Harry Turtledove - Enchanter Completed

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E nc ha nt er C om pl et ed

Table of Contents Sprague: An Introduction

A L an d o f R om an ce

T h e E n so r ce lle d A T M

Penthesilea

Ripples

G un , N ot f or D in os au r

Father Figures

T om O 'B ed la m a nd t he

Mystery of Love

O ne f or t he R ec or d

The Haunted Bicuspid

R et ur n t o X an ad u

T he A po th eo si s o f

Martin Padway

T he D ea dl y M is si on o f

P . S n od g ra s s

T he G ar de n G no me

Freedom Front

T h e N e wc o me r s

Sprague: An Afterword

TheEnchanter Completed


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A

Tribute Anthology for

L. Sprague de Camp

Edited by

H ar ry T ur tl ed ov e

T hi s i s a w or k o f f ic ti on . A ll t he c ha ra ct er s a nd e ve nt s p or tr ay ed i n t hi s b oo k a re f ic ti on al , a nd a ny

r es em bl an ce t o r eal p eo pl e o r i ncid en ts i s p ur el y coi ncid en tal.

C op yr ig ht 2 00 5 b y H ar ry T ur tl ed ov e. S to ri es cop yr ig ht t he i nd iv id ual aut ho rs . " Th e D eadl y M is si on

o f P . S no dg ra ss " b y F re de ri k P oh l i s c op yr ig ht 1 96 4 b y G al ax y P ub li sh in g C or p. R ep ri nt ed b y

permission of the author.

A ll r ig ht s r es er ved, i nclu di ng t he r ig ht t o r ep ro du ce t hi s b oo k o r p or ti on s t hereof i n any f or m.

A B aen B oo ks O ri gi nal

Baen Publishing Enterprises

P .O . B ox 1 40 3

R i ver dal e, N Y 1 04 71

www.baen.com

ISBN: 0-7434-9904-2

C ov er a rt b y To m K id d

F ir st p ri nt in g, M ay 2 00 5

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

1 23 0 A venu e o f t he A meri cas

New York, NY 10020

Production by Windhaven Press, Auburn, NH (www.windhaven.com)

P ri nt ed i n t he U ni ted S tates o f A meri ca

B aen B oo ks b y H AR RY T UR TL EDO VE

T he W ar B et we en t he P ro vi nc es s er ie s:

S en t r y P ea k

Marching Through Peachtree

Advance and Retreat

T h e F ox n ov el s:


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Wi sd om o f t he F ox

Ta le of t he Fox

3 x T

Thessalonica

A l t er na t e G en er al s ,editor

Alternate Generals II,editor

Alternate Generals III,editor

The Enchanter Completed, editor

Down in the Bottomlands

( wi th L . S pr ag ue d e C am p)

Sprague: An IntroductionHarry Turtledove

L . S pr ag ue d e C am p c ha ng ed m y l if e.

A bo ut h ow m an y p eo pl e c an y ou s ay t ha t? N ot m an y, n ot i f y ou 'r e h on es t. A f av or it e t ea ch er , p er ha ps ,

w ho po in te d y ou i n a di re ct ion yo u h ad n' t e xp ec te d t o go . T ha t' s w ha t L . Sp ra gu e d e C am p ( Spr ag ue , t o

hi s f ri ends ) di d f or me a nd he di d i t m or e t ha n t we nt y ye ar s be for e I e ve r m et hi m, a nd , of c our se ,

a lt og et he r w it ho ut k no wi ng h e' d d on e i t o r t ha t I e ve n e xi st ed . W ri te rs , e sp ec ia ll y t he g oo d o ne s, c an b edangerous people.

I w as f if te en, I t hi nk, whe n I f ound a c opy of Lest Darkness Fall i n t he s ec on dh an d b oo ks to re I

f re que nt ed i n t hos e d ays . Fo r a ny wh o ma y not kn ow i t, i t' s o ne of t he b es tC on ne c ti c ut Y an ke e i n K in g

Arthur's Court stories ever written: right up there, in my admittedly biased opinion, with Twain's original.

B ef or e I r ead abo ut M ar ti n P ad way' s i nv ol un tary j ou rn ey t hr ou gh t im e t o t he I taly o f t he s ix th cen tu ry

a .d ., I d on 't b el ie ve I 'd e ve r h ea rd o f t he B yz an ti ne E mp ir e. B ec au se o f S pr ag ue , I g ot i nt er es te d i n i t. I f I

h adn ' t h app ened acro s sLest Darkness Fall , I might wel l not have.

A s t hi ngs we re , I go t i nt o C al te ch, a nd f lun ke d out a t t he e nd of my f re shma n ye ar . Whe n I go t t o

U CL A, I 'd l ef t t he s ci en ce s a nd b ec om e a h is to ry m aj or a nd e nd ed u p w it h a d oc to ra te , L or d h el p m e,i n B yz an ti ne h is to ry . I n ev er w ou ld h av e d on e t ha t h ad s om eo ne e ls e p ic ke d u p t ha t b oo k i ns te ad o f m e.

I n ev er w ou ld h av e w ri tt en m uc h o f w ha t I 'v e w ri tt en , a l ot o f w hi ch i s e it he r B yz an ti ne -ba se d o r u se s t he

h is to ri ca l a nd r es ea rc h s ki ll s I p ic ke d u p a cq ui ri ng m y d eg re e. I n ev er w ou ld h av e m et a nd m ar ri ed t he

l ady who' s n ow m y w if e, f or we got t o know e ac h ot he r wh en I w as t ea chi ng a t UC LA whi le t he

professor under whom I studied had a guest appointment at the University of Athens. I wouldn't have the

t hr ee g ir ls I h av e t od ay .

Other than that, findingLest Darkness Fall a ll t ho se y ea rs a go d id n' t c ha nge m y l if e a t a ll .

D e C am p ha d n o s ma ll e ff ec t o n t he f ie lds o f s ci enc e f ic ti on a nd f an ta sy, e it he r. W or ki ng a lo ne a nd i ncol labo rati on w it h F letcher P ratt , h e h el ped exp an d t he f ield s b y u si ng t heir t echn iq ues t o exami ne n ot j us t

t he p re se nt a nd f ut ur e b ut a ls o t he p as t, a nd b y u si ng m od er n v ie wp oi nt c ha ra ct er s t o g et i ns id e w or ks o f


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literature written from a very different perspective. Along withLest Darkness Fall , t he H ar ol d S he a

s to ri es c ol le ct ed i n b oo k f or m a sThe Incomplete Enchanter, The Castle of Iron , andW al l o f S er pe nt s

h av e b een i n p ri nt alm os t con ti nu ou sl y f or t he p as t s ix ty y ears .

Sprague's special virtues were logic, clarity, and a sympathetic understanding for the foibles of mankind.

T he h er oes h e creat ed h im self w er e alw ay s r ecog ni zabl y h um an and f lawed, m uch m or e l ik el y t o t ry t o

w or k t he ir w ay ou t o f t rou bl e w it h a q ui p a nd a s mi le t ha n by s ma shi ng t hr oug h w ha te ve r w as i n t he ir w ay . ( I a m c on sc io us o f t he i ro ny o f S pr ag ue 's h av in g b ee n a m aj or f ac to r i n t he r ed is co ve ry o f R ob er t

E . H ow ar d' s C on an , and i n h is o ft en w or ki ng i n H ow ar d' s u ni vers e. E very on e' s ent it led t o a l it tl e t im e o ff

f ro m w ha t h e u su al ly d oe s, a nd w ri te rs h av e t o p ay t he ir b il ls n o l es s t ha n a ny o th er m or ta ls a nd I d on 't

t hi nk any on e b ut H ow ar d ever w ro te C on an s o w el l. ) H is o wn s peci al s ci en ce-f icti on u ni vers e w as t hat

o f t heV i a gen s I n t erp l a net a r ia s ("Interplanetary Voyages" in PortugueseBrazil is the leading country in

this universe), which includesRogue Queen ( am on g o th er t hi ng s, a s pl en di d s at ir e o n M ar xi sm ), t he

stories collected inThe Continent Makers , a nd m an y n ov el s s et o n t he l ow -t ec h w or ld K ri sh na , w hi ch

o ff er s b ot h s ci en ce and s wash bu ck li ng a chance. S pr ag ue d id n ot b el ieve f as ter- th an -l ig ht t ravel w as

possible, and so did not include it in this universe; the Lorenz-Fitzgerald contractions play a role in more

t han o ne s to ry .

T hi s i s t yp ical . D e C am p' s w or ld salways f eel r eal and t ho ro ug hl y l iv ed i n. W hen h e w ro te o f t hi ng s, h e

kn ew w he re of he s po ke . H e l ea rn ed t o f enc e a nd t o r id e a ho rs e. He t ra ve le d w id el y a ll ov er t he w or ld,

w hi ch h el ps m ak e h is s er ies o f h is to ri cal n ov el s s et i n class ical G reek and H el leni st ic t im es T he D r ag on

of t he I sht ar G at e, T he A rr ow s of H er cul es , An E le pha nt f or A ri st ot le , Th e Br onz e G od o f Rh ode s,

andT he G ol de n W in d uniquely authoritative. Along with the novels of Mary Renault, de Camp's give

t he mod er n r ea de r the be st f ee l f or wha t i t wa s li ke to l ive i n t hos e t ime s.

Trained as an engineer (unlike yours truly, he graduated from the California Institute of Technology),

S pr agu e ent er ed t he j ob m ar ket d ur in g t he D ep ress io n, w hen, ess ent iall y, t herewas n o j ob m ar ke t. T he

o nl y t im e h e w or ked i n eng in eeri ng w as d ur in g W or ld W ar I I, as a n av al o ff icer s tati on ed i n P hi ladelp hi a,w he re h e, R ob er t A . H ei nl ei n, a nd I sa ac A si mov f oug ht t he w ar w it h f la sh ing s li de r ul e, a s h e w as f ond o f

saying.

H e u sed h is t echn ical t rain in g i n h is w ri ti ng , t ho ug h ( to w ri ters , n ot hi ng ever g oes t o w as te), b ot h i n h is

fiction and in informative, lively nonfiction on subjects as diverse as engineering in the ancient world,

Atlantis, the elephant, American inventions in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, dinosaurs, and the

S co pe s m on ke y t ri al . H e w ro te a n a ut ho ri ta ti ve b io gr ap hy o f H .P . L ov ec ra ft , a nd a no th er o f R ob er t E .

Howard.

I f ir st m ad e h is a cq ua in ta nc e m or e t ha n t we nt y y ea rs a go n ow , a ft er I h ad a n ov el et te i nAsimov's andG eo rg e S ci th er s, w ho w as t hen edi ti ng t he m ag azin e, m en ti on ed i n t he f ro nt m at er ial m y d eb t t oLest

Darkness Fall . S pr ag ue s en t G eo rg e a p os tc ar d f or f or wa rd in g t o m e, s ay in g h e' d l ik ed t he s to ry a nd

w as p le as ed he 'd ha d s om et hi ng t o d o wi th t he s ha pe of m y c ar ee r. I wa lk ed o n a ir f or d ay s a ft er t ha t.

W he n I p ub li sh ed a t ra ns la ti on o f a B yz an ti ne c hr on ic le a y ea r or s o l at er , I s en t h im a c op y, w on de ri ng i f

he mi ght us e i nc ide nts fr om i t i n f ic ti on of his own ( so fa r a s I know, he neve r did).

W e m et i n t he f le sh i n A tl an ta , a t t he 1 98 6 W or ld S ci en ce F ic ti on C on ve nt io n. H e w as , a s a lw ay s,

u nf ai li ng ly k in d t o s om eo ne s tart in g o ut . L at er at t hat con vent io n, w e w er e o n a p an el t og et her. H e m ad e

a B yz an ti ne a ll us io n a nd t he n t ur ne d t o m e, a sk in g i f h e' d g ot i t r ig ht . H e h ad , o f c ou rs e. T ha t h e m ad e t he

g es tu re , t ho ug h, s pe ak s v ol um es a bo ut t he s or t o f g en tl em an h e w as . A ft er t ha t, w e' d s ee e ac h o th er

on ce o r t wi ce a ye ar a t c on ve nt ion s, a nd wo ul d wr it e b ac k a nd f or th e ve ry c ou pl e o f w ee ks o r e ve ry

m ont h up t il l l at e 19 99, n ot q ui te a ye ar be fo re h e d ie d. I 'm not a nd ne ve r ha ve b ee n a w hi sk ey dr ink er ,

but I'll always cherish the knocks of Johnnie Walker over ice I had in hotel rooms with him and


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Catherine.

P er so nall y, h e w as t al l, h an ds om e, and elegant , and , t il l n ear t he end , l oo ked t en o r f if teen y ears y ou ng er

t ha n he wa s. I wa s s ad t o w at ch h im ge t s lo we r a nd mor e f ra il a s t he ye ar s we nt by. Th e l as t c onv ent ion

whe re w e me t w as i n 1994 in Da ll as , a nd he wa s not movi ng a round we ll a t a ll by t he n. ( Eve n s o, a t

d in ner o ne eveni ng t here, h e s tart ed t al ki ng i n S wahi li w it h ano th er w ri ter w ho 'd r ecen tl y b een t o A fr ica. )

L at er , he s uf fe re d a br ok en w ri st , a b ro ke n h ip , a nd p er ha ps a s er ie s o f s ma ll s tr ok es , a nd a ls o ha d t oend ur e h is w if e' s s in ki ng i nt o A lzheim er 's i n t he cou pl e o f y ears b ef or e s he p as sed away.

