lessons. Time's simply zipped by. How has it been for you?'
Chapter Ten
Rippling Time
My Raven Blade was where I had left it in my new lodgings. Oona could not use her bow and was otherwise without arms. Gaynor was choosing which one of us to shoot. His aim wavered, but he was too far distant for me to be able to attack him.
Then reason reminded me that he could not afford to kill us. He wanted my sword. He also seemed to have forgotten the still, slow-time Off-Moo sentinels. 'You'll recall, cousin, that not all who' guard this place are immediately detectable, ' I said.
His smile was dismissive. 'They're no danger to me. I've had many ordeals, many adventures and encounters since we last met. I have more powerful help now, cousin. Supernatural help. We already lay siege to Tanelorn. The Off-Moo's defenses are unsophisticated in comparison. This is a wonderful realm, once you find your way around in it. I have learned much that will be useful when I have the Grail.'
'You think that it will be easy for you to return?'
'For me, cousin, yes. You see, I've made some fine new friends since we parted on such bad terms. Once you meet them, you'll soon be enthusiastically apologizing to me. And only too pleased to run home to fetch the Raven Sword while I entertain your pretty young friend, eh?'
I recognized an element of bravado in him, an unsteadiness about his eyes. I replied contemptuously. 'If I had the sword with me, cousin, I suspect you'd be a little more civil. Lower your bow. Was it you who killed the panther?'
'I'll keep the bow strung and maintain our equilibrium for the moment, cousin. Is the big cat dead? An epidemic, no doubt? One of those dreadful plagues which sometimes attacks the feline world . ..' His arrow was still level with my heart, but the verbal barb was intended for Oona.
Oona did not respond. What was meant to goad her, only drove her to take further charge of herself. 'Your claims are illegitimate, Prince Gaynor. Your own cynicism will defeat you. All the future holds for you is an eternity of despair.'
His amusement increased. Then he frowned, as if he brought himself back to business. 'True, I'd hoped to find you here with your sword, Ulric. So I'll strike that bargain-bring me the blade and I'll spare the girl's life in exchange.'
'The sword is my charge, ' I said. 'I can't give it up. My honor depends upon my stewardship...'
'Bah Your father's honor also depended upon a stewardship- and we know how thoroughly he defended his trust! ' Now he was contemptuous. 'Stewardship?'
'Fool! The von Beks had the most powerful combination of supernatural artifacts in the multiverse. Your weakling father, degenerated to mumbling voodoo spells and other witcheries, let one fall from your possession. Because he feared it would be stolen! Your family doesn't deserve its destiny. From now on, I and mine will keep those objects of power together. Forever.'
I was baffled. Had he gone mad? Though he seemed to think I understood him, I could scarcely make sense of a word he said.
'Quickly.' He drew the bowstring back a little farther.
'Which one will get the sword, which one will stay here as hostage for it?'
Oona suddenly clutched her head and staggered. Gaynor turned the bow on her. At Oona's feet, the shining black body quivered. Huge muscles flexed. A tail lashed. Vast whiskers twitched. Jade eyes gleamed. A great, black nose made a single, searching snort.
Oona was disbelieving, but Gaynor was cursing as the saber-tooth climbed slowly to its feet, its glaring eyes casting around for an enemy, its huge ivory tusks glinting in the riverlight. And then, standing shoulder to shoulder with the gigantic cat, I saw another human figure.
My doppelganger.
Had he brought the cat back to life? Gaynor barely disguised his own terror. Oona had the common sense to drag us behind the shelter of a nearby stalagmite so we could watch from cover.
The other albino seemed to be talking to Gaynor. He gestured. Suddenly both he and the cat vanished. Gaynor unnocked the arrow, stuck it in his belt and ran into the darkness.
I was completely mystified by the exchange. I tried to ask Oona if she understood any better, but she was grim, hurrying back to the interior of the city. 'We must warn them of what's happening. This will take all their resources.'
'What does it mean? Who is that bizarre version of myself?'
'Fairer to say that you are a version of him, ' she said. 'He's called Elric of Melnibone and he carries the greatest burden of us all.'
'And he's from another-what-? One of these alternatives to our own reality?'
'Some call them 'branches' or 'branes.' Or 'the realms, ' or 'the scales, ' but they are all versions of our universe.' She was still intent on negotiating the winding lanes of Mu Ooria, heading deeper and deeper into the city. 'And like you, this doppelganger of mine travels between these worlds? And he knows you?'
'Only in his dreams, ' she said.
We were both out of breath. I had no idea where she was leading us, but she would not rest. While the immediate danger was in the forefront of my mind, I still seethed with a thousand unanswered questions. Questions so numinous I could not begin to frame them in words.
She had led us through a high doorway, down a long corridor and up a short winding ramp until we stood in a low-ceilinged hall full of long benches of carved stone arranged around a large, glassy circular area.
I was reminded of monks' communal quarters. The hall was lit by the tall, watery glasses. An air of tranquillity hung about the place. The shadows were soft. The circular area at the center stirred occasionally, its shades shifting from jet black to dark grey.
Oona led me behind the main rank of benches. As she did so, the first Off-Moo began to arrive, their long faces grave, their odd eyes questioning. I hadn't seen the young woman give any signal. Our presence in the room must have been enough to bring the Off-Moo elders there immediately. Some had the air of people interrupted in important tasks. Clearly they believed the matter serious. How had she summoned them? Was she in telepathic communication with their group intelligence? Her face had a beautiful, open quality when she communicated with them. The gracious unhumanity of these creatures made me feel I was in the company of angels.
With murmured acknowledgment to us, they assembled around the obsidian circle and listened gravely as Oona told them what she had seen and what we had learned.
'Could be an army already marches against Mu Ooria.' She spoke a little hesitantly.
Again, she was acknowledged. But the Off-Moo's concentration had begun to focus on the reflective, glossy circle of rock around which they had gathered. I wondered what they saw there, if this were their version of a crystal ball? Some means of focusing their group consciousness?
Then I fell back, dazzled, throwing up my hands to protect my eyes. I thought the Off-Moo would be equally affected, but they calmly held their ground. Still guarding my eyes, I found Oona. She held her own hands before her face. 'What's happening?' I asked.
I think they have a way of bending light, ' was all she could tell me. Then the worst of the white-gold glare had gone and my eyes had become accustomed to what remained. I could see the source of the radiance. At the center the circle, it was three-dimensional and thoroughly real-an ordinary block of stone suspended in space and giving off a faint, sweet-sounding vibration which brought strange memories, recollected moments of purity. When thought, deed and idea were all in harmony. I half expected Sir Parsifal, the pure knight, to appear kneeling before it. For the stone had changed before my eyes.
I was now looking in absolute awe at what I had always assumed to be nothing more than a beautiful legend. A great, golden bowl, set with crystal and precious jewels and brimming with thick, crimson wine which poured down the sides to be absorbed by the light which darkened to deep gold and showed the whole Off-Moo conference chamber in dramatic, organic contrast, alive with dark, swirling color. My senses were barely capable of
