Vengeance of the Dancing Gods (23 page)

"But I can't see how he could connect with this Earth business," Marge put in. "I mean, if Earth goes, he goes, too, right? So why this?" "I doubt if he really understands the stakes on Earth.

He made a deal, that's what. He would stop you from interfering in our enemy's affairs, and in exchange he was given access to ancient spells so foul and yet so powerful he could march on Husaquahr. If he were truly convinced that Armageddon was the result of the Baron's actions, I don't think he would have gone along, but they've conned 156 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS him as he cons others here. I am fascinated by the fact that you found him familiar, though. Marge..

"We've met—I know that. Years ago. Maybe when I first came here. That's all I can say for sure..

"Hmmm... although I've never met him in this incarnation, I, too, have the feeling that I know him and he knows me, perhaps well," the wizard commented. "He certainly knows a good deal of how I think and he knows almost precisely the strengths and limits of my power.

There is something familiar about the signature on his spells, but it is remote and hidden from me. It's been too long, and the level of sophistication is quite a bit higher.

In some ways he reminds me of Dacaro in the old days, but we know where Dacaro is, and that's now been confirmed by the Oracle." The big man sighed. "Well, I suppose there's nothing we can do until we take out the greater threat. We've learned all we can up to now..

"How can we?" Marge asked him, sounding pained.

"I've been trying to tell you since you arrived that Joe's gone—hopeless. Mostly by luck, the switch is permanent! A brainless wood nymph's no help—you heard the prophecy!.

Ruddygore allowed himself a smile and reached into his robe. "Nothing is permanent except the true death and Armageddon," he said softly, taking from some pocket within his robe the Lamp of Lakash.

"The Lamp! Of course!" Marge exclaimed excitedly.

"If it can send Dacaro to Earth, it certainly can restore Joe!.

"We have some limits and must take some care in its Page 122 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods use, though," the wizard warned. "First of all, it will grant no fairy wish—only mortal ones—but it's still a trap for fairy folk as for humans. In other words. Marge, you're disqualified on several grounds—and so am I, on different grounds. Macore, it would grant your wish—but stuff you back in the Lamp, so we don't want that..

"Who's in there now?" Marge asked him.

"A fellow named Jinner, appropriately enough. He was 157 JACK L.CHALKER in a spot of trouble a while back and begged me to bail him out. I did, but warned him that I would call in the price, and I did to free Macore. Don't worry—he's an aspiring magician and he's always desired to visit the land of the djinn—and he'll not be in too long. There are others I wouldn't mind filing away in there, and I'll pick one when I'm about to put it back in storage. Don't worry about that now. First, Captain, take the Lamp and wish yourself and Macore restored..

Biy took it, and for a second there was a real gleam in his eye. Then it was gone, and he sighed. "Forgive me, but temptation with it is a rather inevitable thing. Frankly, sir, had you not been present I might be too weak to resist..

"Don't worry—you can't succumb," Ruddygore told him. "I cast that spell before I handed the thing to you.

Now—do it..

Biy thought for a moment. "I wish—that my soul was once again in the body into which it was bom, and that the occupant of that body occupy the one I do now..

From somewhere a man's voice seemed to cry, "Done!.

There was no evident action, but the ratlike creature asked, "Did I say it right?.

"I'd say you did," the wizard responded, "considering you're back. Macore—the Lamp, please. All you can do is wind up back in it..

The little thief looked sheepish, then handed back the Lamp.

"Now I need to perform a slight ritual to check on a few things," Ruddygore told them, and shut his eyes as if concentrating. He did not move or even seem to breathe for what seemed like several minutes.

"But the prophecy said the others wouldn't get their bodies back," Macore reminded Marge in a whisper.

She nodded. "Let's see..

Suddenly Ruddygore's eyes opened, and his expression was grim. "I'm afraid the prophecy is correct, too.

I find no evidence that either body is still alive. Either Page 123 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods 158 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS the Master found them or something untoward happened to both. I fear the former, alas. The Master would be anxious to make certain that our demigod and demigoddess could not reappear with full powers and so turn the Council back against him out of fear of me..

"Can't you just wish them replacement bodies that look the same?" Macore asked.

"Well, not really. I can turn them into lizards, yes, but I can't quite recreate them as they were—a fact that, I might tell you, they will not find tragic. Go awaken Tiana and get her in here. I'm going to give her the options, since she's the only one left right now with a clear right to a wish..

"The first priority is to save Joe," Tiana told them firmly. "All else matters little..

"Only the Lamp can convert, or reconvert, fairy to mortal," Ruddygore told her. "I can perhaps do something with you by using ordinary magic, but Joe will require a wish all his own. You will need to cascade, or string together, a series of related desires to form a complete wish we can use to accomplish our result. While we think on its wording, let's talk about you and what you wish that I might do for you..

"You know enough to know that I wish to go with them," she replied. "And I know enough of the Rules to know that it is in my best interest to remain as I am, as inconvenient as that would be..

They all looked at her, then at Ruddygore, puzzled by her statement.

"Tiana is simply stating a fact of mermaid lore. If a mortal man makes love to a mermaid he will always be in love with that mermaid. He might still go off and marry and have great affection for others, but he'll still be in love with that mermaid..

She nodded. "Yes, that is it..

The old wizard thought for a moment. "You know, while I was on holiday in Chicago a few weeks ago I took JACK L. CHALKER 159 in a cinema that concerned a mermaid. I am a sucker for books and pictures on the fantastic, as you might understand.

It gives me an idea. It has to be physiological and hold together, so it won't be quite as simple as the cinema might have it, but I think I can work a spell that will help using that idea. Indeed, I had already guessed this and worked it out on my way here..

