Creatures of Light and Darkness

INTERMEZZO

Armies clash in the fog on the planet D’donori, and the golindi mate on the graves of the slain; when the crown is torn from Dilwit’s head, he will be without a scalp; again, Brotz, Purtz and Dulp are blinded by their neighbors; on the world Waldik there is wailing and darkness; out of the ruins of Blis, life comes forth once again; Marachek is dead, dead, dead: color it dust; the Schism has begun on Interludici, and also the evening rains, with a purported vision of the Sacred Shoes by a monk named Bros, who may have been drug-crazed; a mad, mad wind blows beneath the sea in the Place of the Heart’s Desire, and a green saurian who lives there frolics in the autumn mist, constellations of bright-bellied fishes wheeling everywhere.

His arm is around her waist, and together they watch the pictures that form within the frame, there in the House of the Dead. They watch Osiris, as he sails across the sky on his black crossbow, upon which is mounted a thing that can smash a sun. He rides alone, and the yellow eyes never blink within that face which cannot know expression. They watch the dark cockleshell which contains Anubis, Madrak and an empty glove which holds power.

Vramin traces two lines with the tip of his cane, extending the courses of the vessels. The picture changes to the place where the lines intersect. There lies the twilight world, and its surface undergoes upheavals as they watch.

“How if it that they could know the place?” asks Isis.

“I do not know- Unless… Osiris! He found a note. I watched his expression as he read it.”

“And…?”

“Horus. Horus must have left him the note-telling him the place.”

“How could Horus know it?”

“He fought with Thoth-probably within Thoth’s own mind, and Horus can look into a man’s head, know what he is thinking. Sometime during that encounter, he must have stolen this knowledge from the Prince, who is normally proof against such skills. -Yes, at some time he must have let down his guard for an instant. He must be warned!”

“Perhaps Typhon will yet provide for his safety.”

“Where is Typhon now?”

They regard the frame, and all pictures flee.

Black, black, black. There is nothing.

“It is as though Typhon does not exist,” says Vramin.

“No,” says Isis. “You look upon Skagganauk the Abyss. Typhon has withdrawn from the universe, to seek his own way along the undersides of space as men know it. It may be that he, too, has found whatever note Horus left.”

“That is not sufficient insurance for the Prince. The whole project may miscarry-unless we can reach him.”

“Then go to him quickly!”

“I cannot.”

“One of your famous gateways…”

“They only function within the Midworlds. I draw my power from the tides. I cannot operate beyond. Lady, how did you come here?”

“In my chariot.”

“Of the Ten Invisible Powers?”

“Yes.”

“Then let us use it.”

“I fear- Listen, Mage. You must understand. I am a woman and I love my son, but I also love my life. I am afraid. I fear the place of that conflict. Do not think the less of me if I refuse to accompany you. You may take my chariot and you may ride in it, but you must keep your own company.”

“I think not the less of you, Lady-”

“Then take this pendant. It controls the Ten Powers that drive the chariot, and it will give you additional strengths.”

“Will it function beyond the Midworlds?”

“Yes,” and she slides into his arms, and for a moment his green beard tickles her neck while her familiar gnashes its tiny teeth and knots its tail, twice.

Then she conducts him to her chariot on the roof of the House of the Dead, and he mounts it, holds high the pendant in his right hand, becomes for a moment part of a cleverly contrived tableau within a red glass bottle, is then a distant twinkle in the heavens Isis watches.

Shuddering, she retreats to the places of the dead, to dwell again upon the one whom she fears to face, who is even now battling the Nameless.

Vramin stares ahead with eyes of jade. Points of yellow light dance within them.