Monster Of The Maze Part 10

"I will show you something of loving," Blade muttered. He carried her to the pallet. She was a simple little thing, a savage, and if he could not get around her he had no business in Dimension X. Why had he not thought of it before?

When he had done with Lisma she lay limp and gasping, her eyes soft as she caressed his face. Blade thought briefly of the Princess Hirga, whom he could never satisfy or dominate. Something wrong there-something he meant to discover, if and when he ever got back to Zir.

Lisma peered up at him through half-closed lids. "I near to swooned, Blade. How is it that I never felt like this before? I saw visions and my spirit fled this room and into the skies. How is it? Why have I not known such pleasure before?"

"Because you have not loved before," said Blade. "and I did not love. Now we both love and want each other and it is different. You will be pregnant soon, Lisma."

Her fingers toyed with his dark beard. "Do we love? I had no thought of that. You are a prisoner, even if a G.o.d, and I am the daughter of a king."

"I had not thought of it either," said Blade. "Now I know. I love you, Lisma, and you love me. We have found our destiny."

He met her glance without difficulty. It was no great task. He had faked love many times before.

He did not give her time to think. He entered her again and for an hour rang every s.e.xual change he knew. When she left him she had promised to arrange an audience with her father as soon as possible. When he walked with her to the trapdoor she clung to him and whispered, "I will have you out of this place soon, Blade. You will be consort and lover to me. We cannot marry, for Hitt law does not permit marriage to a foreigner, but we will be together. I vow it."

"Beware of Galligantus," said Blade, "for I think he is my real enemy."

She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. "I have my father's right ear-Galligantus has only his left."

Blade went back to sew on his balloon. His spirits were back and he felt more alert and confident than in weeks. The old Blade was back. No more bewailing the past and blaming himself. What was past was done and could not be changed. Look to the future. Look to himself.

That night the crystal worked again for the first time since his capture. The computer, meaning Lord L, was worried about his mental condition, more so than his present physical peril, for based on past performance he would somehow extricate himself.

Blade concentrated long enough to tell them of his plans, of the balloon, and then had the best night's sleep in many a day. The following morning they came for him.

He was not bound or chained. He walked inside a square of armed guards. He was taken down through pa.s.sages and stairs and out into a valley, past crowds of staring Hitts, to a cavern where Loth Bloodax held his court. There, in the garish light of a hundred torches, he found Bloodax sitting on a natural seat of stone that served as throne. He was attended by warriors and by his council, the latter wearing iron chains of office and with blue marks of rank painted on their forehead.

Lisma squatted at her father's feet. She smiled as Blade was brought forward. To the king's right was the man Galligantus and his new wife, the girl Sariah. She did not look at Blade. Galligantus stared and his lip curled in contempt. In that moment, even before he had spoken, Blade determined to kill Galligantus if possible. It would be some revenge for Thane.

Loth Bloodax leaned to peer at Blade. The man was short-sighted. He was also enormous, not tall, but with a span to him that bespoke great strength going a little to blubber. He wore an iron crown, and beneath it his hair was thin and dry, the yellow fading into gray. He wore a dress kilt and light chest armor. His eyes, a pale, washed-out blue, were set too close to a blobby nose. Nothing distinguished about him, thought Blade, and then he remembered how the man had fought.

Blade did not bow. He had noted that Hitts never bowed or were in any way obsequious. Loth Bloodax had a low, harsh voice.

"You have worked a new magic, Prince Blade. My daughter who came to you first for child now comes to me for your life and comfort. She tells me that you seek to live with her, to be her lover and man and warrior. This is true?"

Blade inclined his head. "It is true."

Galligantus glared meanly at Blade and spat. "It is false, Loth. He is weary of his perch atop our rock, and lonely, and in fear of his miserable life. He has fooled Lisma and now he is trying to fool you. I will kill him for you. A pleasant enough task."

Bloodax waved him off. "There will be no killing until I say so. I gave you the man Thane to carve as you pleased. Be content for now."

He looked at Blade for a moment, frowning and plucking at his teeth with a forefinger. He dislodged a bit of meat and spat it out.

"Is it true, Blade, that in Zir you grew from a babe to full man in a month?"

"That is true."

Bloodax nodded slowly. "My spies brought word of it. I did not believe it."

"I still do not believe it," said Galligantus.

"I begin to," said Bloodax. "And I will not tell you again, Galligantus. I am king here, not you. Hold your tongue."

