TheDukeofQueenshad,inan instant,aidedthealbinobyproducingcostumes, weapons,transport.Withinminutesofthecity'sap pearance,theyhadbeenontheirway. ExactlywhyElricwishedtoattackthecity,Werther couldnotmakeout,unlessitwassometestofthe Melnibonean'stoseeifhiscompanionsweretrue alliesormerelypretendingtohavebefriendedhim. WertherwaslearningagreatdealfromElric,much morethanhehadeverlearnedfromMongrove, whoseideasofangstwereonlymarginallylessno tionalthanWerther'sown. Abroad,flatblueraybeamedfromthecity.It singedonewheelofthechariot.

"Ha!Theymakesorcerousweapons,"saidElric. "Well,myfriends.Letusseeyoucounterwithyour ownpower." Wertherobedientlyimitatedthebluerayandsent itbackfromhisfingers,slicingthetopsoffseveral towers.TheDukeofQueenstypicallyletloosea differentcolouredrayfromeachofhisextendedten fingersandboredaholeallthewaythroughthe bottomofthecitysothatfieldscouldbeseenbelow. Hewaspleasedwiththeeffect. "ThisisthepoweroftheGodsofChaos!"cried Elric,afamiliarelationfillinghimasthebloodofold Melnibonewasfired."Surrender!" "Whydoyouwantthemtosurrender?"askedthe DukeofQueensinsomedisappointment. "Theircityevidentlyhasthepowertoflythrough thedimensions.IfIbecameitslordIcanforceitto returntomyownplane,"saidElricreasonably. "TheMorphailEffect..."beganWerther,but realisedhewasspoilingthespiritofthegame. "Sorry." Theblueraycameagain,butputteredoutand fadedbeforeitreachedthem. "Theirpowerisgone!"criedElric."Yoursorcery defeatsthem,mylords.Letuslandanddemand theyhonourusastheirnewrulers." Withasigh,Wertherorderedthechariottoset downinthelargestsquare.Heretheywaiteduntila fewofthecitizensbegantoarrive,cautiousand angry,butevidentlyinnomoodtogiveanyfurther resistance. Elricaddressedthem."Itwasnecessarytoattack andconqueryou,forImustreturntomyownRealm, theretofulfillmygreatdestiny.Ifyouwilltakeme toMelnibone,Iwilldemandnothingfurtherfrom you." "Oneofusreallyoughttotakeatranslationpill" saidWerther."Thesepeopleprobablyhavenoidea wheretheyare." Ameaninglessbabblecamefromthecitizens.Elric frowned."TheyunderstandnottheHighSpeech," hesaid."IwilltrytheCommonTongue."Hespoke inalanguageneitherWerther,theDukeofQueens northecitizensofthissettlementcouldunderstand.

Hebegantoshowsignsoffrustration.Hedrew hisswordStormbringer."BytheBlackSword,know thatIamElric,lastoftheroyallineofMelnibone! Youmustobeyme.Istherenoneherewhounder standstheHighSpeech?" Then,fromthecrowd,steppedabeingfartaller thantheothers.Hewasdressedinrobesofdark blueanddeepestscarletandhisfacewashaughty, beautifulandfullofevil. "IspeaktheHighTongue,"hesaid. WertherandtheDukeofQueenswerenonplussed. Thiswasnoonetheyrecognised. Elricgestured."Youaretherulerofthecity?" "Callmethat,ifyouwill." "Yourname?" "Iamknownbymanynames.Andyouknowme, ElricofMelnibone,forIamyourlordandyour friend." "Ah,"saidElricloweringhissword,"thisisthe greatestdeceptionofthemall.Iamafool." "Merelyamortal,"saidthenewcomer,hisvoice soft,amusedandfullofasubtlearrogance."Are thesetherenegadeswhohelpedyou?" "Renegades?"saidWerther."Whoareyou,sir?" "Youshouldknowme,roguelords.Youaida mortalanddefyyourbrothersofChaos." "Eh?"saidtheDukeofQueens."Ihaven'tgota brother." Thestrangerignoredhim."Demigodswhothought thatbyhelpingthismortaltheycouldthreatenthe poweroftheGreaterOnes." "Soyoudidaidmeagainstyourown,"saidElric. "Oh,myfriends!" "Andtheyshallbepunished!" Wertherbegan:"Weregretanydamagetoyour city.Afterall,youwerenotinvited..." TheDukeofQueenswaslaughing."Whoare you?Whatdisguiseisthis?" "Knowmeforyourmaster."Theeyesofthe

strangerglowedwithmyriadfires."Knowmefor Arioch,DukeofHell!" "Arioch!"Elricbecamefilledwithastrangejoy. "Arioch!Icalledupontheeandwasnotanswered!" "IwasnotinthisRealm,"saidtheDukeofHell. "Iwasforcedtobeabsent.AndwhileIwasgone, foolsthoughttodisplaceme." "Ireallycannotfollowallthis,"saidtheDukeof Queens.Hesetasidehismace."ImustconfessI becomeatriflebored,sir.Ifyouwillexcuseme." "Youwillnotescapeme."Ariochliftedalanguid handandtheDukeofQueenswasfrozentothe ground,unabletomoveanythingsavehiseyes. "Youareinterfering,sir,withaperfectly" Werthertoowasstruckdumbandparalysed. ButElricrefusedtoquail."LordArioch,Ihave givenyoubloodandsouls.Youoweme..." "Ioweyounothing,ElricofMelnibone.NothingI donotchoosetoowe.Youaremyslave..." "No,"saidElric."Iserveyou.Thereareoldbonds. Butyoucannotcontrolme,LordArioch,forIhavea powerwithinmewhichyoufear.Itisthepowerof myverymortality." TheDukeofHellshrugged."Youwillremainin theRealmofChaosforever.Yourmortalitywillavail youlittlehere." "YouneedmeinmyownRealm,tobeyour agent.That,too,Iknow,LordArioch." ThehandsomeheadloweredafractionasifArioch consideredthis.Thebeautifullipssmiled."Aye,Elric. ItistruethatIneedyoutodomywork.Forthe momentitisimpossiblefortheLordsofChaosto interferedirectlyintheworldofmortals,forwe shouldthreatenourownexistence.Therateofen tropywouldincreasebeyondevenourcontrol.The dayhasnotyetcomewhenLawandChaosmust decidetheissueonceandforall.Butitwillcome soonenoughforyou,Elric." "Andmyswordwillbeatyourservice,Lord Arioch." "Willit,Elric?" Elricwassurprisedbythisdoubtingtone.Hehad

alwaysservedChaos,ashisancestorshad."Why shouldIturnagainstyou?Lawhasnoattractionsfor onesuchasElricofMelnibone." TheDukeofHellwassilent. "Andthereisthebargain,"addedElric."Return metomyownRealm,LordArioch,sothatImight keepit." Ariochsighed."Iamreluctant." "Idemandit,"bravelysaidthealbino. "Oho!"Ariochwasamused."Well,mortal,I'll rewardyourcourageandI'llpunishyourinsolence. Therewardwillbethatyouarereturnedfromwhence youcame,beforeyoucalledonChaosinyourbattle withthatpatheticwizard.Thepunishmentisthat youwillrecalleveryincidentthatoccurredsince thenbutonlyinyourdreams.Youwillbehaunted bythepuzzlefortherestofyourlifeandyouwill neverforamomentbeabletoexpresswhatmysti fiesyou." Elricsmiled."Iamalreadyhauntedbyacurseofthatkind,mylord." "Bethatasitmay,Ihavemademydecision." "Iacceptit,"saidthealbino,andhesheathedhis sword,Stormbringer. "Thencomewithme,"saidArioch,DukeofHell. Andhedriftedforward,tookElricbythearm,and liftedthembothhighintothesky,floatingover distortedscenes,halfformeddreamworlds,the whimsoftheLordsofChaos,untiltheycametoa giganticrockshapedlikeaskull.Andthroughone oftheeyesocketsLordAriochboreElricofMelni bone.Anddownstrangecorridorsthatwhispered anddisplayedallmanneroftreasures.Andupintoa landscape,adesertinwhichgrewmanystrange plants,whileoverheadcouldbeseenalandofsnow andmountains,equallyalien.Andfromhisrobes Arioch,DukeofHellproducedawandandhebade Elrictotakeholdofthewand,whichwashottothe touchandglittered,andheplacedhisownslender handattheotherend,andhemurmuredwords whichElriccouldnotunderstandandtogetherthey begantofadefromthelandscape,intothedark nessoflimbowheremanyeyesaccusedthem,to anislandinagreyandstormtossedseaanisland litteredwithdestructionandwiththedead. ThenArioch,DukeofHell,laughedalittleand vanished,leavingthePrinceofMelnibonesprawled

amongstcorpsesandruinswhileheavyrainbeat downuponhim. AndinthescabbardatElric'sside,Stormbringer stirredandmurmuredoncemore. 13.InWhichThereIsASmallCelebrationAtTheEnd OfTime WERTHERDEGOETHEandtheDukeofQueensblinked theireyesandfoundthattheycouldmovetheir heads.Theystoodinalarge,pleasantroomfullof chartsandancientinstruments.MistressChristiawas there,too. UnaPerssonwassmilingasshewatchedgolden lightfadefromthesky.Thecityhaddisappeared, hardlyanytheworseforitsexperience.Shehad managedtosavethetwofriendswithoutagreat dealoffuss,forthecitizenshadstillbeenbewil deredbywhathadhappenedtothem.Becauseof themegaflowdistortion,theMorphailEffectwould notmanifestitself.Theywouldneverunderstand wheretheyhadbeenorwhathadactuallyhappened. "Whoonearthwasthatfellowwhoturnedup?" askedtheDukeofQueens."Somefriendofyours, Mrs.Persson?He'scertainlynosportsman." "Oh,Iwouldn'tagree.Youcouldcallhimthe ultimatesportsman,"shesaid."Iamacquaintedwith him,asamatteroffact." "It'snotJaggedindisguiseisit?"saidMistress Christiawhodidnotreallyknowwhathadgoneon. "ThisisJagged'scastlebutwhereisJagged?" "Youareawarehowmysteriousheis,"Unaan swered."IhappenedtobeherewhenIsawthat WertherandtheDukewereintroubleinthecity andwasabletobeofhelp." Wertherscowled(averygoodcopyofElric'sown scowl)."Well,itisn'tgoodenough." "Itwasajollyadventurewhileitlasted,youmust admit,"saidtheDukeofQueens. "Itwasn'tmeanttobejolly,"saidWerther."It wasmeanttobesignificant." LordJaggedenteredtheroom.Heworehisfamil iaryellowrobes."Howpleasant,"hesaid."When didallofyouarrive?" "Ihavebeenhereforsometime,"Mrs.Pers sonexplained,"butWertherandtheDukeof

Queens..." "Justgothere,"explainedtheduke."Ihopewe're notintruding.OnlywehadaslightmishapandMrs. Perssonwasgoodenough..." "Alwaysdelighted,"saidtheinsincerelord."Would youcaretoseemynew?" "I'monmywayhome,"saidtheDukeofQueens. "Ijuststoppedby.Mrs.Perssonwillexplain." "I,too,"saidWerthersuspiciously,"amonmy wayback." "Verywell.Goodbye." Werthersummonedanaircar,arestrainedfigure ofdeath,inragswithasickle,whopickedthe threeupinhishandandborethemtowardsableak horizon. Itwasonlydayslater,whenhewenttovisit Mongrovetotellhimofhisadventuresandsolicit hisfriend'sadvice,thatWertherrealisedhewasstill speakingHighMelnibonean.Somenaggingthought remainedwithhimforalongwhileafterthat.It concernedLordJagged,buthecouldnotquitework outwhatwasinvolved. Afterthisincidenttherewerenofurtherdisrup tionsattheEndofTimeuntilthebeginningofthe storyconcerningJherekCarnelianandMissAmelia Underwood. 14.InWhichElricofMelniboneRecoversFromaVariety ofEnchantmentsandBecomesDeterminedtoReturn totheDreamingCity ELRICWASawakenedbytherainonhisface.Wearily hepeeredaroundhim.Toleftandrighttherewere onlythedismemberedcorpsesofthedead,theKrettii andtheFilkhariansailorsdestroyedduringhisbattle withthehalfbrutewhohadsomehowgainedso muchsorcerouspower.Heshookhismilkwhite hairandheraisedcrimsoneyestothegrey,boiling sky. ItseemedthatAriochhadaidedhim,afterall.The sorcererwasdestroyedandhe,Elric,remainedalive. Herecalledthesweet,banteringtonesofhispatron demon.Familiartones,yethecouldnotremember whatthewordshadbeen. Hedraggedhimselfoverthedeadandwaded throughtheshallowstowardstheFilkharianship

whichstillhadsomeofitscrew.Theywere,bynow, anxioustoheadoutintoopenseaagainratherthan faceanymoreterrorsonSorcerer'sIsle. HewasdeterminedtoseeCymoril,whomheloved, toregainhisthronefromYyrkoon,hiscousin... 15.InWhichABriefReunionTakesPlaceAttheTime Centre WITHTHEmanuscriptofColonelPyat'sratherdan gerousvolumeofmemoirssafelybackinherbrief case,UnaPerssondecideditwastherightmoment tocheckintotheTimeCentre.Alvarezshouldbeon dutyagainandhisinstrumentsshouldberegistering anyminorimbalancesresultingfromtheepisode concerningthegloomyalbino. Alvarezwasnotalone.LordJaggedwasthere,in adisreputableNorfolkjacketandsmokingabattered briar.HehadevidentlybeenholidayinginVictorian England.Hewaspleasedtoseeher. Alvarezranhisgearthroughallfunctions."Sweet andneat,"hesaid."Ithasn'tbeenasgoodsince Idon'tknowwhen.We'veyoutothankforthat, Mrs.P." Shewasmodest. "Certainlynot.Jaggedwastheone.Yourdisguise waswonderful,Jagged.Howdidyoumanageto imitatethatcharactersothoroughly?Itconvinced Elric.Hereallythoughtyouwerewhateveritwasa ChaosDuke?" Jaggedwavedamodesthand. "Imean,"saidUna,"it'salmostasifyouwerethis fellow'Arioch'..." ButLordJaggedonlypuffedonhispipeandsmiled asecretandsuperiorsmile. TheLastEnchantment THROUGHTHEblueandhazynightranashuddering man.Heclutchedterrortohim,hisbloatedeyesfull ofblood.Firstbehindhimandthenseeminglyahead ofhimcamethehungrychuckles,thehighwhis peredwords. "Heretoothsome.Heresweetmeat." Heswervedinanotherdirection,moaning.Likea hugehuskhewas,likeahollowornamentofthin bone,withhisgreat,rollingheadswayingonhis

shouldersresemblingacaptiveballoon,thewetcav ernofhiswidemouthfullyopenandgasping,the yellowspikesofteethclashinginhishead. Awkwardlyheran,sometimesscuttlinglikea woundedspider,somethinglurching,mooingtohim selfthroughthetallandancientforest,hisfeetsink ingintothecarpetofwet,pungentbrackenand rottingroots.Heheldinhishand,thatlong,white, metalcolouredclaw,aglowingblacktalisman,held itoutandcried: "OhTeshwanaidme,Teshwan.Aidme..." Inthesluggishbrewthatwasthecontentsofhis rollingskullafewwordsswamtothesurfaceand seemedtoliethere,movingwiththetideofhis mind.Andthevoicewhichspokethemwassar donic:"HowcanTeshwanaidthee,littlemortal?" Butthisrelicofdisorientedfleshcouldnotforma coherentthoughtcouldnotanswersavetoscream itsfear.SoTeshwantookhispresenceawayandit waslefttothehorsemantofindthehorrorcrazed man. ElricofMelniboneheardthevoiceandrecognized thename.Hesensedother,moreominous,deni zenslurkingabouthimintheforest. Moodilyhecurledhishandsaboutthereinsofhis mountandjerkeditshead,guidingitinthedirec tionofthescreams.Heonlycasuallyconsidered aidingthemanandherodehishorsetowardhim morefromcuriositythananything.Elricwasun troubledbytheterrorsthattheforestheld,regard ingthemasanother,morenormalmanmightregard theomnipresentsongofbirdsandtherustleofsmall rodentsintheundergrowth. GreattremblingsshudderedthroughSlorg'sruined bodyandhestillheardthesharpwhisperings.Were theycarriedontheairorweretheyslitheringabout inhisjelliedbrain? Hegaspedasheturnedandsawthewhitefaced horsemanridinglikeagrim,handsomegodintothe moonglazedglade. Thehorseman'slong,sharplydelineatedskullwas leperwhite,asifstrippedofflesh,andhisslightly slantingeyesgleamedcrimson.Heworeajerkinof blackvelvetcaughtatthethroatbyathinsilver chain.Hisbritches,too,wereofblackcloth,andhis leatherbootswerehighandshining.Overhisshoul

derswasahighcollaredcapeofscarletandaheavy longswordslappedathissideashepulledhissteed toastandstill.Hislong,flowinghairwasaswhiteas hisface.Thehorsemanwasanalbino. Theshockofconfrontingthisnewandmoretangi blefigurejerkedSlorgbackintohalfsanityandbro kenwordssidledfromhislips. "Whoareyou?Aidme!Ibegyou,aidme!" Elriclaughedlightly."NowwhyshouldI,myfriend? Tellmethat." "IhavebeenbeenprofanedIamSlorg.Iwas onceamanbutthose..."Herockedhisbodyand flunghisrollingheadbackwards,thecurvedlids fallingdowntocoverhisbulgingeyes."Ihavebeen profaned..." Elricleanedforwardonthepommelofhissaddle andsaidlazily:"Thisisnoneofmybusiness,Master Slorg." Thegreatheaddartedforward,theeyessnapped openandSlorg'slonglipswrithedoverhisteethlike acamel's."Addressnotmebyamundanetitle!Iam SiletahSlorgSiletahofOberlornrightfullyright fully." ThetitlewasunknowntoElric. "Myapologies,OSiletah,"hemocked,"fornowI observeamanofrank." "Amannolonger,"whisperedSlorgandbeganto sob."Helpme." "Areyou,then,indanger?" "Aye,dangermykinsmenhavesettheHungry Whisperersuponme,doyounothearthem?" AndElriccockedhisheadtolisten.Yes,heheard sibilantvoicesnow."Whereareyou,morsel?" "Oh,helpme,helpme,"beggedSlorgandlurched towardElric.Thealbinodrewhimselfupandpulled hishorseback. "Nocloser,"hewarned."IamElricofMelnibone." Slorg'statteredfacesqueezeditselfintoafrown. "Ah,thenameandtheface,"hemumbledtohim self,"thefaceandthename.ElricofMelnibone. Outcast!"

"Indeed,"smiledElric,"butnomorethanyou,it seems.NowImustbidyoufarewellandsuggest,by wayoffriendlyadvice,thatyoucomposeyourself soon.Itisbettertodiewithdignity,SiletahSlorg," "Ihavepowers,outcastofMelniboneIhavepow ers,still!HelpmeandIwilltellyousecretssuch secrets!" Elricwavedadisdainfulhand.Amoonbeamcaught foraninstanttheflashoftherareactoriosring whichreposedonhisfinger."Ifyouknowme,you shouldalsoknowthatI'mnomerchanttobargain.I asknothingandgivenothing.Farewell!" "Iwarnyou,ElricIhaveonepowerleft.Ican sendyouscreamingfromthisplaceintoanother.It isthepowerwhichTeshwangivesallhisservantsit istheonehenevertakesback!" "Whynotsendyourhungryfriendsintothisother place?" "Theyarenothuman.Butifyouleaveme,Ishall laymylastenchantmentuponyou." Elricsighed."Yourlast,perhaps,butnotthelast orthefirsttobelaiduponme.NowImustgoand searchforaquieterplacethanthiswhereIcansleep undisturbed." Heturnedhishorseandhisbackontheshaking remnantofamanandrodeaway. HeheardSlorgcallingagainasheenteredanother partoftheforest,untaintedbytheSiletahorthose hehadtermedtheHungryWhisperers. "Teshwanreturn!Returntodomeonelast serviceadeedofvengeanceapartofourbargain, Teshwan!" AshorttimelaterElricheardathin,wailingscream comeflowingoutofthenightbehindhimandthen thewholeforestseemedalivewithhorriblelaughter. Satiated,triumphant,chuckling. Hismoodalteredbyhisencounter,Elricrodethrough night,notcaringtosleep,andcameoutoftheforest inthemorning,gladofthesightofthegreenpla teaustretchingaheadofhim. "Well,"hemused,"Teshwandisdainedtoaid Slorganditseemsthereisnoenchantmentonme.I amhalfregretful.NowSlorgresidesinthebelliesof

thosehefearedandhissoul'sathomeinHell." Thentheplateauchangedquitesuddenlytogrey rock. SwiftlyElricwheeledhishorse.Theplateauand theforestwasbehindhim.Hespurredhismount quicklyforwardandtheplateauandforestfaded awaytoleaveavastandlonelyexpanseofflat,grey stone.Abovehimthesunhaddisappearedandthe skywasbrightandwhiteandcold. "Now,"saidElricgrimlyintosilence,"itseemsI waswronginmyassumption." Theplateauitsatmosphereremindedhimofan otherenvironmentinwhichhehadoncefoundhim self.Thenherememberedclearlyatimeyearsbefore whenheandtwocompanionshadsoughtanan cientvolumecalledtheDeadGod'sBook.Theirquest inghadledthemtoacavernguardedatitsentrance bythesymboloftheLordsofChaos.Inthatcavern theyhaddiscoveredanundergroundseawhichhad hadunnaturalqualities.Therewasthesamesense ofasardonicallyamusedpresencehereastherehad beenintheCavernsofChaos. TeshwanwasaLordofChaos. HastilyElricpulledhisruneswordStormbringer fromitsthickscabbard. Theswordwasdead. Normallytheblade,forgedbyunhumansmiths forElric'sroyalancestors,wasalivewithsentience throbbingwiththelifeforceithadstolenfroma hundredmenandwomenwhomElrichadslain. OncebeforeithadbeenlikethisintheCavernsof Chaoslongago. Elrictightenedhislips,thenshruggedashere placedtheswordinitsscabbard. "InaworldcompletelydominatedbytheForces ofChaos,"hesaid,"Icannotrelyonthepowers whichnormallyaidmeinmysorcery.ThankArioch Ihaveagoodsupplyofdrugsaboutme,orIwould indeedbedoomed." InearliertimesElrichadreliedonhissoulstealing runeswordtogivehimtheenergywhich,asan albino,helackedintrinsically,butrecentlyhehad rediscoveredacleanerwayofcounteractinghisdefi ciency,bytakingherbshehaddiscoveredinthe ForestofTrooswheremanyunlikelythingsgrew,

bothfloraandfauna. "Bymyfather'splagueinfestedbones,"heswore. "Imustfindawayoffthisgraniteplainanddiscover who,ifanyone,rulesinthisworld.Ihaveheardof thepowersinvestedinTeshwan'sworshippersand IseemtorememberahintofwhytheLordsof Chaosconfersuchpeculiartalentsuponthem." Heshuddered. Hebegantosingaululatinghatesongofold Melnibone.Elric'sancestorshadbeencleverhaters. Andonherodebeneaththesunlesssky. Hecouldnottellhowmuchtimehadpassedbe forehesawthefigurestandingoutstronglyagainst thefeaturelesshorizon. Nowontheflatwasteofstonethereweretwo pointsatwhichthemonotonywasbroken. Elricwhite,blackandscarletonagreygelding. Themoroseman,blackhairlyinglikeacoatof lacqueronhisroundedskull,dressedingreen,a silversworddanglinginhisrighthand. Elricapproachedthemanwhoraisedhiseyesto regardthealbino. "Thisisalonelyplace,"saidthestranger,sucking athisfleshycheeks,andhestaredattheground again. "True,"repliedElrichaltinghishorse."Isthis yourworldorwereyousenthere,also?" "Oh,it'smyworld,"saidtheman,withoutlook ingup."Whereareyoubound?" "Fornowhere,seekingsomething.Wheredoyou journey?" "Ioh,IgotoKaneloonfortheRites,ofcourse." "Allthings,itissaid,arepossibleintheWorldof Chaos,"Elricmurmured,"andyetthisplaceseems unusuallybarren." Themanlookedupsuddenly,andjerkinghislips intoasmile,laughedsharply. "TheRiteswillalterthat,stranger.Didyounot knowthatthisistheTimeofTheChange,whenthe LordsofChaosrestbeforereformingtheworldinto afreshvarietyofpatterns?"

"Ididnotknowthat,"saidElric."Ihavecome hereonlyrecently." "Youwishtostay?" "No." "TheLordsofChaosarefickle.Ifyouwishedto staytheymightnotletyou.Nowthatyouarere solvedtoleave,theymightkeepyouhere.Farewell. Youwillfindmetherein!"Heliftedhisswordand pointed.Agreatpalaceofgreenstoneappearedat once.Themanvanished. "This,atleast,willsavemefromboredom,"Elric saidphilosophically,androdetowardsthepalace. Themanypinnacledbuildingtoweredabovehim, itshighestpointshazyandseemingtopossessmany forms,shiftingasifblownbyawind.Atthegreat archoftheentranceahugegiant,semitransparent, withared,scintillatingskin,blockedhisway.Over thearchway,asifhangingintheairabovethegiant's proudhead,wastheSymbolofChaos,acirclewhich producedmanyarrowspointinginalldirections. "WhovisitsthePalaceofKaneloonattheTimeof theChange?"enquiredthegiantinavoicelikelim bo'smusic. "Yourmasters,Igather,knowmefortheyaided theirservantSlorginsendingmehither.Buttell themitisElricofMelnibone,nonethelessElric, destroyerofdreamingImrryr,kinslayerandoutcast. Theywillknowme." Thegiantappearedtoshrink,tosolidifyandthen todriftinaredmist,pouringlikesentientsmoke awayfromtheportalandintothepalace.Andwhere hehadbeenaportcullismanifesteditselftoguard thepalaceinthegiant'sabsence. Elricwaitedpatientlyuntilatlengththeportcullis vanishedandthegiantreformedhimself. "Mymastersordermetoinformyouthatyoumay enterbutthat,havingoncecometothePalaceof Kaneloon,youmayneverleavesaveundercertain conditions." "Thoseconditions?" "Ofthesetheywilltellyouifyouenter.Areyou recklessorwillyoustandpondering?" "I'llavailmyselfoftheirgenerosity,"smiledElric

andspurredhisnervoushorseforward. Asheenteredthecourtyard,itappearedthatthe areawithinthepalacewasgreaterthanthatoutside it.Nottroublingtoseekanymundaneexplanation forthisphenomenoninaworlddominatedbythe LordsofChaos,Elricinsteaddismountedfromhis horseandwalkedfornearlyaquarterofamileuntil hereachedtheentranceofthemainbuilding.He climbedthestepsswiftlyandfoundhimselfinavast hallwhichhadwallsofshiftingflame. Intheglowfromthefierywalls,theresatata tableatthefarendofthehallninemenoratleast, menornot,theyhadassumedtheformofmen. Differentinfacialcharacteristics,theyallhadthe samesardonicair.Inthecentreoftheseninewas theonewhohadfirstaddressedElric.Heleaned forwardandspokewordscarefullyfromhisredlips. "Greetingstoyou,mortal,"hesaid."Youarethe firstforsometimetositwiththeLordsofChaosat theTimeoftheChange.Beholdthereareothers whohavehadtheprivilege." Arentappearedinthewallofflametodisclose somethirtyfrozenhumanfigures,somemenand somewomen.Theywerepetrifiedinpositionsof manykinds,butallhadmadnessandterrorintheir eyesandtheywerestillalive,Elricknew. Heliftedhishead. "Iwouldnotbesoimpertinent,mylords,astoset myselfbesideyouallinsofaraspowersarecon cerned,butyouknowthatIamElricofMelnibone andthatmyraceisoldmydeficientbloodisthe royalbloodoftheKingsoftheDreamingCity.I havelittlepityorsentimentofanykindwithinme, forsentiment,whetherloveorhate,hasservedme badlyinthepast.Idonotknowwhatyourequireof me,andIthankyouforyourhospitalitynonethe less,butIbelievethatIcanconductmyselfbetterin mostwaysthancananyothermortal." "Letushopeso,ElricofMelnibone,forwewould notwishyoutofail,knowthat.Besides,youarenot fullymortalashumansunderstandtheword.Now, knowyouthatIbeTeshwan,andtheseneednotbe namedandmaybeaddressedsinglyorcollectively bythenameofLordsofChaos." Elricbowedpolitely."LordTeshwanmyLords ofChaos." Theyreturnedhisbowbyslightlyincliningtheir headsandbroadeningatrifletheirsardonic,crooked