Sp ra gue a nd C at he ri ne C ro ok d e C am p w er e m ar ri ed f or m or e t ha n s ixt y y ea rs . I t w as , I t hi nk, t he b es t

m ar ri age I e ve r s aw . I t m ad e a ll t he ol d c li ch es a bo ut f in is hi ng e ac h ot he r' s s en te nc es a nd pu tt in g u p w it h

e ac h o th er 's f oi bl es l oo k g oo d. W he n h e l os t h er t he s pr in g b ef or e h e d ie d, e ve ry on e k ne w h e w ou ld j oi n

h er again b ef or e l on g. A nd b y w hat h e, alw ay s a s taun ch r at io nali st , w ou ld u nd ou bt ed ly h av e cal led p ur e

coi ncid en ce, h e d ied o n h er b ir th day, N ov em ber 6 , t hr ee w eeks b ef or e h is o wn n in et y- th ir d.

H e w on t he G an da lf G ra nd M as te r A wa rd f ro m t he W or ld S ci en ce F ic ti on C on ve nt io n, a nd w as a ls o

n am ed a G ra nd M as te r b y t he S ci en ce F ic ti on W ri te rs o f A me ri ca . E ve n s o, h is w or ks , t he se d ay s, a rel es s we ll r em em be re d t ha n t he y ou ght t o be , not l ea st be ca us e he wa s mo de st a lmo st t o a f aul t. W he n he

a pp ea re d on o ne of t he t ra di ng c ar ds t he 20 00 W or ldc on p ut o ut , hi s q uo te o n t he b ac k r ea d s imp ly,

" I' ve be en l uc ky ." M ay be h e wa s, b ut he w as a ls o v er y, ve ry go od .

I c ount him a s my s pi rit ua l f athe r. When I t ol d him tha t i n a le tte r i n 1998, he re pli ed tha t I ga ve hi m t oo

m uc h c re di t a nd m ys el f no t e no ug h aga in , ut te rl y i n c ha ra ct er . B ac k i n t he d ay s w he n I w as t ry ing t o g et

my feet wet as a wri ter, I would say to my frie nds , "I wa nt to be L. Sprague de Ca mp whe n I grow up."

Tha t wa s m or e t ha n ha lf a l ife ti me a go; I re al iz e now, a s I di dn' t t he n, how fool is h I w as. The re wa s, a nd

c ou ld be , o nl y on e o f S pr ag ue . E ve n s o, i n a no the r s en se I w as n' t s o f ar wr on g a ft er a ll . I c oul d ha ve

picked a great many worse models, and very few better ones. I miss him.

A Land of Romance

David Drake

T he m ar keti ng b ul lp en at S tr an geco H eadq uart ers h el d s ev en ty -f iv e d es ks . H ow ar d J on es w as t he o nl y

person in the huge room when the phone began ringing. He ignored the sound and went on with what he

was doing.

I t w as a w ro ng n um be r it h ad t o b e. N ob od y' d b e c al li ng s er io us ly o n a S un da y m or ni ng .

Dyn am ic 25- ye ar -o ld e xe cut ive . . . H ow ar d s uc ke d i n h is gut a s he t ype d, not t ha t t he re w as m uc h gu t

t o w or ry a bo ut . R ea dy t o t ak e o n a dve nt ur ous ne w c ha ll en ge s. . . .

T he p ho ne c on ti nu ed t o r in g. I t c ou ld b e t he m an ag er o f o ne o f t he M id dl e E as te rn o ut le ts w he re t he yk ep t a F ri da y- Sa tu rd ay w ee ke nd , w it h a p ro bl em t ha t o nl y a b ol d aswashbuckling marketing

professional like Howard Jones could take on. Did Strangeco have a branch in the Casbah of Algiers?


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T he com pany s lo gan cir cl ed t he cei li ng i n s hi mm er in g n eo n l et ters : I t' s n ot a s an dw ich it 's a

S tr an gewi ch ! S li ces o f k an garo o, cas so wary , and elk i n a s ecret d res si ng ! S tr an gewi ch t he h ealt hy

alternative!

The phonestill r an g. H ow ar d' s i ma ge s ta ri ng f ro m t he r es um e o n t he s cr ee n h ad a s te rn l oo k. W as h e

m is si ng h is b ig chance? T he cal ler cou ld b e a h eadh un ter w ho n eeded t he h ar d- ch ar gi ng d et er mi nati on o f a m an w il li ng t o w or k a ll t he h ou rs on t he c lo ck.

H ow ar d g ra bb ed t he p ho ne a nd p un ch ed l in e o ne . " St ra ng ec o I nc !" h e s ai d i n w ha t h e h op ed w as a

s talw ar t t on e. " Ho ward J on es , A ss is tant M ar keti ng A ss ociate s peak in g. H ow m ay I h el p y ou ?"

" Oh! " s ai d th e ma le vo ic e on t he ot he r e nd of th e l ine . " Oh, I 'm ve ry s or ry, I di dn' t m ea n t o di st ur b

anybody important."

S ur e, a w ro ng n um be r. W el l, H ow ar d h ad k no wn t ha t t he re w ou ld n' t r ea ll y b e a s um mo ns t o a l if e o f

dizzying adventure when he

" I' m a t M r. S tr an ge 's h ou se ," t he v oi ce c on ti nu ed , " an d I w as h op in g s om eb od y c ou ld c om e o ve r t o h el p

m e w or d a n a dv er ti se me nt . I 'm s or ry t o h av e "

" Wa it !" H owa rd s ai d. He kne w t he c al l c oul dn 't b e w ha t i t s oun de d l ike , but i t w as s ur e t he m os t

interesting thing going this Sunday morning. Itsounded l ik e t he m os t i nt er es ti ng t hi ng o f a l if et im e f or

Howard Albing Jones.

" Ah , s ir ," h e con ti nu ed , h op in g t hat t he f el lo w w as n' t o ff en ded t hat H ow ar d h ad b el lo wed at h im a

m om en t ago . " Yo u s ay y ou 'r e cal li ng f ro m M r. S tr an ge's h ou se. T hat w ou ld b e, ah, w hi ch h ou se?"

"O h, d ea r, h e p roba bl y do es ha ve a l ot of t he m, d oe sn 't he ?" t he vo ic e s ai d. " I m ea n t he o ne r igh t n ext

d oo r, t ho ug h. D o y ou t hi nk t ha t y ou c ou ld s en d s om eb od y n ot t oo i mp or ta nt o ve r t o h el p m e, s ir ?"

H ow ar d clear ed h is t hr oat. " Well , as a m at ter o f f act, I w ou ld n' t m in d v is it in g t he S tr an ge M an si on

m ys el f. B ut , ah, S tr an geco s taff i sn 't o rd in ar il y all ow ed acr os s t he s ky way, y ou k no w. "

" Oh, t ha t' s a ll r ig ht ," t he vo ic e s ai d i n o bv io us r el ie f. " Mr . S tr an ge s ai d I c ou ld c al l o n a ny o f h is pe op le

f or w ha te ve r I w is he d. B ut I r ea ll y d on 't l ik e t o d is tu rb y ou , M r. J on es ."

" Qu it e a ll r ig ht , m is te r . . . , " H ow ar d s ai d. " Ah , I 'm a fr ai d I d id n' t c at ch y ou r n am e? "

" Oh , I 'm W al ly P op pl e, " t he v oi ce s ai d. " Ju st c om e o ve r w he ne ve r y ou 'r e r ea dy t o, M r. J on es . I 'l l t el l t he

g ua rd s t o s en d y ou d ow n. "

He h un g u p. H ow ar d r ep la ce d h is h an ds et a nd s ta re d a t t he r es um e p ho to gr ap h. T ha t H ow ar d J on es

l oo ke d v er y p rof es si on al i n b lu e s ui t, b lu e s hi rt , a nd a t ie w it h a n i ns ou ci an t s la sh o f r ed . W he re as

t od ay S un day As s is tant M ar ket in g A ss ociat e J on es w or e j eans and a F uq ua S ch oo l o f B us i nes s

sweatshirt.

H ow ar d r os e t o h is f eet. D ar in g, s wash bu ck li ng H ow ar d J on es w as g oi ng t o r is k ent er in g t he S tr an ge

Mansion in casual clothes.

* * *


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A t r an sp ar ent t ub e ar ch ed b et ween t he t hi rd f lo or s o f t he S tr an ge M ans i on and S tr ang eco H eadq uart ers

t o con nect t he t wo s pr aw li ng b ui ld in gs . W hen S tr an ge o ccas io nall y cal led an execu ti ve t o t he m an si on ,

t he r es t o f t he s ta ff l ine d t he w in dow s t o w at ch t he c ho se n p er so n s hu ff le t hr ou gh o pe n a ir i n f ea r o f w ha t

w ai te d o n t he o th er s id e.

S ho rt ly t hereaf ter, s om et im es o nl y m in ut es l at er , t he s um mo ned p ar ti es r et ur ned. A f ew o f t hem m ov ed

a t o nc e t o l ar ge r o ff ic es ; m os t b eg an t o c le an o ut t he ir d es ks .

O nl y execu ti ves w er e k no wn t o u se t he s ky way, t ho ug h r um or h ad i t t hat s om et im es R ob er t S tr an ge

h im se lf c ro ss ed o ve r a t m id ni gh t t o p ac e t he h al ls o f h is h ea dq ua rt er s s il en tl y a s a b at . N ow i t w as

H ow ar d J on es w ho l oo ke d o ut o ve r c or nf ie ld s a nd w oo dl an d i n o ne d ir ec ti on a nd t he v as t s ta ff p ar ki ng

l ot i n t he ot he r.

T he s ky wa y w as h ot a nd m us ty . T ha t m ad e s en se w he n H ow ar d t ho ug ht a bo ut i t: a c le ar p la st ic t ub e

w as g oi ng t o h ea t u p i n t he b ri gh t s un , a nd t he a rc h m ea nt t he h ot te st a ir w ou ld h an g i n t he m idd le l ike t he

bubble in a level. Howard had never before considered physics when he daydreamed of receiving Robert

Strange's summons.

T he w ro ug ht i ro n g ri ll a t t he f ar e nd w as d el ic at e b ut s ti ll a r ea l b ar ri er , e ve n w it ho ut t he t wo g ua rd s o n

t he o th er s id e w at ch in g a s H ow ar d a pp ro ac he d. T he y w er e a le rt , v er y b ig , a nd n ot i n t he l ea st f ri en dl y.

M us cl e- bo un d, H ow ar d t ol d h im self . I cou ld s li ce t hem i nt o l un ch meat w it h m y r ap ier!

H e k ne w h e w as l yi ng , a nd i t d id n' t e ve n m ak e h im f ee l b et te r. Q ui te a pa rt f ro m b ig m ennot necessarily

being slow, this pair held shotguns.

"Good morning!" Howard said, trying for "brightly" and hitting "brittle" instead. "I have an urgent

summons from Mr. Popple!"

C hr is t on a c rut ch! W ha t i f t hi s w as s om e ki d' s pr ac ti ca l j oke ? Le t' s s ee i f w e c an s ca m s om e s uc ke r

i nt o b us ti ng i nt o t he S tr an ge M an si on ! M ay be t hey' ll s ho ot h im r ig ht w here w e can w at ch !

H o wa rd g la nc ed d ow n, w hi ch p ro ba bl y w as n' t t he s ma rt es t t hi ng t o d o n ow t ha t h e w as n' t p ro te ct ed b y

t he e xc it em en t of t he t hi ng . A t l ea st h e d id n' t s ee k id s w it h a c el l p hon e a nd g le ef ul e xp re ss io ns p ee ri ng

up expectantly.

O ne of t he gua rds s ai d, " Who' re yo u? " Hi s t one woul d h ave be en a l itt le to o gr im f or a j udge pa ss ing a

death sentence.

H ow ar d' s m in d w en t b lank . A ll h e cou ld t hi nk o f w as t he accus in g g lare o f h is r es um e p ictu reb ut w ai t!

B es id e t he p ic tu re w as a n am e!

"Howard Albing Jones!" he said triumphantly.

" No th in g h er e abo ut ' Al bi ng ,' " s ai d t he o th er g uard .

T he f ir st g ua rd s hr ugg ed . " Lo ok , i t' s S un da y, " h e s ai d t o h is p ar tn er . F ix in g H ow ar d w it h a g la re t ha t

c ou ld 'v e s et r iv et s, h e s ai d, " We 'r e l et ti ng y ou i n, b ud dy . B ut a s H ow ar d J on es , t ha t' s a ll . T ha t' s h ow y ou

s ig n t he b oo k. "

"All right," said Howard. "I'm willing to be flexible."