Galligantus subsided, muttering, but his glance toward Blade was hate-filled. Blade's likewise. Somehow he must find means to kill this man.

"You defeated me," said Loth Bloodax, "and that was no small thing. I know how you crossed the water behind me, for I watched your Captain Ogier tear up the hidden bridge. But it would have taken a G.o.d to think of that. I have use for a new G.o.d, Prince Blade, for our old ones have deserted us. But tell me-can you work that magic again?"

Blade was puzzled for the moment. "What magic?"

Bloodax slapped his hand on an enormous thigh in impatience. "Make babes into men in so short a while! I need warriors. I have babes beyond counting and few men who can wield an axe or sword. You have bled me of men, Prince Blade, and I think you owe me this magic to restore my armies."

So that was it. Blade knew that this was a ticklish moment. He must go cautiously, and yet he must seize the opportunity.

"I can do that," he said, "but it will take a little time to prepare. And I will need your help-I will also need many of the s.h.i.+ning stones. I am told that you Hitts have mountains of them?"

Loth Bloodax was excited now, eager. He clapped his hands and stared hard at Blade. "You swear you can do this?"

"I swear it. If I am not interfered with and am given leave to go my own way freely. First I must be taken to the place of the s.h.i.+ning stones."

Bloodax frowned. "You keep speaking of s.h.i.+ning stones. I do not wholly understand this. Do you mean-"

One of the counselors came forward. "I think he means this, Loth. See-I use it to sharpen my dagger."

In his hand was a diamond as large as a baseball in HD. Blade was not an avaricious man and so did not have to cloak it, but nonetheless he hooded his eyes. And reached for the stone. Bloodax nodded and the counselor handed it to Blade. He hefted it. Not half the weight of the stone Casta had shown him, but a fine gem just the same. Blade handed it back.

"That is what I mean. But I must have larger stones, much larger. For if I am to make warriors out of babes, I must first make an image-and it must be life-size."

Silence came down like a pall. Bloodax stared at Blade, his pale eyes hard and unblinking. Galligantus could contain himself no longer. He leaped to his feet and pointed a trembling finger at Blade, shouting.

"This is not magic, Loth. This is witchery. How else could he know of our sacred place, of the place of Kings and Queens? And how could he know that the images are made of the s.h.i.+ning rock-such matters are never spoken of. I say kill him now. At once! If he is a G.o.d he is an evil one."

The girl Sariah had been sitting quietly, head down, not looking at Blade. Now she spoke. "He is not evil. I do not know if he is a G.o.d or not, but he is not evil. He was kind to me and kept his word. He guarded me while I slept, so I was not raped or slain. I am a Hitt and am married to a Hitt, but still I must say this."

Galligantus turned on her with a snarl. He struck her across the face. "Keep your tongue, wife! Women do not speak up in the councils of men."

Loth Bloodax laughed. He patted his belly and roared and pointed at Galligantus. "You would marry her, Galligantus. Now you see what you have taken into your bed. You will live to rue it, but this is your worry and not mine."

Lisma had been keeping silent, half smiling at Blade and occasionally nodding encouragement to him. She also spoke now. And glared at Galligantus.

"I have never liked you, man, and I like you less with each hour that pa.s.ses. You defy my father too much. You interfere. You are fortunate that I am not yet queen."

She turned to her father. "You are king, father, you are Loth Bloodax. I beg you do as the Prince Blade asks-for you would have soldiers and I would have him." She rose and went to her father and whispered, twirling her fingers in his hair as she did so, smiling and cozening. Blade heard the last of her words.

"I already feel his seed stirring in me, I tell you. Soon you will have a G.o.d as grandson. Do this thing for me, father. I will see that all is well. I promise. And you can have him well guarded, to put your mind at ease."

Bloodax drew her into his lap and kissed her and ruffled her hair. He grinned. "I can deny you nothing, child. It shall be so. Galligantus, you will take an escort of warriors and show Prince Blade the sacred place of Kings and Queens. And I charge you this-he must return safely or your head will join that of the man Thane on a pole."

2Leather-men glided over the line of march occasionally, flitting from peak to peak. Galligantus did not bind Blade, but kept him well guarded. He had fifty men, all heavily armed, the last of the royal guard. The others had died on the beach.

Galligantus went a little out of his way so that Blade would have to view Thane's head on its pole. It had been set into the rock near a valley entrance. The eyes were gone and most of the flesh, and Thane's last grin was ivory and terrible.