smiles. "Come,"saidTeshwanbriskly,"sitherebeside meandIwillinformyouofwhatweexpect.Youare morefavouredthanothershavebeen,Elric,and,in truth,Iwelcomedtheopportunitygivenmebymy vengefulservantSlorgbeforehedied." Elricclimbeduponthedaisandseatedhimselfin thechairwhichappearedbesideTeshwan.About himthewallsofflamesoaredandtumbled,mum bledandroared.Sometimesshadowengulfedthem, sometimestheywerebathedinlight.Forawhile theyallsatinsilence,pondering. AtlastTeshwanspoke. "Now,"hesaiddecisively."Here'sthesituation inwhichwehavedecidedtoplaceyou.Youmay leaveonlyifyoucancreatesomethingwhichithas neveroccurredtoustocreate." "Butyou,surely,aretheMastersofCreation?" saidElricinpuzzlement."HowmayIdothis?" "Yourfirststatementisnotstrictlytrueandin qualifyingitIcangiveyouahintoftheanswerto yourquestion.WeofChaoscannotmakeanything newwemayonlyexperimentwithcombinationsof thatalreadycreated.Doyouunderstand?" "Ido,"saidElric. "OnlytheGreatestPower,ofwhichweknow littlemorethandohumans,cancreatefreshconcep tions.TheGreatestPowerholdsbothLawandChaos inperpetualbalance,makinguswaronlysothatthe scalewillnotbetiltedtoofartooneside.Wewish notforpoweronlyforvariety.Thuseverytimewe wearyofourdomainandletouroldcreationsfade andconceivenewones.Ifyoucanbringafresh elementtoourdomain,weshallfreeyou.Wecreate jokesandparadoxes.Conceiveabetterjokeanda betterparadoxforourentertainmentandyoumay leavehere." "Surelyyouexpecttheimpossiblefromme?" "Youalonemayassessthetruthofyourquestion. Now,webegin." AndElricsatandwatched,ponderinghisproblem, asthegreatLordsofChaosbegantheirmighty experiments. Thewallsoffireslowlyflickeredandfadedand

againhesawthevastandbarrenplainofflatstone. Thentheairdarkenedandasighingwindbeganto moanovertheplain.Intheskycloudsblossomedin myriadshapes,alien,dark,unfamiliar,blacksand smokyorange,atthesametimefamiliar... Therockheavedlikelava,becameliquid,rearing upwardsandasitreareditbecamegiants,moun tains,ancientbeasts,monsters,gryphons,basilisks, chimerae,unicorns.Forestsbloomed,theirgrowths hugeandexotic,elephantsflewandgreatbirds crushedboilingmountainsbeneaththeirfeet.Fin gersofbrilliantcolourclimbedthesky,crisscrossing andblending.Aflightofwildlysinginglionsfell fromthefirmamenttowardstheforestandsoared upwardsagain,theirmusiclonely. Astheforestmeltedtobecomeanocean,avast armyofwizenedhomunculaecametrampingfrom itsdepthsdraggingboatsbehindthem.Forashort whiletheymarchedovertheseethingwatersand then,withprecision,began,inorderedstyle,toclimb intotheflaringsky.Whentheyhadalllefttheocean behindthem,theyrightedtheirboats,settheirsails, laughedandscreamedandshouted,wavedtheir arms,climbedintotheboatsandwithfantasticspeed streamedtowardsthehorizon. Allcreationtumbledandpoured,malleableinthe DomainofChaos.Allwasgusto,crazeandroaring terror,love,hateandmusicmingled. Theskyshookwithmulticolouredmirth,blos somingwhiteshotthroughwithveinsofblueand purpleandblack,searingred,splatteredwithspread ingflowersofyellow,smeared,smeared,smeared withghoulishgreen.Acrossthisseethingbackdrop spedbizarreshapes. TheLordsofChaosshoutedandsangtheirweird creationandElric,shoutingalso,thoughtthefrozen statueshehadseenwereweepingandlaughing. Agrotesquecombinationofmanandtreesent rootsstreamingtowardstheearthtotugmountains fromthecavernsitexposedandsetthem,peakfirst, likeinvertedpyramids,intotheground.Uponthe flatsurfacesdancersappearedinbrightragswhich flutteredandflaredaroundthem.Theywerewarped, unhuman,paleasdeadbeauty,grinningfixedlyand thenElricsawthestringsattachedtotheirlimbsand thesilentlylaughingpuppetmasterbearlikeandgi gantic,controllingthem.Fromanotherdirectionsped asmall,blindfigurebearingascythethatwasa hundredtimesbiggerthanthebearer.Withasweep,

hecutthestringsand,withthataction,thewhole fadedtobereplacedbyagushingbrillianceofgreen andorangeflamewhichformeditselfintostreamers ofzigzaggingdisorder. Allthiswentonaroundthem.TheLordsofChaos smiledtothemselvesnow,astheycreated,butElric frowned,watchedwithwonderandnolittleplea sure,butpuzzledhowhemightemulatesuchfeats. ForlonghoursthepageantofChaoscontinuedas theLordstooktheelementsofElric'sworldand shookthemabout,turnedtheminsideout,stood themonend,madestartling,strange,beautiful,un holycombinationsuntiltheyweresatisfiedwiththe constantmovementofthesceneaboutthem,the perpetualshiftingandchanging.Theyhadseta patternthatwasnopattern,whichwouldlastuntil theybecameboredwiththeirdomainagainand broughtaboutanotherTimeoftheChange. ThentheirheadsturnedandallregardedElric expectantly. Teshwansaidatriflewearily."Thereyouhave seenwhatwecando." "Youareartists,indeed,"saidElric,"andIamso amazedbywhatIhavewitnessedthatIneedalittle timetothink.Willyougrantitme?" "Alittletimealittletimeonlywewanttosee whatyouprepareforuswhiletheexcitementisstill uponus." AndElricplacedhiswhitealbino'sheaduponhis fistandthoughtdeeply. Manyideasoccurredtohim,onlytobediscarded, butatlengthhestraightenedhisbackandsaid: "GivemethepowertocreateandIwillcreate." SoTeshwansaidsmilingly."Youhavethepower useitwell.Ajokeandaparadoxisallwerequire." "Therewardforfailure?" "Tobeforeverconscious." Atthis,Elricshiveredandputhismindtoconcen trating,searchinghismemoryuntilamanlikefigure formedbeforehim.Thenheplacedfeaturesonits headandclothesonitsbodyuntiltherestoodbefore ElricandtheLordsofChaosaperfectreplicaof Elric.

Puzzledly,Teshwansaid:"Thisissplendidimper tinence,Igrantyoubutthisisnothingnewyou alreadysittherebesideus." "Indeed,"repliedElric,"butlookintheman's mind." Theyfrownedanddidasheasked.Then,smiling, theynodded."Theparadoxisgood,"saidTeshwan, "andweseeyourpoint.Wehave,foraneternity, createdtheeffect.You,inyourprideandinnocence, havecreatedthecause.Inthatman'smindwasall thatcouldeverexist." "Youhavenotedtheparadox?"askedElric,anx iousthatthecorrectinterpretationhadbeendivulged. "Ofcourse.Forthoughthemindcontainsthe varietybelovedofweofChaos,itcontainstheorder thatthosebarrenLordsofLawwouldfoistonthe world.Truly,youngmortal,youhavecreatedevery thingwithastroke.Andthankyou,also,forthe joke." "Thejoke?" "Whytrulythebestjokeisbutasimplestate mentoftruth.Farewell.Remember,friendmortal, thattheLordsofChaosaregratefultoyou." Andwiththat,thewholedomainfadedawayand Elricstoodonthegrassyplain.Inthedistancehe observedthecityofBakshaanwhichhadbeenhis originaldestination,andnearbywashishorseto takehimthere. Hemounted,flappedthereins,and,asthegrey geldingbrokeintoatrot,hesaidtohimself:"Ajoke indeed,butitisapitythatmendonotlaughatit moreoften." Reluctantly,heheadedforthecity. TheSecretLifeofElricofMelnibone SOMEYEARSago,whenIwasabouteighteen,Iwrote anovelcalledTheGoldenBarge.Thiswasanallegori calfantasyaboutalittlemancompletelywithout selfknowledgeandwithlittleofanyotherkind, goingdownaseeminglyendlessriver,followinga greatGoldenBargewhichhefelt,ifhecaughtit wouldcontainalltruth,allsecrets,allsolutionsto hisproblems.Onthejourneyhemetvariousgroups ofpeople,hadaloveaffair,andsoon.Yetevery actionhetookinordertoreachtheGoldenBarge seemedtokeephimfartherawayfromit.Theriver

representedTime,thebargewaswhatmankindis alwaysseekingoutsideitself(whenitcanbefound insideitself),etc.,etc.Thenovelhadasadending, assuchnovelsdo.Also,aswasclearwhenI'dfin ishedit,myhandlingofmanyofthesceneswas clumsyandimmature.SoIscrappeditanddecided thatinfuturemyallegorieswouldbeintrinsicwithin aconventionalnarrativethatthebestsymbolswere thesymbolsfoundinfamiliarobjects.Likeswords forinstance. UpuntilIwastwentyorso,Ihadakeeninterest infantasyfiction,particularlySwordandSorcerysto riesofthekindwrittenbyRobertE.Howard,Clark AshtonSmithandthelike,butthisinterestbeganto waneasIbecamemoreinterestedinlessdirectly sensationalformsofliterature,justasearliermy interestinEdgarRiceBurroughs'taleshadwaned.I couldstillenjoyoneortwoSwordandSorcerytales, particularlyPoulAnderson'sTheBrokenSwordand FritzLeiber'sGreyMouserstories.Abitbeforethis castingoffofoldloyalties,Ihadbeenintouchwith SpragueDeCampandHansSantessenoffantastic UniverseaboutdoinganewseriesofConantales. Ithinkitwasintheautumnof1960,whenIwas workingforSextonBlakeLibraryandreadingSFfor Suspense(theshortlivedcompaniontoArgosy)thatI bumpedintoacolleagueatFleetwayPublications, AndyVincent,whowasanoldfriendofHarryHar rison's(whohadalsofreelancedforFleetwayfor sometime).AndytoldmehewasmeetingHarry andTedCarnellintheFleetwayfoyerandsuggested Iwentalong.AsIremember,thatwaswhereIfirst metHarry.Previously,I'dsoldacoupleofstoriesto Ted,oneincollaborationwithBarryBayley,andhad hadmorebouncedthanbought.Lateroninapub, TedandIweretalkingaboutRobertE.Howardand Tedsaidhe'dbeenthinkingofrunningsomeConan typestuffinScienceFantasy.Itoldhimofthefantas ticUniverseideawhichhadfallenthroughwhen FantasticUniversefolded,andsaidIstillhadthestuff I'ddoneandwouldheliketoseeit.Hesaidhe would.AcoupleofdayslaterIsenthimthefirst chapterandoutlineofaConanstory.Totellyouthe truth,writinginHoward'sstylehaditslimitations, asdidhisheroasfarasIwasconcerned,andI wasn'tlookingforwardtoproducinganother10,000 wordsofthestoryifTedlikedit. Tedlikeditoratleasthelikedthewriting,but therehadbeenamisunderstanding.Hehadn't wantedConanhehadwantedsomethingonthe samelines.

Thissuitedmemuchbetter.IdecidedthatIwould thinkupaheroasdifferentaspossiblefromthe usualrunofSandSheroes,andusethenarrativeas avehicleformyown"serious'ideas.Manyofthese ideas,Irealisehow,weresomewhatromanticand colouredbyalongdrawnoutand,tome,atthe time,tragicloveaffairwhichhadn'tquitefinishedits courseandwhichwasconfusinganddarkeningmy outlook.Iwaswritingfloodsofhackworkfor Fleetwayandwasgettingsometimes70or80a weekwhichwasgoingondrinkmainly,and,as Iremember,involvedratheralotofbrokenglass ofonedescriptionoranother.Idoremember, withgreatpride,mymainachievementofthe winterof1960or1961,whichwastosmashen tirelyanunbreakableplateglassdoorinawellknown restaurantnearPiccadilly.Andthemanagement apologised... Imentionthis,togiveapictureofmymoodatthe timeofElric'screation.Ifyou'vereadtheearlyElric storiesinparticular,you'llseethatElric'soutlook wasrathersimilartomine.Mypointis,thatElric wasme(themeof19601,anyway)andthemingled qualitiesofbetrayerandbetrayed,thebewilderment aboutlifeingeneral,thesearchforsomesolutionto itall,theexpressionofthisbewildermentintermsof violence,cynicismandtheneedforrevenge,were allcharacteristicofmine.SowhenIgotthechance towriteTheDreamingCity,Iwasidentifyingvery closelywithmyherovillain.Ithoughtmyselfsome thingofanoutcast(anotherromanticnotionlargely unsubstantiatednowthatIlookback)andemphasised Elric'sphysicaldifferencesaccordingly: Hisbizarredresswastastelessandgaudy,and didnotmatchhissensitivefaceandlong fingered,almostdelicatehands,yetheflaunted itsinceitemphasisedthathedidnotbelongin anycompanythathewasanoutsiderandan outcast.But,inreality,hehadlittleneedto wearsuchoutlandishgearfor...(he)wasa purealbinowhodrewhispowerfromasecret andterriblesource. (StealerofSouls,page13) Thestorywaspackedwithpersonalsymbols(as areallthestoriesbaracouple).The"secretand terriblesource"wastheswordStormbringer,which symbolisedmyownandotherstendencytorelyon mentalandphysicalcrutchesratherthancurethe weaknessatsource.Togofurther,Elric,forme, symbolisedtheambivalenceofmankindingeneral, withitslovehates,itsmeangenerosity,itsconfident bewildermentact.Elricisathiefwhobelieveshimself robbed,aloverwhohateslove.Inshort,hecannot

besureofthetruthofanything,notevenofhisown emotionsorambitions.Thisismademuchclearerin astorycontainingevenmoredirectallegory,the secondintheseries,WhiletheGodsLaugh.Unfortu nately,Tedleftouttheversefromwhichthetitle wastaken: I,whilethegodslaugh,theworld'svortexam Maelstromofpassionsinthathiddensea, Whosewavesofalltimelapthecoastsofme, Andinsmallcompassthedarkwaterscram. MervynPeake(ShapesandSounds) This,Ithink,gavemoremeaningtobothtitleand storywhichinvolvedalongquestaftertheDead God'sBookamythicalworkallegedtocontainall theknowledgeoftheuniverse,inwhichElricfeels, hewillatlastfindthetruemeaningoflife.He expressesthisneedinasomewhatrhetoricalway. WhenthewinglesswomanShaarillaaskshimwhy hewantsthebookhereplies: "Idesire,ifyoulike,toknowoneof(mis printedasorinmagazineversion)twothings. DoesanultimateGodexistornot?DoesLawor Chaosgovernourlives?ManneedsaGod,so thephilosopherstellus.Havetheymadeone ordidonemakethem?"etc.,etc. Here,asinotherpassages,thebewildermentis expressedinmetaphysicalterms,foratthattime, duemainlytomyeducationIwasveryinvolved withmysticism.Also,themetaphysicaltermssuited thedescriptionofaSwordandSorceryheroandhis magical,lowtechnologyworld. ItmayseemoddthatIusesuchphrasesas"atthat time"andsoon,asifI'mreferringtotheremote past,butinmanyways,beingatriflemoremature, perhaps,happilymarriedwithabettersenseofdi rection,etc.,allthisdoesseemtohavetakenplacein theremotepast. TheDeadGod'sBookiseventuallylocatedina vastundergroundworldwhichIhadintendedasa wombsymbol,andafteraphilosophicalconversa tionwiththebook'skeeper,Elricdiscoversit.This passageis,tomenow,ratheroverwritten,but,for betterorworse: ItwasahugebooktheDeadGod'sBook,its coversencrustedwithaliengemsfromwhich thelightsprang.Itgleamed,itthrobbedwith lightandbrilliantcolour.

"Atlast,"Elricbreathed."Atlastthetruth!" Hestumbledforwardlikeamanmadestupid withdrink,hispalehandsreachingforthe thinghesoughtwithsuchsavagebitterness. Hishandstouchedthepulsatingcoverofthe Bookand,trembling,turneditback...Witha crash,thecoverfelltothefloor,sendingthe brightgemsskippinganddancingoverthepav ingstone.BeneathElric's...handslaynothing butapileofyellowishdust. TheDeadGod'sBookandtheGoldenBargeare oneandthesame.Theyhavenorealexistence,save inthewishfulimaginationofmankind.Thereis,the storysays,noHolyGrailwhichwilltransforma manovernightfrombewilderedignorancetocom pleteknowledgetheansweralreadyiswithinhim, ifhecarestotrainhimselftofindit.Aratherover emphasisedfact,throughouthistory,butonegener allyignoredallthesame. TheStealerofSouls,thethirdstory,continuesthis theme,butbroughtinratherdifferentkindsofsym bols.CoupledwiththeJungiansymbolsalreadyin herentinanytaleusingdirectmythicmaterial,I usedFreudiansymbols,too.Thiswasacynicalat temptandarathervulgarattempttomaketheseries popular.Itappearedtowork.TheStealerofSouls, whateverelseitmaybe,isoneofthemostporno graphicstoriesIhaveeverwritten.InFreudianterms itisthedescriptionof,ifyoulike,anight'slove making. Whichbringsmetoanotherpoint.Althoughthere iscomparativelylittledirectdescriptionofsexual encountersinthestoriesandwhatthereareare largelyromanticised,thewholeElricsagahas,inits choiceofsituationsandsymbols,veryheavysexual undertones.ThisistrueofmostSwordandSorcery stories,butIhaveanideathatImaybethefirst suchauthortounderstandhismaterialtothisex tent,toknowwhathe'susing.IfIhadn'tbeenabit fedupbythebigresponsereceivedbyTheStealerof Souls(magazinestory,notthebook)Icouldhave madeevengreateruseofwhatIdiscovered. Othercriticshavepointedoutthecloserelation shipthehorrorstory(andoftentheSFstoryforthat matter)haswiththepornographicstory,sothere's noneedtogoanydeeperintoithere. ThepornographiccontentoftheElricsagadoesn't interestmemuch,butIhavehintedattherelation shipbetweensexandviolenceinseveralstories,and indeed,thereareadozensyndromestobefoundin

thestories,particularlyifyoubearinmindmyown involvementwithsexuallove,expressioninviolence, etc.,atthetimethestorieswerefirstconceived. EvenmyowninterpretationofwhatIwasdoingis opentointerpretation,inthiscase! Theallegorygoesthroughalltenstories(includ ingToRescueTanelornwhichdidnotfeatureElric)in ScienceFantasy,butittendstochangeitsemphasisas myownideastakebettershapeandmyemotions mature.When,inthelastElricstoryofall,thesword, hiscrutch,StormbringerturnsandslaysElricitis meanttorepresent,ononelevel,howmankind's wishfantasiescanoftenbringaboutthedestruction of(tillnowatleast)partofmankind.Hitler,forin stance,foundedhiswholesocalled"political"creed onaseriesofwishfantasies(thisisdetailedinthat oddbookDawnofMagic,recentlypublishedhere). Againthisisanoldquestion,abittritefrombeing askedtoooften,maybe,buthowmuchofwhatwe believeistrueandhowmuchiswhatwewishwere true.HitlerdreamedofhisThousandYearReich, ChamberlainsaidThereWillBeNoWar.Bothwere convincedbothignoredplainfacttoafrightening extent,justasmanypeople(notjustpoliticianswhose publicstatementsarenotalwayswhattheyreally believe)ignoreplainfactstoday.Thisisnonew discoveryofmine.Itisprobablyoneoftheoldest discoveriesintheworld.But,inpart,thisiswhat nearlyallmypublishedworkpointsout.Working, asIdidonce,aseditorofapartyjournal(allegedly aninformationmagazineforpartycandidates)this convictionwasstrengthened.Thebuildupofafan tasyisanoddprocessandsometimeshappens,to digressabit,likethis. Thefactsaregathered,related,apictureemerges. Thepicture,thoughslightlycolouredbytheperson alitiesofthefactrelaters,isfairlytrue.Thepictureis giventothepolitician.Ifthepoliticianisamanof integrityhewillnotdeliberatelywarpthefacts,but hewillpresenttheminasimplifiedversionwhich willbeunderstoodbythegeneralpublic(hethinks). Thisinvolvesaselection,whichcanchangeapicture outofallrecognition,thoughthepoliticiandidn't deliberatelyintendtowarpthefacts.Theotherkind ofpoliticianalmostautomaticallyselectsandwarps inordertoproveapointhe,orhisparty,istryingto make.Sothefantasybegins.Soontherealpictureis almostirrevocablylost. Thereforethisrelianceonpseudoknowledgewhich seemstoprovesomethingwewishweretrue,isa dangerousthingtodo. ThisisoneofthemainmessagesoftheElric

series,thoughthereareseveralothersondifferent levels. Don'tthinkI'maskingyoutogobackoverthe storieslookingfortheseallegoriesandsymbols.The reasonIabandonedTheGoldenBargewasbecause amongotherthingsitwasn'tentertaining.TheElric storiesaremeanttoentertainasmuchasanything else,butifanyonecarestolookforsubstancebeyond theentertainmentlevel,theymightfindit. Oneofthemainreasons,though,fortakingthis anglewhenAlan(Dodd)askedmetowriteapiece onElric,wasbecauseIhavebeenalittledisap pointedatthefirstbookbeingdismissedbysome professionalcritics(whoevidentlydidn'tbotherto readitclosely,ifatall)asanimitationofConan. Whenyouputthoughtandfeelingintoastory thoughtandfeelingwhichisyoursyoudon'tmuch careforbeingcalledanimitatororaplagiaristhow evergoodorbadthestory.Probablythemillionth novelaboutayoungadvertisingexecutiveinlove withadebandinvolvedwithamarriedwomanhas justbeenpublished,yettheauthorwon'tbeaccused ofimitatinganyoneorplagiarisinganyone.Itisthe usetowhichoneputsone'schosenmaterial,not thatmaterial,whichmatters. SOJAN THE SWORDSMAN 1.DaughterofaWarriorKing AMYATtrottedpeacefullyacrossthebroad,seem inglyneverendingplainwhichmadeuptheland scapeasfarasitwaspossibletosee.Nosound issuedfromtheclovenhoofs,muffledbythemoss likesubstancewhichclothedthegroundinamantle ofvividcolourpurple,greenandyellow,witha traceofcrimsonorviolethereandthere.Nothing grewuponthatplain.Itwasawilderness,barren, desertedthegreatestdesertontheplanetofZylor. Awanderingwarriorsatastridethemyat'sbroad back.Athissteed'ssidehungashield,avirtually unknownaccoutrementonZylor,butthetribeto whichSojanbelongedhadperfecteditasavaluable asset.Thebeastuponwhichherodewasabig, sturdyanimal.Frombothsidesofitshugehead grewlongsharphorns,curvingoutward.Morelike areptilethanamammal,itsheadtaperedlikea snake's,itstailwasthickandit,too,tapered. Sojanwasclothedinabrightbluejerkinreaching

tohisknees,hislegswerebareandtoughbootsof myathidewereuponhisfeet,reachingtoabouttwo inchesfromhisknees.Overthejerkinwasaleather harnessofsimpledesigntwostrapsacrosshisshoul ders,comingtothewaistandattachedtoabroad beltwhereuponhunghisweaponsasword,adirk, longandsharp,andaholstercontaininghisbig, roundbuttedairpistol. Themercenary'shairwaslongandheldbyafillet ofleather.Atthebackofhisbigsaddleweretwo saddlebags,acontainerofwaterand,rolledacross these,hiscrimsoncloak. Themanhimselfwastall,broadshoulderedand slimwaistedwithsmoothmusclesripplingbeneath hisjerkin.Theperfectfightingman,keeneyedand wary. SuddenlySojancaughtaflashofmarbletothe westandknewthathehadsightedVermlot,the capitalcityofHatnor,thegreatestwarriornationof awarriorworld.Arichcity,wasVermlot,richin fightingmenandweaponsofwar,richintermsof gold,richinbeautyandsplendour. Ashenearedthecitywallsaguardbadehimhalt andstatehisbusiness. "Icomeinpeace,"hecried,"tooffermysword, myloyaltyandmylifetohisImperialHighness,the WarLordofHatnor.Iamamercenary,myonly possessionsaretheclothesIwear,theweaponsI carryandthemyatIride.Ihavetravelledhalfa worldtooffermyservicestoyourruler!" Hewasadmittedtothecityandmadehiswayto oneofthemanytavernssituatedwithintheprotec tionofthemightywalls.Hisstrangeprotective weaponarousedmuchinterest.Acertainwarrior mademockofhimandhisshield. "Oh!"helaughed."Whatabravemercenary!He hastravelledhalfaworldtogiveushisprotection forwithhisgreatshieldinfrontofhimhewillbe abletowithstandallourenemies.Perhapshecannot fightwithoutit.That'sso,isitnot,mercenary?" Sojanhalted,andgazedupatthemanwhowas leaningagainstapillaronthebalconyabove. Grimly,quietly,hespoke,buthistoneswerecold andhiswordswereacid. "Idonotlikeyourattitude,"hesaid."AndIlike

yourwordsless.Drawyourswordifyouknow howtouseitanddefendyourself!Perhapsyou willbehidingbehindtheshieldbeforeIhavefin ishedwithyou!" Thewarriorstiffenedandhisfaceflushed:heput onehandonthebalconyrailandvaultedintothe streetbelow,drawinghislong"vilthor",asabrelike weapon,ashedidso. Sojanunslunghisshieldfromthemyatanddrew hisownlongblade.ThewarriorofthePalacestruck first,aimingawickedslashatSojan'slegswithhis curvedvilthorbutthemercenaryfromIlthothjumped highintheairandattackedtheotherwithaweav ingarcofsteel,drivinghimfurtherandfurther back.Thenthemansawhischanceandslashedat anexposedlimbofthemercenary's,butwastoo slow.Therewasadullthudastheswordhitand reboundedfromtheshield,thenhewasmadeto duckbeneathaviciousslashfromSojan. TheVermlotianslowlylostgrounduntilwitha flickofhiswristSojandisarmedhisopponent.Then, fromasecondstoreywindowafiguredropped,first tothebalconyofthefirststoreyandfromthereto theground.Heremovedhiscloakand,withasmile uponhislips,cameforwardwithdrawnsword. "Ifancyyouwillnotdisarmmesoquickly." ThistimeSojanwasnotsoluckyforthenew comerwasasquickastheproverbialcobra.His swordweavedaninvisiblecirclearoundSojan'sguard andthenewcomersoonhadhimathismercy.Be foreheknewit,themercenary'sswordflewfrom hisgraspandclatteredtotheearth,tenfeetaway. "Yield?"questionedthevictor. "Iyield,"pantedhe."Youareagreatfighter. Whoareyou,sir?" "Perhapsyouhaveheardofme,"smiledhislate adversary,"IamNornosKad,WarLordoftheIm perialEmpireofHatnor!" "Sir,"saidSojanwithabow,"I,whocameto enlistinyourserviceandoffermyaidtoyou,begin byfightingyou.Icraveyourforgiveness." NornosKadlaughed."Nevermind,youdidvery wellagainstmywarriorhere.Tobesthimisatest indeedandIfeelthatIwoulddowelltoenlistyour services."Hesignedtoaservantwhowaswaiting inadoorway."Come,youwillbemyguestuntilI

haveneedofyou.Here,Oumlat,takeSojantoone ofthebestguestroomsandseethatheiswell lookedafter." ForaweekorsoSojanenjoyedtheprivilegesof theRoyalGuestuntilonemorningamessengercame tosaythatNornosKadhadaskedforhim. "Isummonedyou,Sojan,"NornosKadsaid,when theywerealone,"becauseyouaretoaccompanyme onajourney.OurmissionistotakeIlthat,princess ofSengol,backtoherfather'scountry.Idesireto bringSengolintotheHatnorianalliancewithout bloodshedifpossibleandthekingwouldthinkwell ofitifhisdaughterwaspersonallyescortedhomeby theWarLordhimself.Youhadbetterprepareyour weaponsandbereadytomovefromyourquarters bydawntomorrow." Tenwarships,heavilyarmedwithHatnorianair gunswhichworkedonthesimpleprincipleofcom pressedair,witharangeofoverhalfamile,andthe RoyalAirship,werereadytotaketotheairearlythe nextmorning.Theyrosemajestically,hoveredfora fewmoments,andthen,withmotorspurring,the greatgasbagsveeredofftowardsSengolwhichlay fartothenorth. Withinthreeorfourhourstheyhadcrossedthe outermostboundaryofHatnorandhersatellitesand werewingingtheirwayatasteadyeightymilesan houroverVeronlam,acountrywhichowednoalle giancetoHatnorandwhich,althoughfearingthe mightyEmpire,wasconstantlystirringuppettystrife betweentheminorHatnoriannationals.Theyhad nearlyreachedtheborderofVeronlamwhenthe softpurrofmotorswasheardandashellwhistled pastthemandexplodedintheirrearaircontainer. "Veronlampirates!"yelledtheforegunner. Quicklythesmallfleetformedaprotectivebarrier abouttheRoyalship.Oneairshipwashitadozen timesinasmanydifferentplacesandhurtleddown wards,flamesroaringfromthegasbagandthecrew jumpingoverboardratherthandieintheflames. NornosKadrealisedatoncethattofightagainst somanywouldsoonendindisasterforhisfleet, andheorderedthemtoturnaboutandfleebackto Hatnor.Hedecidedtorelyuponhisspeedieren ginestoaidthemratherthantheirpowerfulguns. TheHatnorianfleetcircledandfled.NornosKad wasthelasttoleavethebattleandhastilyturned abouttofollowhisships.Butalas,itwastoolate,