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O ne g uard u nl ocked t he g rati ng ; t he o th er n od ded H ow ar d t ow ar d a f ol io b ou nd i n s om e u nf am il iar f or m

o f l ea th er , w ai ti ng o pe n o n a s ta nd i n t he d oo rw ay . T he l as t n am e a bo ve H ow ar d' s w as t ha t o f a r eg io na l

m an ag er w ho 'd b ee n s ob bi ng a s h e t ru dg ed i nt o t he p ar ki ng l ot f or t he l as t t im e.

T he f ir st g ua rd p in ne d a b la nk m et al b ad ge o n H ow ar d' s s we at sh ir t, r ig ht i n t he c en te r o f F uq ua . " Ke ep

i t o n, " h e s ai d. " Se e t he y el lo w s tr ip ?"

H e g es tu re d w it h h is s ho tg un , t he n r et ur ne d t he m uz zl e t o p oi nt j us t u nd er w he re t he b ad ge r es te d.

A n a mb er t ra ck l ig ht ed u p i n t he c ent er of t he ha ll wa y b ey ond . T he gl ow w as s o f ai nt t ha t i t i ll um in at ed

o nl y i ts el f. F oc us in g h is e ye s o n i t m ea nt t ha t H ow ar d d id n' t h av e t o s ta re a t t he s ho tg un .

"Right," he said. "Right!"

" Yo u f ol lo w i t, " s ai d t he g ua rd . " It 'l l t ak e y ou w he re y ou 'r e s up po se d t o g o. A nd y oudon't st ep o ff i t,

you understand?"

" Ri gh t, " s ai d H ow ar d, afr ai d t hat h e s ou nd ed b ri tt le again . " I cer tain ly d on 't w an t y ou g en tl em en com in g

after me."

T he o th er g ua rd l au gh ed . " Oh , w e w ou ld n' t d o t ha t, " h e s ai d. " Pe te a nd m e w at ch " h e n od de d t o t he

bank of TV monitors, blanked during Howard's presence "but we ain't cleared to go wandering

a ro un d t he m an si on . B el ie ve m e, b ud dy , w e' re n ot r ea dy t o d ie ."

Ho wa rd w al ke d d ow n t he h al l w it h a f ix ed s mi le u nt il t he a mbe r s tr ip l ed h im a ro un d a c or ne r. H e r is ke d

a g la nc e b ac kw ar ds t he n a nd s aw t ha t t he l ig ht w as f ad in g b eh in d h im . H e s up po se d i t' d r ea pp ea r w he n i t

w as t ime f or h im t o l ea ve .

H e s up po se d s o.

How ar d ha dn' t ha d a ny i de a of wha t t he i ns ide of t he St ra nge M ans ion wo ul d be l ike . The re w er e a

t ho us an d r um or s abo ut t he W izar d o f F as t F oo d b ut alm os t n o f acts . H ow ar d h im self h ad env is io ned

cathedral-vaulted ceilings and swaying chandeliers from which a bold man could swing one-handed while

t he b la de o f h is r ap ie r p ar ri ed t he t hr us ts o f a s co re o f m in io ns .

T he re m ig ht b e c ha nd el ie rs , s to ne l ed ge s, a nd h ig h b al co ni es o n t he o th er s id e o f t he b la nk g ra y w al ls b ut

t ha t n o l on ge r s ee me d l ik el y. T he c or ri do r s ur fa ce s w er e e xt ru de d f ro m s om e d en se p la st ic , a nd t hed oo rs f it ted l ik e air lo ck s w it h n o ext er nal l at ch es .

The amber strip led through branching corridors, occasionally going downward by ramps. The building

s ig hed and m ur mu red l ik e a s leep in g b east .

H ow ar d t ri ed t o i magi ne t he T hi ef o f B ag hd ad d an ci ng away f ro m f oes i n t hi s f eatu reless w ar ren, b ut h e

qui ckl y ga ve i t up a s a ba d j ob. I t w as l ike tr yi ng to im agi ne Ki ng Kong on t he s et of 2001 .

Th e s tr ip of l ig ht s top pe d a t a c los ed d oo r. Ho wa rd e ye d t he b la nk p an el , t he n t ri ed k no ck in g. I t w as

l ik e r ap pi ng h is k nu ck les o n a b an k v au lt , s ou nd less and r at her p ai nf ul .

"Hello?" he said diffidently. "Hello!"


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T he c or ri do r s tr et ch ed t o r ig ht a nd l ef t, e mp ty a nd s il en t. T he a mb er g lo w h ad m el te d i nt o t he

s ur ro un di ng g ray, l eavi ng o nl y a v ag ue m em or y o f i ts el f. W hat w ou ld R ob in H oo d h av e d on e?

"Hello!" H ow ar d s ho ut ed . "Mister Popple!"

" Hell o, " s ai d t he p leas an t v oi ce o f t he g ir l w ho 'd com e u p b eh in d h im .

H ow ar d e xe cu te d a l ea p a nd p ir ou et te t ha t w ou ld h av e d on e R ob in o r f or t ha t m at te r, a B ol sh oi p ri ma

ballerinaproud. "Wha?" he said.

T he gi rl w as o f m id dl e he ig ht w it h s ho rt b la ck h ai r a nd a p er ky e xp re ss io n t ha t i mpl ie d h er p al e s ki n w as

h er ed it ar y r at her t han a l oo k. " I' m afr ai d W al ly g et s d is tr acted, " s he s ai d w it h a s mi le. " Co me aro un d

t hr ou gh m y r oo ms a nd I 'l l l et y ou i n f ro m t he s id e. T he l ab or at or y s ta rt ed o ut a s a g ar ag e, y ou k no w. "

" Ah , I wa s t ol d n ot t o l ea ve . . . , " H ow ar d s ai d, t il ti ng f or wa rd s li gh tl y w it hou t a ct ua ll y m ovi ng h is f ee t

f ro m t he p oi nt a t w hi ch t he g ui de s tr ip h ad d ep os it ed h im . A ft er t he g ua rd s' c as ua l t hr ea ts , h e n o l on ge r

believed that the worst thing that could happen to him in the Strange Mansion was that he'd lose his job.

" Oh , g iv e m e t hat, " t he g ir l s ai d. S he d ef tl y u np in ned t he b ad ge f ro m H ow ar d' s s weat sh ir t and p ress ed

h er t hu mb i n t he m id dl e o f i ts b la nk ne ss , t he n h an de d i t b ac k t o h im . " The re , I 've t ur ne d i t of f. "

S he w al ke d t ow ar d t he d oo r s he 'd c om e o ut o f, b ri ng in g H ow ar d w it h h er b y h er b re ez y n on ch al an ce .

H e s ai d, " Ah , y ou w or k h er e, m is s? "

" Actu al ly , t he o nl y p eo pl e w ho w or k h er e are W al ly and t he clean in g crews ," t he g ir l s ai d. " An d m y

f at her, o f cou rs e. I 'm G en ie S tr an ge."

S he l ed H ow ar d i nt o a r oo m w it h l ow , J ap an es e- st yl e f ur ni tu re and t rans lu cent w al ls o f p as tel b lu e. I tw as l ik e w al ki ng a lo ng t he b ot to m o f a s ha ll ow s ea .

" Have y ou k no wn W al ly l on g?" G en ie s ai d, app ar en tl y u naware t hat s he'd n um bed H ow ar d b y t el li ng

h im s he w as R ob er t S tr an ge 's d au gh te r. " He 's s uc h a s we et he ar t, d on 't y ou t hi nk ? O f c ou rs e, I d on 't g et

to me et many pe ople. Robe rt s ays tha t's f or my s afe ty, but . . . "

" I' ve e nj oy ed m y c on ta ct w it h M r. P op pl e s o f ar ," H ow ar d s ai d. H e d id n' t s ee a ny r ea so n t o a mp li fy t he

truthful comment. Well, the more or less truthful comment.

G en ie o pe ne d a no th er d oo r a t t he e nd o f t he s ho rt h al lw ay a t t he b ac k o f t he s ui te . " Wa ll y? " s he c al le d."I brought your visitor."

T he l ab or at or y b uzzed l ik e a m eado w f ul l o f b ees. T he l ig ht in g w as t hat o f an o rd in ar y o ff ice; H ow ar d' s

e ye s h ad a da pt ed t o t he c or ri do rs ' m ut ed i ll um in at io n, s o h e s ne ez ed . I f t he r oo m h ad b ee n a g ar ag e, t he n

i t w as i nt en de d f or p eo pl e w ho d ro ve s em is .

Black silk hangings concealed the walls. Though benches full of equipment filled much of the interior, the

floor was incongruously covered in Turkish rugsrunners a meter wide and four meters longexcept

f or a p at ch of ba re c onc re te a rou nd a f lo or d ra in i n a n ou ts ide c or ne r.

" Oh , m y g oo dn es s, M r. J on es !" s ai d t he w is py l it tl e m an w ho 'd b ee n b en t o ve r a c ir cu it b oa rd w he n t he y

e nt er ed . H e b us tl ed t ow ar d t he m, r ai si ng h is g la ss es t o h is f or eh ea d. " I' d m ea nt t o l ea ve t he d oo r o pe n

but I forgot completely. Oh, Iphigenia, you must think I'm the greatest fool on Earth!"


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" Wh at I t hi nk i s t ha t y ou 'r e t he s we et es t p er so n I k no w, W al ly ," t he g ir l s ai d, p at ti ng h is b al d h ea d. H e

blushed crimson. "But just a little absentminded, perhaps."

" Mr . J one s i s goi ng t o he lp me a dve rt is e f or a vo lunt ee r," W al ly s aid t o t he gi rl . " I don' t s ee how we c an

g et any bo dy , and w e r eall ym u s t h av e s om eo ne, y ou k no w. "

" Pl eased t o m eet y ou , M r. J on es ," G en ie s ai d, o ff er in g h er h an d w it h m ock f or mali ty .

" Ah , H ow ar d, p le as e, " H ow ar d s ai d. " Ah , I h av e a p os it io n w it h S tr an ge co . A v er y l ow ly o ne a t

present."

" Th at 's w hat m y f at her l ik es i n emp lo yees ," G en ie s ai d i n a h al f- jo ki ng t on e. " Lo wl in es s. M y s tep- fath er ,

I s ho ul d s ay . M ot he r b ur ie d t wo h us ba nd s, b ut R ob er t b ur ie d h er ."

H ow ar d s ho ok h er h an d, a wa re t ha t h e w as l ea rn in g t hi ng s a bo ut t he W iz ar d o f F as t F oo d t ha t t he

tabloids would pay good money for. Remembering the uneasiness he'd felt while walking through them an si on , h e als o r eali zed t hat t he m on ey h e' d g et f or i nv ad in g S tr an ge's p ri vacy cou ld n' t p os si bl y b e g oo d

enough.

A n a re a t we nt y f ee t s qu ar e i n t he c en te r o f t he l ab wa s e mpt y of e qui pm ent . A cr os s i t, be yond Wa ll y a s

H ow ar d f aced h im , w as w hat l oo ked l ik e an i rr eg ul ar , r azor -t hi n s heet o f g lass o n w hi ch b ri gh t i mages

f li ck er ed . I f t hat w as r eall y t he f lat- pl at e com pu ter d is pl ay i t l oo ked l ik e, i t w as m or e adv an ced t han

a ny th in g H ow ar d h ad h ea rd o f o n t he m ar ke t.

" We ll , M r. P op pl e . . . , " H ow ar d s ai d. I f t he c on ve rs at io n c on ti nu ed i n t he d ir ec ti on G en ie w as t ak in g i t,

H ow ar d w ou ld l ea rn t hi ng s h e d id n' t t hi nk h e' d b e s af e kn ow in g. " If yo u c ou ld t el l m e j us t w ha t y ou ne ed

from me?"

" Oh , p leas e cal l m e W al ly ," t he l it tl e m an s ai d, t ak in g H ow ar d' s h an d and l eadi ng h im t ow ar d t he t hi n

d is pl ay . " Yo u s ee , t hi s pi ec e o f m ic a i s a , w el l, a w in do w y ou c ou ld c al l i t. "

W al ly g lanced o ver h is s ho ul der, t hen avert ed h is eyes w it h ano th er b ri gh t b lu sh . A s h e' d o bv io us ly

hoped, Genie was following them.

" I n ot ic ed t ha t s ha do ws s ee me d t o m ov e i n i t, " W al ly s ai d, p ee ri ng i nt en tl y a t w ha t i nd ee d w as a p ie ce o f

m ic a r at he r t ha n a h ig h- te ch c on st ru ct io n. H ai r- fi ne w ir es f ro m a b us s a t t he b ac k t ou ch ed t he s he et 's

r ag ged cir cu mf er en ce at p er haps a h un dr ed p laces. " Th at w as s ix y ears ago . B y m od ul at in g t he cur rent t oe ac h s he et s epa ra te ly i t' s n ot o ne c rys ta l, yo u k now , i t' s a s er ie s of s he et s l ike a s ta ck o f p ap er a nd

t he re 's a d ie le ct ri c b et we en e ac h p ai r I w as a bl e t o s ha rp en t he i ma ge s t o, w el l, w ha t y ou s ee n ow ."