Galligantus, sneering, called a halt and pointed to the head. "One smell of treachery, Prince, and you will join your friend. You would be with him now were I not obedient and loyal to Loth Bloodax." He lowered his voice. "Though he can be a great fool at times and lets his daughter Lisma coax him into anything."

Blade ignored him. He forced himself to look at the head. Poor Thane. No more wine. No more huge laughter and crude jokes. No more battles or building.

After a time he said, "I have seen and I have heard. Shall we march?"

Galligantus glared at him, then gave the order. They left that valley and entered another. And another and another. Their march was a succession of valleys. Blade noted what landmarks he could and tried to keep himself oriented. They were heading to the southeast and in that direction must lie the channel, the narrow water.

The last valley ended in an open plain. Not unlike the Plain of Pyramids back in Zir. In the center of the plain a mountain stood alone. The sun was dying in the west, but a last ray struck over the mountains and cliffs and valleys and caressed one black flank of the mountain on the plain. In that moment it came alive, sequined, glowing and sparking and flas.h.i.+ng. Blade stood awe-stricken. Here was literally a mountain of diamonds. Stones that by some X-Dimension chemistry did not need to be polished but were thrown up already glittering. He made himself think as Richard Blade of Home Dimension-such a treasure would be worth countless billions, if the market could be controlled, for industrial use alone here was a fortune- If, if, if. Blade went back to thinking in terms of Dimension X.

Galligantus and his men were not impressed. Indeed, the troops were bored and weary. Galligantus gave the order to move on.

As they grew near the diamond mountain Blade saw that it was in reality a volcano-long dead, for no wisp of smoke floated from the deep-scarred crater. They made camp near a mine entrance, a shaft leading into the side of the mountain, and Galligantus sought out Blade. He was in a sarcastic mood now.

"If you are not too weary, Prince G.o.d, we will go in this very night. The men will complain, but I wish to have done with it. You will see and you will tell me what you need and it shall be done. Are you ready?"

Blade was glad he had no weapon. His temper was uncertain and he did foolish things these days. He nodded. "I am ready."

Galligantus selected ten of his best men and they entered the shaft. One man went ahead with a flaring torch. They made their way through a burrow of narrow pa.s.sages with width for only one man. At times they crawled on hands and knees.

They broke out into a chamber and Blade was nigh blinded by the reflections of the torches in the diamond face. It was a hall of mirrors, deep beyond knowing, a billion facets catching light and distorting it. Blade gazed and had trouble with his breath. The far side of the chamber was fifty feet high and some hundred across. Solid diamond. Like a coal face to be chipped away and loaded and hauled out, only this was crystallized carbon. Diamond. Formulae floated through his dazed brain. H10-specific gravity 3.52. Teleport it back to Home Dimension and you were the richest nation in the world-if you could keep the politicians and the merchants, the grabbers, from muddling things. Ah, well, that was not his worry.

Galligantus had been watching his reaction, a cunning smile on his mean features. But he was astute.

"I see greed," he said, "and I do not understand. How do you gain of it, of this stone? But to make an image and persuade Loth that you can work magic with it? Which mayhap you can. I do not deny it-yet, though I have my own thoughts as to it. But you gaze on this useless stone as a man might on a woman or a fine weapon."

"The images," said Blade. "I must see them."

Galligantus drew his sword. He had a brief whispered talk with his men and then gestured to Blade. "Walk ahead of me. We will go to the place of Kings and Queens alone. These commoners are not permitted to see."

There was a narrow opening to one side of the diamond face. Galligantus prodded Blade through it with his point. "Walk well ahead but not too far. Do not tempt me, Prince Blade. I would as lief kill you and take my chances with Loth. I admit it. But I will not unless you force me."

Blade carried a torch. The pa.s.sage was short and ended on a wide ledge. There was a chasm, wide and deep and black, and across the chasm was another ledge, smaller, narrower, a gallery of glinting figures.

Blade advanced to the brink of the chasm and raised his torch to see better. It guttered and smoked, and the yellow flame wavered in a fetid draft from the pit, but he saw well enough. He stood dumfounded, locked in awe and near disbelief, for here some artisan had wrought close to the quick of life.

There were dozens of them close-packed along the gallery. Men in armor and women in robes or breeches or kilts. All were life-size and all appeared to move and breathe in the uncertain light. Blade moved along the ledge on his side of the chasm, peering, trying to catch his breath.