forthreewellaimedshotsintheirmaintanksent themspirallingslowlytoearthtolandwithasicken ingcrashamidstatangleofredhotgirdersand flamingfabric.Beingontheplatformoftheship NornosKad,SojanandIlthatwereflungclearof themainwreckage,toliestunned. Sojandidnotknowhowlongitwashelayamidst thewreckageoftheRoyalAirship,butwhenhe awokeitwasdawn.Heknewthatnonecouldhave escapediftheyhadbeentrappedinthewreckage butneverthelesshespentafruitlesstwohourssearch ingforhiscompanionsallhefoundweretwoor threecharredcorpsesbutnonelived.Convinced thathiscompanionsweredeadhetooktheonly unbrokenwaterbottleandsetoffinthedirectionof Hatnor.Sojan'seyecaughtthegleamofwhitestone fartothesouthofhisposition.Withasighofrelief hebegantowalkquicklytowardsthegleamwhich grewsoonintoapatchandfromthatintoacity,its wallstoweringfiftypacesinplaces.Knowingthat hewasstillprobablyinVeronlamheknewthatit wouldbeuselesstotrytogainadmissiononthe strengthofhisallegiancetoNornosKadtheWar Lord.StrippinghimselfofhisHatnorianNavyCloak andalsohisNavytypegauntletshestoodarrayedas whenhehadfirstenteredHatnor,asamercenary swordsman. HeeasilygainedadmittancetothecityofQuentos asmercenarieswerealwayswelcometoswellthe ranksofanyarmy. "ByMimuk,friend,you'rethethirdtopassthrough thesegatesthisday,"theguardsaid,ashewas allowedtoenterthecity. "Thethird.That'sstrangeisitnot,guard?"re pliedSojan."Threepeopleinoneday!Mimuk,you mustbejoking!" "Ijokenot,friendmercenary,strangeasitseems twoothershaveprecededyouandoneofthemwas awoman.Ourwarriorsfoundthemnearthewreck ofanairship.Somesaytheoneswecapturedwere NornosKadhimselfandIlthat,daughterofHugor ofSengol.Twoprizesindeedifitbethetruth." Sojanstrodeoffinthedirectionindicatedbythe friendlyguard. Arrivingatthetavernhehiredaroomandor deredhimselfameal.Finishinghisrepast,hewas horrifiedtofindthattheonlymoneyhehadwas thatofHatnor.Ifhetriedtopassthisheknewthat

thesuspicionsofthekeeperofthetavernwouldbe instantlyaroused.Whatshouldhedo?Hehad broughtnothingwithhimtothetavernsavehis sword,shieldandpoinardandtheclotheshewore. Hereasonedthattheonlychancehestoodwasto tryandslipquietlyoutofthedoorbeforethepropri etorspottedhimandorderedhimtopayhisbill. Justashethoughthehadreachedthesafetyofthe streetahandfellonhisshoulderandtheleering faceofthelandlordwasbroughtclosetohis. "Goingsosoon,mylord?Methinksyouwould liketostayandsamplesomemoreofourvictuals beforeyoumakeyourerhastydeparture,"hesaid withponderoussarcasm."Nowpayupormymen'll makesureyoupayforyourmealinblood!" "Youthreatenme,byMimuk!"criedSojan,his easilyrousedtempergettingthebetterofhim."You darethreatenme!Drawyourweapon!" "Hey,Tytho,Zatthum,Wanrimcomeandsave mefromthismurderingbilker!"criedthekeeperof thetaverninterror. Instantlythreeruffiansappearedinthenarrow doorwayand,drawingtheirblades,rushedatSojan, causinghimtoreleasehisgraspupontheunfortu natemanandturntofacethisnewdanger. Zatthumwentdowninthefirstminutewithan inchofsteelmarkingitspaththroughhisheart.The remainingtwowerenotsoeasilydefeated.Backand forthacrossthenarrowstreetthethreefought,sparks flyingfromtheirblades,theclangoftheirweapons resoundingupontherooftops.Sojanwasmarkedin adozenplaces,buthisadversarieswerebleedingin asmanyashewas.Withaquickthrust,aparryand anotherthrustthemercenarysucceededindispatch ingthesecondman.NowonlyTythowasleft.Sojan allowedhimselftobeheadedoffandthemanedged himcompletelyaroundsothattheywerenow retracingtheirpath.WithamightyeffortSojan,who wasstilltiredafterhisnarrowescapefromtheair ship,gatheredhisremainingstrengthtogetherand madeaviciouslungeinTytho'sdirection.Hecried outinpainwhenSojan'sbladefoundthemusclesof hisleftarm,butdidnotrelaxhisgripuponhisown sword.AgainSojanwasforcedfurtherbacktowards thegapingcrowdwhichhadcollectedoutsidethe tavern.Hisshieldsavedhimfromthethrustde signedtoendthefightbutheknewhecouldnotlast longerforhewasrapidlytiring.Suddenlyhisfoot caughtinthetrappingsofoneofthedeadmen's harnessesandhefellbackwardsacrossthecorpse.A

grimsmilegracedTytho'sfaceasheraisedhissword todeliverthefinalthrust. "Killhim,Tytho,killhim,"thecrowdroaredin frenziedbloodlust. Sojan,entangledintheharnessofthemanhehad slain,triedtorisebutwasstoppedfromdoingsoby ashovefromTytho'sbootedfoot. ThehirelingraisedhisswordagainandtheCrowd leanedforward. Suddenlytherewasadisturbanceatoneendof thestreetandthecrowdquicklybegantodisperse. Asitdidso,TythosawtheCityPatrol,scourgeof thecitythieves,wasthecauseofthecrowd'sdisap pearance.Lookinghurriedlyabouthimforawayof escapehefoundnonehedroppedhisswordand begantorun,foolishly,alongthestreet. TheleaderofthePatrolraisedhispistol.There wastheslighthissofescapingairandtherunning hirelinggaveashortcry,threwuphisarms,stum bledanddroppedonthecobblesofthestreet. "What'shappeninghere?" BythistimeSojanhaddisentangledhimselffrom theharnessofhislateopponentandwasstanding, legsa'sprawl,handtohead. "You'vesavedmylife,sir!"hegasped."These ruffiansattackedmeformymoney.Isucceededin killingtwobutunfortunatelybecametangledupwith thisfellow."Heindicatedthebody."Tythowas abouttofinishmewhenyouarrived!" Theleaderlaughed."Youcertainlyaccountedvery wellforyourself,"hesaid,"thesethreeareamong theworstofthetypewithwhomwehavetocon tend.Ruthlessmurderers,perfectswordsmen."Again helaughed."Oralmostperfect.Youdidusaservice andIamgrateful." HesurveyedSojan'sbloodstainedandtattered clothing. "You'reastrangerhereareyounot?"heenquired. "Amercenaryswordsman,perhaps?" "Yes,IamnamedSojantheynicknameme 'Shieldbearer'asIusethis."Sojanpointedtohis shield. "Well,SojanShieldbearer,howwouldyouliketo

bearashieldandwieldaswordinthePatrol?" InstantlySojansawhischance.Ifhecouldgeta postintheorganisedmilitiaofthecity,hemightbe abletocontacthisprisonedfriends. "Ithasalwaysbeenmyambitiontoserveinthe VeronlamiteGuard,"helied,"buttobecomeamem berofthegreatPatrolisachanceforwhichIhadnot daredhope." "Thencomewithusandwe'llenlistyouimmedi ately.And,"headded,"getyouadecentjerkinand harness." BeforehecouldbecomeafullfledgedPatrolman, Sojanhadtoundergoacourseofbasictraining. Whenthiswasfinished,hisdutiesweretoPatrol, withhismen,acertainsectionofthecity,andarrest anythieves,footpadsorsimilarwrongdoers.The "justice"wasroughindeedandwasnotappreciated bythepopulation.Allthetimeheheardrumours andfromtheserumourshegleanedthatNornos KadandIlthatwereimprisonedsomewhereinthe PrisonofZholunamightytoweredbuildingsitu atednearthecentreofthecity.Sojanknewwellthat thePatrol'sdutiesincludedpatrollingtheprisonand actingasguardsto"special"prisonersandhewas hopingthathewouldbegiventhisassignmentsoon. Sureenough,onedayhishopeswerefulfilledand hewasassignedtoguardasectionofZholunPrison. Withhiseyeswideopen,Sojanlearnedwherethe twowereimprisoned. "OneisintheEasttowertheotherintheWest. NornosKadliesintheEasttower,"aguardtold SojanonenightafterSojanhadpliedhimwithenough aletogethimdrunk. Sojanhadtoworkfasttherewererumoursthat hisfriendsweretodiebytheswordintwodays' time. HisfirstloyaltywastoNornosKad.Hecontrived toentertheEasttowerwhereinNornosKadwas imprisoned.Stealthilyhemadehiswaytothemetal studdeddoorofthecell. "NornosKad,"hewhispered. Heheardtherattleofchainsandthroughthebars ofthedoorsawhischieftain'shandsomeface,drawn andpalethroughlackoffoodandsleep.

"Sojan!"exclaimedtheWarLord."Ithoughtyou diedinthecrash!" "IamaliveandheretosaveyouifIcan.Iwas assignedtoguardtheWestwingsoitwillbemore difficulthoweverIshalltryandgetthekeys.Until Ireturnhavehope!" AndwiththatSojancreptbackalongthegloomy passage.OnreturnhefoundthatthePatrolmanon dutywastalkingtosomeone.Hewaiteduntilthe manhadleftandthenwalkedintothelittleroom whichwasbeingusedtohouseguards. "Hullo,Stontor,"criedSojan,"what'sup?" Stontorlookedworried."It'smywife,Sojan,she's beentakenillandIcan'tleavemypost." Sojansawhischance. "Well,yougoandhelpher,"hesaid."I'llstay hereuntilyougetback.Don'tworry." "Thanksalot,Sojan,you'reafriendindeed.Here arethekeysshouldn'tthinkthere'llbemuchdoing tonight."Andwiththathepickeduphiscloakand randownthelongpassage. HastilySojanpickedupthekeysandranbackto NornosKad'scell.Unlockingthedoorhehelped NornosKadfromhischains. "Iwasluckyacoincidenceguard'swifeillbut themaintroublewillbegettingoutofthecity,"he panted,asheunlockedtheheavypadlocks. Togethertheyreturnedtotheguards'room.Here SojanleftNornosKad.Thenhemadehiswayback totheWestwingwhereitwasasimplemattertoget theprincessfromhercell.Silentlytheyreturnedto NornosKad. Keepingtothesidestreetsandtheshadows,the threespedalongtowardsthecitygates. SuddenlyNornosKadhissed,"Stop!Stop,Sojan, theremaybeaneasierway."Hepointedtoaflat areadottedwithhangersandanchoredairships. "Withoneofthosewewouldhaveabetterchance ofescaping." "Buthow?"enquiredSojan. AgainNornosKadpointed."Youseethatsmall

shipnearesttoustheoneanchoreddownbya coupleofropes?"Theshipofwhichhewasspeak ingwasfifteenfeetabovethem,heldtotheground byanchorsattachedtoheavyropes."Withluckwe couldgaintheshipandclimbtheropes." Stealthilytheypaddedalongthesideofthefield, keepingwellintotheshadowsallthetime.Asingle guardlolledontheground.Sojancreptbehindhim andreversinghispistol,knockedthemanuncons cious. WithSojan'sandNornosKad'shelp,Ilthatwas abletoclimbtheropeandtheyboardedtheship.As theyclamberedovertherailalightsuddenlyap pearedfromoneofthecabinsandanarmedman appearedondeck.Hewasfollowedbythreeothers. "Mimuk!"hecried."Whathavewehere?" Therewasnotimeforwordsand,handingNornos KadhislongdirkandIlthathispistol,Sojandrew hissword,andengagedthemanandhiscompan ions.NornosKadwasclosebehindhim.Backand forthacrossthenarrowdeckthesixmenfought, andthefourcrewmenwerenomeanbattlers.Nornos Kad,weakfromhissojourninZholunPrison,still putupagoodfight.Togethertheysucceededin killingtwooftheiropponentsbuttheothertwo werebetterswordsmen.Theclashofsteelechoed acrossthesilentfield.Sojanwasblindedbythe suddenflashofasearchlightandtakingadvantage ofthis,hisopponentcutpasthisguardandmadea painfulgashinhisside.Thepainwaslikefireand Sojancouldbarelyrestrainhimselffromcryingout. Hestumbledtothedeckandwithacryoftriumph thecrewmanraisedhissword.Asuddenhissanda strangledgaspandhecollapsedoverSojan.Turning hisheadhesawIlthatwiththepistolinherhand. "Thanks,"wasallhecouldsayashestruggledto hisfeetandrantohelpNornosKad. WhileNornosKadthrewthebodiesoverboard, Sojanstartedtheengines.Belowthemtheyheard shoutsofaPatrolandtwosearchlightswerenow levelledontheswayingairship.Soontheyheard criesasthebodiesofthecrewmenwerefound. WithtwoswordstrokesNornosKadcutthean choringropesandtheshiproseswiftlyintotheair. Therewasacoughingroarandthepropellersbegan toturn.Thesearchlightsfollowedthemallaround themshellswhistled. Suddenly,behindthem,theysawthatthree

battlecruisersofthefastestandheaviesttypehad risentofollowthem. "Morespeed,Sojan,morespeed!"criedNornos Kad."MakeforSengol,it'snearer." Withaglanceatthecompass,Sojanturnedthe ship'snosetowardstheNorth.Nearerandnearer camethebattlecruisers,gunspoppingsoftly.Ilthat, atruedaughterofawarriorking,climbedintothe gunner'srearseatandaimedthegunsoftheirown shipatthepursuingcruisers.Shepressedthetrig gersandthetwinmuzzlesofthegungaveajerk,a hiss,andtherewasanexplosion.Whatallagun ner'sskillcouldnoteasilyhaveaccomplished,Ilthat haddonewithluckbroughtdownacruiserinits mostvulnerablespotthemaingasbag.Flames roaredfromthefabricandtheshiplostheight.Faster andfasteritwentastheearthpulleditdownwards. Theenginesroaringtothelastitcrashedwithaflash oforangeandcrimsonflame.Buttheothertwo shipshadstilltobeaccountedforandIlthatwas notsoluckythistime. Fortwohoursthechasecontinued,neithergain ingandallthetimetheshellsfromtheVeronlam craftweregettingcloserandcloserasthegunner perfectedhisaim. "Theywillcatchussoon,"criedIlthat,whostill satinthereargunner'sseat,"theyseemtobedraw ingcloser!" "Thenweshallhavetolandandhopethatwe're notstillinVeronlam,"yelledNornosKadabovethe shriekingwind. "Itwillbealongtimeforustodoso,sir,"Sojan toldNornosKad,"wehavenoanchors,andtore leasethegasinthegasbagwouldmeanthatwhile welostheightweshouldalsolosespeed." "Thenthere'sonlyonethingwecando!"cried theEmperor,"andthat'sthis!"Raisinghisswordhe cutdeepintothenearestgasbag.Hewasthrownto thedeckasthecontentsrushedoutandalmostat oncetheshipbegantodrop,dangerouslyfast.The threestoodbytheside,readytojump. Withahardjolttheshiptouchedtheground, bumpedalongit,andstopped.Overthesidethe threecompanionswentandranoversoftmossto theshelteringshadowsofsomerocksastheVeron lamitesearchlightsbegantostabintothedarkness.

Butitwaseasytohideintherocksandthecaves shelteredthemwhentheVeronlamslandedandmade avainsearchforthem. Inthemorningitwasaneasymattertowalkto thenearestSengoliancityandthencetothecapital, wherethekinggratefullytookhisdaughterand promisedthatSengolwouldalwaysbeanallyto Hatnor. (Originaldraftc.1955) 2.MissiontoAsno MOTORSPURRING,captainsshoutingorders,therustle ofthecanvasguncoversbeingdrawnback,gay flags,flashingsteel,flyingcloaksofmanyhuesa Hatnorianwarfleetroserapidlyintothesky. Onthedeckoftheflagshipstoodatall,strong figurethatofSojan,nicknamed"Shieldbearer",sec ondincommandtothegreatWarLordofHatnor himselfNornosKad. Athissidewasalongbroadsword,uponhisback hisroundshieldhisrighthandrestedonthebuttof hisheavyairpistolanincrediblypowerfulweapon. Cladinajerkinofskyblue,adividedkiltofdeep crimsonandbootsofdarkleather,overhisshoulder hisleathernwarharness,hewasthetypicalexample ofaZylorianmercenary,whoseloveofbrightgarb waslegendary. ThegreatwarfleetwasdestinedforAsnoacoun tryfartothenorthofHatnorwheretheking,sothe spiestold,wasraisinganarmyofmercenariesto attackYundrotacolonyoftheHatnorianEmpire. Tostopamajorwar,NornosKaddecidedtosend amightyfleettocrushtheattackbeforeitwasstarted. Havingotherbusiness,heassignedSojantotakehis placeandinstructedhimtocompletelywipeoutany signsofanattack. Onlytoopleasedatthechanceofbattle,Sojanhad readilyassentedandwasnowonhiswaytheen tirefleetunderhiscommand. SoonthefleetwaswingingitswayoverAsnoa landofsnowandice,fiercebeasts,greattractsof uninhabitedicefieldsuninhabited,thatis,bycivilised beings. InanotherhouritwouldbeoverBoitil,thecapital city.

"Gunners,takeyourpositions!"Sojanroared throughcuppedhandsandpickingupamegaphone fortherewasnoradioonZylorshoutedthesame orders,whichwentfromshiptoshipuntilevery gunnerwasseatedinhisseat,gunsloadedand readyforfiring. "Droptwohundredfeet!"Sojanroaredagainto thesteersman,andrepeatedtheseorderstotheother captains,whointurnshoutedthemtotheirown steersmen. "Preparehandweaponsandfastendownloose fixtures,checkgasbagcoverings,everymantoposi tion!"Sojanshoutedwhentheshipshadalldropped twohundredfeet. "Slowspeed!"Theshipsslowedinto"second speed." InZyloriannavaltermstherearefivespeeds: "SpeedNo.1"isfastestpossible,"SpeedNo.2"isa fifthofthisslower,andsoon.Whenacommander givestheordertoslowwhentravellingatSpeedNo. 1,theshipautomaticallyadjuststoSpeedNo.2if goingatNo.2andtoldtoslow,itchangestoNo.3. Nowtheywereovertheoutskirtsofthecity,drop pinglowerandloweruntilSojanthoughttheywould touchtheverytowersofBoitil,scanningthesquares andflyingfieldsforsignsofthearmy.Halfwayover thecityamessagewaspassedtoSojanthatagreat armycamphadbeenspottedjustontheoutskirts ofthecity.Atthesametimesomeoneyelledforhim tolook,anddoingsohesawthatafleetalmostas largeashisownwasrisingfromflyingfieldsallover thevastcity. "Prepareforbattle!"heshouted. Asone,thesafetycatchesofthegunswerepushed off. "Shootasyouwill!"Sojanordered. Therewasamuffled"pop"andthehissofescap ingairastheexplosiveshellsoftheHatnoriancraft weresentontheirmissionofdestruction.Almostat oncetheenemyretaliated. TwoHatnorianships,oneonlyslightlydamaged, theotheramassofroaringyellowandblueflame, droppedearthwards. Fortwelvehoursthegreatairbattlewasfought, developingintoshiptoshipduelsastheopposing

sidesbecamemixed.Bitbybitthebattlemoved southwardsuntilitwasoverthegreaticewastes. Butexperthandlingoftheircraft,superiormarks manshipandaslightlysuperiorweightofnumbers onthepartoftheHatnorianfleetwasslowlybut surelyweakeningtheAsnogianfleet.Sojan,now withagunmountedontheofficer'splatform,was takinganactivepartinthebattle.Hisuncannyabil itytohitalmostwhateverheaimedatwastaking greattoll.Everywhereshipswerehurtlingearth wards,crashinginaninfernoofflame,ormerely bouncinggentlywhenagasbagwasonlyslightly punctured. Atlast,onebyone,theenemybegantoflee.The otherships,seeingtheircompanionsescape,disen gagedandfollowedthem.Thehiredships,manned mainlybymercenaries,flewineverydirectionbut thatofAsno,whiletheAsnogiancraftturnedand headedfortheirhomebase.Inthisdirectionwent theHatnorianfleet,reformingtoacloseformation andturningtoNo.1speed.Iftheyovertookashipit wasruthlesslyshotdownbuthalfadozenorso wereluckyandescapedthem.Inthreehoursthey werebackoverAsnoandbombingthetroopen campmentwithincendiariesuntilnothingremained ofthegreatcampbutsmoulderingfabricandtwisted steel.Throughthesouthgateofthecitystreamed forthraggedbandsofhiredsoldiers,bentonescap ingwhiletheycould.Theplannedattackona Hatnoriancolonyhadnotevenbegun.Ajustrepri salonNornosKad'spart.Areprisalcarriedoutin fullbySojan.Buthisbusinesswasnotfinishedand, landingonpartofanundamagedairfield,Sojan orderedthefrightenedcommandingofficertotake himtoKingTremornofAsno. "IbringamessagefrommyEmperor!"hecried whenhewasinthevastchamberwhichhousedthe king'scourt.Allaroundhimstoodcourtiersand servants,worriedandanxioustohearhisterms. Greatpillarssupportedtheroofandbrillianttapes trieshungfromtheceiling.Muralsonthewalls depictedscenesofbattles,onland,waterandinthe air. "Speakyourmessage,"orderedtheking."What areyourterms?IadmitthatIambeaten!Forthe present!"headded. "Foralltime,sir,whileamemberoftheNornis familysitsonthethroneofHatnor!"Sojanreplied. "Now,doyouwishtohearmyterms?" "Speak!"

"Thefirstisthatyouacknowledgeallegianceto Hatnorandpayatributeoffivehundredyoungmen totraininourarmieseverytenthyear.Thesecondis thatyoudisbandanyarmyyoustillhave,savefor policingyourcity.Onsignsofattack,youwillnotify theEmpire,whowillcometoyouraid.Asamem beroftheEmpireyouwillbesubjecttoalllawsand tradingtermsoftheEmpireandintimesofmajor warshallenlisttwothirdsofyourfightingstrength inthearmiesofHatnorandtheremainingthirdif calledupon.Youwillnotmakewarshipsorweap onsofwar,savehandweapons,foryourownuse, butallwarshipsandarmsshallbesentdirecttothe capital.Doyourecognisetheseterms?" Thekingpausedand,turningtohismajordomo, whisperedafewwordstohim.Themannodded. "Yes,Irecogniseyourterms,"hesighed. "Thensignyournameandoathtothisdocument andsealitwithyourroyalseal.Uponthebreaking ofyourword,thelapseshallbepunishedaccording tothemagnitude." Sojanhandedthepapertoacourtierwhocarried ittotheking.Theactofbowingtoakingisun knownupontheplanetZylor,insteadthesubject placeshisrighthanduponhishearttosignifycom pleteallegiance. SoitwasthatSojanachievedhispurpose.But moreadventureswereyettocomebeforehecould returntohispalaceatHatnor. 3.RevoltinHatnor "SOJAN,SOJAN!"thecallrangacrosstheclearZylorian skyasasmallscoutshipveeredtowardsthelarger warship,theflagshipofSojan,secondincommand totheWarLordofHatnorNornosKad. "Whoareyou?"Sojan'slieutenantroaredthrough amegaphone. "IbringurgenttidingsfromthecourtofNornos Kadthelandisinturmoil!" "Comealongside,"themanroared. Asthescoutshipdrewalongside,anarmedman jumpedfromitandrusheduptheladdertothe platformwhereonSojanstood. "Sojan!Whilethefleethasbeenatwar,revolution hassweptthroughtheland.NornosKadhasbeen

deposedandatyrantsitsonthethroneofHatnor. Thereisapriceuponyourheadandupontheheads ofallwhomyoucommand. "Fleenow,Sojan,whileyouhavethechance. TrewintheUpstartcontrolsthecityandhalfthe Empire.Theotherhalfisinastateofunrest,unsure whethertosupportoneEmperororanother!" "IcannotfleewhilemyEmperorrotsinchains tellme,whostillcries'LoyaltytotheNornisfamily'?" "Noneopenly,Sojan.Afewaresuspected,but theyarestillpowerfulnoblesandevenTrewindare notarrestthemwithoutcause." Sojan'sfacebecamegrimandheclenchedhishand uponhisswordhilt. "Lun!"hecried."Orderthefleettoturnaboutand adjusttoSpeedOne!" Alookofsurprisecrossedhislieutenant'sface. "We'renotrunning,Sojan?" "DoasIsay!" "TurnaboutandadjusttoSpeedOne!"Lun shoutedthroughhismegaphone. Atoncethegreatfleetturnedgracefullyaboutand adjusted,speedbyspeed,untilitwasflyingatmaxi mumspeed.Therewerepuzzledlooksintheeyesof manyofSojan'scaptains,buttheyobeyedhisorder. "TellthemtosetacourseforPoltoon,"heordered Lun.Lundidsoandsooneveryshipwasheading southtothesteamingjunglesandburningdeserts oftheHeatLands. "WhydowesailforPoltoon,Sojan?"askedLun. ButSojan'sonlyreplywas,"Youwillsee,"andhe resumedhisearnestconversationwiththemessen gerwhohadbroughthimthenews. OnthethirddaytheyweresailingatNo.1speed overavastbeltofjungle,seeminglyimpenetrable. ButSojan'seyes,lessatrophiedbycivilisedliving, caughtwhathehadbeenlookingforapatchof green,lighterthanthedarkgreenwhichpredomi nated. "STOP!"heroared."Stopandhovernooneisto dropanchor."

TheflyingmachinesoftheZyloriannationsare usuallyverysimilartoourairships.Thegondolais supportedbysteelhawsersdependingfromthemain gasbag.Thepropellerisadjustableandcanbeslung eitherforeoraftoftheshipitisusuallyslungaft. Theyaresteeredbytwomethods,arudderaftplus manipulationofthepropeller.Anormalsizedwar shipusuallymountsfivegunstwoverypowerful onesforeandaft,asmalleroneonthecaptain's platformandtwomountedinaplatformontopof thehugegasbag.Thegunnersreachthisplatform bymeansofladdersfromthedecktotheplatform. Thispositionisextremelydangerousandifeverthe gasbagishititisunlikelythatagasbaggunner couldeverescape. Theshipsstoppedasorderedandwhilethey waited,Sojanhadhisshipdropdownwards,nearer andnearertothelittlepatchofgreenwhichbecame asmallclearing,justlargeenoughtolandoneship, butforafleetofoverfiftyshipstolandherewas impossible.Withaslightbumptheshipdroppedto thegroundandtheanchorwasthrownintothesoft grass.Sojanorderedthatthegasbagsbedeflated. Theycouldalwaysbeinflatedagainaseveryship carriedalargesupplyofgascylinders. Nowtheshipwasonlyathirdofthesizeandwas draggedintotheundergrowthwhichwasnotatall thick.Sojantoldhiscrewofeighttogettoworkand chipdownallthesmallgrowthbuttoleavethehuge forestgiantsstanding.Thistheydidandverysoon theclearingwidenedandasitdidsoanewship droppeddownuntilthefiftywerealldeflatedand coveringalargeareaofgroundunderthetrees.The cabinsmadeexcellentlivingquarterssotherewas nodifficultyabouthousingthemen.Rationswere alsoplentifulandaspringoffreshwaterwasnearby. "Iknowthispartofthecountrywell,"Sojantold hismenthatnight,"theinhabitantsareforthemost partfriendly.Whiletheyarenotcivilised,theyare notsavagesandIbelievethattheywillgiveussome help.Butnowwesleepandtomorrowweshall rousethetribes!" Nextmorning,Sojanwithasmallpartyofhismen setoffforthevillageofhisbarbarianfriends. Thechiefgreetedhimwarmlyandwasinterested inSojan'sneedforsoldiers. "Youknowmeandmypeople,Soyin,"hesaid, usingthenearestPoltoonianequivalentofSojan's name."Wealllovetofightandifthere'sabitof

lootthrownin,who'stosay'no'?" "ThenIcandependonyou?" "ByallmeansIshallformacouncilimmediately andrecruitasmanyofmyfellowchiefsaspossible. Betweenusweshouldmusterafewthousandfight ingmen." ByZylorianstandards,wheremostnationsare comparativelysmalltoEarthnations,athousand menisquitealargenumber. "Thenhavethemreadybythethirdday,my friend,"Sojanreplied."Bloodwillstaintheusurp er'srobesbeforethemonthisgone!" 4.TheHordesAttack THEDAYoftheinvasionwasdrawingnearerand Sojanbegantoworkharderandharderinthetrain ingofhisbarbarianhordethePoltoonians.Spies broughtwordthattherewasmoreandmoreunrest intheoutlyingprovincesofHatnor. "Thetimeisrighttostrike,"Sojantoldhiscap tainsandthewildchiefs."Wemustinvadenowor ourcausewillbelostandwewillneveragainhave theopportunitytowinHatnorbackfromtheusurper andrestoreNornosKadtohisrightfulthrone!" Hisairships,camouflagedbythemightytreesof thesteamingPoltoonianjungle,wereprovisioned andreadytodobattle.Hiscaptainswereword perfectinhisplanofinvasion.Everyonehadhis ordersandknewhowtocarrythemout. Adaylaterahorde,consistingofthousandsof mountedbarbariansledbySojanhimself,moved towardstheNorthandHatnor! Twodayslater,thefastermovingairshipsrose intotheairlikeaswarmofhornetsarmedwith stingsahundredtimesmorepowerful.Astheypassed thehorde,theshipsslowedtominimumspeedand followed,flyinglow,justabovethem.Inanother daytheywouldarriveattheboundariesofHatnor andbloodwouldrunintheguttersofallwhoop posedthem. Sojanwassurethatverylittlebloodwouldflowas thearmywouldbeonhisside.Itwasthecriminal population,eggedonbyanevilandpowermad noble,whohadrisenandoverthrowntheirEmperor whilethebulkofhisarmywascrushingarebellion inanouterprovince.

