condensation on a pitcher of ice water.
He passed through the huge iron doors into a vast cathedral. Looking toward its farthest end, he beheld what had summoned him. He sank to his knees and averted his eyes.
“WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR OBEISANCE. ARISE, SERVANT, AND BE INFORMED OF A BUSINESS OF GREAT MOMENT.”
Jacoby got up on shaky legs. He could not bring himself to look directly at the beatific visage behind the plumes of smoke and the tongues of fire.
“KNOW THAT SOON, VERY SOON, THIS HOUSE SHALL FALL. IT WILL VANISH, AND WITH IT ALL WHO DWELL WITHIN. TELL US NOW WHY THIS FATE SHOULD NOT BEFALL SUCH A ONE AS YOU.”
Jacoby nearly swallowed his tongue before he could get out, “Oh, Great One … if there were any way that I might be spared —”
“THERE IS. YOU WILL BE CHARGED WITH A TASK. UPON ITS COMPLETION YOUR WORTHINESS WILL BE JUDGED ACCORDINGLY.”
Jacoby’s eyes were desperate. “Anything, Great One! Anything!”
“YOUR WILLINGNESS PLEASES US. DO YOU STILL BEAR THE FRAGMENT OF THE BRAIN OF RAMTHONODOX?”
Jacoby fumbled in his suit, finally bringing forth the crystal. “Here it is, Great One — I did not steal it! I swear. In fact, I took it from the thief himself! He —”
“THE MATTER IS OF NO GREAT IMPORT. WE ARE WILLING TO FORGIVE PAST TRANSGRESSIONS IN LIGHT OF SERVICES PERFORMED ON OUR BEHALF. ATTEND US. YOU WILL PROCEED AT ONCE TO THE NETHERMOST REGIONS OF THE CASTLE. YOUR FOOTSTEPS WILL BE GUIDED ALONG THE PROPER PATH. YOU WILL BE CONDUCTED AWAY FROM THIS HOUSE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. THERE YOU WILL AWAIT OUR PLEASURE. YOU MUST HENCEFORTH GUARD THE FRAGMENT WITH YOUR LIFE, OR YOUR DOOM IS SEALED. SPEAK NOW, AND TELL US YEA OR NAY.”
“Yea!” Jacoby squeaked. “Oh, yes! I shall be infused with holy purpose! Nothing shall divert me, O Great One! Even if —”
“ENOUGH. BEHOLD.”
The glossy floor quaked, heaved, then shattered, a huge crack appearing and widening rapidly. Smoke and occasional bursts of flame issued from the jagged chasm that soon gaped wide.
Jacoby fell on his buttocks. “Good
“ARISE,” the voice commanded. “COME FORWARD.”
He got up and moved reluctantly to the edge of the pit. A rough stone stairway descended into it.
“YOUR JOURNEY MAY BEGIN. THE WAY WILL BE MADE CLEAR, AND YOU WILL BE UNDER OUR PROTECTION AT EVERY STEP. DISCHARGE THIS OBLIGATION, AND YOU WILL FIGURE HIGH IN THE NEW ORDER.”
“New order?” Jacoby said.
“THIS HOUSE SHALL BE BUILT AGAIN, AND ONE WHO IS OUR SERVANT SHALL BE ITS MASTER. PERFORM THIS TASK WHICH WE HAVE GIVEN YOU, AND BE CHIEF AMONG OUR SERVANTS.”
“I shall perform it,” Jacoby said firmly.
“GOOD. THEN GO.”
“But who —”
“WE HAVE COMMANDED YOU …
“Yes, Holy One!”
Stumbling, slipping and muttering all the way, Jacoby disappeared into the earth.
When he was gone, the voice laughed.
Lower Levels
Linda hugged the floor until the tremors passed, then got up and started walking again. An enormous blue flying insect buzzed by. She ducked, and the thing went sailing over her head — then transformed itself into an umber bird and continued down the tunnel. Crawling things skittered across the floor. To her own surprise, Linda had ceased jumping at their every appearance. She
There seemed no end to this maze, and she was near despair.
No, she told herself. You’re not giving up. You’ll find Gene and we’ll get out of this place. Believe it.
She believed it. For the first time in her life she actually believed she could do something, that she could be a cause and not just an effect.
A section of the right wall slid back, revealing the end of a large pipe. Her reflexes well-sharpened by now, Linda was quick to step back. As she did, there came the sound not unlike a commode flushing. Water spurted from the pipe, and then a man came sliding out and tumbled to the floor.
Linda held her nose.
Osmirik groaned and massaged the base of his spine.
“Mother Goddess!”
“Are you hurt?” Linda asked him.
He was startled at first, but when he saw Linda, he broke into a smile. “Greetings,” he said. “Be you human, or only a fair approximation?”
“All too human, I’m afraid,” Linda said. “Can I help you?”
“I am undamaged … methinks.” Osmirik struggled to his feet, wincing.
“Oh! Are you sure you’re all right?”
“You are too kind, fair lady. No, I am sound enough.”
“However did you get yourself into the plumbing?”
“It is a convoluted tale. I fell in, then was plucked out, but I had to throw myself back in, so to speak, in order to get out again.”
Linda nodded, shrugging, “Makes sense.”
“Very little, I’m afraid. I’m at my wit’s end. I seek a certain person who may be about this part of the castle.”
“Oh. Let me ask you a personal question. Are you out to help this person?”
Osmirik gave her an odd look. “In truth, no. Why do you ask?”
“This is just a wild guess, but is this person a tall, skinny redhead with well-developed magical powers and about half-a-dozen soldiers for bodyguards?”
Osmirik was taken aback. “You have seen her?”
“Oh, we’ve met.”
Osmirik grasped Linda’s arm. “Where?” Linda flinched away, and he let go. “Forgive me. I am not wont to manhandle a lady. I am sore distressed. I must find this woman. She is a danger to us all.”
“You’re telling me. She nearly killed me and my friends.”
“That is danger enough, but she threatens the existence of many more. Where did you see her?”
“That’s the problem. We escaped from the room where the Brain is, and then we —”
“The Brain? Of Ramthonodox?”
“Yes.” Linda explained.
After listening, Osmirik nodded. “So the Stone and the Brain are together, the one holding the other in suspension, the other feeding its power into the containing spell.”
“Huh? Well, they’re related, if that’s what you mean. Just what is Super-Bitch up to?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“The woman. Your friend.”
“She is hardly my friend. She is my liege lady and mistress.”
“Mistress? Oh, you mean you’re her servant.”