"Mind you the edge.," said Galligantus behind him. "If I am not to have the pleasure of killing you I would not have the pit take you."

He picked up a chip of diamond and flung it into the chasm. "Listen, and tell me what you hear."

Blade heard nothing. He gazed into the chasm and over it. At the narrow point he reckoned it to be fifteen feet across. He drew back a little and wandered farther down the ledge. And saw her.

She stood a little alone, on a natural plinth that jutted out over the chasm. She was naked and her arms were outstretched in welcome. Her glittering diamond smile seemed to welcome the torch, the light brought into the pit, and as Blade gaped she appeared to move. Warmth glowed in that perfect body. She spoke to Blade across the chasm and the years and he knew he must have her. From that moment on he reckoned himself a little mad and must live with it. But only half of him was mad.

Galligantus was close behind him now. Blade felt the swordpoint against his flesh. When the man spoke, Blade knew that he too felt the spell of this diamond G.o.ddess.

"That is Janina," he said softly. "First Queen of the Hitts a thousand years ago. What a woman she was."

"And is still," Blade breathed. "And is yet. She is not dead. She lives far more than you or me, Galligantus."

After a brief silence the Hitt said, "I see your reasoning, Prince Blade, and do not dispute it. But we cannot linger here all night. You have seen the images and can guess their measurement. What more do you want?"

A plan formed in Blade's mind. It was his death if matters went wrong, but he meant to do it if he could. He must hold Galligantus in talk.

He pointed over the chasm. "I must have a closer view. I would have one of the images for study, to compare and to show the artisan who will work it. If I am to make an image of a warrior it must be exact, or the magic will not work."

Galligantus began to laugh. "You ask too much. Even if it were possible, it could not be done-it is forbidden to touch the images once they have been placed on that ledge. In any case, we cannot come at them. Unless," and his voice held mockery, "unless you would leap over and fetch it back."

Blade gazed at the narrowest point. About fifteen feet. He might leap that far. But not now. He moved a little farther back from the edge.

"They were placed there," he said. "And what is placed can be fetched back."

Galligantus could not resist the temptation. "I will tell you how that goes," he said. And prodded Blade in the b.u.t.tocks with his sword.

"When a king or queen dies, an image is made. It is brought to this place. So are all the young and strong men, or women, who would be king or queen of the Hitts. They draw lots for it-to see who leaps the chasm first. Do you begin to understand?"

Blade moved along the ledge until he was at the narrowest point. Fifteen feet. It was a challenge to numb the brain, an incredible dare. Below him the black pit gaped. He remembered that he had never heard the diamond chip strike bottom.

"Do many fail?"

"Many, Prince Blade. They fall and that is an end to them." Galligantus was closer now. Blade did not look at him. He held the torch away from his face. He did not want the man to see his eyes.

"Did Loth Bloodax come to the crown this way?"

"He did. He was the tenth to try. Loth made it and then lines were thrown and nets laid and the image lifted across. It was of his father. See yonder." Galligantus pointed to a statue just across from them, bearded and glowering and bearing a marked resemblance to Bloodax.

Blade moved a little toward Galligantus. The Hitt did not notice.

"And then? How did he get back?"

Something happened to the Hitt's voice. It grew surly, whiny, envenomed.

"He leaped back. It is required that a Hitt king make the leap twice."

Blade made a closer inspection of the ledge over the way. It was so narrow! No running room, no place to maneuver. The gallery was barely five feet deep and packed with statues. He remembered the thick legs of Loth Bloodax. Fat now, but they had been all muscle when he leaped.

Blade saw the truth then and recognized it and spoke it, for it came readily to hand and fitted his plan. He instilled disdain and contempt into his voice.

"You and Bloodax are of an age," he said. "Or nearly so. You were young then and no doubt the son of a leader. How was it that you did not leap, Galligantus?"

Blade heard a catch of breath behind him. The man was close. Blade waited for the swordstroke that did not come. He hurried on. He was into it now, the chance was there, and he must be careful not to be cut. There must be no wound or he would never live to tell his lie.

"I do not blame you," Blade said with just the right amount of derision in his tone. "It is a fearful leap. I would not do it. But cowards live longer than brave men. Yet it must have galled you all these years-"

Galligantus made a strangled noise in his throat. He leaped and swung his sword.