Therewouldalwaysbeunrestinanyregime.Sojan knewthis,buttherewasnocauseforthepeopleto grumbleabouttheirruler.Asalways,theunresthad beencausedbyapowerseekerintentonturninga nationintoabloodbathforhisownselfishends. Nowtheoncehappypeoplegroanedbeneaththe tyrant'syoke,noman,womanorchildcouldcount themselvessafefromhisoppression. Notonlymenmadeupthebarbarianarmy,their maidensrodebesidethem,armedwithknife,sword, shieldandspear.Intheirlefthandstheycarried charmstickstokeeptheirmenandthemselvesfrom harm.Mostofthesegirlswereextremelybeautiful andthearmourtheyworedidnotdetractfromtheir goodlooksinanyway,ratheritenhancedthem. Atlasttheyreachedtheouterboundariesofthe Empireandfoundlittleoppositionhere.Itwouldbe later,whennewsoftheirinvasionreachedthecity ofHatnor,thatthefightingwouldbegin.Sojanwas findingitdifficulttokeepthebarbariansinorder theyhaddecidedthatanyonecouldbeslainaslong astheygottheirloot.Butafteracouncilmeeting withthechiefshewassurethattheywouldbe reliableforatime. TwodayslaterfoundthematthegatesofVermlot, gateswhichweresecurelylockedandguarded. Thebarbarianswereallforlayingviolentsiegeto theplace,butSojanrealisedthattheycouldholdout foraneternity. "Youareforgettingourships,"hesaid,"wehave thewholeoftheHatnorianairforceunderourcon trol.Theywillnotlastaslongastheyhope!" Hisflagshipsailedgracefullydownforhimand thenshotupagainwhenhewasaboard.Orders wereshoutedfromshiptoshipandthefleetdipped downwardstowardsthegreatcitysquare.Aboardwere hundredsofsoldiers,themostreliableofthebarbar ianhorde,andassoonastheshipsreachedthe ground,notwithoutsomeopposition,theyswarmed fromtheshipsandrantoengagetheratherfright enedmilitiawhobarredtheirway. Wildcries,strangelywovenbannersraisedagainst abackgroundofflashingsteelandmuffledpoppings oftheairpistolsandrifles.Itwasimpossibletouse theheavierartillery. Intothesquaretheypouredandsoonitwasim possibletotellfriendorfoeasthefightingsurged

backandforth,spreadingoutwardsintothestreets, intotheveryhousesthemselves.Attackedfromthe insideaswellasattheirwalls,thetyrant'smenwere uncertainwhomtoattackandwhiletheywavered, thebarbarianstooktheopportunitytobatterinone oftheminorgatewaysandclamberovertheinner wall. Thestreetswereslipperywithblood,echoingwith theringofsteelandthecriesofthewounded. Sojanwasinfront,hewingandhackingwithhis greatblade,hislonghairstreamingbehindhimand agrimsmileuponhislips."TothePalace,tothe Palace,"hecried."TakethePalaceorourcauseis lost!" And,likeatidalwave,thearmysurgedovertheir enemiesinthedirectionofthegreatPalace.The doorswouldnotopentotheirthunderousknocking sobatteringramswerebroughtin.Asthemaindoor flewopen,Sojanandhismendrewbackinhorror. TherestoodNornosKad,theirruler,wornandin rags,afilthystubbleonhisface.Andsurrounding him,abodyofTrewin'spersonalguard.Behind themstoodtheirleader. "Comeanotherstepcloser,Sojan,andI'llbeforced tokillyourpreciousEmperor!"hecalled. Sojanandhismenwereinaquandary,whatwere theytodo?Itwascheckmate,ifnotdefeat,forthem. AnideasprangintoSojan'smind. AimingapistolatNornosKad,hepulledthe trigger.TheEmperorfelltothegroundwithamoan andlaystill. "There,dog,I'vedoneyourdirtyworkforyou!" helaughed. InarageTrewinfiredblindlyatSojan.TheSwords manflunghimselftothegroundandthebulletwhis tledbytocatchoneofhismenintheshoulder. Liftinghisownpistol,Sojanfiredtwice.Trewin, intheactoffleeingupthestaircase,flunguphis armsandtoppleddownthegreatstairway,blood tricklingfromhismouth.Helandedwithathudat thefeetofhisguards. Withacry,Sojan,hisswordglisteninginthelight ofthetorchessuspendedaroundthewall,charged fortheastoundedguardswho,withoutthinking,

threwdowntheirweaponsandfled. NornosKadpickedhimselfupfromthefloorwith Sojan'shelp. "Aclevermove,Sojan,"hegrinned,"butittook someclevershooting,too." HeexaminedtheholewhichSojan'sbullethad madeinhiscoat. "Itwasaminorrisk,sir.IfIhadnottakenit,the citywouldevennowbeinthehandsofTrewin." "Atthemomentitseemstobeinthehandsof yourPoltoonianbarbarians,"laughedtheWarLord. "Letusgototherescueofourfellowcountrymen." PeacehadcomeoncemoretoHatnor. 5.ThePurpleGalley ToDESCRIBEthewonderfulpageantry,thecolours, theracesandthemyriadweaponswhichflashedin thatgreathallwouldbeimpossible.Thegleaming whitestonesofthehall,hungwithvividtapestries ofred,black,gold,yellow,orange,greenandpur ple,almostreflectedtheequallyscintillatingcolours oftheuniformsanddressesofthemenandwomen whostoodbeforethethroneofNornosKad. Buttherewasoneuniformmissing,onetallfigure whichshouldhavebeentherewasnot,onesword didnotflashinthegreathall. Andthefacesofthenoblesweresadforthe missingmanwasNornosRique,PrinceofHatnor theWarLord'sson. "Mypeople,"saidNornosKad,softlyandvery sadly,"mysonhasbeenmissingforthirteendays nowandstillnonewsofhimorthePrincessAsderma. Hasanyoneanythingtoreportyou,Sojan,have youfoundanytracesofmyson?" "No,sire,althoughIhavesearchedthewhole nation.Icanonlyconcludethatyoursonisnotin theHatnorianEmpire!" "Thenwemustfindhim,Sojan!Takethemen yourequireandreturnwithmyson!Ifitispossi blethenyouarethemantofindhim!" Thesunwasjustsettingwhenawearyandtravel stainedriderguidedhismyatintothesmallcollec tionofstoneandwoodenbuildingswhichwasthe bordertownofErm.Hehadriddenfordays,stop

pingonlytoeatandgatherafewhours'sleepwhen hecouldnolongerstayawake.Hisclotheswere goodandweremainlymadeofdurablehide.His weaponsnestledinwelloiledsheathsandscabbards, hisshieldwascoveredwithcanvas.Itwaseasyto seethatherewasthetypicalsoldieroffortunea Zylorianmercenary. Hedismountedatthesmalltavernandcalled throughthedoorwhichwasajar. "Heythere!Isthereastableformyanimalanda bedforme?" "Yes,mylord,"cameawoman'svoicefromthe tavernandagirlofabouteighteenappearedinthe doorway."Hey,Kerk!"shecalled."Fetchablanket forthisgentleman'smyatandtakehimtothestables!" "Thiswaymylord,"saidthebattlescarredvet eranwhocametodothewoman'sbidding."What's tradelike?"headdedwithagrinastheynearedthe woodenbuildingwhichservedasastableforthe beastsofthewholevillage. "Nottoobad,"themercenarysmiled."Aslongas menaremenandtheirtempersarethesamethen I'llneverbeoutofajob.Therewasanuprisingin Hatnorsomemonthsago.Thatwasagoodscrapif evertherewasone!" "Aye,Iheardaboutitfromanothergentleman whocamethiswaysoonafterithappened.Didn't saymuch,thoughmostuntalkativetypeifyouask me!Hewasn'taHatnoriannoraNorthernerfor thatmatter,thatwaseasytosee!" "Whatdoyoumean?"Themercenarywasobvi ouslyinterestedmorethancasuallyso. "HewasaShortaniman,youcan'tmistake'em." "Shortani'sabigcontinentdidyouhearhimsay whatcountryinShortani?" "Waitaminute.Ibelievehedidsaysomething." Theoldmanpausedandtuggedathisgrizzledbeard. Hefrowned,thinkinghard."Yes,I'vegotititwas rainingatthetime.Likeitdoesmostofthetimein theseparts,"Kerklaughed"Neverseemstostopit don't..." "Yes,"themercenarywasimpatient,"butwhat didhesay?" "What?Oh,yes.Thecountry.Well,hesaid,when

hegothere,thatitwas'neverlikethisinUffjir!'Yes, thatwasit." "Uffjir,hmm,that'srightonthefarthestsideof Shortani.Andeventhenhemaynothavebeen returningthere.Itprobablyisn'tanythingbutitseems strangeforanUffjiriantotravelsofarfromhistropi callands,especiallyinwinter.Whatdidhelooklike, thisman?" "Oh!Theusualtype,youknow.Small,abitfat, woreoneofthemfancyjewelledswordswhichsnaps assoonasyoucrossitwithagoodbitofTurani steel.Why,IrememberwhenIwasayoung'un thatwouldhavebeenabitbeforeyourtime.We didn'thavenoneofthemnewfangledflyingma chinesinthosedays,Icantellyou.Wehadtodo allourtravellingbymyatormorelikelyonour feet..." "Yes!"Themercenarywasalmostcryingwithim patiencebythistime."Butcanyoudescribethe Uffjirian?"' "Well,hehadabeardifthat'sanygood.Andit wascurledupabitlookedasifhe'dputoilonit. Worefancyclothes,too,nogoodfortravellingbut expensiveyes,theywerecertainlyexpensive.He wasanoblemanbythelookofhimhiredawhole crowdofthevillagemenandtheyallwentoffto gethersomewhere.Theyain'tbackyet." "Haveyouanyideawheretheywent?" "Onlythedirection.Theywentoffintheopposite directiontotheonefromwhichyoucame.Mounted, too,andalthoughtheywouldn'tadmitit,everyone ofthemhasaswordhiddeninhisblankets.They can'tfoolme,Ihavetolookaftertheirmyats!" Themyathadbeenrubbeddownandwasinhis stablebythistime,attendedbythetwomen,onean agedveteranwithoverahundredyearsoffighting behindhimandtheotherequallyaveteranwithnot muchmorethantwentyyearsbehindhim.They livedshortlivesonZylorformostmendiedofa swordthrustbythetimetheywereseventyoreighty. Theirlifespanof120yearswasrarelyreached. Thatnight,themercenarysatinthecornerofthe tavern,drinkingandcleaninghisheavypistol.There weretwoothervisitorsatthetavern.Ayoungman ofseventeenyearsorsoandhisfather.Theywere friendlymenandthemercenaryandhefoundmu tualgroundinthattheywerebothveteransofthe Findian/Kintonianwars.Themercenaryhadfought

fortheFindiansandthemanOrfilhadfoughton thesideoftheKintonians.Buttherewasnobad feelingbetweenthemenforatthattimeOrfilhad alsobeenamercenary.Nowhewasamerchant dealinginpreciousjewelsandheandhissonwere travellingtoAborgmingi,asmallgroupofislandsin theShortaniSea.Theminingofpreciousstoneswas unknownthere,hesaid,andhefounditworthhis whiletotravelthedistanceoverlandandseatosell themastheyobtainedpriceswhichwereoverfive timesasmuchasthoseinFria,hisowncountry. "Ridewithus,"heinvited,"thereisalwaysa greateramountofsafetyifthereisagreateramount ofmenandIwouldbegladofyourcompany." "IridetowardsShortani,"saidSojan,"butwhether Ishallforlongdependsoncircumstances." Themerchantknewbetterthantoaskwhat"cir cumstances"theywereforprivacymeanslifeon Zylorandthosewhoasktoomanyneedlessques tionsareliabletofindthemselvesinanalleyway keepingclosecompanywithaknife! Thethreemenretiredtotheirrespectiverooms andthemercenarywasgladtogetsomerest.Wea rilyhesankontothenotsosoftbedandlaydown tosleep. Inthemorningheawokeathisaccustomedhour andattemptedtorise.Hecouldnot,forhishands werebound.Hewasstrappedtothebedandthe onlythinghecouldmovewashishead.Looking downathimwithasmileonhisfacewasOrfilthe merchant,andhisson.Onlyhis"son"haddonned herskirtsagainandwasanextremelyprettygirl! "Well,mynosysoldier,you'veputyournoseinto onegametoomanythistime!"laughedOrfil,who seemedtobeenjoyingagreatjoke.Thegirlbehind himwasnotsoamused.Herwholebearingwas tenseandthehandthatgrippedthepistolather sidegleamedwhiteattheknuckles. "PerhapsIshouldintroducemyself,"continued theman."mynameisOrfil.IamtheCaptainofthe SpiesGuildinRhan.Thisladyprefersto.remain unknown,althoughwhereyou'regoingthegods willknowitanyway!" "You'regoingtokillmethen?" "Yes."

"AndamIpermittedtoenquire'why'?" "Certainly.IamafraidthatIshallbeforcedtokill youthoughIregretit,sir,forIlikeyou.Yousee, youhavebeenenquiringjustalittletoopointedlyto beharmless.Isuspectthatyouaremorethana commonmercenarythatperhapsyouareinthe payofUffjirandifthisisso,thenitwillbemore ofapleasuretokillyou!" "IamnoUffjirian,youoaf!AndIamnotinvolved inanyintrigue.IseekmyWarLord'ssonwho disappearedsometimeago!ThinknotthatIwould sinksolowasyou!" ThesmilevanishedfromtheRhanian'sfaceand hisrighthandclenchedonhislongsword. "ThenIamsorry!YouseeNornosRiqueisinthis rightuptohislancetip!" Andwiththat,heraisedhissword.Thegirlturned away,andjustasOrfilwasabouttodealthedeath thrust,thedooropenedslowlyandhesawtheface oftheUffjiriannobleman.Behindhimwerehalfa dozenburlyswordsmen. "Yittakeyou,Parijh!"criedthespyandthento thegirl,"Quick,getbehindmeandopenthewin dow.I'llholdthemback.Therearemyatsawaiting!" AndwiththatherushedupontheUffjirianwho, foramomentwassotakenabackthathecould hardlydefendhimselffromthefuriousattackof Orfil'ssword. "Quickmen,"heyelled,"seizehim,killhim,don't lethimescape!"Butthenarrowdoorwaywouldnot permitmorethanonemantoenteratatimeand OrfileasilypushedParijhbackandswungtheheavy barintopositionasthedoorshut. "Notimetoslayyounow,"hepantedashe clamberedoverthewindowledge,"perhapssome othertime..." Thegirlhadbythistimescrambledfromthewin dowandwaswaitingwiththemyats.Thesoftthud oftheirhooveswasdrownedbytheyellsoftheman fromUffjirandthesurlyanswersofhiscompanions. SilencefellasthemengavechasetoOrfilandthe girl.Themercenarystilllaystrappedtothebed.The doorwasbarredfromtheinsideandhehadbegun tothinkthathewouldsoonstarvetodeathwhen someoneknockedonthedoor.

"Getmeoutofhere!"heyelled. "Isthereanythingthematter,sir?" Thiswastoomuchevenforahardenedwarrior. "Yesthereis!"heroared."Andifyoudon'tletme outrightnowI'llteartheplacedownwithmybare hands!"Arathervainboastconsideringhisposition. Murmursatthedoorandtheretracingofsteps downthecreakingstaircase. Hewaitedexpectantly,hearingoccasionalvoices. Thenthereweretrampingfeetonthestairwayand inafewmomentsthedoorfellinwards,closely followedbytwomenwithabatteringlogandbe hindthemoldKerk. "Isaidtherewassomethingup!"heexclaimed triumphantly. Itwasamatterofminutestountiethemercenary, forhimtogatheruphisaccoutrements,topayKerk andtofindandsaddlehismyat.Thenhewasoff, downthelongforesttrack,followingthetrailof Orfilandhispursuers. Forthreehourshefollowedatrailwhichwas easilyfound.Onceortwicehethoughtheheard movementsintheforestbut,althoughhekepthis handeverreadyonhissword,hewasnotattacked. Then,justasheturnedthebendinthetrail,they werethere.TheUffjirian'smen,linedacrossthe narrowpath,swordsdrawnandpikesattheready. Butthemercenarywastrainedtoquickthinking andatthesamemomentashisheelsdugintohis myat'sflanks,hedrewsword,unhookedshieldand broughthislancetobearashethundereddown uponhisfoes,hiscrimsoncloakflyingbehindhim likeavampire'swingssoakedinblood,andablood curdlingwarshoutonhislips! Takenaback,theywavered,butattheUffjirian's shoutsbehindthem,pushedforwardtomeetthe charginglancer.Downwentonewithabrilliantly tuftedshaftprotrudingfromhisthroat.Thelance waswrenchedoutofthemercenary'shandsandhis steedrearedandsnorted,flailingwithitscloven hooves.Hisfacewasalightwithbattlelust,heducked beneaththeguardofanothermananddealthima cutwhichputhimdown,shriekingandcallingto someunknowngodinanagonyofdeath.Hewhirled hissteedabout,hopingtogainalittlegroundby retreating,butitwastoolate,forhewassurrounded

byasolidringofpikesandbluesteel.Hecaught blowafterblowonhisshieldandtheflatofhis sword.Onemanlungedupwardswithhisheavy pikeandthemyatsnortedinpainbeforehisdeadly hoovesbeatthemandown. Leapingfromthewoundedmyat,theloneswords manfoundhimselfsurroundedbyfourofParijh's men.Hebledfromadozensuperficialcutsandstill hefoughtwiththeskillandferocityofatrained crinjacat.Thentherewasagapintheirranksandhe wasthrough,rushingforatetheredmyattwenty yardsaway. Howlinglikewerewolves,theyfollowedhimacross thegladeandreachedhimjustashecutthetether ingropeofthemyatwithhisswordandleapedinto thehighsaddle.Theyattemptedtocutathisani mal'slegsbutaswiftarcofbluesteeldrovethem back.Ashepassedthebodyofthemanwhomhe hadfirstslain,hestoopedandwrenchedthelance fromthecorpseandthenhewasaway,downthe longtrailinthedirectionOrfilhadtaken.Allhis wouldbecaptorsheardwasagrimlaughwhich echoedthroughthetalltreesoftheforest. Turninginthesaddle,themercenarysawthem runtotheirmountsandParijhcomefrombehind, scoldingandcursingforamongotherthings,the finebeastthemercenaryhadtakenhadbelongedto theUffjirian! Anditsoonproveditsworthforheeasilyoutdis tancedthemandwasagainfollowingOrfil'stracksa trailwhichwastoleadtotheweirdestadventurein hiswholecareer. 6.TheSeaWolves! TwoDAYSafterhisfightwiththeUffjirian'smen,the mercenaryrodeintotheportofMinifjarinthecoun tryofBarj. Therewereseveralshipsintheharbour.Mer chantmenmainly,buthereandthererosethetall prowsofwarships. Althoughtheirairshipsaremotorpowered,the Zylorianshavenotfoundanenginecapableofmov ingtheirships,orforcarryingthemforveryfarand, sincesteampoweralsoisunknown,theystillrely onsailsandoarsformotivepower. Mostoftheshipswereequippedwithbothsails andoarsbuttwoofthemwerebuiltforsailsonly. Fromeveryoneofthem,longbarrelspokedfrom

strategicports,foritwasonlyasuicidalmadman whowouldsailanythingbutthecalmwatersofthe AsnogiChannelandtheShortaniSeaunarmed. Therewasoneship,agalley,whichstoodout fromtheothers.Itstallprowtriumphantlyabovethe restanditssailsandpaintworkwerepredominantly purple.Purple,likeblackonEarth,isthecolourof deathonZylor,soitattractedmuchattentionfrom theinhabitantsofthesmalltown. Themercenarysoughtouttheonlypresentable innandboughtamealandabedforthenight. Asheluggedhisequipmentwearilyuptheflight ofnarrowstairs,helookedupandcaughtaglimpse ofafamiliarfacethatofOrfilofRhan'sgirlcom panion. Evidentlyshehadbeenwatchinghimandthe warriorkeptawaryhandonhisswordandresolved tomakesurethathisdoorwasfirmlybarredthat night. Butsoonafterhehaddumpedhisbelongingson thedirtybed,heheardtherattleofharnessand, fromhissmallwindow,hesawthespyandthegirl leavingthewalledentrancetotheinntheyhad noneoftheirpossessionswiththemwhichtoldthe mercenaryagreatdeal.Theyhadgoneforreinforce ments.Hesatontheedgeofthebedpondering whatheshoulddo. Hehaddecidedthatitwouldbewisertoleave, whentherecamethesoundofmyat'shoovesanda squadofBarjiteCavalry,fullyarmedwithlances, swords,longriflesandpistols,cladinuniformsof blue,redandgreenwithshiningbreastplates,hel metsandleggreavesofbrightsteel.Theyclattered toahaltoutsidetheinn. "ThankYit!"themercenarymurmured.Forhe recognisedthecaptainofthemountedmenasan oldfriend,whohadfoughtbesidehiminanexpedi tionBarjhadmadewhenbanditshadbeenraiding theircaravansofmerchandise. "Red,"hecried,openingthewindow."Red,you sonofacrinjacat!" Red,orashismenknewhim,CaptainJeodvir, Vollitt'ssonofChathja,turned.Then,ashesaw whocalledhim,awidegrintooktheplaceofhis previouslyastonishedexpressionandhepasseda handthroughtheshockofhairwhichgavehimhis

nickname. "Sojan!Whatareyoudoinginthisparticularbitof Hell?" "Andyou?OneofKingVixian'scracklancers commandingacoastpatrol!" "Thekingdoesn'tlikemeanymore,Sojan," laughedthewarrior."NotsinceIpressedforbetter payforthecavalryandnearlystartedacivilwarat thelastcouncil!" ItwasSojan'sturntolaugh."Youcouldn'tplead forbetterconditionsfortheunderpaidinfantry,I suppose!" "What?Andhavethemgettheideathatthey're uptocavalrystandard!" Therivalrybetweeninfantryandmounteddivi sionsinBarjwasveryrealandattimesbecamea threattotheinternalpeaceofthatnation.Thebrawls betweenthebettertrainedcavalry(generallyinherit ingtherighttobecomeanofficer)andtherecruited infantrywerecursedineverytownfromErmto IshtamZhem,thecapital.ButSojanwasnotcon cernedwiththis,hehadanallynow,noneedto run,hecouldstayandfightlikeaman. "Lookingforafight,Red?"hesaid. "Dyingtobekilled,why?"enquiredRed,using anexpressionwhichwascurrentlypopularamong fightingmen. "BecauseIhaveafeelingthatwewillbeinone soon!" "Good,I'lltellmymentobeprepared." "Thanks,I'llneedsomehelp,Ithink." "Unusualforyoutoadmitthat!" "Shutup,I'mcomingdown." Inthecourtyardoftheinn,SojantoldRedwhat heknewaboutOrfilandwhathadhappenedtohim sinceheleftthecourtofHatnortosearchforhis ruler'sson. Andashefinished,Orfilandabandofsome twentymountedmeninseamen'sclothes,rodeinto thecourtyard.Thecaptain'ssquadconsistedoften mensotheywereoutnumberedalmosttwotoone. Theseamenhadnolancesbutthecavalryhadleft

theirrifles,pistolsandlanceswiththeirmyats'sad dlesandotherequipment.Nowtheywerearmed onlywithlongsabres(orvilthors)andsmallbattle axes. IttookOrfillessthanasecondtotakestockofthe situationandwithacurse,heboredownuponthe group,yellingablasphemousbattleshoutsofullof evilthatitmadeSojan'shairtingle.Hismenfol lowedhim,hardenedseawolvesthese,allofthem byrightsfodderfortheexecutioner'saxe.Scarred, wildeyedmeninexoticclothesofmanyhuesand nations.Black,green,whiteandred.Fromevery nationonZylor,theyboreweaponswhichwere equallyvariedbattleaxes,maces,pikes,hooked swordsandbroadswords,vilthorsandbladesresem blingscimitars.Allwerethere,andmanysostrange thattheydefiedsimpledescription. SojanblockedOrfil'slancethrustwithhisown longswordandunslunghisshieldfromhisbackin ahurry.Butnotsoonenough,forOrfil'slancestabbed againandflungthemercenarybackwardagainsta wall.Luckily,thelancetipbrokeonSojan'sbreast plateandOrfilsworetohisdarkgodsashewheeled hissteedaboutandattemptedtocutatSojanwith hisbroadsword.ButnowSojanwasupagain,back againstthewall,shieldupandbladescreamingas hecutpastOrfil'sguard. ButOrfilwassweptawayasthefighteddiedback andforthacrossthecourtyard.There,agreenman ofPoltoonwentdownwithalancerontopofhim, stabbingagainandagain.Nearhimahugeredman, bearded,withoneofhissmallhornsbrokenand splintered,staggeredtowardshistetheredsteedspit tingbloodfromapuncturedlunghenevermade themyat.Alancerwascrushedbysheerweightof numbersasfourhowling,longhairedblackmenfrom Shortaniborehimdownandalmosttorehimto pieces.EverywherewaschaosandSojanhardlyknew whoitwashefought,thereweresomanyofthem. Finallyhesingledoutanotherredgiantwhowhirled ashriekingtwinbladedaxearoundhisheadand laughedthroughhisblackbeardallthetime.He bledfromafleshwoundinhisleftarmandhisface streamedbloodfromasuperficialswordcut,buthe neverseemedtotire.Sojancaughtablowoftheaxe onhisshieldwhichdentedsomuchthatitalmost brokehisarm.Discardingitheskippednimblyaway fromthearcofbloodstainedsteel,duckedbeneath itandrippedupwardswithathrustthatcaughtthe giantinthethroatandthrewhimgroaningtothe cobblesbeforeSojanlostsightofhimasafresh waveofseaspoilerspushedtowardshim.

