that the Jewel was pulsing, like the message light on a hotel phone. I raised it and stared into it.
I hardly expected an X-rated short feature, but that's what was playing.
«I believe I'm receiving the wrong channel,» I said. «If you've got a message, let's have it. Otherwise, I just want to go home.»
Nothing changed, save that I became aware of a strong resemblance between the two figures in the Jewel and Coral and myself. They were going at it on a cloak at what appeared to be the center of a Pattern, flagrante ad infinitum - rather like a spicier version of the old salt box label, it seemed, if they could be seeing into the jewel the guy was wearing and watching…
«Enough!» I cried. «This is fucking ridiculous! You want a Tantric ritual I'll send you some professionals! The lady isn't even awake-»
The Jewel pulsed again, with such intensity that it hurt my eyes. I let it fall. I knelt then, scooped Coral up, and stood.
«I don't know whether anyone's ever walked you backwards before,» I said, «but I don't see why it shouldn't work.»
I took a step in the direction of the Final Veil. Immediately the wall of flame sprang up before me. I stumbled in drawing away from it, fell back upon the outspread cloak. I held Coral to me that she not be cast into the fire. She came down on top of me. She seemed almost awake…
Her arms went around my neck, and she sort of nuzzled my cheek. She seemed more drowsy than comatose now. I held her tightly and thought about it.
«Coral?» I tried again.
«Mm,» she said.
«Seems the only way we can get out of here is by making love.»
«Thought you'd never ask,» she mumbled, eyes still closed.
That made it seem somewhat less like necrophilia, I told myself as I turned us onto our sides so I could get at those coppery buttons. She muttered a little more while I was about things, but it didn't exactly turn into a conversation. Still, her body was not unresponsive to my attentions, and the encounter quickly took on all the usual features, too commonplace to be of much concern to the sophisticated. It seemed an interesting way to break a spell. Maybe the Pattern did have a sense of humor. I don't know.
The fires died down at about the same time that the fires died down, so to speak. Cora!'s eyes finally opened.
«That seems to have taken care of the circle of flames» I said.
«When did this cease being a dream?» she asked.
«Good question,» I replied, «and only you can answer it.»
«Did you just rescue me from something?»
«That seems the easiest way to put it,» I answered as she drew away somewhat and cast her gaze about the chamber. «See where it got you when you asked the Pattern to send you where you should go?» I said.
«Screwed,» she replied.
«Precisely.»
We drew apart. We adjusted our apparel.
«It's a good way to get to know each other better…» I had begun when the cavern was shaken by a powerful earth tremor.
«The timing is really off here,» I observed as we were rocked together and clung to each other for comfort, if not support.
It was over in an instant, and the Patrern was suddenly blazing more brilliantly than I'd ever seen it before. I shook my head. I rubbed my eyes. Something was wrong, even though it felt very right. Then the great metal- bound door opened - inward! - and I realized that we had come back to Amber, the real timber. My glowing trail still led up to the threshold, though it was fading fast, and a small figure stood upon it. Before I could even squint against the corridor's gloom, I felt a familiar disorientation, and we were in my bedroom.
«Nayda!» Coral exclaimed when she viewed the figure reclined upon my bed.
«Not exactly,» I said. «I mean, it's her body. But the spirit that moves it is of a different order.»
«I don't understand.»
I was busy thinking of the person who had been about to invade the precincts of the Pattern. I was also a mass of aching muscles, screaming nerves, and assorted fatigue poisons. I crossed to the table where the wine bottle I'd opened for Jasra - how long ago? - still stood. I found us two clean glasses. I filled them. I passed one to Coral.
«Your sister was very ill awhile back, wasn't she?»
«Yes,» she replied.
I took a big swallow.
«She was near death. At that time her body was possessed by a ty'iga spirit - a kind of demon - as Nayda no longer had any use for it.»
«What do you mean by that?»
«I understand that she actually died.»
Coral stared into my eyes. She didn't find whatever she sought, and she took a drink instead.
«I'd known something was wrong,» she said. «She hasn't really been herself since the illness.»
«She became nasty? Sneaky?»
«No, a lot nicer. Nayda was always a bitch.»
«You didn't get along?»
«Not till recently. She's not in any pain, is she?»
«No, she's just sleeping. She's under a spell.»
«Why don't you release her? She doesn't look like much of a danger.»
«I don't think she is now. Just the opposite, in fact,» I said. «And we will release her, soon. My brother Mandor will have to undo it, though. It's his spell.»
«Mandor? I don't really know much about you - or your family - do I?»
«Nope,»,I said, «and vice versa. Listen, I don't even know what day it is.» I crossed the room and peered out the window. There was daylight. It was cloudy though, and I couldn't guess the time. «There's something you should do right away. Go see your father and let him know you're all right. Tell him you got lost in the caverns or took a wrong turn into the Corridor Mirrors and wound up on some other plane of existece or something. Anything. To avoid a diplomatic incident. Okay?»
She finished her drink and nodded. Then she looked at me and blushed and looked away.
«We'll get together again before I leave, won't we?»
I reached out and patted her shoulder, not really knowing what my feelings were. Then I realized that wouldn't do, and I stepped forward and embraced her.
«You know it,» I said as I stroked her hair.
«Thanks for showing me around town.»
«We'll have to do it again,» I told her, «as soon as the pace slackens.»
«Uh-huh.»
We walked to the door.
«I want to see you soon,» she said.
«I'm fading fast,» I told her, as I opened it. «I've ba through hell and back.»
She touched my cheek.
«Poor Merlin,» she said. «Sleep tight.»
I gulped the rest of my wine and withdrew my Trumps. I wanted to do just what she said, but certain unavoidables came first. I riffled my way to the Ghostwheel's card, removed it, and regarded it.
Almost immediately, following the faintest drop in temperature and the barest formation of desire on my part, Ghostwheel appeared before me - a red circle turning in the middle of the air.
«Uh, hello, Dad,» it stated. «I was wondering where you'd gotten to. When I checked back at the cave, you were gone, and none of my shadow-indexing procedures could turn you up. It never even occurred to me that you might simply have come home. I-»
«Layer,» I said. «I'm in a hurry. Get me down to the chamber of the Pattern fast.»