H ow ar d e ye d t he d is pl ay . A g ro up o f b ri gh tl y d re ss ed p eo pl e w al ke d t hr ou gh a f or ma l g ar de n. T he

w om en w or e d re ss es w ho se l on g t ra in s w er e h el d b y p ag e b oy s, a nd t he m en w er e i n t ig ht s a nd t un ic s

w it h p uf fed s leev es . T hey car ri ed s wo rd s as w el l, l on g- bl ad ed r ap iers w it h j ew el ed h il ts .

" Ho w d o y ou g en er at e t he i mages, W al ly ?" H ow ar d s ai d. " Th is i sn 't f ed f ro m a b ro ad cast s ig nal, i s i t?"

" Th ey a re n' t g en er at ed a t a ll ," G en ie s ai d. " Th ey 'r e r ea l. S ho w H ow ar d h ow y ou c an m ov e t he p oi nt o f

view, Wally."

O be di en tl y t he l it tl e m an s te pp ed t o t he c om pu te r t er mi na l o n t he b en ch b es id e t he s la b o f m ic a. O n t he


11/196

m on it or w as a g ra ph w it h a bo ut t hi rt y b ar s i n e ac h o f t wo s up er im po se d r ow s.

W al ly t ou ch ed k ey s, w at ch in g t he m ic a. A b ar s hr an k o r i nc re as ed a t e ac h s tr ok e, a nd t he p ic tu re

s hi ft ed w it h t he j er ki ng clari ty o f a r ot at ed k al ei do scop e.

" He y! " s ai d H ow ar d a s w ha t h e t ho ug ht w as a l io n t ur ne d a nd r ai se d i ts f ea th er ed h ea d. I ts h oo ke d b ea k

o pened and t he l on g f or ked t on gu e v ib rated i n a cry w hi ch t he m ica d id n' t t rans mi t. " Th at 's a chi mera!"

" I t ho ug ht s o a t f ir st ," s ai d G en ie , " bu t t he y' re s up po se d t o b e p ar t g oa t t oo ."

" I d on 't t hi nk i t' s any th in g t hat h as a n am e i n o ur w or ld ," W al ly s ai d, m ak in g f ur th er s mall adj us tm en ts .

" Of c ou rs e t he p eo pl e s ee m t o b e, w el l, n or ma l. "

"N ot n or ma l w he re I c om e f ro m! " H ow ar d s ai d. E xc ep t m ay be i n h is d re am s. " An d w ha t d o y ou m ea n

aboutour world? Where's that?"

H e p oi nt ed . T he i mage t um bl ed i nt o a s cene o f v iv id ly -d ress ed g al lant s f en ci ng w hi le a s em icir cl e o f w om en and o th er m en w at ched. T he d uell is t s w er e g oo d,damned g oo d, a nd t he y d id n' t h av e b ut to ns o n

their swords.

" Ro bert t hi nk s i t' s f ai ry land ," G en ie s ai d. H er t on e w as n eu tr al , b ut H ow ar d h eard emo ti on j us t b en eath

t he s ur fa ce o f t he w or ds . " He t hi nk s W al ly 's a w iz ar d. R ob er t a ls o t hi nk s h e' s a w iz ar d h im se lf ."

"Your father has been very generous in supporting my researches, Iphigenia," the little man said, glancing

t ow ar d b ut n ot q ui te a t G en ie . " I w is h I c ou ld c on vi nc e h im t ha t t he se e ff ec ts a re o rd in ar y s ci en ce "

H e p au sed and add ed s el f -con sci ou sl y, " Or di nary p hy si cs, at any r at e. I 'm af raid m y r es ear ch es h av e

been too empirical to qualify as proper science. But the underlying laws are physical, not magic."

T he m ic a s ho we d t he d im i nt er io r o f a g re at h al l, t he s or t o f p la ce t ha t H ow ar d h ad i ma gi ne d t he S tr an ge

M an si on m ig ht b e. A t ro up e o f acr ob at s capered o n t he r us h- st rewn f lags to nes, execut in g r em ar kabl e

jumps while juggling lighted torches.

S pl en di d m en a nd g or ge ou s w om en w at ch ed f ro m t ab le s a ro un d t he m ar gi ns o f t he h al l, a nd o ve r t he

balcony railings peered children and soberly-dressed servants. At the center of the high table was a

g ra ve , b ea rd ed m an w ea ri ng a c ro wn . H e h el d a c ry st al s ta ff i n w hi ch v io le t s pa rk s d an ce d.

B es id e t he k in g, o cc as io na ll y r ub bi ng i ts s ca ly h ea d o n t he b ac k o f h is c ar ve d t hr on e, w as a d ra go n t hes ize o f a r hi no cero s. I t d id n' t l oo k exact ly u nf ri en dl y, b ut i ts eyes h ad t he t ri ck o f con st an tl y s cann in g i n

every direction.

" I . . . , " s ai d H ow ar d. " Wa ll y, t hi s i s w on de rf ul , j us t c om pl et el y a ma zi ng , b ut I d on 't u nd er st an d w ha t

y ou w an t m e f or . Y ou 'v e al read y s ucceeded! "

T he i mage s hi ft ed again . I ns tead o f ans weri ng , W al ly g azed w it h r ap t att en ti on at t he n ew s cene. A

s pr in g s ho t f ro m a w oo de d h il ls id e t o s pl as h o ve r r oc ks i nt o a p oo l t we nt y f ee t b el ow . B ut te rf li es

h ov er ed i n t he f lo wery g lade; i n t he s ur ro un di ng f or es t w er e v in e- wo ven b ow er s.

" Wa ll y bu il t t he w ind ow o n h is o wn, " G eni e s ai d i n a l ow vo ic e. " Wh at Ro be rt i s i nt er es te d i n i s op en in g

a door into . . . that."


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Sh e n od de d t ow ar d t he m ic a. A c oup le , h an d i n h an d, w al ke d t ow ar d t he p oo l. Th e m an k ne lt , di pp ed a

s il ve r g obl et i nt o t he l im pi d w at er , a nd o ff er ed i t t o t he l ov el y w om an a t h is s id e. S he s ip pe d, t he n

r et ur ne d t he c up f or h im t o dr ink i n t ur n.

W al ly s hu dd er ed a s t ho ug h h e' d b ee n d ro pp ed i nt o t he p oo l. H e t ap pe d h is k ey bo ar d s ev er al t im es a t

r an do m, b lu rr in g t he i mage i nt o a cur tain o f elect ro ni c s no w.

H e t ur ne d t o H ow ar d a nd s ai d, s pe ak in g v er y q ui ck ly t o f oc us h is m in d s om ew he re o th er t ha n w he re i t

w ant ed t o g o, " Mr . St ra nge f el t t ha t i f we c oul d s ee t he ot he r p la ce , w e c ou ld e nt er i t. A p er son c oul d

e nt er i t. H e' s c or re ct I s en t a r ab bi t t hr ou gh t he p or ta l l as t w ee k bu t I d on 't t hi nk a ny on e w il l b e

w il li ng t o go w he n t he y r ea li ze ho w d an ge ro us i t i s. T ha t' s w hy I n ee d yo u t o h el p m e w ri te t he

advertisement for the volunteer, Mr. Jones."

T hi s w as g oi ng t o w or k b et te r i f t he l it tl e g uy w as r el ax ed . . . w hi ch p ro ba bl y w ou ld n' t h ap pe n a s l on g

a s Ge ni e S tr ange wa s i n t he s am e r oom ,t h a t wa s ob vi ou s, bu t H ow ar d a t l ea st ha d t o t ry t o c al m hi m

down.

" Ho ward , W al ly ," H ow ar d s ai d, p at ti ng W al ly o n t he s ho ul der. " Pl ease call m e H ow ar d. N ow , w hat' s

d an ge ro us a bo ut t he t ri p? D o yo u w ind u p w ea ri ng a f ly 's h ea d i f t hi ng s go w ro ng ?"

" No , i t w as n' t t hat, M is ter ah , H ow ar d, " W al ly s ai d, p ur si ng h is l ip s. " Th e p ro bl em o ccur red l at er ."

H e adj us ted t he v al ues o n h is d is pl ay again , b ri ng in g t he i mage o f t he r oy al ent er tain ment b ack o nt o t he

m ica. A y ou ng g ir l d an ced o n t he b ack o f a h or se w hi ch cur vett ed s lo wl y, i ts h oo ves s tr ik in g o ccas io nal

s park s f ro m t he f lags to nes. I t w as p rett y o rd in ar y- lo ok in g excep t f or t he s tr ai gh t h or n i n t he cen ter o f i ts

forehead.

S e ei ng t ha t W al ly w as n' t g oi ng t o s ay m or e, H ow ar d r ai se d a n e ye br ow t o G en ie . S he s hr ug ge d a nds ai d, " I d id n' t s ee i t m ys el f Ro be rt w on 't l et m e i n h er e w hi le t he t es ts a re g oi ng o n. B ut a ll t ha t r ea ll y

h ap pe ne d i s t ha t t he r ab bi t h op pe d o ut , p er fe ct ly a ll r ig ht , a nd a l iz ar d a te i t. T he s am e t hi ng c ou ld h av e

happened anywhere."

" Th e l iz ar d s ta re d a t t he p oo r r ab bi t a nd d re w i t s tr ai gh t i nt o i ts j aw s, s te p b y s te p, " W al ly s ai d w it ho ut

l oo ki ng a t t he o th er s. " It k ne w i t w as do om ed b ut i t w ent a ny wa y. I 'v e n ev er i n m y l if e s ee n a nyt hi ng s o

horrible."

Then you don't watch the TV news a lot , H ow ar d t ho ug ht . A lo ud h e s ai d, " It w as a b as il is k, y ou

m ea n? N ot j us t a l iz ar d? "

" It w as a l izar d, " W al ly i ns is ted s tu bb or nl y. " Bu t i t w as n' t a l izar d f ro m, w el l, t hi s w or ld . I t w as h or ri bl e,

a nd t he re a re a ny n um be r o f o th er h or ri bl e t hi ng s o ve r t he re . I t' s r ea ll y t oo d an ge ro us t o s en d s om eb od y

i nt o t ha t wor ld, but t ha t' s t he onl y wa y we c an ge t . . . t hi ngs ."

" We ll , a n a ss au lt r if le o ug ht t o t ak e c ar e o f a ny b as il is ks t ha t c om e b y, " H ow ar d s ai d r ea so na bl y. " Or

d ra go ns e it he r, w hi ch i s m or e t o t he p oi nt . B as il is ks a re n' t s up po se d t o b e b ig e no ug h t o e at p eo pl e. "

H e s ig he d. " I ha te t o s ay t hi s, Wa ll y, b ut s ci en ce a lw ays s ee ms t o wi n out o ve r r om anc e. Ireally h at e t o

say it."

" Bu t t ha t' s j us t w ha t I m ea n, H ow ar d, " W al ly s ai d d es pa ir in gl y. " I h ad a l ea sh o n t he b un ny s o I c oul d

pull it back, but it didn't pass through the portal. The leash was still lying on the floor when the bunny


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d is ap pe ar ed . T he v ol un te er w on 't b e a bl e t o t ak e a g un o r e ve n c lo th es , a nd I r ea ll y d on 't b el ie ve h e' ll b e

a bl e t o b ri ng t he s ce pt er b ac k f or M r. S tr an ge ."

" Ro bert t hi nk s t hat p ur pl e s cept er g iv es t he f ai ry k in g h is p ow er ," G en ie s ai d, h er h an ds clasp ed b eh in d

h er b ac k a s i f t o u nd er sc or e t he r es tr ai nt i n h er v oi ce . " Ro be rt w an ts s om eo ne t o g o t hr ou gh W al ly 's

portal and steal the scepter."

W it h abs ol ut el y n o f eeli ng s he add ed , " Ro bert s acri fi ced a b lack h en t he n ig ht W al ly s en t t he r ab bi t

t hr ou gh . H e d id i t o ve r t he d ra in t he re "

S he n od de d t ow ar d t he b ar e c on cr et e .

" bu t yo u c an s ti ll s me ll t he b lo od c aug ht i n t he p ipe . C an' t y ou ?"

" No w, I ph ig en ia," W al ly s ai d, b lu sh in g again . " Yo ur f at her h as h is w ay s, b ut h e' s b een v er y g en er ou s

with me."

H ow ar d' s n os e w ri nk le d. H e' d n ot ic ed a f ai nt m us ty o do r, b ut t he r oo m w as s o r ip e w it h t he s me ll s o f

electronics workingozone, hot insulation, and fluxthat he hadn't given any thought to it. He still

w as n' t s ur e t ha t w ha t h e s me ll ed w as r ot ti ng b lo od r at he r t ha n m il de w o r w et w oo l, b ut n ow t ha t G en ie 'd

s pok en he wou ldn' t b e a bl e t o g et t he ot he r n ot ion o ut of hi s m ind.

" Wall y, y ou 'r e a g en iu s! " t he g ir l s ai d s o f or cefu ll y as t o s ou nd h os ti le. " Yo u cou ld g o any wh er e and f in d

s om eb od y t o f un d y ou r w or k! I o nl y w is h y ou h ad ."