ThewarshoutofhispeoplewasuponSojan'slips anditroseabovethescreamsandcursesofthemen, spurredRedandhismenontogreaterfeatsof magnificentswordsmanshipuntilthesailorswere drivenback.Slowly,veryslowly,theygaveground andjustasvictoryseemedinthehandsofSojanand hisallies,fromthecourtyardwallsdroppedscores ofwellarmouredaxemen. Itwasimpossibletodefendthemselvesagainst thissuddenonslaughtandthelastthingSojanheard asanaxehaftfellonhishelmetandblacknessfol lowedblindinglightwas: "Takethemalive.Theywillsuffermoretonight!" 7.SojanatSea SOJANAWOKEwithapiercingpaininhisheadwhich quicklydisappeared.Lookingabouthimhefound thathewaslyingonacomfortablecouchinawell furnishedroomwhichseemedtohaveanindefin able"something"wrongwithit. Thenherealisedwhatitwas.Everyarticleof furniturewasclampedtothefloorandthewindows weresmallsquareopeningsinthewalls,justbelow eyelevel. Hewasinaship'scabin.Obviouslyoneofthe shipsintheharbourthatwaswhythemenwho hadattackedhimhadwornseafaringgarb.Which shipthough?Hedidn'tknow.Doubtlesshewould findoutsoonenough.Coulditbethepurpleshipof deathwhichswayedatanchorinMinifjarharbour? Itwaslikely,thisbusinesswasmysteriousenough foranything. Hewalkedovertotheportholeandlookedout. No,thepurpleshipcouldbeseenfromthere.Then whatshipwasthis? Hewentbacktothecouchaftertryingthedoor whichhefoundlockedashehadexpected. Hewaitedanhouralonghouruntilthebaron thedoorwasliftedwithacreakandthedoorswung open. Tohissurprise,hefoundhimselfstaringintothe faceofParijh,theUfffjirianwhosaid: "WelcomeaboardtheSeaCrinjamyfriend!" ButthemanwhostoodbehindParijhcaughtthe adventurer'sattentionmostofall.ItwashisWar

Lord'sson,NornosRiqueofHatnor! "Shiltain!"sworeSojanwhenhesawhim. "What?" "Explanationlater,Sojan,wewereluckytorescue you.Rightnowyou'renotverywelcome.Myfault,I suppose,forgivingnohintthatIwouldbegoing buttherewasnotime." "ButhowdidIgetoutofOrfil'shands?" "It'salongstorytoolongtorelatehere.Mean while,wesailfortheSeaofDemons!" "What?" "We'resailingdangerouswatersSojan,forwe playadangerousgameinwhichthewholeplanetis atstake.Doyouwanttocomeondeck?" "Thanks." Thethreemenclimbedthelongladderstothe poopdeck.NornosRiqueshoutedordersassailswere setandmenmovedtotheiroars.Allthemenwere wellbuiltfightingmen. Sojanlookedbacktowherethehugepurplegalley swayedatanchorlikeadeadshipbecalmedinthe terribleweedjungleoftheBlackOcean.Shegaveno signsoffollowingandsoonthesailswerebillowing, oarscreakedinunisonandtheywereontheopen sea,boundforthemysteriousSeaofDemons. Likeallships,therewascontinualmovement aboard.Menscurryingupanddowntherigging, gunsoiledandcleaned,theshoutsofthemategiving orders. Theshipcomprisedthreedecks.Tworaisedfore andaftandamiddledeckwhichwaslittlemore thanaraisedplatformovertheoarsmen'spitson portandstarboard.Inthecentreofthisdeckthere wasanotherslightlyraisedplatformmeasuringabout thirtyfeetuponwhichwasthesinglemast.Atthe baseofthismastadrummersatbeatingoutasteady rhythmwhichwasfollowedbytheoarswhotook theirtimingfromthedrum. Onthisplatform,also,wastheheavyartilleryand somethingwhichSojanhadneverseenbefore harpoonguns,twelveofthem,fiveasideandan othertwoforeandaft. Itwasobviousthatpeacefultradingwiththetribes

alongtheShortanicoastwasnottheobjectofthis particularvoyage. Suddenly,Sojanrememberedhiscomrades. "Whathappenedtomyfriends?"heasked. "They'reallaboardthePurpleArrow,thatcursed shipofDeathyousawinMinifjarharbour,"an sweredRique."Yousee,Sojan,weonlyhadtimeto freeyoubeforewewerediscovered.MymenandI swamacrossandboardedhersilentlylastnight.We finallyfoundyouand,judgingbyyoursnores,you wereinadruggedsleep.Therewerefourothers withyoubuttheyweresomuchdeadweightthat wecouldonlytakeyouandsecretlyleaveknivesin theirshirtswithwhichtoaidthemselvesifthey havethechance.I'msorry,Sojan,butitistoolateto gobackforthemnowevenifitwerepractical." "Youareright,ofcourse,Rique,"answeredSojan, "butIwouldthatIcouldhelpthem!" NowthetallSeaCrinjawasinopenwaters,beyond sightofland.BoundfortheterribleSeaofDemons wherefewshipseversailedandreturned.And,in thedaystheysailedtowardstheirdestination,Sojan piecedtogethertheominoustaleoftheOldOnes andhowthePriestsofRhansoughttoconquerZylor withtheirevilaid. Itseemedthatwordoftheplotwasbroughtto Uffjirfirst.ThiscountryliesdueNorthofRhanon theShortanicoastandisgenerallybetterinformed abouttheislandofMysteryasitissometimescalled thanistherestofZylor. TheUffjirianmonarch,KingAshniophil,hadfeared tomakepublicthenewsasitwouldverylikelyforce theRhanianpriesthoodintoswifteraction.Instead, hehadsentamessengertoenlistNornosRique'said as,iftheworsteverhappened,Hatnorwasthemost powerfulcountryonthewholeplanet.NornosRique, naturally,hadnotthoughtitwisetonotifyhisfather atonceasheknewtheother'saptitudetomake quick,butsometimeshastydecisionsandthisis whatUffjirwastryingtoprevent. Unfortunately,atthetimeofthemessenger'scom ing,thePrincessAsdermahadbeenwithRiqueand hadoverheardeverything.Shethreatenedtobetray NornosRiquetotheRhaniansunlesshepaidhera fabulousamountofmoney. Knowingthatevenwhenshehadthemoney,she wouldbedangerous,Riquedecidedtogointohid

ing.HehadhadtokidnapthegirlandrideforRhan inanefforttocometotermswiththerulersor,if thisfailed,destroyorcapturetheirleadersandtheir strangeunhumanallies. Afterseveraldetours,hefinallyreachedMinifjar butnotbeforethePrincesshadescapedandfledto OrfilwhohadpromptlyriddenforMinifjarhimself whereaship(oneofthepurplefleetoftheRhanian TheocracyorPriestRulers)awaitedhimincase justsuchanemergencyasthisshouldoccur.The mercenary'squestionshadarousedhisinterestwhen hehadoverheardthemattheinnandhehadtaken Sojanprisoner.OnlytobefoiledbytheUffjirian messengerwhowasactingasarearguardforNornos Rique.TherestSojanknew. NowitwasaracetogettoRhanfirst. 8.TheSeaofDemons ITWASaracetogettoRhanfirst.ThePurpleArrow wouldtakethecomparativelysafewaytherebysail ingdownthecoastofPoltoonuntilsaferwaters werereached(namelythePoltoonianOcean)and backtoRhanviathesewaters. TheCrinja,however,wouldattempttosailthrough theDemonSea,cuttingoffaconsiderablepartofthe distance.Theyknewlittleofwhattheyhadtofight against.TheArrowdidnotknowoftheirplanand wasrelyingonthegreaterspeedtocatchtheCrinja andeitherdestroyitorbeatittoRhanandhaveit destroyedthen.IftheCrinjacouldreachRhanfirst, itwouldhaveseveraldaysstartandthefateofthe worldwouldbedecidedinthosedays.Whythe Arrowhadnotsailedearlier,theyknewnot,but guessedthattheywerewaitingforsomeone. Itwasaday'ssailuntiltheywouldreachthe DemonSeaandinthattime,Sojangottoknowhis companionsbetter. Parijh,theUffjirian,provedtobeahumorous man.Cheerfulinthefaceofeverydangertheyhad hadtomeet.Whennecessary,hewasanexcellent swordsman,butpreferredtokeepoutofwhathe called'unnecessarybrawling'.Thisoftengainedhim areputationofcowardlinessbut,ashesaid,itwas anassetratherthanotherwise,forwhatbetteroppo nentistherethantheonewhounderestimatesyou? Sojanhadtoagreewiththisstatementandastrong feelingofcomradeshipandmutualrespectgrewbe tweenthemastheysailedevernearertotheSeaof Demons.

NornosRiquehimselfcaptainedtheCrinja.Rique wasatallmanwithafacethat,thoughnothand some,hadadependableandrockhardruggedness andeyesofsteelgrey. Thematewas,asisusualonZyloriannavalcraft, eitherprivateerorpartofanauthorisedNavy,a cavalrycaptainbythenameofAndelofRisswho, althoughinclinedtomakeindependentdecisions withoutconsultinganyonefirst,wasagoodmanin anykindoffight,andworthfourofanymaninthe crew,whowereallfinemenandwhoadmiredhim andrespectedhimasonlyseamencanrespecta man.Theywouldalsoprovethisinafightwithman ortheelements. Thecustomofplacingcavalrymenassecondsin commandofshipsisnotasstrangeasitseemsand thecustomevolvedthus: AtonetimeinthenotsoancienthistoryofZylor astrongrivalrydevelopedbetweenseamenand landsmen.Itbecamesobadthatifawarcame,the landforcescouldneverrelyonthenavalforces andviceversa. Itwastheideaofassigninglandsmentolearnthe waysoftheseaandnavalofficerstogettoknowthe cavalryandinfantrythatsavedthemfromchaos, andnowadaysthetwoforcesworkedtogetherin perfectharmony. Later,ontheeveningofthethirddayoutofMinifjar theyweresailingaseawhichwassimilartoany otherseabutwhich,accordingtothemaps,wasthe fearedSeaofDemons. "We'dbetteranchorhereandsailonatdaybreak," NornosRiquedecided,andhegavetheorderto dropanchor.Theanchorchainrattleddownforsev eralsecondsbeforestoppingwithajarringclank. "Water'stoodeep,sir!Anchorwon'ttake!"yelled Andel. "Thenwedaren'tdrift.Shipoarsandsetsailon yourcourse." "Yes,sir!" Nightfellforminganatmosphereofdecayand deathwhichcouldalmostbesmelledortouched. Butapartfromthis,nothinghappenedsaveafaint scrapingfromtimetotimealongthesideoftheboat whichwasattributedtosomeheavyseaweedora

pieceofdriftwood. Thetwinsunsroseandthegreendawncame, sendingshadowsandatmospherescurryingoverthe horizon.Theseawasgreenandshonelikedarkjade withsomeofjade'sintangiblemistiness. Oarssmashedintoit,ploughingitinbrightfoam fleckedfurrows,andthemonotonousbeatofthe drumbegan. Sojanandhiscomradesatebreakfastinanatmo sphereofgloom. "It'sthisconfoundedsea!"suddenlyroaredAndel, risingfromhischairandcrashinghisfistintohis openpalm."Yit!Bythetimethisvoyageisover, there'llbemen'sliveslostandmostlikelywe'llall beonthebottom!" "Calmdown,Andel,we'llcometoanydanger whenwegettoit,"NornosRiquesaid. Andelgruntedsullenlyandsubsided. Twodepressedhoursfolloweduntil: "Yittakeus!" Thisoathwasfollowedbyapiercingscreamwhich tailedoffintoachokinggasp. Thefourmenrushedondeck.Mostofthecrew wereatthestarboardrail,staringdownwardtowhere aredfoamfleckedthewhite. "Turnback,sir,youmustturnback!"Onehyster icalseamanrushedtowardsNornosRiquescreaming. "Calmdown,andtellmewhathappened!" Fearwasintheman'seyes.Aterriblefearborder ingonmadness.Hebabbledouthistale. "Aathing,siritcreptuponMiteshandoh, siritgrabbedhimbythethroatandjumpedover board!" "Isthatall?" "It'senough,sir!"mutteredanotherofthemen. "Whatdidthis'thing'looklike?Whosawit clearly?" "Idid,sir."

Itwasthemanwhohadcommentedasecond before. "Well?" "Itwasakindofgreenandbrown.Scaly.ByYit, sir,itlookedlikeamanmightlookifhismotherhad beenafish!" "Youmeanthisanimalwashuman?" "Nothuman,sir.Butithadaman'sbodysure enough.Andhisfacewaspointed,like,sir.Andhis eyeshiseyesweregreen,liketherestofhim,and seemedtorotyouwhenhestaredatyou!" "Allright.Thankyou.Takethismanbelowand givehimsomethingtodrink!" "Yessir.Doweturnback?" "No!Youallknewtherewasdanger!" "Danger,yessir,butnotfromfromdevils!" "Getbelowwesailon!" Backintheircabin,Sojanspoke. "I'veheardoldfolktales,Rique,aboutoccurrences suchasthisone.NowIknowwhytheancients calledthisthe'SeaofDemons'." "Doyouthinktheyareorganisedinanyway?" "I'veneverheardofthembeinganythingbutin largenumbers!" "Perhapsthiswasawarning,then?" "Ithinkitmighthavebeen." "We'dbettersetallgunsinreadiness.Thosehar poonswillcomeinuseful.Ihadthemmountedin caseofmeetinganyofthoselargesauriansthat inhabitthePoltoonianOcean.Butitlooksasifthey'll beneededforadifferent'game'now!" Theship'soarsbegantocreakagain.Butwasthe beatofthedrumlesssure?Weretheoarsaheartbeat slower?Itseemedtothemenstandingonthe poopdeckthatthiswasso. Towardsthemiddleoftheday,theatmosphereof deathgrewandsuddenlyfromtheseaonfoursides ofthevesseltheweirdinhabitantsoftheSeaof Demonsroseandattemptedtoboardthem.

Butthistimetheywerereadyandthegunssent forthasteadystreamofdeadlymissiles,drivingthe shriekinghordebackintothesea. "Theywentquicklyenough!"yelledAndeljubi lantly. "Tooquickly.They'llbemorewarynexttimeand they'llbebackatnightforsure!" Andnightdidfallandwithitstrangesounds whichrosefromthewaterandchilledthebloodof themenonboard. Butthistimethecrewwerepreparedandtheir searchlightsstabbedthegloom,pickingoutthegro tesquefiguresoftheseapeople. Thecrewmovedforward,theiryellsminglingwith thestrangehissingcriesoftheseapeople.Sabres flashedinthesearchlightglareandthebloodof seamenandthemanlikemonstersmingledonthe deck,makingitdifficulttogetafooting. Theshipwasacontrastofglaringlightandtotal blackness.Menleapedfromshadowintoblinding gleamordisappearedintomurkydarkness.Men's breathwasstreaminginthecoldnightair.Men's battlecriespiercedtheshadowswherelightfailed. AndSojanandhiscompanionswereinthethickof it,theirswordslashingthiswayandthatattheir inhumanadversaries.Sojan'swarcryspurredonthe menandslowly,thenswiftly,theypushedthem backandthebodyofthelastmonstertoinvadetheir shipcrashedovertherailtosplashintothemurky watersbelow. Therewasanaudiblesighfromthesweatingmen. "We'vepushed'embackonce,lads,andbyYit, we'llpushthembackfromheretoRhanifneeds be!"criedSojan.Withthethrillofvictorystillin theirhearts,theirpulsestinglingwithconquest,the men'svoicesroseinassent. Abriefcountfoundtwosailorssufferingfrom woundswherethetalonsoftheseapeoplehadripped them,whilethreemoremenweremissing,obvi ouslydraggeddownbytheseapeople. "WeshouldreachRhaninaday,"saidNornos Rique. "Orthebottom,"brokeinAndelgloomily. Butthemonotonousdayaheadwasbrokenonly

bythescreamingofseabirdsastheypassedthe outlyingislandsofTheImmortalTheocracyofRhan asitwascalled.This"immortaltheocracy"waslittle morethanRhanitselfandagroupoffourislands inhabitedmainlybyprimitivetribes,mostofwhom dweltintheinterior,anyway,andhadprobably neverheardofRhan. AstheynearedRhan,Sojanfeltmisgivings.Would theysucceedincarryingouttheirplan?Orwould theirperilousjourneybeinvain. Itwaswiththeseoddquestionsinhismindthat hefollowedhisfriendsdownthegangplankand downaseriesofnarrowlanestoaprivatehouse ownedbyasocietyknowntothosefewholding positionsoftrustintheHatnorianEmpire,asthe "FriendsofHatnor."These"friends"weregenerally nativeHatnorianscarryingforgedor,asinsome cases,realpapersgivingassumednamesaswellas assumednationalities. Threelongknocksandtwoshortonesthreetimes repeatedgainedthemadmission. Astheywalkedalongthenarrowcorridortothe mainlivingroomtheybegantofeeljustalittlemore secure,eventhoughtheyweredeepintheheartof theenemy'scityJhambeelo. Butasthedoorswungopenandfriendlylight floodedintothedarkcorridortheyweretakenaback! "Hullo,Sojan,"grinnedRed."Idon'tthinkI've metyourfriends?" "ByYit!Red,howdidyougetherebeforeus?" criedSojan. "Simple.Iflew!" "What?Noairshipcouldmakethedistance." "You'requiteright.Ididn'tcomebyairship.Banjar, here,broughtme!" Forthefirsttime,thecomradesnoticedwhatap pearedtobeahunchbacked,rathertall,manwith piercingblueeyesandaquilinefeatures.Darkhaired, withaswarthycomplexion. "Tosnapthebowinhalf,"saidRed,usingaterm commononZylorwhichmeansroughly"Tocuta longstoryshort,""Jik,Wanwif,Selwoonandmyself succeededinstavingaratherlargeholeinthebot tomofthePurpleArrow.Naturallyenough,itwas notlongbeforewewerebeginningtoregretthisas

thewaterwasrisingsteadilyinthehold.Then,as wewereallgoodswimmers,Ithoughtthattheonly waytoescapedrowningwouldbetoenlargethe holeandgetoutthatway.Sointurnswewidened theholeand,withagreatdealofdifficulty,pulled ourselvesunderthekeeloftheboatandupintothe openwater.WelostWanwif,I'msorrytosay.He didn'tmakeit.Well,afterthatwefoundthatwe wouldhavebeenbetteroffdrowningintheshipas therewasnosightofland.Ilearnedafterwardsthat wewereintheBlackOceanandthisdidn'thelpas thestoriesI'veheardoftheBlackOceanareany thingbutcheerful.Butbelieveitornot,afterswim minginaWesterlydirectionforanhourorso,we werepickedupbyalittlefishingvessel,oaredonly, mannedbysomenativesofYoomikwhichisthe largestoftheRhaniangroupnexttoRhanitself. "Thepeoplelookedafterusbutsoonwegotweary ofhangingaroundtheirvillageanddecidedthatan exploratorytripintotheinterioroftheislandwould betheonlythingtobreakthemonotony.Wetrekked forseveraldaysuntilcominguponthevillageof Banjar'speopletheAscri. "TheAscriatonetimewereenslavedbythe RhanianPriesthoodandstillbearagrievanceagainst them.ItwasBanjar,who,whenhehadheardthatI believedyouweregoingtoRhan,suggestedthathe flymethere.Welandedatnightandmadeourway here.Banjar'speopleareadvancedinmanyofthe craftsandsciencesandtheyhaveanassetwhich helpsthemtremendously.ShowSojanandhisfriends yourasset,Banjar!" Banjargrinnedandstoodup.Unfoldingapairof hugewings. "Mypeople,Ibelieve,aredescendedfromthe ancientwingedmammalswhousedtoliveonZylor. Justanoffshootofevolution,Isuppose.Butone whichhasprovedofgreathelptomypeoplewho cantravelgreatdistancesatgreatspeedsandal thoughwearefewinnumber,wecaneludeany enemiesbyleavingthegroundandescapingthat way.Asmyfriendsays,'Itisagreatasset'!" Formalintroductionsweremadeandfoodeaten butwhenthiswasfinishedSojanspoketoRed. "Haveyoumanagedtofindoutanythingwhich mightproveusefultous,Red?" "Ihaveindeed,myfriend,Ihavefoundoutsome thingwhich,withyourcourageandskillandagreat dealofluck,willsavetheworldfromchaos!"

9.PrisonersinStone RED'SPLANwassimpleenough.Membersofthese cretsocietyofthe"FriendsofHatnor"hadfoundan ancientplanoftheGreatTemplewhichwasboth chiefplaceofworshipandthecentreofthePriest hood'sruleinRhan.Therewerethreetunnelslead ingintoit.Oldsewers,longsincedisused.Two wereculdesacs,havingbeenwalledup.Butinthe last,thewallinghadbeenahastyjobandthebricks usedtosealithadcollapsed.However,thesetun nelswerestillguardedattheotherend.Somesaid byPalaceGuardsbutotherssaidsimplythatthey wereguardedby"something".Evenifthefoewas humanitwouldtakeanincrediblybravemanto venturetherottingtunnels. "Whynotanarmy?"askedAndel."Surelyagreat manymenwouldbesaferthanone?" "Safer,yes,butcertainlynotsosecret.Everyac tionwemakemustnotbedetectedbythePriest hoodotherwisewearelost.Wecanonlymakea verywideguessatwhatpowertheseOldOnes wieldanditisouraimtostopthemusingitnot bringitdownuponourheadsandtherestofthe world'sheads,also." "Isee,"saidParijh,"thenletmebetheonetogo. Ioffernotoutofheroicswhichareextremelybad tasteinanycasebutIammoreaccustomedto stealththantheseswordswingingbarbarianswith me."Hegrinned. "Ho!Sothat'swhatweare,arewe?"roaredAndel. "I'llhaveyouknow..." Butthecomradeswouldneverheartherestof Andel'sforthcomingwitticismforRedbrokein:"Be abitquieter,Andel,oryou'llhavethewholeofthe RhanianSoldieryonourheads." "Sorry,"saidAndel. "No,"continuedRed,"IthinkSojanshouldgo. Heisbetterforthejobthananyoneelse.Hehas barbariantraining,heiscatfooted,lynxeyedand canhearaswordsinginitsscabbardamileaway.I thinkhewillsucceedingettingthroughmorethan anyothermaninourcompany!" "ThenitwillbeI,that'ssettled,"saidSojanwith satisfaction."WhenandwheredoIstart?" "Youstartnow,andIwillleadyoutotheen tranceofthetunnel.Isuggestthatyoutakearifle,

anaxe,yourshieldandyourlongsword.Halfarmour wouldbeadvisable,also." "ThenIshalltakeyouradvice,"Sojanlaughed andproceededtodonhalfarmour.Thisconsistedof greavesforhislegs,andabreastplateandhelmet. ThenhewasreadyandpreparedtofollowRed downwindingbackstreetstoasmallturningnear theGreatTemple.Here,Redliftedarustedcoverto revealanequallyrustedladderleadingdowninto darkness. "Goodluck!"wasallhesaidasSojanslipped downintothegloomandsoughtaboutforhand andfootholdsontheagewornrail.Thenthelidwas replacedandSojanfoundhimselfinutterdarkness. Downhefumbled,sometimesmissingfooting whereoneofthemetalbarshadrustedaway,once nearlyfallingwhenhisgropinghandinsteadofclos ingonsolidmetalclosedondampair.Butatlasthe wasontheunevenfloorofthedisusedsewer,peer ingintothegloom.Hefollowedthewallalongfor whatseemedaneon,stumblingoverfallenbricks andrefuse.Atlasthesensedanobstructionahead andheunsheathedhisswordandfeltthereassuring buttofhisheavypistolinhishand.Onhewent, pastthefallenwalluntilsuddenlytherewasno moretunnel.Orsoitseemed.Hisrighthand,which hadbeengropingalongthewalltouchednothing. Butafterthefirstbriefshockhegrinnedtohimself. Thiswastherighthandturnofthetunnel.Soonhe wouldmeettheGuardians. Andmeetthemhedidfor,withasoulshaking shriek,twoofthemysteriousguardianswereupon him.Hugereptilianthings,redeyedandredmouthed withteethreachingafootlongandrazorsharp. Sojan,shockedbytheirsuddenattack,tookastep backwards,hitchedhisrifletohisshoulderandfired straightintothemouthoftheforemostbeast.It shriekedagainbutstillcameon.Hastilyhedropped therifleandreplaceditwithhisheavyaxeandlong sword.Butbeforethebeastreachedhimithadstum bledandfallenwithcrumplingforelegs,writhingin afitofagonywhichendedwithoneabruptshudder ofdeath. Theothermonsterwascheckedforamoment, sniffedthecorpseofitscompanionandthenvoiced anotherspinechillingshriekwhichwashalfhissand halfhumancry.Sojanmetitwithswordlashingand axewhiningthroughtheairabouthishead.Back

wentthemonsterbutitreturnedinaninstant,clutch ingatSojanwithitsclawswhichalmostresembled humanhandsthoughhandswithsixinchsteeltal onsontheendsofeachfinger.Sojanstumbledback wards,hisaxecuttingandhackingatthehideous thing,hisswordslashingintoitsthroatagainand againuntilatlastitwasdowninadeathagonythat lastedminutes. Pausingtowipehisweaponscleanofbloodandto pickuphisrifle,Sojanmovedondownthetunnel, feelingalittlemorecheerfulnowthatheknewhis foeandhadconqueredit. And,abruptly,hewasattheendoftherunnel andasimilarsteelladder,inbettercondition,lead ingupwards.Warilyheclamberedup.Rifle,axeand shieldstrappedacrosshisbroadbackandhissword firmlyclenchedinhisteeth. Therewasametalcoverhere,too,andheliftedit cautiouslytobeblindedforamomentbythesudden gleam.Hehadbeensolongindarknessandthe semidarknessofthetunnelthatheblinkedhardfor severalsecondsuntilhiseyesbecameaccustomedto thelight. Silentlyheeasedhisbodythroughthenarrow holeandjustassoftlyreplacedthecover.Hewasin alightedcorridorwithtorchesoneitherside.The corridorwasshortandhadadoorateachend. Whichdoor?Hedecidedimmediatelytotakethe doorwhichledfarthestawayfromthetunnel.At leasthewouldbealittledeeperintotheTempleand nearertheInnerRoominthecentrewhichhoused theOldOnes. Graduallyhepushedthedooruntilitswungopen. HethankedtheGodsofLight,YitandCorrunj,that theyhadnotbeenlocked. Downanothercorridorhesped,catfootedasever, waryhandsonswordandrifle.Hisarmourglinted inthetorchlightandhisshadowloomedblackand hugeonthewall. Mostofthepriestswouldbeatrest,heknew,but itwasequallycertainthatguardswouldbepostedat strategicpointsandabsolutecautionwasnecessary. HehadaroughplanoftheTempleprintedinhis mindbutthemazeofcorridorswhichhewasfollow ingandwhichrandeeperanddeeperintotheheart oftheTemplewerecomplicatedandwereprobably ormorerecentorigin,forthemaphadbeenveryold. Butcautiousasheknewhemustbehewascer

tainlynotslow.Foreveryheartbeatcounted.Hehad toreachthechamberoftheOldOnessomehowand discoverwhoorwhattheywereandwhattheir motiveswereforallyingthemselveswiththeevil PriesthoodofRhan. Themurmursofvoices.Thelaughsofmen.The clankofswordscabbardagainstarmour.Atlast,a guardedentrance.Washenearthestrangesanctu aryoftheOldOnes? Themen'sbacksweretohim.Thiswasnotthe timeforheroics,foracrywouldmeandiscovery anddiscoveryhemustavoid.Heraisedhisrifleand broughtitdownontheheadofoneguardwhile withhisotherhandhechoppedatthebackofthe otherman'sneck.Theybothcollapsedwithouta murmur.Lookingupanddowntheintersectingcor ridortomakesurehehadnotbeenseen,hegrabbed thetwobodiesbytheirlooseclothingandpulled thembackintotheshadows.Notimetohidethem. Andnotimetohidehimself.Fortheclankofsteel shodfeetresoundeddownthecorridor.Hehugged thewallandprayedtohisancientgodsthathe wouldnotbediscovered. Sojanheardthestepscomenearerandnearer, andthen,miraculously,fadeawayagain.Risking discovery,hepeeredroundthewallandsawan otherpassageway.Downitstrodetwoguardsand oneoftheinfamousHighPriestsofRhan,therulers oftheplace.Catfootedasusual,hefollowedthem. Thiscorridorwasnotverywelllightedbut,unlike theothers,ithaddoorssetinthewalls. Sojanhopedthatoneofthesewouldnotopen. Suddenlytheprieststopped. "Waithere,"Sojanheardhimsay.Notimeto think,now,hemustact.Intothenearestapartment andpraytoYitthatitwasunoccupied. Luck!Theroomswereempty.These,Sojancould see,weretheapartmentsoftheHighPriests.No monkishsparsityoffurnitureheretheseroomswere lavishlyfurnishedanddecorated.Grinning,Sojan bounceddownontothebedandbreathedaprayer ofrelief.Thenhewasupagainandtakinginhis surroundings.Ononewallhungseveralofthelong flowingrobeswhichtheHighPriestswore. Oneofthecustomsofthesemenwastogo veiledtogivethemalittlemoresecurityfromthe assassin,Sojanguessedandalsotoenablethemto slipfromtheTempleandminglewiththepeople

withoutfearofbeingrecognised.Thiswasoneof thereasonswhythepeopleofRhanweresoeasily keptinsubjectionbytheevilpriestRulers. Buttherewasachance,thoughSojanknewitwas aslimone,thathecoulddononeoftheserobesand entertheInnerChamberandmeetthemysterious OldOnesfacetoface. Quicklyheslippedintotherobe,stuffingallbut hisswordandpistolunderanearbycouch,and hopingthattheywouldnotbediscovered.Hissword andpistolwerewellhiddenbythefoldsoftherobe andhecouldkeephisarmouron. Outnow,anddownthepassage,pasttheloung ingsoldierswhosprangtoattentionandsalutedhim withtheusualZyloriansaluteclenchedfistsagainst templesandashortbowfromthewaist. Sojanacknowledgedthesalutebyacurtnodof hishead.Theveilhidhisfeaturesentirely,andifhe wasunmaskedbysomemishaponlytheotherHigh Priestswouldknowwhetherhewasafraudornot. So,comparativelysafe,Sojanmovedalongthecorri dortowardsthehuge,metalstuddeddoorwhich wastheportaltotheInnerChamber. Itwasunlocked,andtheguardsoneachsideofit stoodawayrespectfullyasSojanopenedit. Atfirsthecouldseenothing,theroomwaslitby onetorchwhichcastshadowseverywhere.Then, fromonecornerofthelargechamber,avoicespoke. Itwasavoiceofinfiniteweariness,fulloflosthope andtheknowledgeofaneternityofdespair. "Whytroubleusagain,Priest,wehavepromised todoyourbidding?Andwekeepourwordifyou donot." Sojanrealisedthatinsteadoftheevilforceshehad expected,herewereprisonersslavesratherthan alliesofthePriesthood. "I'mnopriest,"hesaid,"ifIknewwhoyouwere Imighthelpyoueven!" "Isthisanothertrick,Priest,"murmuredthevoice, althoughthistimetherewasalittlehopeinit. "Notrick.I'maswornenemyofthepriesthoodof Rhan.IrepresenttherestofZylor,whohaveno wishtobecomeenslavedby.theRhanians.Yetrumour hasitthatyouarealliedwiththem."Hesquinted intothedarkness."Whoareyouorwhat?"