They all stared at him expectantly.

Page 124 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods "Of course, we can't send you over to Earth as you are. It would be too conspicuous and too limiting. We can't not make you the mermaid because of our Rules and your desires. Admittedly, the Oracle made no mention of you, but it didn't mention Poquah, either. Now, what this spell will do is basically give you legs when you are totally and completely dry and upon solid land. It will take several hours to take effect completely, and if you get wet or are surrounded by water below, it will reverse itself—and very quickly. There will be drawbacks, because you will remain a mermaid. You must immerse yourself at least once a day, perhaps before going to sleep, or it will become very painful. Also, the inner bone and muscular structure will not be well-adapted to walking, so you will have to walk slowly and will also still feel some pain, which will grow greater the more you're on them. You'll still be best off in a wheelchair or on crutches, but you will look human. Is this acceptable?.

"Of course. I'm no worse off than now and actually far better, no matter what the limits..

"Very well. You'll still have the webbing, and you'll still have the constitution of a mermaid, her powers, and other limitations, so be careful to observe them strictly.

I'm also going to change your complexion, as I understand that your present clan has you marked for death. I'm going to give you a chocolate brown complexion, not only because it will allow you to pass as a human better on Earth but also because it matches no known mermaid clan here and as such will confuse the hell out of them..

"Sounds good. I don't mind..

160 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS "Well, / have a question or two," Marge put in. "First of all, how come she was too strong a wizard to pass over before but she isn't now? And second, why the hell would anybody take a vacation in Chicago?.

Ruddygore chuckled. "As to the first, mermaids are covered by a different volume of the Rules, and that supercedes, and limits, her powers. She still has power, but it's limited and redirected to specifics. That will allow her to escape the barrier. She's now under the limiting threshold of power. As to Chicago—did you know they actually produce all those wonderful pink flamingos in one large factory near Chicago?.

"Oh" was all Marge could manage.

"We will take care of me later," Tiana said impatiently.

"Let us see to Joe..

They went over to the door leading into the far bedroom, and Marge, who got there first, let out a gasp and then shouted, "He's gone! And the door's wide open!.

She and Macore rushed out to the patio and looked around. There were the sights and sounds of a lot of activity, but no Joe and no way to tell where he'd gone.

Page 125 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods "He's wandering around here now as an air-headed nymph!" Marge exclaimed. "And going entirely on instinct!" She looked around. "At least there aren't any trees around here..

"But there are lots of men around, and that's what a nymph does when she's not in her tree," Tiana puffed, hauling herself out onto the patio.

Ruddygore thought a moment. "Well, I wouldn't be too upset. We know he's not far, so he's well within range of the Lamp if we act now, no matter if he's physically present or not. I'd say we'd better do this quickly, though, just in case he wanders away and gets out of range..

Tiana accepted his assistance into a patio chair, and then he gave her the Lamp. "Consider well your wording,.

the sorcerer warned. "Whatever it is, you're stuck with it and so's he..

161 JACK L. CHALKER She thought frantically, then said, "I cannot put it into the right words! I cannot be sure'.

Marge decided to help out in the spirit of emergency.

"How about this, then? You say that we can't word it properly enough to make him look like he did, but maybe we can. What about wishing his original body back, the one he had before he became a barbarian? As I remember he wasn't that bad looking, just a little old..

"Yes, yes! That's a sure thing!" Ruddygore cried. "I should have thought of it. Tiana, try something like this: I wish that Joe was no longer of the faerie, but mortal once more, and in the body he had when he was twenty, but with his full memories, mind, and personality restored as it was the day he became a fairy. Can you remember that and do it exactly? Be cautious. Don't clearly end the sentence until it's all there..

Tiana looked at him with interest. "So, if it is all about one person, I can string together as much as aH that?.

"You can. Just be precise..

"All right, then. Uh—does not the genie have to appear, or something like that?.

"Oh, no. If you rub the Lamp, he's compelled to, but why bother him now? Plenty of time for introductions later on. Just hold it and look at it and wish. Do it now— before we might lose Joe!.

She took a deep breath. "Uh—I wish that Joe should be no longer a nymph but a mortal man once more, and that he be in the body he had when he was twenty, and that he has the mind, personality, and memories he did before he became one of the fairy folk, and that he be in the peak of physical condition and the ideal lover for my Page 126 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods mermaid body and will make love to me this night. There!.

"Done!" came a voice from the Lamp.

Marge looked at Tiana. "You added a little bit there..

The mermaid shrugged. "There was no extra cost for the call," she noted, and handed the Lamp back to Ruddygore.

Far off on the other side of the hotel could be heard 162 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS the sounds of men yelling and screaming. It sounded like a real fight was going on.

"I have a suspicion that it worked," Throckmorton P.

Ruddygore said.

CHAPTER RETURN TO EARTH From too much love of living, From hope and fear set free, We thank with brief thanksgiving Whatever gods may be That no life lives forever; That dead men rise up never; That even the weariest river Winds somewhere safe to sea.

—Algernon Charles Swinburne THEY HAD COME OVER ON A FERRYBOAT AND NOW THEY returned on what looked like a miniature May flower. All sails were set, of course, and out of the gunwales great oars protruded and pushed the ship on. Whoever or whatever rowed below was something none of them wanted to see, and, indeed, all but the deck and upper cabins were closed to them. Inside quarters were quite cramped, but well-stocked with food, water, wines, and the rest of the best. Macore had one small beaten-looking Earth-type suitcase which he'd gotten from Ruddygore, and they had brought Irving, but otherwise they were going over cold.