W al ly t ur ne d a nd l ook ed h er i n t he f ac e f or t he f ir st t im e. " Th an k yo u f or s ay in g t ha t, I ph ige ni a, " h e s ai d,

" but i t i sn' t t rue . I we nt m any pl ac es a ft er I f ir st s aw wha t t he mi ca c oul d do, a nd the y a ll s ent me a wa y.

Y ou r f at he r t hi nk s I 'm a m ag ic ia n a nd h e' s w ro ng ; b ut h e d oe sn 't c al l m e c ra zy o r a c ha rl at an ."

A d oo r th e d oo r t ha t t he l ig ht h ad l ed H ow ar d t o op en ed . R ob er t S tr an ge , i de nt if ia bl e f ro m t he r ar e

photos that appeared in news features but much craggier andharsher i n p er s on , s t ep ped t hr ou gh . H e

w or e a l on g- sl eeved b lack r ob e emb ro id er ed w it h s ym bo ls H ow ar d d id n' t r ecog ni ze, and t hr ou gh t he

s as h a t hi s w ai st he 'd t hr us t a c ur ve d da gge r o f Ar ab s tyl e. Hi lt a nd s ca bb ar d bo th we re s il ve r but

decorated with runes filled with black niello.

" Wh o a re y ou ?" S tr an ge d em an de d, h is e ye s f ix ed o n H ow ar d. H is v oi ce w as l ik e s ca le s s cr ap in g o n

s to ne, and h is b lack p up il s h ad a r ep ti li an g li tt er .

T he n ew s p ho to gr ap hs h ad n' t s ho wn t he l on g s car d ow n S tr an ge's l eft cheek bo ne. T here w er e m an y

w ay s h e c ou ld 'v e b ee n c ut , b ut o nl y o ne r ea so n H ow ar d c ou ld i ma gi ne t ha t a m an w it h S tr an ge 's m on ey

w ou ld n' t h av e h ad t he s ca r r em ov ed b y p la st ic s ur ge ry : p ri de . I t w as a s ch la eg er s ca r, a v es ti ge o f t he

s ty li zed d uels w it h h eavy s ab er s t hat s ti ll w en t o n s ecretl y at t he o ld G er man u ni vers it ies. T he p ur po se o f

a s ch la eg er b ou t w as n' t t o d ef ea t o ne 's f oe b ut r at he r t o g et t he s ca r a s p ro of o f c our age a nd d is re ga rd

f or t he l aw s w hi ch b an ne d t he p ra ct ic e.

M in d y ou , H ow ar d w as p re tt y s ur e t ha t S tr an ge 's o pp on en t h ad l ef t h is s ha re o f b lo od o n t he h al l' s f lo or

as w el l.

" He 's a " s ai d G en ie b ef or e e it he r H ow ar d o r W al ly c ou ld s pe ak .

" I ph ig en ia , g o t o y ou r q ua rt er s a t o nc e, " S tr an ge s ai d i n t he s am e r us tl in g t on e a s b ef or e. H e d id n' t s pe ak


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l ou dl y, bu t h is v oi ce c ut t hr ou gh t he b uz z o f e le ct ro ni cs a s s ur el y a s a m ow er w oul d t he f lo we ry m ea do w

t ha t H ow ar d t ho ug ht o f w he n e nt er in g t he r oo m. " Yo u d is tu rb M as te r P op pl e. I 'v e w ar ne d y ou a bo ut

this."

" Bu t t he re 's n ob od y e ls e t ot a l k t o !" G en ie s ai d. T ho ug h s he com pl ai ned, s he w al ked q ui ck ly t ow ar d t he

d oo r o f h er s ui te .

S tr an ge r et ur ne d h is a tt en ti on t o H ow ar d. " I s ai d, " h e r ep ea te d, " wh o a re y ou ?"

" Mr . S tr an ge , I a sk ed M t ha t i s, H ow ar d t o h el p m e " W al ly s ai d.

" I' m t he v ol un teer y ou r eq uest ed f or y ou r exp er im en t, s ir ," H ow ar d s ai d w it ho ut t he l east s ug gest io n o f a

q ua ve r i n h is v oi ce . " Wa ll y h er e Mr . P op pl e no te d t ha t t he a ge nt w on 't b e a bl e t o c ar ry a g un i nt o t he

o the r r ea lm , s o m y s ki ll wi th a r api er i s c ruc ia l. "

" Yo u k no w h ow t o u se a s wo rd ?" S tr an ge s na pp ed .

" Yes, s ir ," H ow ar d s ai d, s tand in g v er y s tr ai gh t and k eepi ng h is eyes o n t he t ycoo n' s, h op in g t hat w ou ld

m ak e h im l oo k o pen and h on es t. E ven t ho ug h H ow ar d w as t el li ng t he t ru th abo ut t he f en ci ng , S tr an ge's

w ho le t on e a nd m ann er m ad e i t s ee m t ha t e ve ry th ing h e w as b ei ng t ol d w as a l ie .

B es id es con si deri ng t hat S tr an ge m ig ht h av e h im s ho t as a s py , t here w as t he p os si bi li ty t hat t he W izar d

o f F as t F oo d w ou ld d em an d H ow ar d d ue l h im t o p ro ve h is s ki ll . B ea ti ng S tr an ge w ou ld b e

d an gero us r ich m en w er e s el f- wi ll ed and exp lo si ve i f t hey d id n' t g et w hat t hey w an ted. L os in g t o

S tr an ge m ig ht b e even w or se, esp eciall y s in ce H ow ar d d id n' t i magi ne h e' d h av e b ut to ns o n h is s wo rd s

a ny mor e t ha n t he f ol k on t he ot he r s ide of the mi ca wi ndow di d.

"Since I'm an employee of Strangeco," Howard continued, visualizing the Thief of Baghdad dancing overpalace walls while monsters snarled beneath, "my devotion to you is already assured."

" Yo u w or k f or m e? " S tr an ge s ai d. T he n, a s i f h e c ou ld r em em be r e ac h o f t he t hi rt y t ho us an d S tr an ge co

employees world-wide, he said, "What's your name?"

Th e d oo r s wu ngalmost s hu t b eh in d G en ie. " Ho ward A lb in g J on es , s ir ," H ow ar d s ai d.

"Assistant Marketing Associate in the home office," Strange said.My God, maybe he did know all

t h i r t y t h o us a n d! " De vo te d, a re y ou ? P ul l t he o th er l eg , b oy ! B ut t ha t d oe sn 't m at te r i f y ou 'v e g ot t he g ut s

f or t he j ob ."

" Ye s, s ir , I do, " Ho wa rd s ai d. H e c le ar ed hi s t hr oa t a nd w ent o n, " I t hi nk I c ou ld ho ne st ly s ay I 've b ee n

training all my life for this opportunity."

" Yo u p ract ice t he A rt als o, J on es ?" S tr an ge d em an ded, t he h ecto ri ng d ou bt b ack i n h is v oi ce. " Th e

B la ck A rt s, I m ea n. T ha t' s w ha t t he y c al l i t, t he p ig mi es w ho a de pt s l ik e m e c ru sh u nd er o ur h ee ls !"

" Ah , I c an 't c la im t o b e a n a de pt , s ir ," Ho wa rd s ai d. H e c ou ldn 'thonestly c la im t o be a nyt hi ng but a g uy

w ho o cc as io na ll y w at ch ed h or ro r m ov ie s. A s f ar a s t ha t w en t, h e k ne w m or e a bo ut b ei ng a v am pi re t ha n

being a magician.

" No ?" s ai d S tr an ge . " We ll , I a m, J on es . T ha t' s h ow I b ui lt S tr an ge co f ro m a c or ne r h ot d og s ta nd i nt o

wha t i t i s now. A nd by Hi s I nf erna l M aje st y! t ha t's how I 'll r ul e t he wor ld whe n I ha ve t he s ta ff of powe r


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for myself. Nothing will stop me, Jones. Nothing!"

" Mr . S tr an ge, I 'm y ou r m an !" H ow ar d s ai d. H e s po ke ent hu si as ti call y d es pi te h is con cern t hat S tr an ge

m ig ht r ep ly s om et hi ng alo ng t he l in es o f, " Fi ne, I 'l l t ak e y ou r k id neys n ow t o f eed m y p et f er rets ."

" If y ou s er ve m e w el l, y ou w on 't r eg re t i t, " S tr an ge s ai d. U ns po ke n b ut m uc h l ou de r i n H ow ar d' s m in d

was the corollary:But if you fail, I won't leave enough of you to bury !

" Ma st er P op pl e, c an yo u be r ea dy t o p ro ce ed i n t wo h ou rs ?" S tr an ge a sk ed . W he n he t al ke d t o W al ly ,

t he re w as a r es pe ct i n hi s t one t ha t c er ta in ly h ad n' t be en p re se nt w he n h e s pok e t o Ho wa rd or G eni e.

" We ll , I s up po se . . . , " W al ly s ai d. H e f ro wn ed i n c on ce nt ra ti on , t he n s hr ug ge d a nd s ai d, " I d on 't s ee

w hy n ot , i f H ow ar d i s w il li ng . I s up po se w e c oul d s ta rt r ig ht n ow , M r. S tr an ge ."

" It 'l l t ake me t he t wo ho ur s t o m ake m y o wn pr epa ra ti on s," S tr ange s ai d wi th a c ur t s ha ke of hi s he ad. " I

r es pe ct y ou r a rt , M as te r P op pl e, b ut I w on' t de pe nd o n i t a lo ne ."

A s h e s tr od e t ow ar d t he d oo r, S tr an ge a dd ed w it ho ut t ur ni ng h is h ea d, " I' ll h av e a b la ck e we s en t o ve r.

A nd i f t hat' s n ot eno ug h we'l l s ee!"

* * *

" No w h ol d y ou r a rm s o ut f ro m y ou r s ho ul de rs , p le as e, H ow ar d, " W al ly s ai d a s h e c ha ng ed v al ue s o n h is

di spl ay. H owa rd obe ye d t he w ay h e wou ld i f a ba rbe r t ol d hi m t o t il t hi s he ad.

W ai ti ng a s t he l it tl e m an m ad e a dj us tm en ts g av e H ow ar d e no ug h t im e t o l oo k o ve r t he r oo m. M uc h o f

t he r ac ke d e qu ip me nt m ea nt n ot hi ng t o h im , b ut h is e ye s k ep t c om in g b ac k t o a b la ck c ab in et t ha t l oo ke d

l ik e a r ef ri gerato r- si zed t ub e m at in g w it h a r ou nd s of a.

" Wall y?" h e s ai d, h is arm s s ti ll o ut . " Wh at 's t hat i n t he n or th east cor ner? I s i t an air con di ti on er ?"

" Oh , t ha t' s t he c om pu te r t ha t d oe s t he m od ul at io ns ," W al ly s ai d. " Yo u c an p ut y ou r a rm s d ow n n ow i f

y ou l ik e. I u se d a S un w or ks ta ti on t o c on tr ol t he w in do w, b ut t he p or ta l r eq ui re s g re at ly m or e c ap ac it y.

I 'd t ho ug ht w e' d j us t c ou pl e a n et wo rk o f c al cu la ti on s er ve rs t o t he w or ks ta ti on , b ut M r. S tr an ge

provided a Cray instead to simplify the setup for the corrections."

" Oh ," s ai d H ow ar d, w on de ri ng w ha t a s up er co mp ut er c os t. P oc ke t c ha ng e t o t he W iz ar d o f F as t F oo d,

h e s u pp o sed .

" No w i f y ou 'l l t ur n cou nt er cl ockw is e, p leas e . . . , " W al ly s ai d. " Ab ou t f if teen d eg rees ."

H ow ar d w or e a c ot to n c af ta n t ha t c am e f ro m G en ie 's s ui te . S he 'd b ro ug ht i t i n w he n H ow ar d p ro te st ed

at s tand in g b uck n ak ed i n t he m id dl e o f t he f lo or w it h s ecur it y cam er as w at ch in g. H ow ar d w as w il li ng t o

accep t t hat t he clo th es w ou ld n' t g o t hr ou gh t he p or tal w it h h im , b ut w ai ti ng w hi le P et e and h is p ar tn er

chuckled about his masculine endowments was a different matter.

Not that there was anything wrong with his masculine endowments.

G en ie d id n' t s ta y, b ut H ow ar d k ne w s he w as k ee pi ng a br ea st o f w ha t w en t o n t hr ou gh t he p ar t- op en

d oo r. H e wa sn 't s ur e w he the r h e w as g la d o f t ha t or no t.

T he m ic a w in do w l oo ke d o nt o t he g la de w he re H ow ar d w ou ld e nt er t he o th er w or ld i f e ve ry th in g w en t


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r ig ht . O ccas io nall y a s mall ani mal app eared b ri ef ly o nce H ow ar d s aw w hat l oo ked v er y m uch l ik e a

pink bass swimming through the airbut Wally had chosen the site because it was isolated. There was

o nl y s o m uc h yo u c ou ld ge t f ro m l ea ve s qu iv er ing , e ve n i f t he y di d s ee m t o b e s ol id go ld .