"WearetheoldinhabitantsofZylor.Welived herebeforeevertheshiningshipsofhumanitysprang fromdistantplanetsinadesperateattempttoreach anotherhabitableplanet.Theythoughtthattheend oftheirworldhadcome.Asithappenedtheirworld didnotdie,butitwastoolatethen,theyhadtaken alltheirknowledgeoutintospacewiththem,andin thelongjourneyfromGalaxytoGalaxymuchof theirknowledgeperished,forthejourneytookcen turiestocomplete. "Bythetimethenewgenerationsreachedthis planet,theirancestorshaddiedandManhadto startagain,almostfromthebeginning.TheseMen, whocalledthemselves"Lemurians"livedpeacefully withusformanyhundredsofyearsandwehelped themasmuchaspossible,forweareaveryancient raceandhadmoreknowledgethanevertheances torsoftheLemurians,althoughofadifferentkind forwhileManconcentratedonimprovinghisbody, weconcentratedonimprovingourmindsandcould controlmightyelementswithourwills.Eventually theMenbecamefrightenedofusandsentusaway (therewereonlyafewofuslivinginfarflungcolo niesthennowweareevenless)." "Buthowdidyoubecometheslavesofthese priests?"askedSojan."Whathappened?" "Althoughthereweremanymenwhofearedus andcalledusThingsofEvilandsimilarnames,there wereotherswhobegantoworshipusforourpow ers,callingusgodsandsettingupaltarsandTem plestous. "Justassomemenarefoolish,someofournum berwerefoolishandbegantothinkthatperhaps theyweregodsafterall.TheydweltintheTemples andhadsacrificesmadetothemandtookpartin meaninglessrituals.Thepriestssoonfoundtheir weaknesses,however,anddecidedthattheycould rulethepeopleiftheyfrightenedthembytelling themofthewrathofthegodsandsoon.They succeededincapturingusandimprisoningus.Iwas oneofthefoolishones,ourcontemporarieshave longsinceleftthisplanetinsearchofanother,unin habitedbyMan,withwhomtheycannotlivein peace. "Youmayhavereadinyourhistoryscrollsofthe mightyTheocracywhichdominatedtheworldat onetime.RhanisnowallthatisleftoftheTheo cracyaremnantofagreatandterriblenation!The peopleroseagainsttheiroppressors,countrybycoun try,untiltheevilPriesthoodwasdrivenback,further

andfurther,toseekrefugeonthisisland,theorigi nalcapitaloftheoldImperialTheocracy.Itwashere thatthecult,basedonworshipofus,wasspawned and,ifyoucanhelpus,itisherethatitwilldie. OtherwiseanewBlackAgeshallcovertheworldin acloakofdeath!" "But,"criedSojan,"ifyoudonotwishthemto ruleManthenwhydoyouhelpthem?Whydoyou lendthemyourpowerstodestroythegreatNations ofZylor?" "Theyhavepromisedusfreedom,O,Man!Free domafterthousandsofdecades.Freedomaftereons ofdespair.Wewouldfollowourbrothers,wewould traveltheinfinitelengthsofSpaceandTimewere weoncereleased.WewouldseeSunsandPlanets, greenthings.SeasandPlains.Forusthesethings areworthmorethanlife.Weareofthemmorethan Manforwe,liketheplanetsandthestars,andthe grassthatgrowsforever,arealmostimmortal.We havenobodies,asManknowsbodies,nosensesas ManinterpretssensesweareMinds.Youcansee thatthetemptationisgreat!Wewerenotstrong willedtobeginwith,wewereproudofMan'spetty ceremonies.NowthatheoffersusLightandFree domagain,wemustaccept.Unlessthereisanother way." "Theremaybeanotherway,"Sojansaid."Ifyou willbuttellmehowyouareimprisoned,perhapsI canreleaseyou!" "Therearecertainminerals,rareandalmostun known,whichhavethepropertiesthatleadhascom paredtoradium.Radiumcannotharmorpass throughlead.Similarly,althoughwecanpassthrough mostmineralsandlifeforms,weareimprisonedif weenteracertainpreciousstone.Wecanenterit, butbysomestrangetrickofnature,ourbeingscan notpassbackthroughit.Thuswewereenticed, centuriesago,intotheseblocksofermtristone.The onlywayinwhichwecanescapeisbysomeone outsideboringshaftsintotheblocksandthuscut tingchannelsthroughwhichwecanpass.Doyou understand?" DimlySojanunderstood,thoughhisbrainwas shakenbytheeffortoftryingtoimaginebeingsso utterlyalientoMan,yetinsomewaysakintohim. Hepickedupthetorchandcastitslighttowardsthe centreofthehall.Thereonanaltar,coveredbya crimsoncloth,restedfivelargeblocksofsomedark, cloudybluesubstance.Likelikebluejade.Itwasa stonethatSojan,whohadtravelledthewholeofhis planetalmost,hadneverseenhadnever,whatis

more,heardofnoteveninlegends. "Iunderstand,"hesaid,"whattoolwillcutit?" "Steel,sharpsteelwillboreintoit.Haveyou steel?" "Yes.Willithurtyou?" "No,itwillleavenoimpression." Wipingsweatfromhisforeheadandhands,Sojan movedtowardstheblocks.Hedrewhisswordand clamberedupontothealtar.Placingthesharppoint ofhisbladeontopofthefirstblock,heturnedit roundandround.Feelingitbitedeeperanddeeper intothestrangesubstancehebecameawareofa strangetinglingwhichseemedtoflowuphissword andintohisbody,hecouldn'tdefineitbutitwas notunpleasant.Suddenlytherewasadazzlingburst ofgreenandorangebrightnessandsomethingseemed toflowfromtheholethathehadbored,flowout andupwards,lightingtheroom.Heheardnowords, butinhismindtherewasagreatsenseofjoyof thanks.Then,onebyonehesawtheotherblocks, brokenbythesamestrangepower,openandthe greenandorangebrightnessflowfromthem. Thentheytookonaslightlymoresolidshape, untilSojancouldmakeouteyesandcircularbodies. These,then,weretheOldOnes.Perhapsinamil lion,millionyears,mantoowouldhavesucceeded inbeingabletoformtheatomsofhisbodyinto whatevershapehedesired.Perhaps,thesebeings oncewereMen?Thatwouldexplainthestrange kinshipSojanfeltforthem.Akinshipwhichhis Lemurianancestorsfeltalso,beforetheirwitnessing ofsuchalienpowerschangedtheirfinerfeelings intothoseoffearandhate. "Beforeyouleave,"Sojanbegged,"Icraveone requestasapriceforyourrelease." "Anything!" "ThenwhenIamoutofthisbuildingandsafelyat sea,destroythisplaceofevilsothatthepowerof thepriestswillbeshatteredforalltimeandsuchan evilcanneverriseagain!" "Gladlywegrantyouthis.Wewillwaithereuntil youareatsea.Buttreadcarefully,wecannothelp youtoescape." Thankingthem,Sojanturnedaboutandleft,sword inhand.Butinhisexultationhehadforgottenthe soldiersoutsideandtheystaredinamazementatthe

swordinhishandandthesweatonhisface.This didnotseemtothemanyHighPriest. Takingquickstockofthesituation,Sojanspoketo them. "IIhadalittledifficultywithoneoftheboltson theinterior,"helied,"Ihadtousethisswordto loosenit..." Withapuzzledlook,themenbowedandsaluted, buttherewasdoubtintheireyes. "Apriestwouldnotgounveiledforanything,"he heardoneofthemmurmurasheenteredtheroom whichhehadleftpreviously."Hedoesn'tseema priesttome!Hereyou,stopaminute!" ButSojanhadboltedthedoorandwashastily donninghisweaponsagain.Themenbegantobang onthedoorandmoremencametoseewhatthe noisewasabout. "That'snopriest,"heheardsomeonesay,"The HighPriestThoroisconductingtheCeremonyof DeathintheOuterTemple!Hewon'tbebackfor hours!" "Batterthedoordownyoufools,"cameavoice thatwasobviouslythatofoneinauthority,probably aHighPriest. Anxiously,Sojanlookedforanotherexit.There wasonlyacurtainedwindow. Hepartedthecurtain,andlookedoutside.Itwas stilldark.Helookeddown.Acourtyardscarcelyten feetbelow.Withluck,hethought,Icanjumpdown thereandescapeasbestIcan.Heputafootonthe ledgeandswunghimselfover,droppinglightlyto thegrassofthecourtyard.Inthecentreofthecourt yardafountainsplashedquietlyasceneofpeace andsolitude.Butnotforlong.Hesawafaceatthe windowhehadsorecentlyquit. "He'sdownthere,"oneofthesoldiersshouted. Sojanduckedintothenearestdoorway,opposite theroomhehadleft.Herandownashort,dark corridorandupaflightofsteps.Nosignofpursuit yet.Pantingheavilyheraninthedirectionheknew anexittobe.Itwouldbeguardednow,heknew,for thewholeTemplewasbythistimealert.Andsoit was.Withhisusualgoodluck,Sojanhadsucceeded inmakingtheexitunchallenged.Buttherewouldbe nosuchluckhere,withfivehugesoldierscomingat him.

Againhehadnotimeforheroics.Hispistolcame upandtwoofhiswouldbekillerswentdown.The otherthreewereonhimnowandhisswordcuta gleamingarcabouthishead.Hisbattleaxeshrieked asifforbloodashecarriedtheattacktowardshis foesinsteadoftheytohim.Nonplussedforasec ond,theyfellback. Thatfallingbackwasforthemdeath,fornow Sojanhadsomekindofadvantageandhemadefull useofitashedroveblowafterblow,thrustafter thrustintothemen. Bleedinghimselffromseveralwounds,Sojancame on,downwentoneman,thenanother.Nowthelast warrior,fightingwithdesperationhackedandpar ried,andsoughtanopeninginSojan'samazing guard. Nonecame,themansoughtanopeningtoooften, lungedforwardandalmostpinionedhimselfon Sojan'sblade.Backhetriedtoleap,clumsily.A perfecttargetforawhistling,batteredaxetobury itselfinhelmetandbrain. Leavinghisaxewhereithadcometorest,Sojan fledtheTemple.Hisheartpounding,hefinally reachedthehousewherehisfriendswaited. "Come,"hecried,"I'msuccessfulbutwemust maketheshipimmediately,allofus,elsewealldie. Idon'tknowwhattheyintendtodo." Hiscompanionsrealisedthattherewasnotime foranexplanationandfollowedhimwordlessly. Afranticraceforthedocks.Onebriefskirmish withaCityPatrolandthentheywereonboard.Up anchor,outoars,castoff. Andastheshipspedfromtheharbourtheylooked back. Therecameablindingflashandthenadeep, rollingroarasthegreatTempleeruptedinasudden burstofflame.Then,astheypeeredbackatthecity, therewasblacknessagain.TheTemplewasnot burningtherewasnoTemplenowtoburnithad beendissolved. Astheywatched,Sojanandhisfriendssawfive streaksofblueandorangeflameriseskywardand rocketupwardsandoutwardstowardsthestars. "Whatwasthat?"gaspedNornosRique.

"TheOldOnes,"smiledSojan."I'lltellyouatale whichyoumaynotbelieve.Butitisatalewhichhas taughtmemuchaswellasgivingmeavaluable historylesson!" ThevoyagebackwasnotaboringoneforSojan's companionsastheylistenedtohisstrangetale. ButwhatofthePurpleGalleyyouask,whatof OrfilandthePrincesswhobetrayedRique?That, readers,isastorywhichisshortandsad.They,too, attemptedtosailthroughtheSeaofDemonsin pursuitofSojanandhiscompanions. Buttheywerenotsolucky. 10.ThePlainofMystery THEWINDtoreattheriggingofthetinyaircruiseras itpushedbravelyintothehowlingstorm. Fourmenclungtothedeckrailswhilstafifth strovetosteerthetossinggondola. "KeepherheadedNorth!"yelledNornosRiqueto Sojan. "Atthisratewe'llbetossedontoShortaniunless thewindshifts!"heyelledback. ParijhtheUffjiriangrimaced. "I'vebeenmeaningtogohomeforsometime!"he called. "You'llbehomeforyourownfuneralunlesssome onegivesmeahandwiththiswheel!"criedSojan. Sojan,NornosRique,Parijh,AndelandRed,the fivemenwhohadsavedtheirplanetofZylorfrom theevilpriestrulersofRhansomemonthsago,were returningtoHatnorafterbeingtheguestsofhonour atseveralbanquetsheldtocelebratetheirtriumph. Sojan,Rique,AndelandRedhadbeenuncomfort ableaboutthewholething,onlyParijh,alwaysglad ofthelimelight,hadenjoyedhimselfthoroughly. Thestormhadsprungupquicklyandtheywere nowbattlingtokeepthelittledirigibleintothewind whichdrovethemsteadilysouthwards. "Wouldn'titbebettertoland,Sojan?"Andel shouted. "Itwouldbe,myfriend,ifweknewwherewe

were.There'severylikelihoodofgettingoutofthis troubleintosomethingworse." Suddenlytherewasaloudsnappingsoundand thewheelspunthrowingSojanoffbalanceandonto thedeck. "Whatwasthat?"yelledParijh. "Steering'sgone!Wecan'tattempttorepairitin thisweather.We'lljusthavetodriftnow!" Thefivetroopeddownintothetinycabin.Even thereitwasnotwarmandtheywerealldepressed astheyshiveredintheircloaksandattemptedtoget somesleep. Morningcameandthestormhadnotabated.It lastedallthroughthatday,thewindrippingintothe shipandsendingitfurtherandfurtherSouth. "There'sneverbeenastormlikethisinmymem ory!"NornosRiquesaid. Theothersagreed. "FurtherNorth,"saidAndel,"they'requitefre quent.Lastingfordays,sotheysay." "That'strue,"saidSojan. Bymidnightofthenextnightthestormfinished andtheskyclearedoftheclingingcloud.Thestars, theirconstellationsunfamiliartoEartheyes,shone brightlyandSojantookaquickbearing. "We'reoverShortaniallright,"hemuttered."Well over.Infact,Ibelievewe'reneartheinteriorofthe continent." Beneaththemthescenewasoneofpeacerather thanthatofdeathandmystery.Greatplains,wa teredbywindingrivers,lushforests,rearingmoun tains,proudlikegodslookingdownuponmen. Hereandthereherdsofstrangeanimalscouldbe detectedforthemoonswereverybright.Theywere drinkinganddidnotlookupattheairshipgliding silentlyabovethem. InthemorningSojanandAndelsettoworkon repairingthebrokensteeringlineswhilsttheothers lookeddownatthepeacefulseemingcountrybe neaththem. Allthetimetheyworkedtheydriftedfurtherand furtherintotheinterior.

"IfwedriftmuchfurtherSojan,wewon'thave enoughfueltogetusoutagain.Remember,weonly hadenoughforashortjourney!"Parijhcalledupto himwherehewasworkingonthesteeringgear. "Yittakeus!Ihadn'tthoughtofthat,"criedSojan. "Butthere'snothingwecandountilthissteeringis fixed.WorkasfastaspossibleAndelorwe'llbe strandedhere!" Butrepairingthesteeringwiresandreadjusting therudder,especiallysittingintheriggingwithonly aflimsysafetylinebetweenyouandoblivion,isn't easyandittookSojanandAndelseveralhoursbe forethemotorscouldbestartedupagain. "There'snotenoughfueltomakeitbackto Hatnor,"Sojansaid."Butifwe'reluckywe'llmake acivilisedcountryontheShortanicoast!" Nowtherewasnothingtheycoulddobuthope andthemenrelaxed,watchingthewonderfulsce nerybeneaththemandspeculatingonwhatkindof men,ifany,livedthere. Red,whoplayedaZylorianinstrumentcalleda rinfritakindofeightstringedguitar,sangthema song,basedonanoldlegendabouttheseparts.The firstversewentsomethinglikethis: "There'smanyatalethathasbeentold OfPhekthetraveller,strongandbold! ButthestrangestoneI'veeverheard Iswhenhecaughtashiflabird." "What'sashiflabird?"enquiredAndelcuriously. "Oh,it'ssupposedtobeasbigasanairshipand lookslikeagreatlizard." Hiscompanionswereamusedatthisstory,andall butSojan,whowaslookingovertowardstheWest, laughed. "Don'tworrytoomuch,"saidSojancalmly,"but isthatanythinglikeyourshiflabird?" Andthere,risingslowlyfromtheforest,wasthe largestanimalanyoftheadventurershadeverseen. Earthmenwouldcallitadragoniftheysawit.Its greatreptilianjawswereagapeanditshugebat wingsdroveitalongatincrediblespeed. "Itseemstherewassometruthinthelegend," mutteredRed,lickingdrylipsandautomaticallyfin

geringhispistolathisbelt. "There'salwayssometruthinlegends,"saidSojan, "howeverincredible." Thethingwasalmostuponthemnow,obviously takingtheircruiserforsomekindofrival.Itwasas bigastheircruiseralthoughitsbodywasabouthalf thesizewhilstitswingsmadeuptherestofits bulk.Itwasakindofblueishgrey,itsgreatmouth agashofcrimsoninitsheadwhilstwickedeyes gleamedfromtheirsocketsmakingitlooklikesome supernaturaldemonfromtheZylorian"Hallsofthe Dead" "Drop,Sojan,drop!"criedNornosRiqueasthe menstoodforamomentparalysedatthissightof somethingwhichtheyattributedonlytothestory scrollsofchildren. Sojanwhirled,rushedovertothecontrolsand pushedseveralleverswhichopenedvalvesintheir gasbagandcausedtheshiptoloseheightquickly. Theshiflaswoopedlowoverhead,barelymissing themandcausingthemtoduckautomatically.Sud denlytherecameacrashingofbranches,theripping offabricandtheharshsnapofbreakingwood.The shiphadcrashedintotheforest.Themenhadbeen sobusytryingtoescapefromthedangerabove themthattheyhadforgottentheforestbeneaththem. Sojanliftedhisarmtoshieldhisfaceandflung himselfbackwardsasabranchspearedthroughthe shipasifitwereafishandnearlyspearedhimatthe sametime.Eventuallythenoisestoppedand,al thoughtheshipwasswayingdangerouslyandthreat eningtofallapartanymoment,sendingthemento destruction,Sojanandhisfriendsfoundthatthey hadonlybruisesandscratches. Sojan'sbarbarianinstinctscametotherescue.Cat footedaseverheclamberedoutofthewreckageon tothebranchwhichhadalmostkilledhim. "Quick,"heyelled,"afterme!" Hisfriendsfollowedhimquickly,Parijhpanting withtheeffort.Theymovedcautiouslyalongthe branchandfinallyreachedthetrunkofthetree. Downtheyclambered,easilynowforthetreewas fullofstrongbranchesanditwasonlyadropoffour orfivefeettotheground. Sojanlookeduptowheretheairshipdangled,its greatgasbagdeflated,thegondolasmashedandtorn.

"Whenthatfalls,"hesaid,"we'dbetterbesome distanceawayforit'slikelythattheenginewill explode." "Theregooursuppliesandriflesandammuni tion,"saidNornosRiquequietly. "We'vegotourlivesforthepresentatleast," Sojanremindedhim."We'llhavetoheadsteadily Northwardsandhopethatwedon'tstrikeamoun tainrange.Ifweareluckywecanfollowariver acrossaplain.Severalplainsadjoincivilisedorsemi civilisedterritoriesdon'tthey,Parijh?" "OneofthemrunsintomyowncountryofUffjir, Sojan,butthere'sonechanceinfiftyofmakingit!" "Thenitlooksasifwe'llhavetochanceit,Parijh," Sojanrepliedslowly,lookingovertowardstheEast. "Butatleastweshallbeabletoride.Theresee?" Theylookedinthedirectioninwhichhewas pointing.Aboutamileaway,aherdofmyatsgrazed placidly. "Fanoutweshouldcatchthemeasilyifwe organiseproperly,"Sojancalled. Slowly,sothattheywouldnotdisturbtheani mals,Sojanandhisfriendsclosedinonthemyats. Oncetrappedtheywereeasilycaughtfor,unlike mostanimalsusedasbeastsofburden,myatswere bredoriginallyforthesolepurposeofcarryingman. Nowthattheyweremounted,thefriendsmade goodtimeinthedirectioninwhichtheywereheaded. SomedayslaterSojancaughtsightofastrangegleam inthedistanceasifthesunwasglancingoffahighly polishedsurface. "Headinthatdirection,"hecalledtohiscompan ions."Thereseemstobeabuildingofsomekind overthere!" Andsureenough,itwasabuilding.Agreatglis teningdomedconstruction,risinghundredsoffeet, soitseemed,intotheair.Itwasbuiltofasimilar stonetomarblebutwhatwasit?Andwhywasit standingaloneinsuchasavagewildernessand(this troubledthecompanionsmorethananything)were theremenusingitnow? "Theonlywaytofindoutwhoorwhatisinthere istogonearer,"saidAndel.

"You'reright,"agreedSojan."Let'sgo!" Theyforcedtheirsteedsintoaquicktrot. Theydismountedsilentlyandmadetheirwaycau tiouslytothewideentranceoftheplace,which seemedtobeunguarded. Therewerewindowshighabovethem,seemingto besetinroomssituatedatdifferentlevelsinthe building.Partoftheroofwasflatbutmostofitrose inamagnificentdome.Althoughtherewerenosigns ofcorrosionatall,themengottheimpressionthat thebuildingwascenturiesold. "Thereseemtobenostairsintheplace,"mused Sojan,lookingaroundhimatthegleamingmarble hallswhichtheyhadentered.Tohisleftweretwo sheetsofshiningmetal,seeminglysetintothewalls fornoreason.Tohisrightwasanarchwayleading intoaroomjustasbareastheoneinwhichthey nowstood. "Wonderwhattheseare?"Redsaid,brushinghis handacrossoneofthemetalsheets. Instantlytherewasafainthumandthesheetof metaldisappearedupwards,revealingasmallwas itacupboard? Redsteppedwarilyintothealcove,swordinhand. Atonce,thesheetofmetalhummeddownwards behindhim. "ByYit.He'strapped!"criedSojan. Hebrushedhisownhandacrossthemetal,but nothinghappened.Forseveralminuteshetriedto openthemetaldoorbutitseemedimpossible.How Redhaddoneit,theycouldnottell. Suddenlyfromtheoutsidecameayell. Rushingintothesunlighttheylookedupand therewasRed,lookingverycheerful,grinningdown onthemfromawindowofthetenthstorey,theone nearesttheroof. "Howdidyougetupthere?"calledNornosRique. "The'cupboard'tookmeup!It'sakindofmoving boxwhichliftsyouuptoanystoreyyouwish. ThoughIhadtogoallthewayup.Therewerelots ofbuttonstopress,butIdarenotpressanyofthem. AfterI'dgotout,thedoorsclosedagain.Itriedto getbackinbutthedoorsatthatendwouldn'tmove.

ItlooksasifI'mstuckhereforlife." Hedidn'tlookasifhewasparticularlyworried abouttheprospect. Comprehending,Sojanrushedbackintothegreat hallandagainpassedhishandoverthemetal"door." Ithummedupwards.Hedidn'tstepinimmediately butwaitedforhisfriendstojoinhim. "Theoneswhobuiltthisplacemusthavebeen wonderfulengineers,"remarkedSojan."Andbythe way,Irecognisedthelanguageinwhichthedirec tionsfortheoperationofthatthingwerewrittenit's oldKifinian!" "What?"exclaimedParijh."Youmeanthatthe ancestorsoftheKifiniansbuiltthis?" "Obviously.Otherwisehowdoyouexplainthe language?" "FromwhatyoulearnedattheTempleofRhan, Sojan,"musedNornosRique,"theancestorsofthe entireplanet,sofarashumanbeingslikeourselves areconcerned,camefromanotherplanetthousands ofyearsagoperhapsthiswasbuiltbeforetherace spreadanddegenerated.Butwhatcoulditbe?" "IthinkIknow,"answeredSojan."Noticehow thewholeareaaroundthebuildingisentirely treelessaflatplainafewshrubs,now,andother vegetation,butforthemostpartflat.Thisplacewas alandingfieldforairshipsofsomekind.Wehave, asyouknow,similarlandingfieldsalloverthecivi lisedpartsofZylor.Thisplacewasacontrolstation probably." SuddenlyRedwhohadbeenstandingbythewin dowcalledtohisfriends. "Look,downthere!"heyelled."Savages,hundredsof them!" Belowthemswarmedasilentmassofstrangenear humancreatures.Theyallcarriedspearsandbroad bladedswords.Theywerecoveredinshort,matted hairandhadlongtailscurlingbehindthem. "Weseemtohaveviolatedtabooground,judging bytheiractions,"saidParijhwhoknewthepeople betterthantherest,forhisraceoccasionallytraded withthem."Theywon'tenterthemselves,butthey willwaituntilwecomeoutascomeoutwemust, forfood."

"Thebestthingwecando,"saidAndel,"isto lookaroundthisplaceandseeifthereisanyother wayout." "Goodidea,"agreedSojan,"ifyouseeanymore ofthosemetalplates,trytoopenthem." Theysplitupandeachexploredacertainsection ofthefloor.SoontheyheardAndelcallfromthe centreofthebuilding.Rushingtotheroomfrom whichhehadcalledtheywereastoundedtoseea large,openedpanel.Thisonerevealedakindof bridgespanningadropwhichmusthavegoneright downtothefoundationsofthebuilding.Thebridge ledtoahuge,streamlinedshellofgleamingmetal fittedwithtriangularfins. Theysteppedontothebridgeandmovedsingle fileacrossituntiltheyreachedadoor.Scowling faintly,Sojandecipheredtheancienthieroglyphics onit. "Hereweare,"hesaid,pressingabutton."To Open."Andopenitdid. "It'sobviouslyanairshipofsomekind,"saidAndel, whowasthemostmechanicallymindedofthefive. "Probablyashipsimilartotheonesinwhichour ancestorscametothisplanet." "Youmeananairshipcapableoftravelling throughspace?"saidSojan. "Perhaps,"saidAndel,"butalsotravellingfrom continenttocontinentprobably.Ifonlyweknew howtooperateit!" Theyfinallymanagedtofindthecontrolroomof theship.Allaroundthemweretiersofdialsand instruments.Workingquickly,nowthatthescript wasbecomingmorefamiliartohim,Sojandeciphered mostofthecaptionsontheinstruments.Setonthe maincontrolpanelwereleversmarked,"Automatic, Emergency,Poltoon,Automatic,Emergency,Jhar", etc.Thenameswerethoseofcontinents. "Wecan'tstayhereallthetime,"saidSojan."If westaywewillstarvetodeath,ifwegooutsidewe die,wemightaswellriskit."Sosaying,andwith outwaitingforhisfriends'advicehepulledthe levermarkedPoltoonandstoodback. Therecameagentlehumasthedoorthrough whichtheyhadenteredclosed.Anotherhumgrew steadilylouderandtheentireroofofthebuilding openedoutlettinginthesunlight.Thenahissanda

rumblelikethunderandSojanandhiscompanions werethrowntothefloor.Stilltherumbleincreased untilblacknessovercamethemandtheylostcon sciousness. Sojanwasthefirsttorecover.Lookingthrough theforwardportholehesawasightwhichtohim wasterrifying.Thevelvetblacknessofouterspace, starssetlikediamondsinitsebonybeauty. Therewasanotherrumblefromthedepthsofthe ship.Withanimaltenacityhesoughttoclingto consciousness.Butitwasnogood.Hecollapsed oncemoreontheflooroftheship. Heawokeasecondtimetoseeablueskyabove himandgreenvegetationbeneathhim.Hisfriends roseonshakylegs. "We'renotmuchbetteroff,itseems,"grinned Sojancheerfulnow."We'reinthePoltoonianWil derness.ThenearestcivilisedlandisTigurn.See overtherearetheremainsofaportsimilartothe oneontheShortaniplain." Hepulledanotherlever.Immediatelytheport holesdisappearedandtheyhadthesensationof movingdownwardsatgreatvelocity.Ahighpitched whineandtheystopped.Apanelslidopenanda smallbridgemovedoutwardsoveradropofsome fivefeetabovetheground. "Therewasprobablyalandingstageatthispoint," saidSojanwiththeairofanancientprofessordeliv eringalecture."Anyway,"helaughed,"wecan dropthelastfewfeet." Whentheyreachedthegroundtheystoodback. Thenthefaintpurrofmachineryandthedoors closed.Anothersound,notquitesosmooththe chugchugofanairshipmotor.Thecompanions turnedandsawseverallargeairshipsofstandard patterncirclingabovethem.Theyflewthebannerof Pelira,acountrywhichhadallegiancetoHatnor. Flyinglow,thecaptainoftheairshipinspectedthem, sawthattheywerenotthestrangemonstershehad expectedandlandedhiscraftlightlyfiftyfeetaway fromthem.Theyrantowardsit. Thelookofastonishmentonthecaptain'sface wasludicrous.Heimmediatelyrecognisedthecom panionswho,sincetheirconquestofthepriestrulers ofRhanhadbecomenationalheroes.

