After a few moments, there was contact. I called it to me.
There followed a small crackling sound and a feeling of ionization in the air as a glowing wheel about eight feet in diameter materialized before me.
'Diminish terminal size,' I ordered.
It shrank down to about a third of what it had been and I ordered it to halt at that point. It looked like a pale picture frame, occasional sparks dancing within it, the view across the room constantly rippling as seen through its center.
Random began to extend a hand.
'Don't,' I said. 'You might get a shock. I still don't have all the bugs out.'
'It can transmit energy?'
'Well, it could. No big deal.'
'If you ordered to transmit energy . . . ?'
'Oh, sure. It has to be able to transmit energy here to sustain the terminal, and through Shadow to operate its scanners.'
'I mean, could it discharge it at this end?'
'If I told it to it could build up a charge and let it go. Yes.'
'What are its limits in this?'
'Whatever it has available.'
'And what does it have available?'
'Well, in theory an entire planet. But-'
'Supposing you ordered it to appear beside someone here, build up a large charge and discharge it into that person. Could it do an electrocution?'
'I guess so,' I said. 'I don't see why not. But that's not its purpose-'
'Merlin, your surprise is certainly a surprise. But I'm not sure I like it.'
'It's safe,' I explained. 'No one knows where it's located. No one goes there. This Trump I have is the only one. Nobody else can reach it. I was going to make one more card, just for you, and then show you how to operate the thing when it was ready.'
'I'm going to have to think about this . . .'
'Ghost, within five thousand Shadow veils, this location-how many Shadow-storms are currently in existence?'
The words came as if spoken within the hoop: 'Seventeen.'
'Sounds like-'
'I gave it my voice,' I told him. 'Ghost, give us some pictures of the biggest one.'
A scene of chaotic fury filled the hoop.
'Another thought just occurred to me,' Random stated. 'Can it transport things?'
'Sure, just like a regular Trump.'
'Was the original size of that circle its maximum size?'
'No, we could make it a lot larger if you wanted. Or smaller.'
'I don't. But supposing you made it larger-and then told it to transmit that storm, or as much of it as it could manage?'
'Wow! I don't know. It would try. It would probably be like opening a giant window onto it.'
'Merlin, shut it down. It's dangerous.'
'Like I said, nobody knows where it is but me, and the only other way to reach it is-'
'I know, I know. Tell me, could anybody access it with the proper Trump, or just by finding it?'
'Well, yes. I didn't bother with any security codes because of its inaccessibility.'
'That thing could be an awesome weapon, kid. Shut it down. Now.'
'I can't.'
'What do you mean?'
'You can't dump its memory or kill its power from a remote terminal. I would actually have to travel to the site itself to do that:'
'Then I suggest you get going. I want it turned off until there are a lot more safeguards built into it. Even then -well, we'll see. I don't trust a power like that. Not when I don't have any defenses against it. It could. strike almost without warning. What were you thinking of when you built that thing?'
'Data-processing. Look, we're the only ones-'
'There's always a possibility someone will get wise to it and find a way to get at it. I know, I know-you're in love with your handiwork-and I appreciate what you had in mind. But it's got to go.'
'I have done nothing to offend you.' It was my voice, but it came from the wheel.
Random stared at it, looked at me, looked back at it.
'Uh-that's not the point,' he addressed it. 'It's your potential that I'm concerned about. Merlin, turn off the terminal!'
'End transmission,' I said. 'Withdraw terminal.' It wavered a moment, then was gone.
'Had you anticipated that comment from the thing?' Random asked me.
'No. I was surprised.'
'I'm beginning to dislike surprises. Maybe that shadow environment is actually altering the thing in subtle ways. You know my wishes. Give it a rest.'
I bowed my head. 'Whatever you say, sir.'
'Cut it out. Don't be a martyr. Just do it.'
'I still think it's just a matter of installing a few safeguards. No reason to crash the whole project.'
'If things were quieter,' he said, 'maybe I' d go along with it, But there's too much shit coming down right now, with snipers and bombers and all the things you've been telling me about. I don't need another worry.'
I got to my feet.
'Okay. Thanks for the coffee,' I said. 'I'll let you know when it's done.'
He nodded.
'Good night, Merlin.'
'Good night.'
As I was stalking out through the big entrance hall I saw Julian, in a green dressing gown, talking with two of his men. On the floor between them lay a large dead animal. I halted and stared. It was one of those same damned dog things I had just dreamed about, like at Julia's.
I approached.
'Hi, Julian. What is it?' I asked gesturing.
He shook his head.
'Don't know. But the hellhounds just killed three of them in Arden. I trumped these guys up with one of the carcasses, to show Random. You wouldn't know where he is, would you?'
I stabbed with my thumb back over my shoulder.
'In the sitting room.'
He walked off in that direction. I went nearer and prodded the animal with my toe. Should I go back and tell Random I'd met one before?
The hell with it, I decided. I couldn't see how the information would be of any vital use.
I returned to my rooms and washed up and changed my clothes. Then I stopped by the kitchen and filled my backpack with food. I didn't feel like saying good-bye to anyone, so I just headed for the back and took the big rear staircase down into the gardens.
Dark. Starry. Cool. Walking, I felt a sudden chill as I neared the spot where, in my dream, the dogs had appeared. No howls, no growls. Nothing. I passed through that area and continued on my way to the rear of that well-kept site, to the place where a number of trails led off through a more natural landscape. I took the second one from the left. It was a slightly longer route than another I might have chosen-with which it intersected later, anyway-but was easier going, a thing I felt I needed in the night. I was still not all that familiar with the irregularities of the other way.
I hiked the crest of Kolvir for the better part of an hour before I located the downward trail I was seeking. I halted then, took a drink of water and rested for a few minutes before I began the descent.