T he car pets , l ay er ed l ik e r oo f s hi ng les o ver t he con cr et e, w er en 't t he n eu tr al ly exo ti c d es ig ns y ou

n or ma ll y s aw o n O ri en ta l r ug s. S om e o f t he se h ad s ty li ze d c am el s a nd b ir ds , s ur e; b ut o ne h ad t an ks ,

jets, and bright explosions, while peacock-winged devils capered as they tortured people against theblack background of the newer-looking rugs.

A ro un d w he re H ow ar d s to od w as a s ix -p oi nt ed s ta r d ra wn i n l im e l ik e t he m ar ki ng s o f a f oo tb al l f ie ld .

H ow ar d w ou ld 'v e e xp ec te d a p en ta cl e, b ut h e d id n' t d ou bt S tr an ge k ne w w ha t h e w as d oi ng .

A ll H owa rd hi ms el f wa s s ur e of w as t ha t he wa s t aki ng a c ha nc e a t a dve nt ur e w he n i t a ppe ar ed. I f t ha t

wa s a b ad i de a, t he n he hop ed he w oul dn' t ha ve l on g t o r egr et h is de ci si on .

I t mi ght be a ve ry ba d ide a.

" Th er e, " s ai d W al ly . " Th er e' s n ot hi ng m or e I can d o u nt il w e act uall y b eg in b ui ld in g t he charg e. T hen I

m ay h av e t o "

R o be rt S tr an ge e nt er ed t hr ou gh a p ed es tr ia n d oo r s et i n o ne o f t he s ix v eh ic le d oo rs a lo ng t he o ut si de

w al l. T he b lack s heep h e l ed l oo ked p uzzl ed , a f eeli ng w hi ch H ow ar d h im self ech oed.

" Yo u' re r ea dy , M as te r P op pl e? " h e a sk ed .

"Ey-eh-he-e, " s ai d t he s he ep . S tr an ge j er ke d t he l ea sh v ic io us ly . T he c or d l oo ke d l ik e s il ve r, b ut i t w as

f un ct io nal eno ug h t o cho ke t he s heep t o s il en ce w hen S tr an ge l if ted h is arm .

" Yes, M r. S tr an ge," W al ly s ai d. " I' m a l it tl e w or ri ed abo ut H ow ar d' s m as s, t ho ug h. E ig ht y- seven k il os

m ay b e t oo m uc h. "

" To o m uch?" s napp ed S tr an ge. " If y ou n eeded m or e t rans fo rm er s, y ou s ho ul d h av e s ai d s o! "

" Too m uc h f or t he f ab ri c of t he u ni ve rs e, M r. S tr ang e, " s ai d W al ly , a s m il d a s e ve r b ut c om pl et el y

und aunt ed a t t he a nge r o f a ma n wh o s ca re d t he l ivi ng c ra p ou t of How ar d J one s. " I r ea ll y d on' t wa nt t o

g o t o m or e t han t hi rt y k il ow at ts ."

S tr an ge s ni ff ed . " Th e s ub ject 's r eady ?" h e s ai d. " Yo u, J on es ; y ou 'r e r eady ?"

"Ey-eh-he?" t he s he ep r ep ea te d, r ol li ng i ts e ye s. H er e ye s, H ow ar d a ss um ed , s in ce S tr an ge s ai d h e w as

fetching a ewe. The tycoon's daggerhilt winked in the bright laboratory lighting.

" Yes, s ir !" H ow ar d s ai d.

S tr ange gr ima ce d, t he n b ent a nd t ie d t he l ea sh a ro und a r ing s et i n t he dr ai n. He t ur ne d hi s he ad t o

H ow ar d a nd s ai d, " Yo u k no w w ha t y ou 'r e g oi ng t o d o? "

" Si r, I 'm g oi ng t o e nt er t he o th er l an d, " H ow ar d s ai d. " I' ll t ak e t he s ce pt er f ro m t he k in g o f t ha t l an d a nd

r et ur n h er e t o yo u wi th i t. "

As a s ta te me nt of i nt ent i t w as c on ci se a nd a cc ur at e. A s a p la n of a ct ion i t l ac ke d d et ai l, bu t t he re w as n' t


17/196

e nou gh i nf or ma ti on o n t hi s s id e o f t he p or ta l t o f or m a r ea l p la n. H ow ar d w as u ne as il y a wa re t ha t h is

f or ay , e ve n i f h e w oun d u p i n a dr ag on' s g ul le t, w ou ld p ro vi de i nf or ma ti on s o t ha t t he n ext a ge nt c ou ld d o

better.

" Al l r ig ht ," S tr an ge s ai d. " Gi ve m e a m om en t and t hen p ro ceed ."

T he re w er e d ra pe s b un ch ed a mo ng t he w al l h an gi ng s. A s S tr an ge s po ke , h e d re w t he m a lo ng a t ra ck i nt he c ei li ng t o s ep ar at e h is c or ne r o f t he r oo m f ro m H ow ar d a nd W al ly . T he e we b le at ed a ga in .

" Yo u m ay b eg in , M as te r P op pl e, " S tr an ge c al le d, h is v oi ce m uf fl ed b y t he t hi ck f ab ri c. H e b ro ke i nt o a

m us ical chant . T he s ou nd s f ro m h is t hr oat w er en 't w or ds , o r at l east w or ds i n E ng li sh .

" Yo u' r e r ead y, H ow ar d?" W al ly s aid .

Ho wa rd n od de d. H is t hr oa t w as d ry a nd h e d id n' t w an t t o e mb ar ra ss h im se lf b y h av in g h is v oi ce c ra ck

i n t he mi dd le o f a s im pl e w or d l ik e, " Ye s."

W al ly r ot at ed a s wi tch, cut ti ng t he cei li ng l ig ht s t o r ed b eads amo ng t he d im mi ng g ho st s o f t he

f lu or es cent f ix tu res. T he s heet o f m ica, b ri gh t w it h t he d ay li gh t o f ano th er w or ld , s ho ne l ik e a l an tern

beside the little man as he typed commands.

T he re w as a r ep ti li an v ic io us ne ss t o S tr an ge 's v oi ce , a nd t he s he ep w as m an ag in g t o w hi mp er l ik e a

f ri ght ene d ba by. T he ha ir on H ow ar d' s a rm s a nd t he b ac k o f h is ne ck be ga n t o r is e. Fo r a mo me nt he

t ho ug ht t ha t w as h is r ea ct io n t o t he s ou nd s c om in g f ro m b ey on d t he d ra pe s, b ut a s t he f lu or es ce nt s

c oo le d t o a bs ol ut e b la ck H ow ar d s aw a f ai nt v io le t a ur a c li ng in g t o t hr ee r ac ks o f e qu ip me nt .

W al ly w as g en er at in g v er y h ig h f requ en cy cur rent at a con si derabl e v ol tage. H ow ar d d ecid ed h e d id n' t

w an t t o t hi nk a bo uthow h ig h t he v ol tage w as .

W al ly m ut te re d a s h e w or ke d. T ho ug h H ow ar d c ou ld s ee h is l ip s m ov e, t he w or ds w er en 't a ud ib le o ve r

t he h um o f f iv e t rans fo rm er s alo ng t he o ut si de w al l. T he o peni ng b et ween G en ie's d oo r and t he j am b w as

faintly visible.

The air spluttered. Howard felt a directionless pull, unpleasant without being really painful. Violet light

f li ck er ed t hr ou gh t he m ica, a m om en tary p ul se f ro m t he w or ld acr os s t he b ar ri er .

S tr an ge s ho ut ed a f in al w or d. T he s he ep b le at ed o n a r is in g n ot e e nd in g i n s o a wf ul a g ur gl e t ha t H ow ar d

pressed his hands to his ears before he remembered that moving might affect Wally's calculations. Theewe' s h oo ves r at tl ed o n t he con cr et e; t he cur tai n b il lo wed as t he ani mal t hr as hed.

H ow ar d w ou ld 'v e c ov er ed h is e ar s e ve n i f h e h ad t ho ug ht a bo ut W al ly . T he s ou nd w ashorrible .

W al ly t yp ed , h is e ye s o n t he c om pu te r d is pl ay . H e' d s uc ke d h is l ow er l ip b et we en h is t ee th t o c he w a s

h e con cent rated. T he t rans fo rm er s h um med l ou der b ut d id n' t chang e t on e.

H ow ar d f el t t he i nd es cr ib ab le p ul l again . I n t he o th er w or ld t he v io let h aze f or med again , t hi s t im e i n t he

s ha pe of a hu ma n be ing .

A blue flash and aBANG! l ik e a can no n s ho t eng ul fed t he l ab , s tu nn in g H ow ar d i nt o a w or dl es s s ho ut .

H e c la pp ed h is h an ds , a r ef le x t o p ro ve t ha t h e w as s ti ll a li ve .


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T he a ir s ta nk o f b ur ni ng t ar . D ir ty r ed f la me s l ic ke d f ro m o ne o f t he t ra ns fo rm er s o n t he o ut si de w al l.

H ow ar d d re w i n a d ee p b re at h o f r el ie f. H e i mm ed ia te ly r eg re tt ed i t w he n a cr id s mo ke b ro ug ht o n a f it o f

coughing.

S tr an ge s na tc he d o pe n t he c ur ta in s, h is f ac e a m as k o f c ol d f ur y. T he e we l ay o ve r t he d ra in , h er l eg s

s pl ay ed l ik e t ho se o f a s qu as he d i ns ec t. H er e ye s s ti ll h ad a p uz zl ed l oo k, b ut t he y w er e a lr ea dy

beginning to glaze.

W all y chang ed v al ues at h is k ey bo ar d w it h a r es ig ned exp ress io n. H ow ar d l oo ked f or a f ir e ext in gu is her.

H e d id n' t s ee o ne , b ut h e w al ke d p as t W al ly a nd t ur ne d t he m ai n l ig ht s b ac k o n. T he t ra ns fo rm er w as

s mo ld er in g i ts el f o ut , t ho ug h an o ccas io nal s izzl e m ad e H ow ar d t hank fu l t hat t he f lo or w as cov er ed w it h

non-conductive wool.

" Wh at w en t w ro ng ?" S tr an ge s ai d. " I k no w t hat t he t rans fo rm er f ai led;why did it fail?"

" Th e l oa d w as t oo g re at ," W al ly s ai d s im pl y. " We v er y n ea rl y s uc ce ed ed . I f w e r ep la ce t he

transformer"

" We'l l d ou bl e t he cap acit y, " S tr an ge s ai d. " We'l l m ak e ano th er att em pt t on ig ht , at m id ni gh t t hi s t im e. I

never thought you were careful enough with your timing, Master Popple."

" Si r, I d on 't t hi nk i t w ou ld b e s af e t o i nc re as e o ut pu t b ey on d " W al ly s ai d.

" We 'l l d ou bl e i t! " S tr an ge s ai d, h is t on e a r as p l ik e s te el g ra ti ng o n r ib b on es . " If w e d on 't n ee d t he e xt ra

w at ta ge , t he n w e w on 't u se i t, b ut w e' ll u se a s m uc h a s i t r eq ui re s! "

H e l oo ke d d is gu st ed ly a t t he d ag ge r i n h is h an d, t he n w ip ed t he b la de o n t he c ur ta in a nd s he at he d t he

w ea po n. H e s tr od e p as t H ow ar d a nd W al ly t o t he h al l d oo r; H ow ar d w at ch ed h im w it h a f ix ed s mi le ,u ncom fo rt ab ly aware t hat i ns ti nct t en sed h im t o r un i n cas e S tr an ge l eaped f or h is t hr oat.

T he T hi ef o f B ag hd ad m ig ht 'v e h ad a b et te r i de a. O n t he o th er h an d, H ow ar d d id n' t r em em be r t he T hi ef

of Baghdad facing anything quite like Robert Strange.

St ra ng e t hu mp ed t he h al l do or c lo se d; i t w as t oo he av y t o b an g. A t t he s ou nd , G eni e' s do or op en ed a

l it tl e w ide r a nd t he s li m g ir l r et ur ne d. S he g ri ma ce d w he n s he s aw t he e we . I t' d v oi de d i ts b ow el s w he n i t

d ied, s o t hat o do r m in gl ed w it h t he f resh b lo od and b ur ned i ns ul at io n.

" A re y ou a ll r ig ht , W al ly ?" s he a sk ed . " An d y ou , H ow ar d. I 'm n ot u se d t o t he re b ei ng a ny bo dy b utWally here."

" I' m s or ry y ou h ad t o s ee t ha t, I ph ig en ia ," W al ly s ai d w it h a p er tu rb ed g la nc e t ow ar d t he e we . " Yo u

r eall y s ho ul dn 't h av e com e i n u nt il t he crew h as clean ed t hi ng s u p. "

" Wall y, I 'v e l iv ed w it h R ob er t f or f if teen y ears ," G en ie s ai d b lu nt ly . " Th er e' ve b een w or se t hi ng s t han t he

o cc as io na l d ea d a ni ma l. I w as w or ri ed a bo ut y ou a nd H ow ar d. "

" It j us t t ic kl ed a l it tl e, " H ow ar d s ai d. I f h e l et h im se lf t hi nk a bo ut e ve nt s i n t he r igh t w ay , h e w as p re tt y

s ur e h e c ou ld m ak e t he l as t t en m in ut es o r s o s ou nd m or e h er oi c t ha n t he y' d s ee me d w hi le t he y w er e

happening.