"Whatwhat?"wasallhecouldgetoutatfirst. "How'reyoufixedforfuel,friend?"laughedSojan. "Wewe'vegotafulltank,sir,buthow...?" "ThenheadforHatnor,"grinnedtheadventurer. "We'llexplainontheway." 11.TheSonsoftheSnakeGod "WHOSEEKStosetfootinDharImJak?" Aharshvoicerangacrosstheharbourtothemer chantmanKintonianTrader,whichranatanchorthere. Thecaptaincuppedhishandsintoamegaphone androaredbackatthesoldier. "SojanShieldbearer,lateofthecourtofNornos KadinHatnor,mercenaryswordsman!Seeking employment!" "I'veheardofhim.Verywell,weneedgoodsword armsinDharImJak,tellhimhemayland!" Traani,captainoftheTrader,calleddowntoSojan whosatsprawledinhiscabin. "Theysayyoucanland,Sojan!" "Right,I'llgetmygeartogether." Tenminuteslater,atallfiguresteppedontothe deckoftheship.Hislongfairhairwasheldback fromhiseyesbyafilletofmetal,hisdarkblueeyes hadastrange,humorousglintinthem.Overajer kinofgreensilkwasflungaheavycloakofyellow, hisbluebreechesweretuckedintoleatherboots. Uponhisbackwasslungalongandpowerfulair rifle,onhisleftarmhecarriedaroundshield.From abeltaroundhiswaistwerehungalongvilthorand apistolholster.SojantheSwordsmanwaslooking forwork. Laterthatday,inaninnnearthecitycentre, Sojanmetthemantowhomhehadbeendirected whenhehadtoldtheauthoritiesoftheharbour whatkindofemploymenthewasseeking. "You'relookingforemploymentintheranksof theregularmilitary,Ihear?Whatqualificationsdo youhave?"hesaid. "IwascommanderoftheArmiesofImperialHatnor fornearlyayear.InthattimeIsucceededinstop

pingarisinginVeronlam,asimilarrisinginAsno,I organisedthePoltoonianbarbarianswhenNornos Kadwasdeposedandrestoredhimtohisthrone.I andfourotherswereinstrumentalinutterlydestroy ingthewouldbeconquerorsofZylortheRhanian Theocracy.Ihavebeeninvolvedinseveralminor borderwars,butoflatethingshavequieteneddown andIthoughtthatIwouldtrymylucksomewhere else.Iheardoftheimpendingwarbetweenthecity statesofDharImJakandForshMaianddecided thatIwouldliketotakepart." "Ihaveheardofyou,Sojan.Yourremarkabout Rhanjoggedmymemory.Ifeelthatyouwouldbea greatassettous.Weneedmoreprofessionalsol diersofyourcalibre.Asyouknow,bothDharIm JakandForshMaihavebeenonfriendlytermsfor hundredsofyears,neitherofushadanyusefor regulararmies.Thenaboutayearagothisnewreli giousculttookovertherulingofForshMaiand quicklyformedanarmyofsoldiers,spies,trouble makersandallkindsofundercovermen.Itwasonly recentlythatourownspiesbroughtusthenews that,aswesuspected,ForshMaiwaspreparingto marchintoDharImJakandtakeoverourrepublic." "Haveyouanyideawhentheyintendtoattack?" "Intwoweekstime,noless,I'msure." "Thenwemustworkfast.Iwouldbegratefulto knowwhatkindofcommandyouintendgiving me?" "Ishallhavetodiscussthatwithmysuperiors.I willnaturallyletyouknowassoonaspossible." Edekrose,downedthelastofhisdrinkand,with ashortnod,lefttheinn.JustasSojanwasrising, therecameascreamfromthealleyoutside.Sword out,herushedforthedoortoseeagirlstrugglingin thegripofseveralburlyfightingmen.Theywere obviouslybentonkidnappingherandSojanlostno timeinengagingthenearesthirelng.Themanwas anexpertswordsman,histhrustswerewelltimed anditwasallSojancoulddo,atfirst,toparrythem. Theman'scompanionswerestillholdingthegirl whoseemedtobemakingnoattempttogetfree. Theclashofsteelwasmusictohimandagrim fightingsmileappearedonhislips.Suddenlyhefelt ahardblowonthebackofhisheadandthelights wentout. Heregainedconsciousnessinasmallroom,barred onbothdoorandwindows.Standingoverhimwere twomenoneheldawaterjuginhishandwith

whichhewasdousingSojan. "SoourhardheadedmercenaryisatlastawakeI see!"Thetonewasgloating.Theman'sfacedidnot belietheimpressionhisvoicegave.Histhickblack locksandbeardwerecurledandoiled. Uponhisfingerswereheavyrings,hisnailswere tintedwithgold.Sojanlookedathimindisgust.The bejewelledfopsignalledtohiscompaniontothrow somemorewateratSojan.InstantlySojanroseand knockedthejugflyingacrossthesmallcell. "Ifyourmannerswereasfineasthesilksyou wear,myfriend,Ishouldtakeyouforsomesortof man!" Thefop'sfacetwistedforamomentandhehalf raisedhishand.Thenhesmiledanddroppedthe handtohisside. "We'llallowthewolfsometimeinwhichtocool theheatofhistemperaswaterseemstobenouse," hemurmured."ComeYuckof,letusleavethis placeitsmells!" Sojansignalledtotheguardwhowaslockingthe door. "Whatplaceisthis,friend?" "You'reintheCastleofYerjhi,swordsman,we caughtyounicelydidn'twe?Thatruseingettinga girltopretendthatshewasbeingcapturedwasLord Yerjhi'sidea.He'sacleverone.You'dbebetteroff tobealittlemoreciviltohim,heisthinkingof employingyou." Severalhourslater,Yerjhireturnedwiththesame escort. "Now,Sojan,"hesmiled,"Icanunderstandyour annoyanceatbeinglockedupinthisplacebutit wastheonlywayinwhichwecouldumconvince youofoursinceritywhenweofferyoufiftythou sandderkastotakecommandofourarmiesandlead themtogloriousvictoryfortheStateofForshMai. We,theSonsoftheSnake,willconquerall.Every thingwillbeyours.Whatsayyouman,isthatnota fairproposition?" "Aye,it'sfair,"Sojan'seyesnarrowed.Hede cidedtobluffforawhile."Fiftythousandyousay?" "Thatandanyspoilsyoucantakeforyourself whenwelootDharImJak!"

"Butwhat'sthis'SonsoftheSnake'youmention? DoIhavetojoinsomesecretsocietytowielda swordforfiftythousandderkas?" "Thatisanecessarypartofouroffer,Sojan.We are,afterall,doingthisforthegloryofRij,the Snake,LordoftheWorldandtheAfterWorld,Mas terofDarkness,Rulerofthe..." "Yes,yes,we'llforgetthatforamoment.What doesitinvolve?" "Firstameetingofallthemajordisciples,myself, theGeneralinCommand(whowilltakeordersfrom youwhiletheconquestisinprogress),mymajor domo,thetwopriestswhoinventhmmwho spreadtheTruthoftheSnake." "Butwhythismumbojumboifyouwanttocon queryourenemy,whynotjustdoit?Ican'tunder standwhatyou'retryingtodo." "ThenbrieflyIwillexplain.Thetwocitieshave beenatpeaceforhundredsofyears.Menandwomen fromthestateshaveintermingledwitheachother, intermarried.Apartfromthenamesandboundaries, wearepracticallythesamepeople.Weneedan excuse,man,don'tyousee?Wecan'tsendamanto marchagainsthisbrotherorevensonunlesshe thinksthatthereissomethingworthfightingfor. This,mydearSojan,isahmmHolywar.Quite legitimate.WearehowshallIputit?spreading theWordoftheSnakeGodwiththeSwordofJus tice!Partofourindoctrinationcampaign,actually, thatlastbit." "Right!I'lljoin."Sojanhadhitonadaringplan. "WhendoIbecomeaninitiate?" Anhourlater,Sojanstoodinadarkenedroom.In frontofhimwasalongtableandatitsatmendad inrobesdecoratedwithserpents. "Lettheceremonybegin,"heintoned. Nowwasthetimetoact.TheyhadgivenSojan backhisswordalongwithhisotherequipmentand henowdrewit.Withthebladehumminghedowned thetwonearestmen.Threeleft,threewarymenand ledbyonewhohadbeendescribedasthefinest swordsmaninShortani. Luckilyonlytwoofthemenwereswordsmen theotherwasalmosthelpless.IntheforeYerjhi, cowlflungbackandhisfaceamaskofhate.

"Trickmewouldyou,"hehissed."We'llshow youwhatwedotodogswhotrytoturnonYerjhi!" Sojanfeltalancingpaingothroughhimandhe feltthewarmbloodasittrickleddownhisleftarm. WithrenewedenergyhelaunchedhimselfatYerjhi whowastakenoffguardforamoment.Cleansteel piercedataintedheartandthemantoppledback wardswithashortdeathscream. Withthefake"SonsoftheSnakeGod"exposed forwhattheywere,whatamountedtocivilwarwas avertedandthetwocitiesresumedtheirfriendly relations.OnceagainSojanhaddoneamajorservice foracauseinwhichhebelieved. 12.TheDevilHuntersofNorj THELASTraysofZylor'ssecondsunwerejustwan ingwhenSojanreinedhismyatandstareddown intothegreenvalleybelow. Heglancedatthecrudemapbeforehim. "ThismustbetheValleyofNorj.Itseemstobe unexploredaccordingtothemap.Strangethatno onehasventuredintoit." Strangeitwasfor,eveninthedusk,Sojancould seethatthevalleywaslushandgreen.Ariver woundthroughitandbrightlyplumedbirdssang fromthebranchesoftalltrees.Aseemingparadise. "Itwillmakeanexcellentplacetocamp,"thought themercenaryasheguidedhismountdownwards. Laterthatnight,hemadehiscampinasmall naturalclearingintheforest.Hismyatwastethered nearbyandhiscampfireglowedcheerily.Thenight waswarmandfullofforestsmells. Aftereatinghismeal,Sojanclimbedbetweenhis blanketsandwassoonasleep. Itwasjustaftermidnightwhenthestrangenoises awakenedthewarrior. Theretheywereagainapeculiarhissingscreech andthepoundingofhoovesthecriesofmen,and theviciouscracksofwhips. Sojanraisedhimselfononeelbow,handreaching forhissword.Themyatstirreduneasilyandswished itsgreattailfromsidetoside.

Thenoisesdrewnearerandthensubsidedasthey fellawaytowardstheWestofthevalley. Sojandidnotsleepanymorethatnightbutkepta watchfuleyeopen.Therestofthenightwasun eventfulandinthemorning,Sojancookedhimselfa bigmealwhichwasmeanttolasthimtheday,for heintendedtoinvestigatethenoiseshehadheard thenightbefore. Ridingslowly,witheyesalwaysscanningthe ground,Sojansoonfoundthetracksthattheinhabi tantsofthevalleyhadmade.Thereweretwodis tinctsetsoftracks.Onesimilartothoseofamyat althoughwithsubtledifferences,seeminglylighter. Theotherswereentirelyunfamiliar.Threetoedtracks like,andyetunlike,thoseofabirdandconsidera blylarger.Thebeastthathadmadethemasobvi ouslyaquadrupedofsomekind,butotherthanthat Sojancouldnottellwhatkindofanimalhadmade themtherewerefourleggedbirdshecouldthink ofandnoneofthesehehadheardaboutwereas largeasthis. Therehadbeenatleasttenriders,anditseemed thattheyhadbeenchasingoneorperhapstwoof thesebirdbeasts.Probablysomekindofhunt, thoughtSojan,yetwhatkindofmenweretheywho huntedatthedeadofnight? Sojanrodeon,followingthetracksinthehope thathewouldfindsomecluetothemystery.He cameacrossasteepinclination,thetracksended hereinaflurryofmudandblood.Thenthetracks ofthebeaststhemenhadbeenridingcontinued, andtheyhadriddenforashortwhileparallelwith thebluffandthenforcedtheiranimalstorideupit. Sojandidthesame,thebeastslippedoccasionally andnearlyslidbackbuteventuallyitreachedthe top.FromthereSojansawastrange"scene. Abattleofsomekindwasgoingonbetweentwo groupsofmen.Nearasquatblackstonedtower, fivemen,onemounted,wereendeavouringtocheck ahordeofarmouredwarriorswhorushedfromthe tower.BeastssimilartoSojan'smyatbuthornless andalmosttaillessstoodwaiting. Themountedmanheldthetetheringreinsofthe otherfouranimalswhilehecutattwoofthearmoured menwithabattleaxeheldinhisrighthand. Althoughthemountedmanwascladinarmour, theotherfourweredressedonlyinjerkinsofcoloured clothanddividedkiltsofleather.Theywereunshod

andcarriednosheathsfortheweapons,mainly swords,withwhichtheydefendedthemselves.It seemedtoSojanthattheywereattemptingtoescape fromthearmouredwarriors,oneofwhom,dressed morerichly,anddarkerthantheother,stoodinthe rearandurgedthemoninalanguagewhichwas unfamiliar,yetstrangelyfamiliar,toSojan'sears. Buttherewasnotimetoponderoverthisnow themenneededhelpandSojan,inamorecurious thanchivalrousmood,intendedtoaidthemand perhapsfindsomeanswertothemystery. Hislongspearwasout,hisshieldupandhe forcedthemyatintoawildgallopdownthehill, screamingtohisgodsinabarbarianwarshout. Hissavagethrustcaughtthefirstofthearmoured warriorsinthethroatandstayedthere,thespear jerkinglikeatuftedreedinastorm.Hissword screamedfromitsscabbardashepusheddeeper intothemeleeofcursingmen. Takingthischanceofescapewhiletheenemy werestillconfused,theothermenquicklymounted theirbeasts.Sojanwasstillinthethickofit,sword lashingeverywhereanddealingdeathwithevery stroke.Oneoftheriderslookedback,sawthemer cenarystillengagedandspurredhisownbeastback towhereSojanfought. GrinninghisthankstoSojanhecoveredthemer cenary'sretreatwithhisownslimbladethenfollowed. Howling,thewarriorsattemptedtopursueonfoot, werebroughtbackbytheirleader'sfranticcriesand scrambledroundthebackofthebuilding. ThearmouredridercalledtoSojaninthefamiliar, yetunintelligibletongue,andpointedtowardsthe East.Sojanunderstoodandturnedhismyatinthat direction.Behindthemtheirpursuerswerewhip pingtheirsteedsinanefforttoovertakethem. Deepintotheforesttheyrode,leavingtheirene miesfar.behind.Forperhapsthreehourstheyde toureduntiltheyreachedtheendofthevalleywhere asheercliffrose.Brushingasidesomeshrubbery, thearmouredmandisclosedanopeninginthebase ofthecliff. Duckingtheirheads,thesixrodethrough,thelast manreplacingthecamouflage. Thepassageendedinseveralconnectingcaves anditwasinoneofthesethattheystabledtheir

mountsandcontinuedonfoottothecaveatthefar end.Heretheyslumpedintochairs,grinningwith reliefattheirescape. Theleader,themaninarmourbegantospeakto Sojanwhostoodbewilderedlytryingtounderstand thelanguageinwhichtheyquestionedhim.Vaguely hebegantorealisewhatitwasitwashisown tongue,yetsoalteredastobescarcelyrecognisable. Inanhourhecouldunderstandmostoftheirspeech andintwohewastellingthemhowhehadcometo theValleyofNorj. "ButIamcurioustofindoutwhoyouareand whymenhuntgiantfourleggedbirdsatmidnight," hesaid."Whowerethemenfromwhomyou escaped?" "Itisalongstorytoexplaininafewwords,"said Jarg,theleader,"butIwillfirstattempttotellyoua littleofthepoliticalsituationhere,inNorj. "Therearetwodistinctraceslivingheremenlike ourselvesandanotherracewhomIscarcelylike todefineas'men'.Agesagoourpeoplereachedthis valleyafteralongseavoyageandtrekacrossShortani. wecametothisvalleyandsettledinitanditwas notforsometimethatwelearnedthatanotherpeo plelivedatthefarendofthevalley.Araceofgrim, blackhairedandblackeyedmen,whohuntedatnight withsteeltippedflailsandwhoremainedintheir castlesduringtheday.Theydidnottroubleusat firstandeventuallywebecameusedtothehunts, eventhoughtheysometimespassedthroughour fieldsanddestroyedourcrops.Weweresecure,we thought,inthevalleyandtherewasnomancurious enoughtoventuretooneartheblackstonedcastles oftheCergii. "Butsoonmenandwomenevenchildrenof ourpeoplebegantodisappearandthehuntsbe camemorefrequentfortheCergiihadfoundanew sportadifferentquarrytotheDevilbirdswhich theybreedandreleaseatnighttohuntwiththeir whips.Itwasthenthatthemangledbodiesofour tribesmenbegantobefoundlashedtodeath. "Theywerecapturingourpeopleandhunting them!Soitwasthatwedeclaredwaruponthese beasts,thesewhomwehadneverharmednorat temptedtoharm. "Overtheyearstraitorstoourracewentoverto theenemyandbecametheirwarriorsyousawsome ofthemtodayouroncegreatracedwindledand

becamefugitives,livingincavesandifcaptured thequarryoftheHuntersofNorj.Stillwecarryon warfarewiththembutitishitandrunfightingat best.Thefouryouseeherewerecapturedrecently anditwasmorebyluckthananythingthatIman agedtobribeaguardtoreleasethem.Icamelast nightwithweaponsandmyatsyouseethatthe breedhadchangedashasourspeech.Unfortunately thetimingwasimperfectandthefirstsunarose beforewecouldmakegoodourescape.Wewere seenandwouldallbedeadorcapturedhaditnot beenforyou." "Theremustbesomewaytodefeatthem!"cried Sojan."AndifthereisawayIswearthatIwill findit!" SojanandthefightingmenofNorj,somesixtyin all,stoodinthemaincave,waitingfornightfall. PlansofSojan'sattempttoovercometheCergii, whohuntedmenwithsteeltippedflails,hadbeen discussedandSojanandJarg,theleader,hadreached adecision. TheCergiiwerefew,itseemed,aboutteninnum ber.Theywereimmortal,oratleasttheirlifespans wereincrediblylongandtheracehadgraduallydwin dledtotenevilsorcererwarriorswhoseonlyplea surewasthemidnighthunts. Atdusk,Sojanrose,wentoverthefinalplanwith hisfriends,andleft,headingEastwardstowardsthe castlesoftheCergiisometwentyinall,mostlyin anadvancedstateofdecayonlyonewhichhoused theCergiiandtheirNorjianslavesandhirelings. ThetinyZylorianmoonsgavescantlightandSojan founditdifficultpickinghiswaythroughtherubble oftheruinedoutbuildings. Therecameafaintscufflingbehindhimasound whichonlyabarbarian'ssensescouldhaveheard. Sojanignoreditandcarriedon. Evenwhenthescufflingcamenearerheignored it.Thesuddenblowonthebackofhisheadwas impossibletoignore,however,andablindsenseof survivalsethimwheelinground,handgropingfor hisswordhiltbeforeblackness,deeperthannight swaminfrontofhiseyesandhelostconsciousness. Heawokeinadampsmellingcell,onlylitby torchlightwhichfilteredthroughatinygrilleinthe wall.Thecellwasobviouslyonacornerforthelarge

barreddoorwasnotinthesamewallasthegrille. Peeringthroughthisdoorwasanunkemptwar riorcladindirtyarmourandholdingaspear. Heglaredshortsightedlyatthemercenarywith halfmadeyes.Hismouthgapedpenshowingbad teethandhechuckledloudly. "You'rethenextgamefortheHuntersofCergii," hecackled."Oh!Whatafeastthebeastswillhave tonight." Sojanignoredthesewords,turnedoverandat temptedtoeasethepaininhisachinghead. Aftermanyhoursinwhichheattemptedtoget somerest,Sojanwasjabbedroughlyawakebythe guard'sspearbutt. "Whatisitnow?"heenquiredasheraisedhim selftohisfeetanddustedoffthestrawinwhich he'dbeensleeping. "Heh,heh!"cackledtheman."It'salmostmid nighttimeforoneofourlittlehunts!" Sojanbecametense.Hehadaplanbasedonthe knowledgethatifhewascapturedhewouldmost certainlybeforcedtopartakeinoneofthehuntsof theCergiiasthequarry. "Verywell,"hesaid,tryingtosoundasfright enedaspossible. Thecourtyardwasdarkandgloomy,onemoon showingthroughagapintheruins.Thestrange smellofanunknownanimalcametoSojan'snostrils andhegatheredthatthesewerethe"hounds"of theCergiithatJarghadtoldhimabout. Heheardthestampingofthemyats'hoovesand thejingleofharnessand,ashiseyesbecameaccus tomedtothedarkness,madeoutthevagueoutlines oftallmountedmen. "Isthequarryready?"calledoutavoiceasdead andcoldastheruinsaroundthem. "Yes,Master,heishere!" "Thentellhimthathewillbegivenquarterofan hour'sstartthenwewillbeuponhisscent!"the voicewenton. TheguardsstoodasideandSojanwasoffalong

aroutealreadyplannednightsago.Hisplanwasa daringoneandonewhichcalledforagreatdealof courage.Hewasactingasahumansnareforthe Hunters. Downanarrowforesttrailheran,thetreesand grassesrustlinginthecoldnightbreeze,thesound ofsmallanimalscallingtoeachotherandtheocca sionalscreamasalargeranimalmadeitskill. Theairinhislungsseemedtoforceitselfoutashe ranfasterandfaster.Thetimewasgettingshortand hehadseveralmoreminutesyetuntilhecouldreach theagreedspot. Soundsnotthesoundsoftheforest,butmore ominousbegantoreachhisears.Thesoundsof crackingwhipsandthunderinghoovesastheHunt ersandtheirsilenthoundsrodeinpursuit. Fasterandfasterherankeepinghiseyesopenfor thelandmarkwhichwouldaffordhimcomparative safety. Atlastitcameintosight,justasthecrackingof whipsandpoundinghoovesseemedtobeontopof him.Pastthetallrockheran,intoatinygorge flankedoneachsidebytoweringrockwalls. UpthesideofthecliffhescrambledastheHunt ersenteredthegorge.Then: "Now!"roaredSojan,andashedidsosixtydeath tippedarrowsflewdownandburiedthemselvesin thebodiesofmanyoftheCergii. Theircursesandfranticscreamsweremusicto Sojanandhisfriendsastheyfittednewarrowsand letflyatthesounds. Sojanleaptdowntherocksagain,alongswordin hisrighthand. Ashadowyriderloomedoutofthedarknessand anevilface,whiteteethflashinginagrinoftriumph, aimedablowatSojanwithhisownblade. Sojancutupwards,catchingtheriderintheleg. Hescreamedandtumbledoffhissteed,puttingit betweenhimselfandSojan. Hecameupright,limpingrapidlyinthemerce nary'sdirection.Sojanduckedanothersavagecut andparriedit.Downlungedhisopponent'ssword attemptingtowoundSojan'sswordarm.Heagain

parriedthestrokeandcounterthrusttowardsthe man'schest. Followingupthismovewithathrusttotheheart, themercenaryendedtheevilhunter'slife. MostoftheCergiiwerenoweitherdeadormor tallywoundedanditdidnottakeSojanandhis friendslongtofinishoffthejobtheyhadstarted. "Nowfortheirhirelings!"yelledSojan,goading hismyatinthedirectionfromwhichtheyhadcome hissworddrippingredinthemoonlight,hishair tousledandawildnessinhiseyes. Thesixtyridersthundereddownthenarrowfor esttrailtowardsthecastlesofthedeadCergii,Sojan attheirhead,voicingabattlecrywhichhadbeen shoutedatadozengreatvictoriesforthemenwhom Sojanhadled. Straightintothecourtyardtheyswarmed,catch ingthesoldiersentirelyunawares. Dismounting,theycrashedopenthedoorsofthe castleandpouredin. "Guardthedoors!"yelledSojan."Andallother exitswe'llexterminateeverytraitorintheplace!" Hisfirstcallwasinthedungeonsfortherehe knewhewouldfindthemanwhohadbeenhisjailer duringthepreviousday. ThehalfcrazedwarriorcringedwhenhesawSojan enterswordinhand.Butonelookatthetallmerce narytoldhimthathecouldexpectnomercy. Droolingwithfearheyankedhisownswordfrom itsscabbardandswungablowatSojanwhichwould havecuthimintwohaditnotbeendeflectedby Sojan'sblade. CoollySojanfoughtwhilehisopponentbecame moreandmoredesperate. SlowlythewarriorwasforcedbackasSojan'sre lentlesssworddrovehimnearerandnearerthewall. Hismadnessgavehimimmensestaminaandgrad uallyhebegantofightwithmoreskill. "Heh,heh!"hecackled,"youwillsoondieman! Thinknotthatyouescapeddeathwhenyouescaped theCergii!" Sojansmiledagrimsmileandsaidnothing.

Suddenlythemaddenedwarriorwrenchedaspear fromthewallandhurleditatSojan.Itplunked heavilyintohisleftarmcausinghimtogaspwith pain. Thenhiseyeshardenedandthewarriorreadhis fateinthem. "You'lldieforthat,"saidSojancalmly. Almostimmediatelythewarriorwentdownbe foreablurringnetworkofsteelanddiedwithan inchofsteelinhisthroat. Sojanreturnedtothemainhallofthecastlewhere hisfriendswerefinishingofftherestoftheCergii's warriors. "Well,"helaughedcheerfully,"Imustbeoff!" Jargturned.Hesawthewoundinflictedbythe madman'sspear. "Youcan'trideinthatstate,Sojan!"hecried. "Ohitwillheal,"Sojansmiled."Itisonlyasuper ficialcut!Butyouhaveworktodo,restoringyour farmsnowthattheCergiiarevanquished.Ishould liketostaybutthisisaninterestingcontinentwith lotstosee.IfIhurryImightbeabletoseeitall beforeIdie!" Withthathestrodefromtheroom,mountedhis myatandcanteredoff,upthesteeptrackwhichled outofthevalleyofNorj. "Theregoesabraveman!"murmuredJargashe watchedhimdisappearoverthehilltop. JERRYCORNELIUS ANDCO. NewWorlds JerryCornelius NEWWORLDSbeganasamagazinefoundedbySF enthusiastsinthemiddle1940s.Aconsortiumpub lishedthefirstfewissues.Thisconsortiumconsisted of,amongothers,BillTemple,TedCarnell,Leslie Flood,JohnWyndham,FrankArnoldandSteveFran ces.LaterMaclarenstookitover(thoughthecom panyremainedindependentasNovaPublications Ltd.),andpublisheditforthebestpartofitscareer withTedCarnellaseditor.Tedpublishedthefirst Ballardstoriesandtheworkofthenstartingauthors

likeBrunner,Aldiss,Roberts,etc.In1964thecircu lationsofthemagazines(ScienceFantasywasalso editedbyTed)wereverylowandMaclarensdecided tofoldthetitles.DavidWarburtonofRobertsand VinterLtd.,heardtheywerefoldinganddecidedto buythem.Tedwantedtoedithisnewanthology series,NewWritingsinSF,andsorecommendedme aseditor.Warburtonwantedtwoeditors(wisely), oneforeachofthemagazines.IchoseNewWorlds andKyrilBonfigliolibecameeditorofScienceFantasy. Myfirstissue,inapaperbackstyleformat,buta magazineinallotherrespects,appearedforMay June1964(number142).Weranasabimonthlyfora shorttimeandthenwentmonthlywithissue146. Manypeopleexpectedmetooptfortheeditorship ofScienceFantasy,sincemostofmyworkhadpre viouslyappearedinthatmagazine,butinfactIwas interestedinbroadeningthepossibilitiesoftheSF idiomandNewWorlds,beingamuchmoreopen title,seemedthebestplacetodoit.Myfirsteditorial statedprettymuchthepolicyIhavefollowedever since,thoughperhapsI'malittlemoresophisticated now.AlsoIwasnaiveinthinkingtherewerealotof authorswhosharedthesenseoffrustrationwhich BallardandIhadfeltforsomeyears.Itriedtofind goodyoungauthorsandfollowwhatonemightcall apolicyofenlightenedconservatismpublishingthe bestoftheoldandthebestofthenew.Therewerea lotofoutcrieswhenwestarteddealingwithexplicit sex(neveranimportantissuetous)andsoon,also whenthefirstBallardfragmentednarrativesbegan toappearwithTheAtrocityExhibition,alsowiththe ratherastringentcriticismof"GoldenAge"masters ofSF,etc.,butgraduallyreadersbegantorealise thattherewasvalueinthenewstuffanditdidn't takelongbeforetheywerecriticisingthenewerstuff initsownterms.Wewerecrusadingbutweweren't thinkingintermsoftabubreakingandsoon,be causetherestrictionsherehadneverbeenasmarked astheywereintheUS.Wewereseriouslyattempt ingtofindnewwaysofdealingwithnewsubject matterandwealwaysplacedsubstancebeforestyle. Peoplehavesinceconfusedour"revolution"witha stylisticrevolution,butourprincipalaimwascon cernedwithsubstanceandstructureithadlittleto dowithwhatJudyMerrilandHarlanEllison,for instance,latercametotermthe"newwave"inUS SF.Wewerespecificallyouttoperpetuate,ifyou like,theEuropeanmoraltraditioninliterature.We hardly"rejected"theUSpulptradition,becauseit hadnevermuchinfluencedusanyway.Someofthe writers,indeed,werequiteconservativeintheirtastes andstylesDisch,forinstance,whobecameclosely associatedwiththemagazine(andstillis).While havingnoprejudiceagainstit(andadmiringmuch

ofit)wehadlittleincommonwiththeaimsappar entlyrepresentedintheworkofthenewer(orre generated)USwriterslikeEllison,Delany,Zelazny,. LaffertyorSilverberg.Wealso,ofcourse,published mostofthosewritersatsomestage,andwerepleased todo'so,becausewealwaysstroveforabroad representationofthebestworkofitskind.Ifeelwe publishedsomeofthebestworkdonebythem Zelazny'sForABreathITarry(laterreprinted,Ithink, inAmazing)andseveralothers:Ellison'sBoyandHis Dog,Delany'sTimeConsideredasaHelix,etc.Butour mainraisond'etrebecamethepublishingofwhat somewouldcall"experimental"workandwhen,in 1967,RobertsandVintersufferedseverefinancial setbacks(notovertheSFmagazines),BrianAldiss wasresponsibleforsuggestingtotheArtsCouncil (responsibleforencouragingandmaintainingthe artsagovernmentfinancedagency)thattheyhelp us.ThankslargelytotheenthusiasmofAngusWil son,thenchairmanoftheCouncil,andlettersfrom variousdistinguishedcriticsandacademics(rallied byBrian)wereceivedanawardwhich,whilenot enoughtosupportusinanywaysaveasa"little magazine"gaveusthemoralsupportweneeded andIbecamepartpublisher,puttingmyownmoney intothemagazineandgoingtothelarge,"glossy" formatwethenadopted.Unfortunatelythetwobusi nesspartnersIhadtobeginwithshowedthem selvesovercautiousandpulledoutsothatthe magazinescheduleswerethrownintoconfusion.Dur ing19678wefollowedanerraticscheduleculminat inginthebanningoftwoissuesbythetwomajor Britishdistributorsandthebanningofthemagazine inSouthAfrica,NewZealand,Australia,etc.Allof theseareaswerefairlycrucialtousandifithadn't beenforadvertisingweshouldhavehadtofold. Alsothenewspaperscameoutinourfavourandthe banwastechnicallylifted.Itwasatthistimethata QuestionwasaskedintheHouseofCommonsabout publicmoneybeingspentona"pornographic"mag azineanditseemedforawhilethatwewouldlose thegrant.ThisblewoverandIbecamesolepub lisherofthemagazine.Foolishly,Ididn'tforma companytopublishthemagazine,sothatIbecame personallyresponsibleforthedebts.From1968to 19711publishedNewWorlds.In1970itemergedthat thedistributorshadbeenreceivinglargequantities ofNewWorldsandhaddeliberatelyrefrainedfrom distributingthemwithouttellingusbecausethey wantedtoavoidanyfurthernewspaperpublicity. Effectivelywelosttheincomeonsixmonths'issues andIsuddenlyfoundmyselfowingover3000, whichIdidn'thave.Thiswasatatimewhen,thanks particularlytoCharlesPlattwhowaseditingthe magazineandrunningthebusinessaffairs,NewWorlds hadbecomeviable.IwasforcedtowindNewWorlds

