Bride of the Castle

CHAPTER EIGHT

He crouched in darkness, the lamp long since extinguished. He did not know how many days had passed. The darkness was like an old cloak smelling faintly of mildew. Sometimes the voice would talk to him; mostly it was silent, waiting. Watching.

He felt something scurry across his fingers. Immediately he brought his other hand down, caught the wriggling insect, and brought it to his mouth.

He held it, poised, for several long moments. Then he threw the thing away.

Not yet, he thought. Not quite yet.

He summoned the mind-picture of the power grid he had worked on since he had been entrapped. There were a multitude of connections. As many as he connected, there were still more he forgot.

It's useless to work magic here, the voice said. I've told you repeatedly, but still you persist.

"Bugger off!" he mouthed, then mentally castigated himself for answering. He had sworn off giving the malevolent spirit any satisfaction.

The voice chuckled. Temper, temper. No, supernatural powers simply cannot permeate a structure of this mathematical shape. You are insulated from all help, my friend. Doomed.

So it would seem. He made a few emendations to the design, considered the whole, then dismissed it from his mind. Useless. He had walked a foolish road, and now he would pay the toll.

But not yet. Not quite yet.

He cast a communication spell. A disembodied female voice answered his hail. The voice was distant and distorted. "Good morning, Mystic Light and Power Company!"

"Hello. I'd like to order some long-distance power, if I might?"

"Hello?"

"Hello! I say, I'd like to order-"

"I'm sorry, sir, but I can barely hear you!"

Rance cleared his throat and tried again, this time shouting, "This is Rance of Corcindor. I want a line to some major magic power. My account should be good. Can you do it?"

"We can deliver anywhere in the Twelve Kingdoms and outlying areas, Mr. Rance. Where are you?"

"In Zin."

"Zin? Let me check that, sir…. Sir? I don't have a Zin on my route map."

"It's just a little to the east of-"

"Oh, wait, I found it," the woman said. "Whoa. You're way out in the boonies!"

"Yes. Can you deliver power here?"

"Oh, I don't know offhand, sir. That's way off our usual delivery routes."

"My credit is good."

"Checking your account, I can see that that's true, sir. But there may be extra charges."

"I'll pay them! Please send the power right away."

"I'll see what I can do. Sir, looking at your account, I can see that you might benefit from our Frequent Long-Distance Budget Plan. Just say the word, sir, and I'll start you on the Plan right away!"

"Yes! Yes! Anything, just send the power!"

"Right away, sir! Have the results of this call been satisfactory to you?"

"Eh?"

"I said, have the results-?"

"Yes, yes, yes, fine! Please, I'm in rather a bit of trouble, if you don't mind."

So he reinvoked his power grid and concentrated on an alternative configuration for it. He felt…. perceived, somehow, that this new configuration had possibilities, and that these possibilities must be realized in order for power to flow. But…?

This is interesting.

The proscription went back into effect.

No, this is very interesting. It seems magical techniques have advanced considerably since my day.

He felt something warm, furry, and foul-smelling crawl over his crossed legs. The thing sniffed at his crotch, then scurried off.

Amazing. You should be ravenous by now. You should have eaten that rodent in one gulp, fur, teeth and all. But still you sit and ponder. What strength of will!

"The sauce is everything," he replied. The voice was silent.

A tremor went through the structure. The rumbling ceased, then all was quiet. In a far corner of the tomb, a mote of dust fell, sounding like thunder.

That was you, was it not? There was no reply.

Answer me! You have solved the problem, haven't you? Again, silence, darkness.

Do not think you will escape! Even if you succeed in leaving the chamber, you will not leave my tomb with your soul cleaving to your rotten carcass!

All was soundless.

Where are you?

In one corner of the chamber, a beetle defecated.

ANSWER ME!

He did not know exactly where he was. Somewhere in the pyramid, surely. He rose, finding himself in a low-ceilinged passage. He crept slowly forward. He heard the voice calling far off, then nearer. How does a spirit search? He did not stop to think on the matter. Soon, anyway, the point was moot.

There you are! Back into that chamber at once. You disgust me. I always hated a sneak thief. Did I ever describe the torments that thieves were afforded in my reign?

"Be silent, demon. It is time I took my leave of you. Many thanks for your hospitality."

Not so fast!

Something snorted in the blackness behind him. His sensitive eyes caught a hint of an outline, a shape, huge, menacing, with eyes radiating demonic light, red like superheated metal. He ran, stumbled, and fell down an endless hole.

He came to his senses and struggled to his feet. A bolt of pain shot through him, but he straightened and steadied himself, only to hear the shuffling of enormous feet behind. He gimped off.

He banged his head on the ceiling. Wincing, he stooped and duck-walked, somersaulting over rubble and blocks of stone. The ceiling lowered again, and he was reduced to crawling. Still the thing behind him followed.

The passage constricted, and he had to force himself through. Dust choked him, scratched at his eyes. The noise behind him did not stop. What had the thing done-made itself smaller? Ahead there was light, and he wriggled toward it.

He squeezed forward and got hung up. He was stuck. Something nibbled at his toes.

He screamed, pushed himself through, and fell out into fierce daylight, sliding down a ramp and onto a ledge. Unhurt, he scrambled to his feet.

He was on a terrace halfway up the side of the pyramid, and he was free. The thing in the hole howled. Remember the curse!

"Oh, drop dead."

The voice was faint now, like a whispering. I am dead! Remember the curse…

He sat and shielded his eyes. When the burning in them ceased, he rose and faced the day.