" Th er e w as n' t a ny r is k, I ph ig en ia ," W al ly s ai d. A t f ir st h e d id n' t l oo k d ir ec tl y a t h er , bu t t he n h e r ai se d h is


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eyes w it h an eff or t o f w il l. " Ah I r eall y app reci at e y ou r con cern , b ut r ig ht n ow I h av e s om et hi ng

i mpor ta nt t o di sc us s w it h Mr .w it h How ar d, t ha t i s. C an y ou, I me an w oul d you . . . ? "

" Al l r ig ht , W al ly ," t he g ir l s ai d, s ou nd in g p uzzl ed and a l it tl e h ur t. S he n od ded t o H ow ar d and w al ked t o

h er r oo m w it h s wi ft , clean s tr id es . T hi s t im e t he d oo r s hu t f ir ml y.

On e of t he ve hi cul ar door s i n t he out si de wa ll s ta rt ed up w it h a r umbl e of he avy g ea rs . A t ea m of s wart hy m en , b eard less b ut h eavi ly m us tached, s to od b es id e a f latb ed t ru ck . T hey ent er ed , p ay in g n o

a tt en ti on t o H ow ar d a nd W al ly . O ne l if te d t he s he ep o ve r h is s ho ul de r a nd w al ke d b ac k t o t he t ru ck w it h

it; his three fellows started disconnecting the wrecked transformer. They talked among themselves in

guttural singsongs.

" Wi ll y ou com e h er e p leas e, H ow ar d?" W al ly s ai d, s ho wi ng n o m or e i nt er es t i n t he w or km en t han t hey

di d in hi m. H e a dj us te d t he m ic a s cr ee n t o s how t he s pr ing a ga in. " I, a h, ha ve a f av or t o a sk you. "

A c ou pl e no t t he s am e o ne s a s b ef or e sa t o n t he p oo l' s m os sy c op in g, i nt er la ci ng t he f in ge rs o f o ne

h an d a s t he y p as se d a c up b ac k a nd f or th w it h t he o th er . W al ly t ig ht en ed t he f oc us s o t ha t t he ir m ut ua ll yloving expressions were unmistakable.

"Yes, Wally?" Howard prodded.

" Th e w at er o f t hi s s pr in g a pp ea rs t o h av e c er ta in p ro pe rt ie s, " W al ly s ai d. H e l oo ke d f ix ed ly a t H ow ar d

t o a vo id w at ch in g t he c ou pl e w ho 'd b eg un t o f on dl e o ne a no th er . T he s ta tu es qu e b lo nd e l ay b ac k o n t he

s wa rd a nd t ug ge d h er p ar tn er o ve r h er w it ho ut b ot he ri ng t o w al k t o t he p ri va cy o f t he n ea rb y b ow er s.

"You'll have noticed that."

" I s ur e n ot ic e s om et hi ng ," H ow ar d s ai d. H e w as n' t s ur e h ow h e f el t a bo ut t he s ho w: i t w as r ea l p eo pl e,

n ot a ct or s. W el l, a ct or s w er e r ea l pe opl e t oo b ut t he y k ne w t he y w er e g oi ng t o b e w at ch ed .

T he w or km en ho is te d t he t ra ns fo rm er b y h an d i ns te ad o f b ri ng in g i n a d er ri ck f or t he j ob . I t m us t w ei gh

c los e to ha lf a t on. The y wa lke d out a nd s li d it ont o th e t ruc k be d, f or ci ng a s que al fr om t he s pr ings .

W al ly g ri maced and b lu rr ed t he i mage t o b ri gh t s park les w it hi n t he m ica s heet . " If I s ucceed i n o peni ng

t he p or ta l t o t he o th er w or ld , H ow ar d, " h e s ai d, " yo u' ll h av e a v er y d if fi cu lt j ob t o g ai n t he k in g' s s ce pt er .

I d on 't b el ie ve i n m ag ic , n ot h er e o r t he re e it he r o ne , b ut t he a ni ma l g ua rd in g t he k in g a pp ea rs

formidable."

" Th e d rago n, " H ow ar d s aid . " Yeah , i t d oes. "

I f Ho wa rd l et h ims el f c on si de r t he d et ai ls o f ho w h e w as g oi ng t o g et t he s ce pt er , i t' d s ca re t he s pi t o ut

o f hi m. B y l im it ing hi s t hou gh ts t o v ag ue s woo ps a cr os s t he ha ll o n a h an dy r ope , f ol low ed b y a m ig ht y

l eap f ro m a b al co ny -l ev el w in do w, h e w as m an ag in g t o k eep h is apl om b.

" An d o f c ou rs e w e' re n ot s ur e i t' ll b e p os si bl e t o b ri ng i na ni ma te o bj ec ts t hr ou gh t he p or ta l i n t hi s

d ir ec ti on , s in ce w e c an 't d o i t w hi le g oi ng t he o th er w ay ," W al ly c on ti nu ed w it h a s ol em n no d. H e s ta rt ed

t o r ef oc us o n t he s pr in g, t he n s na tc he d h is h an d b ac k f ro m t he k ey bo ar d w it h a b lu sh .

" I u nd er st an d all t he d if fi cu lt ies and d an gers y ou 'l l f ace, H ow ar d, " W al ly s ai d. H e s tared i n t he d ir ecti on

of Ge nie 's c losed door; he looked as if he was a bout t o cr y. "Re ga rdles s, I'd like you to do me a f avor i f

you ca n. I 'd li ke you to bring me a phial of wat er from the spring we j ust l ooked a t. I . . . I 'd be ver y

grateful."


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Yo u p oo r l it tl e g uy !H ow ar d t ho ug ht . A lo ud h e s ai d, " Ah , W al ly ? I 'l l d o w ha t I c an "

W hich might not be a heck of a lot.If H ow ar d a rr iv ed , h e' d be b ar e- as se d na ke d a nd i n t he m idd le o f a

bunch of guys with swords they knew how to use. Not to mention the occasional dragon.

" b ut y ou k no w, i t i sn 't t ha t h ar d t o, a h, m ee t g ir ls ." H e p au se d t o c ho os e t he n ex t w or ds c ar ef ul ly ." Lot s o f t im es j us t be in g a rou nd o ne f or a w hi le i s e no ug h t o, y ou k no w, b ri ng t he t wo o f y ou t og et he r. I f

y ou p lay y ou r car ds r ig ht ."

The t ruc k d rove of f wi th a s nor t of di es el e xha us t a s t he ga ra ge doo r b ega n t o r um bl e dow n. T he

c or ps es o f t he s he ep a nd t ra ns fo rm er l ay t og et he r i n t he b ed o f t he v eh ic le .

" I've neve r pl aye d c ar ds a t al l, Howa rd," the l it tle ma n s aid wi th a s ad s mi le . "I gue ss t hi s i s ha rd for a

h an ds om e y ou ng m an l ik e y ou t o u nd er st an d, b ut . . . "

H e t ur ne d h is h ea d a wa y a nd w ip ed h is e ye s f ie rc el y.

" He y, t ha t' s a ll r ig ht , W al ly ," H ow ar d s ai d, p at ti ng h im o n t he b ac k. " Su re , I 'l l t ak e c ar e o f t ha t i f t he re 's ,

yo u k no w, a ny wa y t o do i t. N o p rob le m. "

Co mp ar ed t o t he r es t o f t he a ss ig nm en t, t ha t w as t he g os pe l t ru th .

" Th an k y ou , H ow ar d, " W al ly s ai d t hr ou gh a r acki ng s nu ff le. " I' m, w el l, I 'm l ucky t o h av e m et a r eal h er o

l ike you i n my t im e of ne ed. "

O nl y f ai nt ly aud ib le t hr ou gh t he h eavy d oo rs , ano th er b ig t ru ck w as p ul li ng u p o ut si de. A r el ay cli ck ed

and t he m achi nery b eg an t o r um bl e again .

" I f ee l s ur e w e' re g oi ng t o s uc ce ed ," W al ly a dd ed . " If w e h av e t o d ou bl e t he f ie ld s tr en gt h, w el l, t ha t' s

just what we're going to do. No matter what!"

W al ly s ou nd ed a l ot m or e c he er fu l w he n h e m ad e t ha t p ro mi se t ha n H ow ar d w as t o h ea r i t.

* * *

W it h t he s ix n ew t rans fo rm er s i n p lace, t he l in e alm os t f il led t he o ut si de w al l. O n t hat s id e o nl y t he

curtained-off cornerthey were already drawndidn't have machinery squatting on it. Howard could

s ti ll s mell b ur ned i ns ul at io n. H e' d n ev er t ho ug ht h e' d b e t hank fu l f or a s ti nk l ik e t hat, b ut i t cov er ed o th er possible reminders of the afternoon's experiment.

W al ly l oo ke d a t H ow ar d a nd t ri ed t o f or ce a g ri n. H is e xp re ss io n w ou ld 'v e b ee n m or e a pp ro pr ia te f or

s om eb od y b ei ng r ap ed b y a C hr is tm as t re e.

" He y, b uc k u p, b ud dy ," H ow ar d s ai d. " We 'r e g oi ng t o b e f in e! "

F unn y, b ut t el li ng t he l ie m ad e H ow ar d f ee l t ha t t he w or ds m ig ht p os si bl y be t ru e. L og ic al ly he k ne w a

l ot b et t er .

T h e d oo r h id de n b eh in d t he c ur ta in o pe ne d. H ow ar d h ea rd aclink o ve r t he h um o f m ac hi ne ry a s

s om et hi ng h ar d b ru sh ed again st t he r ai sed l in tel. H e w on dered w hat ani mal S tr an ge w as b ri ng in g i n t o

s ac ri fi ce t hi s t im e. H ow ar d h ad e xp ec te d a h ei fe r o r m ay be a n e le ph an t, b ut S tr an ge w ou ld 'v e h ad t o


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r ai se t he v eh icul ar d oo r t o b ri ng i n ani mals t hat b ig .

S tr an ge s tu ck h is h ea d o ut b et we en t wo c ur ta in p an el s. " Ar e y ou r ea dy t o p ro ce ed , M as te r P op pl e? " h e

a sk ed . H e h el d t he c ur ta in s t og et he r s o t ha t a ll H ow ar d c ou ld s ee w as t he t hr oa t o f h is g ar me nt s. H e

s ee me d t o b e w ea ri ng t he s am e s il ve r- ma rk ed b la ck s at in a s i n t he a ft er no on .

" I b el ie ve " W al ly s ai d. H e c au gh t H ow ar d' s t er se n od a nd c on ti nu ed , " Ye s, w e' re r ea dy , M r. S tr an ge .I t' ll t ak e n in et y s econ ds f ro m w henever w e s tart t o b ui ld t he f ield ."

" St ar t n ow , t he n, " S tr an ge s ai d c ur tl y. H e d re w t he c ur ta in s t ig ht b eh in d h im a nd b eg an t o c ha nt . H is

w or ds h ad con si derabl e m us i cal p ow er d es pi te b ei ng com pl et e g ib ber is h. T hat w as als o t ru e o f o pera, o f

c ou rs e, s o f ar a s H ow ar d w as c on ce rn ed .

W al ly t ri ed t o s mi le again , t hen b us ied h im self w it h h is k ey bo ar d. T he m ica w in do w l oo ked o nt o t he

g la de , e mp ty s av e f or t re es a nd t he f li tt in g p as sa ge o f a b ir d w ho se p lu ma ge w as a s p ur el y b lu e a s t he

s um mer s ky . H ow ar d w at ch ed t he s ci en ti st , and h e w at ch ed i mages o n t he m ica; b ut m or e com pell in g

t ha n t ho se , h e l is te ne d t hr ou gh t he c ur ta in s a t h is b ac k t o t he s ou nd o f R ob er t S tr an ge 's v oi ce c ha nt in g.

H ow ar d f el t t he h ai rs l if t f ro m h is b od y. W he re t ho se o f h is c he st t ou ch ed t he l oo se c af ta n t he y t ic kl ed

l ike t he f ee li ng a t t he ba ck of a dr y t hr oa t t ha t you c an 't s ee m t o s wa ll ow a wa y. Vi ol et h az e bl ur re d t he

air b ey on d t he m ica.

Genie Strange screamed.

H ow ar d t ur ne d. T he d oo r t o G en ie 's r oo m w as c lo se d cl os ed a nd l at ch ed . T he d ra pe s a ro un d S tr an ge

and his activities bulged outward.

Ge ni e h op pe d t hr ou gh a nd f el l, d ra gg in g a s ec ti on o f t he v el ve t d ow n. T he s ca rf u se d t o g ag h er h ads li pp ed o ut o f h er m ou th ; i t w as t he o nl y g ar me nt s he w as w ea ri ng . H er w ri st s a nd a nk le s w er e t ie d

t og et he r b eh in d h er b ac k, b ut s he 'd m ana ge d t o u ndo t he c or d t ha t' d b oun d h er t o t he d ra in .