up,publishingalast"SubscriptionOnly"issue(No. 201)in1971,asanindependentcompany.TomDardis ofBerkleyexpressedaninterestindoingNewWorlds asaQuarterlyandAnthonyCheethamwasvery enthusiasticaboutdoingitthroughSphereinthis country,soIdidfourissuesforBerkleywhothen decidedthatsalesdidn'tmerittheircontinuingthe series.Idecided,thoughtheSpheresaleswereon theincrease,tocutbacktotwoissuesayearforthe timebeing,sincetheSphereadvancealonewasn't sufficienttocoverwhatIwantedtodoandwe're stillpartiallyfinancingtheBritisheditionsthrough subsidiaryincomederived,forinstance,frommy editingfeesfortheBestofNewWorldsseriesandso on.And,ofcourse,I'mstillpayingoffthecreditors forthelargesizeissues. Thedailyroutine?Itvaried,dependingonwho waspublishingthemagazineor,forthatmatter, whowaseditingit,sinceIdidn't,ofcourse,editit forthewholetime.Theearlydayswerefairlyquiet, withjustLangJonesandmyselfdoingthewhole thingfromanofficeIhadinSouthwark.LaterI begantoworkfromhome,goingintothepublisher's officeaboutonceaweek,andlaterstillCharlesPlatt joinedthestaffasarteditorandmuchimprovedthe appearanceofthepaperbacksizeissues.Thatpe riod,too,wastheonlytimeIwasactuallygetting paidtodoit!ByandlargeItendtosetoneortwo daysasideforreading.LangJonesisourbestcopy editorandhewouldtendtodothat(andstilldoes) afterI'ddonetheroughcopyediting.Wenever changestorieswithoutconsultationwiththeauthor andtheauthor'sviewpointisalwaysrespected.Where wehavechangestosuggestwetendtoXeroxthe manuscript,makethesuggestionsontheXeroxand sendthemtotheauthorforhisorhercomments.If theauthordisagreeswe'lldiscussalternativesuntil we'rebothsatisfied.Thisextendseventotitles.The officealwaysranondemocraticlines,withevery editorbeingencouragedtoencourageauthorswho suitedhisparticulartaste.Thismeant,ofcourse, thatI'dsometimespublishstoriesIcouldn'tstandor thatIwouldincludestoriesothersdidn'tlike,but wereachedafairlysatisfactorycompromise("I'llput thisstoryinIthinkisbrilliantbecauseyou'reput tinginthatstoryyouthinkisbrilliant.")Idon'tbe lievethere'ssuchathingasobjectiveliteraryjudge mentforsomeonerunningamagazineanditseemed thebestwayofensuringtherepresentationofas manydifferentkindsofwritingaspossible.The special"NewWriters"issueswehavedonehave largelybeentheworkofpeoplelikeJimSallis,Gra hamHall,MikeHarrison,GrahamCharnockand CharlesPlatt.Throughmostofthemagazine'sca

reertherewasalwayssomethingofa"commune" feelaboutthedaytodayediting,withauthorsand staffgettingtogethertodiscussspecificstoriesor generalpolicy.TheissuesaboutwhichIamhappi est,Isuppose,arethefirstfewofthe19678large sizeissueswheremyownpoliciesfoundtheirstrong estexpression.Tome,thesewerethebestissues sayfrom173to176wherewegotagoodbalance betweenscienceandartfeatures,artwork,good"con ventional"fictionandgood"experimental"fiction. ParticularissuescameafterthatwhichIparticularly likedbutnotasa"run."Ienjoyeddoingthespecial 201stissue(labelledourSpecialGoodTasteIssue andcontainingadistinctlyVictorianfeel!).Thelast thingIcanthinkoftosayaboutthedaytoday runningofthemagazinewasthatitfilledtheminds ofafairlylargegroupofusforalongtimei.e. sociallifeformanyofuswascentredaroundthe magazine.Itdominatedourdays.Aratherheady andhecticloveaffairinwhichthemagazinecould beseenfromtimetotimeaseitheraninspiring mistressoravampiricfemmefatale.Certainlythe publishingproblemsdominatedmydaysandnights forseveralyears. Ithinkweaccomplishedafairamount.Without doubtwealteredtheattitudesofmanypublishers towardsthenewerideaswewerepromoting.We encouragedmanyauthorstodotheirbestand/or mostinterestingwork.Manyauthors,forinstance, claimedthatwithoutNewWorldstheywouldhave givenupwritingorthattheywouldhavebecome cynicalabouttheirwritingorthattheywouldn't haveputsomuchworkintosomething.Aldiss, Ballard,Disch,Sladek,Robertsandothershaveall said,atdifferenttimes,thatNewWorldsencouraged themtodotheirbestwork.Wewereresponsiblefor interestingmanycritics,academicsandjournalistsin whatmightbecalledtheSFrenaissance.Ithinkwe achievedanenormousamount.Ifwhatwewere tryingtodohasbeenmisinterpretedinAmericathis haslargelybeenbecausemostpeoplereceivedtheir impressionsatsecondhandthrough,say,theJudith MerrilYear'sBestandEnglandSwingsanthologies. JudydidalottopubliciseNewWorldsandwasa goodfriend,butherinterpretationswereoftensome whatatoddswithourviews!NewWorldsbecamea bannerinJudy'sowncrusadeandJudy,afterall, startedtheballrollingintheUS.Iftheissuesbe camecloudedinrhetoricabout"newwavespecula tivefiction"or"TheNewThing',itwasn'tmuchto dowithus.HarlanEllisonfollowedJudywithDan gerousVisionsandIthinkit'sfairtoclaimthatagain, ifobliquely,NewWorldssuppliedtheimpetus.Ithink, however,thatbattlesarebeingfoughtintheStates whichhavebeenoverinthiscountryforsomeyears

everyone'ssettleddowntodoingtheirownthing. Therewasneveranydangerofoneideasuperceding anotherbutitwasnecessarytomakeroomforother ideasandthat,ifnothingelse,iswhatNewWorlds achieved.Andourinfluence,ifthatisn'ttoopomp ousaphrase,extendedwellbeyondtheSFworldin thiscountry,ifnowhereelse.Weknowmanyrock musicianswho'veclaimedthatNewWorldsgavethem theimpetustheywerelookingfor,forweknow artists,nonSFwritersandpoetswhothinkthesame. Alotofourideasand,indeed,ourcontributors turnedupinthepagesofthe"alternative"press. WestillmeetreadersofthelargesizeNewWorlds whotellusitwastheonlymagazinewhichgave themanyhopeorspoketotheminavocabulary whichmadesensetothem.Andwehavepossibly influencedthevocabulary(bothintermsofideas andlanguage)ofSFbroadeneditspossibilities.Fail ures?Weclaimedtoomuchforwhatweweredoing intheearlydaysandareonlynowbeginningtosee theresults.Weneverlickedthedistributionproblem untilitwastoolateandsoneverreachedasmany readersaswemighthavedone.Wefailedcompletely toconvincethemajorityoffansthatwefeltwriters likeHeinleinwereshortchangingthemwithbad writingandsimplemindednotions.Wefailedtoim provethestandardofwritinginSF,which,inthe main,remainsabominable.Ontheotherhandwe offeredanalternativetoreaderswhocouldn'tface thatkindofwritingand,ofcourse,westilldo. We'vecertainlyfailedtoconvincethemajorityofUS publishersconcerningthemeritsoftypicalNewWorlds fictionfortheyplainlyprefertopublishthesensa tionalisticandpoorlyconceivedSFtheyhavealways publishedandtheirpreferencedoesn'tappearto bedictatedbycommercialreasoning.We'vefailed, perhaps,toproducealargemarketforthekindof fictionwelikebest,butwehaveproducedalarge enoughonetomakepublishingthatfictionaviable proposition(whichitwasn'tevenfiveyearsago). And,byandlarge,we'vefailedtogetacrosstomost SFfanstheseriousnessofourintentions,thepur poseofourintentions.Thisagain,perhaps,isbe causeourparticularpointofviewhasbeenobscured byinterpreters.CertainlyNewWorlds'policyhaslit tletodowithwhatmostUSfanswouldidentifyas the"SFNewWave". Which,Isuppose,almostbringsustoJerryCor nelius. JerryCorneliusbeganasaversionofElricof Melnibonewhen,inlate1964,Iwascastingaround forameansofdealingwithwhatIregardedasthe "hot"subjectmatterofmyowntimestuffassoci

atedwithscientificadvance,socialchange,themy thologyofthemidtwentiethcentury.SinceElric wasa"myth"characterIdecidedtotrytowritehis firststoriesintwentiethcenturyterms.TheFinal Programmewaswritten,infirstdraft,inaboutten daysinJanuary1965.Itbeganasakindofrewriteof thefirsttwoElricstories,TheDreamingCityand WhiletheGodsLaugh.BydoingthisIfoundastyle andaformwhichmostsuitedwhatIwantedto writeabout.Iwaselated.Iborrowedasmuchfrom theHammettschoolofthrillerfictionasIborrowed fromSFandIthinkIfoundmyown"voice"asa writer.InfluencesincludedRonaldFirbankand,toa minorextent,WilliamBurroughs(twonotdissimilar figuresinmyestimation).Ifelt,atthetime,thatI hadatlastfoundawayofmarrying"serious"fiction with"popular"fictionandIhadalwaysbelievedthat sciencefictionwastheformwhichcouldmosteasily act,asitwere,astheidealenvironmentinwhich thismarriagecouldtakeplace.(This,incidentally, wastheideawhichwasbehindmuchoftheNew Worldspolicy).SFknewhowtocopewithmuchof thesubjectmatterandwasavitalandpopularform butwaslargelyunabletodealwiththetraditional andsophisticatedmoralquestionsfoundinthebest fiction,largelybecauseitsacceptedformshadde niedanyattemptauthorsmightmaketoincorporate thesequestionstheformasitstooddistortedand simplifiedtheproblems.JustasBallardfoundhis remedyintheformheusedforAtrocityExhibition andthelaterstoriespublishedfrom1965onwards,I feltI'dfoundmyremedyintheformIusedinThe FinalProgrammebyusingacharacterwhoaccepted themoralquestionswithoutdiscussingthem(the dialoguetendstotakeforgrantedthereader'sfamil iaritywiththequestionsanddoesn'tdetailthem doesn'tspellthemout)andbysupplyingthereader withastraightforwarddynamicnarrativewhichhe couldenjoyforitsownsake.Theplot,whilebeing unimportant,wassuppliedforthosewhorequireda plottokeepthemreading.Moreover,Iprefer,inthe main,bookswithastraightforwardplot,too,soI wastryingtoproducesomethingI'denjoyreading.I wasverypleasedwiththebookandthoughtthat everyoneelsewouldenjoyit,too,ifonlyforits ironiesandsensations.AcoupleofBritishpublish ersaskedtoseeitandsurprisedmewiththeirstrong reactionsI'dwrittenthebooktoshock,theysaid, andIwouldn'tgetanywherelikethat.Ithadn't occurredtomethatthebookwoulddoanythingbut amuse(ifnothingelse).Idespaired,becamecynical, putthebookaside.Acopywentoutautomatically tomy,then,agents,ScottMeredith.In1967the bookwasbought,enthusiastically,byGeorgeErns berger,thenaneditoratAvon.Partsofithadbeen

publishedinNewWorldsin1965and1966asan experimentincuttingupchunksandputtingthem inadifferentorder(amistake,Inowthink).Bythis timeIhadbegunwhatwaseventuallypublishedas ACureForCancer.Ihadstartedthebookusing anothercharacter'snameandhadn'tgotveryfar whenIrealisedthatthiswaseffectivelyasequelto theJerryCorneliusnovel.IputwhatI'dwritten asideandthoughtaboutitall,eventuallyconceiving thenotionofwritingatetralogyofbooksabout Jerry,eachoneexpandinguponthevariousmoral questionsraisedinTheFinalProgramme.Ivisited NewYorkin1967andtoldGeorgeErnsbergerabout myschemeandGeorge,was,again,enthusiastic. Eventually,in1968,IhadacontractfromAvonfor theremainingthreebooks.BythistimeTheFinal ProgrammehadbeenboughtbyAllisonandBusby whowereequallyenthusiasticandhadalsobought BeholdtheManinitsnovelversion.They,too,were pleasedwiththetetralogyideaandguaranteedto publishtheminEngland.Itgavemethenecessary encouragementtocarryonwithACureForCancer whichtook,inall,somethreeyearstowrite,appear ingfirstasaserialinNewWorlds.In1968,TheFinal Programmewaspublished,atthetimewhenJim SallishadcomeovertoworkonNewWorlds.Jim readthebookandwasveryenthusiasticaboutit. WhenLangJoneswascommissionedtoeditthebig hardbackanthologyforHutchinson,TheNewSF,he askedmeforastoryandIdecidedthatIwouldtry towriteaJerryCorneliusstory(thiswasThePeking Junction)developingsomeofthetechniquesIwas beginningtofeelhappywithwhileworkingonA CureForCancer.JimSallisaskedme,then,ifIhad anyobjectiontohiswritingaJerryCorneliusstory since,inhisopinion,theJCstorieswereaformin themselves.Ihadnone,ofcourse.HewroteJeremiad, whichwaspublishedinNewWorlds.Takinguppart ofathemeI'dputintomysecondJCshort,TheDelhi Division,heexpandedfromthereandwroteanen tirelydifferentstory.TakinguppartofhisthemeI wroteitbackintoDelhiDivision,whichhe'dsofar onlyseeninroughdraft.TheDelhiDivisionwasthe firstJCshorttoappearinNewWorldsandwasquickly followedbyJeremiad.Oncethishadhappenedsev eralotherswhohadenjoyedTheFinalProgrammefelt thatthey'dliketodoastoryaboutJerry,soshortly afterwardsthereappearedstoriesbyBrianAldiss, NormanSpinrad,apoembyLangJones,andother storiesbyM.JohnHarrison,MaximJakubowskiand oneotherbymeTheTankTrapeze.(Mostofthese wereeventuallypublishedinabookcalledTheNa tureoftheCatastrophe(Hutchinson,1971).Inthe meantimeIhadalsobegunacomicstripforIt,then theleadingundergroundpaperinBritain,withMal Dean,whohadillustratedmanyoftheJCstories.

TheItstripsentupmanyofthecurrentobsessions oftheundergroundthemysticism,thepoliticalna iveteandsoon.Webegantoalternate,withMike HarrisonandRichardGlynJonestakingupour themesandustakinguptheirthemesturnbyturn. ThestripranforaboutayearinItasTheAdventures ofJerryCornelius,TheEnglishAssassin.Partofthe stripwasalsopublishedinTheNatureoftheCatastrophe. Inourtermswefoundacoolwayofdealingwith hotmaterial.Theessenceofthestoriesistheirirony, theirattemptstoconcentrateasmuchinformationas possibleintoassmallaspaceaspossible,theirob sessionwithcontemporaryimagery,theirstrongre lianceonmetaphoricalimagerydrawnfrommany disparatesourcespopmusic,astronomy,physics, cybernetics,etc.Theyare,ideally,deeplyseriousin intention.Unfortunatelymanycriticshavemissed theseriouspointsofthestories,evenifthey've foundthestuffentertaining.Sexualambiguity,for instance,istakenforgrantedintheJCstoriesafact oflifebutcriticscontinuetoseethatelement,among others,as"daring".Inthiscountry,atanyrate,the storiesreceivetheirmostintelligentresponsesfrom thatsectionofthepublicmostateasewithwhat's thesedayscalledthe"alternative'society,wasear liercalled"beat"andbeforethatcalled"bohemian" i.e.peoplewhobyandlargedotakecertainthings forgrantedwhichareregardedasshockingbythe averagemiddleclassperson.I'mnotheresuggest ingthatthisisgoodorbad,butitisafact.Judy Merril,forinstance,regardedTheFinalProgrammeas an"evil"book.Otherpeoplehaveexpressedsimilar reactions.Ifindthemalmostimpossibletounder stand.PerhapspeoplewillgetabetterideaoftheJC novelswhenthewholetetralogyiscomplete.The EnglishAssassinwillbeoutinEnglandthisyear, afterthreeyearsinthewriting.Idon'tknowwhen thelastbook,TheConditionofMuzak,willappear probablyinacoupleofyears,maybethreeorfour. I'lljusthavetowaitpatientlyuntilthen.Atpresent, whilehavingreservationsaboutthefirsttwobooks, I'mverysatisfiedwithAssassinit'sthefirstbookof mineI'vebeenabletoproofreadwithoutwincing allthewaythrough.PresumablyHoltReinhardt, whodidCure,willbedoingAssassinintheStates sometimenextyear.Ihaven'thadanyinformation eitherfromAvonorfromHolt,asyet.MaybeFinal Programmewillgetitspointsacrossbetterasafilm. Therightshavebeenboughtandthescriptwritten andit'sbeingproducedbythecompanywhodid Performance(whichhassomethingincommonwith FinalProgramme).IheardJaggerturneddowntheJC partasbeingtoofreakyandIdon'tknowifthefilm everwillbemade,butitwouldbeinterestingtosee howthepublicreactedtoit.IthinktheJCstories

havematuredconsiderablysinceFinalProgramme becomingbetterwrittenandmorecomplexandit doesdisappointmewhenpeopledon'tenjoythemor findthemobscure.IrememberthedelightIfeltat producingabookwhichIwassureeveryonewould findatveryleastentertaining.Iwaspuzzledwhen somepeoplereactedinapuzzledorevenantagonis ticway.Myownwavelengthschangedsomewhere atsometime.Thesedays,forinstance,Ican'tun derstandSFIreadthewordsandtheynolonger meananythingtome,evenwhenwrittenbyawriter Iusedtoenjoy.SoIsupposeIcanappreciatehow peoplefeelwhentheyfindaJCstorytheycan't focuson.Itisn'tincidentally,anythingtodowith radicalalterationsinlifestyleonmypart.Itjust happenedatsomepoint.Hohum. (Lettertoreader) InLighterVein ANoteontheJerryCorneliusTetralogy PARTofmyoriginalintentionwiththeJerryCorne liusstorieswasto"liberate"thenarrativetoleaveit opentothereader'sinterpretationasmuchas possibletoinvolvethereaderinsuchawayasto bringhisownimaginationintoplay.Theimpulse wasprobablyaresultofmyinterestinBrechtan interestI'dhadsincethemidfifties. Althoughthestructureofthetetralogyisvery strict(somemightthinkovermechanical)thescope forinterpretationishopefullymuchwiderthanofa conventionalnovel.Theunderlyinglogicisalsovery disciplined,particularlyinthelastthreevolumes. It'smyviewthataworkoffictionshouldcontain nothingwhichdoesnotinsomewaycontributeto theoverallscheme.Thewhimsicalitiestobefound inallthebooksare,infact,notrandom,notmere conceits,butmakeinternalreferences.Thatisto say,whileIstrivefortheeffectofrandomnesson onelevel,theeffectisachievedbyatightlycon trolledsystemofinternalreference,puns,ironies, logicjumpswhichnosinglereadermayfairlybe expectedtofollow. Thus,inasceneinConditionofMuzak(theendof thesectioncalled"OutcastoftheIslands"),thereisa shortdiscussionabouttheJapaneseinvasionofAus traliaandJerrymakesareferencetobigegoesand Hitler.ShakeyMothenasksifhewasacharacterin achildren'scomicandthenimmediatelyasksifHit lerwasn'tapolicechiefthey'dmetinBerlin.The firstreferenceistoBigEgo(acartoonostrichinThe DandyorTheBeano)thesecondreferenceistoan

earlierstoryofmine(a"key"story,inmyview) calledThePleasureGardenofFelippeSagittarius(where Hitlerwasaratherpatheticpolicechiefinanimagi naryBerlin),leadingtoareferencetothefactthat thehistoricalAdolfHitlerdoesn'texistinthisworld. Allthishappensinacoupleofsentencesorsoand shouldgivetheeffect,amongothers,oftimeina stateofflux,meninastateofintrovertedconfusion, closetofugue,andsoon.Butitsinternallogicis straightforward:thetwocharactersknowexactlywhat theyaretalkingabout.To"explain"allthis,to editorialise,wouldbetobreakthemood,breakthe dramatictensions,andruintheeffectIwastryingto achieve.Theapparentobscurityshouldnotconfuse thereaderbecausethenarrativeshouldbemoving sorapidlythatheshouldn'tcareifhedoesn'tunder standeveryreference.Similarly,ifhewaswatching arichlytexturedfilm,hewouldnotexpecttoper ceiveconsciouslyeverydetailofeveryscene,dia logue,music,etc.Theyaremaintainedprimarilyby acomplicatedseriesofprefiguringimageswhichare developedasthebookprogresses. (Notetobibliography) TheStoneThing 1975 ATaleofStrangeParts OurOFthedarkplacesoutofthehowlingmistsout ofthelandswithoutsunoutofGhonoreacametall Catharz,withthemoodyswordOakslayerinhis righthand,thecursedspearBloodlickerinhisleft hand,theevilbowDeathsingeronhisbacktogether withhisquiveroffearfulrunefletchedarrows, Heartseeker,Goregreedy,Soulsnatcher,Orphan maker,Eyeblinder,Sorrowsower,Beanslicer,andsev eralothers. Wherehisrighteyeshouldhavebeentherewasa jewelofslumberingscarletwhosecoloursometimes shiftedtosmoulderingblue,andintheplaceofhis lefteyewasamanyfacetedcrystal,whichpulsedas ifpossessedofindependentlife.WhereCatharzhad oncehadarighthand,nowathingofiron,wood andcarvedamethystsatuponhisstumpnine fingered,alien,cutbyCatharzfromthecreature whohadslicedoffhisownhand.Catharz'lefthand wasatfirstmerelygauntleted,butwhenonelooked furtheritcouldbeobservedthatthegauntletwasin factamanyjointedlimbofsilver,goldandlapis lazuli,butasCatharzrodeby,thosewhosawhim passremarkednotonthemurmuringswordinhis

righthand,notonthewhisperingspearinhisleft hand,notonthewhiningbowuponhisbackorthe grumblingarrowsinthequiverneitherdidthey remarkonhisrighteyeofslumberingscarlet,hisleft eyeofpulsingcrystal,hisninefingeredrighthand, hisshiningmetalliclefthandtheysawonlythe fearfulfootofCwlwwymwnwhichthrobbedinthe stirrupathismount'srightflank. ThefootoftheAchingGod,CwlwwymwnRoot ripper,whoseambitionupontheoldandweary EarthhadbeentomakewidowsofallwivesCwlw wymwntheStriker,whoseawfulfeethadtrampled wholecitieswhenmenhadfirstmadecitiesCwlw wymwnoftheLastOnes,LastoftheLastOnes, whohadbeendrivenbacktohisislanddomainon theedgeoftheworld,beyondtheWesternIce,and whonowcamelimpingafterCatharzscreamingout forvengeance,demandingthereturnofhisfoot, slicedfromhislegbyOakslayersothatCatharz mightwalkagainandcontinueuponhisdoomladen quest,bearingweaponswhichwerenothisprotec tionbuthisburden,seekingconsolationfortheguilt whichateathissoulsinceitwashewhohadbeen responsibleforthedeathofhisyoungerbrother, ForaxtheGolden,forthedeathofhisniece,Libia Gentleknee,forthelivingdeathofhiscousin,Wertigo theUnbalanced,seekingthewhereaboutsofhislost love,CyphilatheFair,whohadbeenstolenfrom himbyhisarchenemy,thewizardTo'me'ko'op'r, mostpowerful,mostevil,mostlustfulofallthe greatsorcerersofthismagiccloudedworld. Andtherewerenofriendsheretogiveaidto CatharzGodfoot.Hemustgoalone,withshudder ingterrorbeforehimandgroaningguiltbehindhim, andCwlwwymwn,screaming,vengeful,limping Cwlwwymwn,followingalways. AndCatharzrodeon,rarelystopping,scarcely everdismounting,anxioustoclaimhisownven geanceonthesorcerer,andthefootofCwlwwymwn, LastoftheLastOnes,washeavyonhim,aswellit mightbeforitwasatleasteighteenincheslonger .thanhisleftfootandnaked,forhehadhadto abandonhisbootwhenhehadfoundthatitdidnot fit.NowCwlwwymwnpossessedthebootitwas howhehadknownthatCatharzwasthemortalwho hadstolenhisgreen,seventeenclawedlimb,attach ingitbyfearfulsorcerytothefleshofhisleg.Catharz' leftlegwasnotoffleshatall,butoflacqueredcork, madeforhimbythePeopleoftheWorldBeneath theReefs,whenhehadaidedthemintheirgreat fightagainsttheGodsoftheLowestSea. Thesunhadstainedtheskyalividcrimsonand

hadsunkbelowthehorizonbeforeCatharzwould allowhimselfabriefrestanditwasjustbeforedark thathecameinsightofasmallstonecottage,shel teredbeneathterracesofglisteninglimestone,where hehopedhemightfindfood,forhewasveryhungry. Knockinguponthedoorhecalledout: "Greetings,Icomeinfriendship,seekinghospital ity,forIamcalledCatharztheMelancholy,who carriesthecurseofCwlwwymwnRootripperupon him,whohasmanyenemiesandnofriends,who slewhisbrother,ForaxtheGolden,andcausedthe deathofLibiaGentleknee,famousforherbeauty, andwhoseekshislostloveCyphilatheFair,pris onerofthewizardTo'me'ko'op'r,andwhohasa greatandterribledoomuponhim." Thedooropenedandawomanstoodthere.Her hairwasthesilverofaspiderwebinthemoonlight, hereyeswerethedeepgoldfoundatthecentreofa beehive,herskinhadthepale,blushingbeautyof thetearose."Welcome,stranger,"saidshe."Wel cometoallthatisleftofthehomeofLanoli,whose fatherwasoncethemightiestintheseparts." And,uponbeholdingher,CatharzforgotCyphila theFair,forgotthatCwlwwymwnRootripperlimped afterhimstill,forgotthathehadslainhisbrother, hisniece,andbetrayedhiscousin,Wertigothe Unbalanced. "Youareverybeautiful,Lanoli,"hesaid. "Ah,"saidshe,"thatiswhatIhavelearned.But beautysuchasminecanonlythriveifitisseenand ithasbeensolongsinceanyonecametothese lands." "Letmehelpyourbeautythrive,"hesaid. Foodwasforgotten,guiltwasforgotten,fearwas forgottenasCatharzdivestedhimselfofhissword, hisspear,hisbowandhisarrowsandwalkedslowly intothecottage.Hisgaitwasarollingone,forhe stillboretheburdenthatwasthefootoftheLastof theLastOnes,andittookhimsomelittletimeto pullitthroughthedoor,butatlengthhestood insideandhadclosedthedoorbehindhimandhad takenherinhisarmsandhadpressedhislipsto hers. "Oh,Catharz,"shebreathed."Catharz!" Itwasnotlonguntiltheystoodnakedbeforeone another.Hereyestravelledoverhisbodyanditwas plainthattheeyesofscarletandcrystalwerelovely

toher,thatsheadmiredhissilverhandandhis ninefingeredhand,thateventhegreatfootof Cwlwwymwnwasbeautifulinhersight.Butthen hereyes,shyuntilnow,felluponthatwhichlay betweenhislegs,andthoseeyeswidenedalittle, andsheblushed.Herlovelylipsframedaquestion, buthemovedforwardasswiftlyashecouldand embracedheragain. "How?"shemurmured."How,Catharz?" "Itisalongtaleandabloodyone,"hewhispered, "ofrivalryandrevenge,butsufficetosaythatit endedinmyfather,XympwelltheCruel,takinga terriblevengeanceuponme.Ifledfromhiscourt intothewastesofGrxiwynn,ravingmad,anditwas therethatthetribesmenofVeloxfoundmeandtook metothewiseManofOorpsinthemountains beyondKatatonia.Henursedmeandcarvedthatfor me.Ittookhimtwoyears,andallthroughthosetwo yearsIremainedraving,livingoffdustanddewand roots,ashelived.Theengravingshadmysticalsig nificance,therunescontainthesumofhisgreat wisdom,thetinypicturesshowallthatthereisto showofphysicallove.Isitnotbeautiful?Morebeau tifulthanthatwhichithasreplaced?" Herglancewasmodestshenoddedslowly. "Itisindeed,verybeautiful,"sheagreed.And thenshelookedupathimandhesawthattears glistenedinhereyes."Butdidithavetobemadeof Sandstone?" "Thereislittleelse,"heexplainedsadly,"inthe mountainsbeyondKatatonia." (FromTheOutcastofKitzoprenia Volume67inTheHistoryofthe PurplePoignard)