R obe rt S tr an ge , h is f ac e a s h ar d a nd c on to rt ed a s t ha t of a m ar bl e d em on , s te pp ed o ut b eh in d he r. H e

g ra bb ed a h an df ul o f G eni e' s b la ck h ai r w it h h is f re e ha nd .

" He y! " H ow ar d s ai d. T he re w as a b an k o f e qu ip me nt b et we en h im a nd t he S tr an ge s. A s g ra ce fu ll y a s i f

h e' d b ee n p ra ct ic in g a ll h is l if e, H ow ar d t oo k t wo r un ni ng s te ps , p la nt ed h is r ig ht p al m o n t he r ac k, a nd

l ea pe d o ve r w it h h is l eg s s wun g o ff t o h is l ef t s id e. E ve n t he T hi ef o f B ag hd ad w ou ld b e i mp re ss ed

U nt il t he caf tan' s b il lo wi ng h em cau gh t t he chass is f ul l o f p lu g- in cir cu it s o n t op o f t he r ack. A s H ow ar d' s

l eg s s tr ai gh tened, t he t ig ht en in g clo th s pi ll ed h im l ik e a l as so ed s teer . S tr an ge l oo ked at h im w it ho ut

expression.

H ow ar d s pr an g u p. T he t or n caf tan, b un ch ed n ow aro un d h is ank les, t ri pp ed h im again .

S tr an ge l if ted G en ie's h ead, avo id in g h er att em pt s t o b it e h im . H e p oi sed t he cur ved d ag ger i n h is r ig ht

h an d o ve r h er t hr oa t. H ow ar d g ra bb ed t he s id es o f t he r ug o n w hi ch h e' d f al le n a nd j er ke d w it h a ll h is

strength, snatching Strange's feet out from under him.

" You . . . ! " s ho ut ed S tr an ge a s h e t op pl ed b ac kwa rd . G eni e' d t os se d h er s hor t ha ir f re e of hi s gr ip , b ut

he di dn 't l os e t he da gge r i n hi s ot he r ha nd. I t w as unde rn ea th whe n t he W iz ar d of F as t Food hi t t he

concrete.


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T he c ha ss is t ha t H ow ar d' d d ra gg ed t o t he f lo or w it h h im w as p op pi ng a nd s pl ut te ri ng , b ut h e w as n' t

prepared for the flash of violet light that filled the interior of the lab. It was so intense that Howard only

v ag uely n ot iced t he accom pany in g t hu nd er cl ap . H e h eard W al ly cry o ut and t ur ned.

W al ly w as n' t t he re . H is c lo th in g, f ro m b ro wn s ho es t o t he p ai r o f r ea di ng g la ss es h e w or e t il te d u p o n h is

f or eh ead, l ay i n t he m id dl e o f t he h ex ag ram. T he h un dr ed and t went y- th ree p ou nd s o f W al ly P op pl e h advanished.

E xc ep t f or a n i ma ge i n t he m ic a w in do w.

H ow ar d l if te d G en ie b ef or e h e r em em be re d t ha t h er s te pf at he r a nd t he d ag ge r m ig ht b e o f m or e

i mm ed iat e con cer n. H e l oo ked b ack.

H e' d b een r ig ht t he f ir st t im e. S tr an ge' s f ace w as t ur ned t ow ar d H ow ar d. H e l oo ked abs ol ut ely f ur io us .

H e' d m an ag ed t o t hr as h i nt o a p ro ne p os it io n w hi le d yi ng , b ut t he s il ver h il t p ro ject in g f ro m t he m id dl e o f

h is b ac k s ho we d t ha t d yi ng w as c er ta in ly w ha t h e' d d on e.

T he t ra ns fo rme r on t he f ar l ef t of t he l ine s hor te d o ut . The o ne ne xt t o i t we nt a h ea rt be at l at er , a nd whe n

t he t hi rd f ai le d i t s ho we re d t he r oo m w it h bl ob s of f la mi ng t ar . O ne o f t he m s la pp ed t he m ic a w in do w,

a nd s ha tt er ed i t l ik e a b om b.

" Ca n yo u p le as e u nt ie m e, H ow ar d? " a ske d t he gi rl i n h is a rm s. " Th ou gh t he w ay t hi ng s a re s ta rt ing t o

h ap pen i n h er e, m ay be t hat cou ld w ai t t il l w e' re o ut si de."

"Right!" said Howard. "Right!"

H e pa us ed t o s hr ug of f wha t wa s l ef t of t he c af ta n; i t ha d s ta rt ed t o b ur n a s w el l. So me how he c oul dn' tg et con cern ed abo ut w hat t he g uard s t ho ug ht o f h im n ow .

* * *

B ec au se he a nd G en ie we re g oi ng t o be gon e f or a t l ea st t hr ee w ee ks a nd a f ou rt h be si de s i f t he Chi ne se

aut ho ri t ies agr eed t o o pen T ib et t o S tr ang eco wh ich t hey w ou ld , H ow ar d J on es w as n' t cal l ed t he

S was hb uckl er o f F as t F oo d f or n ot hi ng H ow ar d s t op ped b y t he m an si on 's f or mer g ar age f or a

m om en t. H e l ik ed t o, w el l, k ee p a n e ye o n h ow t hi ng s w er e g oi ng .

H e' d h ad t he b ig r oo m clean ed and n earl y emp ti ed i mm ed iately aft er t he w ed di ng , b ut h e s ti ll s mell ed t he

bitterness of burned insulation. He supposed it was mostly in his mind by now.

G en ie 'd w an te d t o t ea r t he g ar ag e d ow n c om pl et el y s in ce i t h el d n ot hi ng b ut b ad m em or ie s f or h er , b ut

s he 'd a gr ee d t o l et H ow ar d k ee p t he r oo m s o l on g a s h e' d h ad t he d oor i nt o h er ol d s ui te w el de d s hu t.

Sh e w as n' t t he s or t of gi rl t o obj ec t t o t he whi m of t he m an wh o' d s ave d he r l if e; be si de s, s he l ove d he r

husband.

H ow ar d w en t t o t he s keletal app ar at us o n t he o ne r ack r em ai ni ng i n t he r oo m. T hr ee h ai r- fi ne f il am en ts

w er e s ti ll a tt ac he d t o t he t op e dg e of a pi ec e of m ic a n o bi gge r t ha n a qu ar te r.

H ow ar d b en t t o p ee r i nt o i t. I f y ou l oo ke d c ar ef ul ly a t t he r ig ht t im es , y ou c ou ld s ee i ma ge s i n t he m ic a.

T he f oc us w an de re d. H ow ar d h ad n' t t ri ed t o a dj us t t he a pp ar at us h im se lf o r l et a ny bo dy e ls e t ak e a

l ook a t i t. Mos tl y a ll t he re wa s t o s ee w as s now, bu t t hi s t ime he wa s i n l uc k.


23/196

T he p ee ph ol e l oo ke d o ut a t t he s pr in g w he re c ou pl es u se d t o c av or t. W al ly w as t he re w it h h is

ent ou rage, check in g t he g en er at in g t ur bi ne h e' d b ui lt t o p ow er t he f ir st elect ri c l ig ht s i n h is n ew h om e. I f

H ow ar d u nd er st oo d t he p re pa ra ti on s h e' d s ee n g oi ng o n i n t he r oy al p al ac e l as t w ee k, t el ep ho ne s w er e

abo ut t o f ol lo w.

W hen W al ly t ur ned w it h a s at is fi ed exp ress io n, H ow ar d w av ed . H e k new t he l it tl e f el lo w cou ld n' t s eehi m, but i t ma de Howa rd f ee l he wa s sor t of ke epi ng i n t ouc h. Wa ll y wa lke d out of t he i ma ge a re a

surrounded by courtiers.

H ow ar d c he ck ed h is w at ch a nd s ig he d; h e n ee de d t o g et m ov in g. H e' d p ro mi se d t he c om pa ny f en ci ng

t ea m t ha t he a nd G en ie w oul d a t l ea st d ro p i n o n t he ir m at ch w it h P ri nc et on . A ft er H ow ar d i ns ti tu te d

morning unity-building fencing exercises throughout Strangeco, a number of the employees had become

fencing enthusiasts.

Howa rd took a la st look a t t he pool in t he ot he r worl d. He 'd never se en Wa ll y t ake a si p of t he wa te r,

a nd i t d idn 't s ee m l ik el y t ha t h e e ve r w ou ld .

A ft er a ll , a p ow er fu l w iz ar d l ik e M as te r P op pl e h ad t o b ea t o ff b ea ut if ul w om en w it h a s ti ck .

The Ensorcelled ATMMichael F. Flynn

T he s al oo n h ad b ee n d on e u p r em ar ka bl y w el l i n i ts t im e, b ut i ts t im e w as n ow d em on st ra bl y p as t. Y ea rs

ago , w hen G av ag an b ou gh t t he b ui ld in g, i t h ad b een even m or e r un -d ow n, d rawi ng i ts cli en tele f ro m t he

l owe st s tr at a of s oc ie ty , a nd w as not a t a ll t he s or t of pl ac e wh er e a r es pe ct ab le m an wo ul d t ak e hi s

t hi rs t. G av ag an h ad r en ov at ed t he p la ce , h av in g i t i n m in d t o c at er t o a m or e i nt el le ct ua l p at ro na ge . H e

d id n ot q ui te a ch ie ve t ha t l of ty g oa l, b ut h e a t l ea st l if te d t he s al oon f ro m i ts l ong d ec ay .

T im e, o f c ou rs e, h ad s of te ne d t he r en ov at io ns , a nd t he o do rs o f a g re at m an y b ee rs h ad l ef t t he ir

m em or y i n t he w oo d. T he f lo or in g w as s cu ff ed a nd p la ne d f ro m t he p as sa ge o f c oun tl es s f ee t. E ve n t hed ar k, r ic h s ur fa ce o f t he b ar h ad a cc um ul at ed i ts s ha re o f n ic ks a nd s cr at ch es . A s tu ff ed o wl m ou nt ed o n

t he b ac k wa ll h ad a s ee dy a ppe ar anc e; a nd i n t he f ar c or ne r ne ar t he c ei li ng c ou ld be s ee n t he f ra ye d

s tra w of a nes t, a s i f a bi rd ha d ta ke n up re si de nc e.

T he s tr an ge r a t t he f ar e nd o f t he b ar , n ea r t he w in do w, w as a m id dl e- ag ed m an , t ho ug h o f u nc er ta in

ye ar s, f or h is gr ay ha ir s ee me d ol de r tha n t he r es t of hi m. The t hr ee -pi ec e s ui t ma rke d him a s a ma n of

c on se qu en ce , a lt ho ug h t he j ac ke t h ad c om e o ff a nd t he v es t w as u nb ut to ne d. H e' d h ad t wo c oc kt ai ls

a lr ea dy , b ut w as n ot y et w ha t y ou w ou ld c al l " un de r t he w ea th er ." H is f ac e b or e t he s of t l oo k o f f ar -o ff

concentration.

T he b ra ss b lo nd e, s ea te d a t t he t ab le w it h t wo g en tl em en , t ip pe d h er h ea d t ow ar d h im a nd s ai d, " No w

t here's a f el lo w w it h a f ew p ro bl em s. "


24/196

"W e s ho ul d a ll b e s o l uc ky , M rs . J on as ," y ou ng K ea ti ng a ns we re d, " to h av e o nl y a f ew o f t ho se ."

M r. W it he rw ax p ai d n o a tt en ti on t o t he i nt er ru pt io n, f or i nt er ru pt io n i t w as . " Al l I s ai d i s t ha t t he

neighborhood is changing. That's all I said." He was drinking boilermakers.

" Well , i t' s t he s or t o f t hi ng t hat alw ay s h ap pens i n a d yn am ic com mu ni ty ," K eati ng s ai d. " Ti mes chang e. "

Mr. Wi therwax st uck hi s c hin up. "Di d I s ay the y don' t? I r ead in a book one t ime that . . ."

Mr . Gr os s, o cc upyi ng a s too l a t t he ne ar e nd of t he b ar f ar th er f rom t he wi ndo w, r ai se d h is gl as s t o t he

bartender. "Mr. Cohan, a no th er b ee r, i f y ou p le as e. " T he n, w it h a n od o ve r h is s ho ul de r, " He 's a lw ay s

readingsomething i n a b oo k. "

T he b ar te nd er s mi le d. " It 's a f in e t hi ng i n a m an , t o b e a ft er r ea di ng t he b oo ks ."

" Ma ybe s o, " M r. G ro ss a ll ow ed, " bu t h e do es n' t h av e t o go a nd r ec it e t he m ba ck t o u s, no w do es h e?A nd w hi le yo u' re a t i t, s ee w ha t t ha t d ap pe r g en tl em an d ow n t he o th er e nd i s d ri nk in g, w it h m y

compliments."

"All I said is it's changing," Mr. Witherwax insisted. "I didn'

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