by Martin Ash
'Indeed, it’s impressive,' commented Leth drily.
Urch-Malmain gave a nod. 'Its function is to forge a portal, opening a way between this world and our own, thus permitting me to escape this damnable existence. In my own land, with my fullest powers intact, the construction of such an artefact requires no especial effort, nor the expenditure of unreasonable amounts of time. Certainly it does not demand the construction of a monstrosity such as this. But here physical and metaphysical laws are not harmoniously aligned with those of our own domain. This has made the work arduous and fraught with disappointments. However, all my experiments and tests are done. The machine is complete and operational. There is just one problem.'
'What is that?' enquired Leth.
'It doesn’t work.'
*
Leth observed him for a moment, then rose slowly and approached the strange apparatus. It consisted of a complex arrangement of large and small boxes, globes - some containing little drawers or doors - shelves, vials, bowls, bulbs, knobs and handles made from a variety of materials, not all of them familiar. These occupied a considerable area of the chamber. Strange fluids and glowing plasmas rested or bubbled within several of the globes and bulbs. Skeins and tangles of coloured wires, pipes - bulbous, thin, round, squared or flat - and tubes of similar diversity were threaded between the various articles, linking them in a manner too intricate to follow.
Central to this apparatus was an arch of silvery metallic struts and laths, more than spacious enough to contain a standing man, which supported a system of linked metallic disks and circular or looped troughs. Some of the troughs contained round beads of varying sizes. Little gates and traps within the troughs connected to other tubes and conduits, forming an intricate web of channels and conjunctions. Upon the ground directly beneath the system of troughs and discs was a set of geometric patterns drawn in several colours.
'Do not approach too closely,' warned Urch-Malmain. 'Although the machine is currently dormant, it is yet most sensitive. Your very presence can cause fluctuations within its internal weft.'
Leth turned back. 'I would say that it is hardly operational if it doesn’t work.'
'Ah well, when I say it doesn't work, I mean it doesn't work in the way I had intended. In fact it does something else.'
'And what is that?'
'I am not entirely sure. It’s a mystery to me. But I do know now why it does it, and it is not through any inherent fault in the machinery itself.' Urch-Malmain rose and performed some obscure actions around the strange array of apparatus. Something hummed, very low. Something fizzed, almost inaudibly. Leth noticed renewed motion in some of the fluids. Urch-Malmain faced Leth again. 'There, I have recalled the device to consciousness. It will awaken in a few hours; we can return then and interrogate it.'
'Awaken? Interrogate?'
'As I have said, the device is, at least in part, a living, sentient artefact. And it has a strange message to impart. Come, we will relax and talk until it’s time to return.'
iii
Upstairs in the main chamber again Leth partook of some sweet grapes, feeling that he could not yet stomach anything more substantial. His mind was still not clear, his memories of how he had come to be at the Tower of Glancing Memory were vague. Urch-Malmain sat opposite him, eating almonds. Hellia had departed. As if to explain her absence Urch-Malmain said, 'My preference is largely for solitude. Hellia is sensitive to this, and rarely attends me unless summoned. In fact, I don’t like your being here, if the truth be told. I would far rather be rid of you; your company vexes me. But your presence is necessary just now; there is something which apparently only you can do. So, for the present . . .'
Leth was struck by a feeling of foreboding. 'Only I?'
Urch-Malmain gestured dismissively with his good hand. 'All in good time, when the machine awakens.'
He chewed another handful of nuts.
Leth thought suddenly of Lakewander. 'I came here with a companion. What has happened to her?'
'She went back. The Shore of Nothing was more than she could bear. But she used it well. She took what she needed from you and departed. You will not see her again.'
'What do you mean?' Leth recalled the bitter sense of betrayal he had experienced within the ecstatic terror on the madness of the coloured beach.
'Your essence, Swordbearer. Your seed, that she might bear your child. She and her kind require the child of a god to live among them now that their own god has departed.'
Leth shook his head, disturbed by the thought. 'They are mistaken. I am no god.'
'I know.'
'It seems you know much, Urch-Malmain.'
'The artefact below has more than one function, and in its mode of Vigilance it performs almost flawlessly, even at distance.'
Leth's sense of unease deepened. Had Urch-Malmain been monitoring his movements? For how long? 'It was my companion who told me of you, of your claimed ability to manipulate memory. Is it true, can you do this?'
'Indeed I can. At times with remarkable results.'
'Do you intend to perform such manipulations on me?'
With a finely-tuned sense of the dramatic, Urch-Malmain paused, then leaned towards Leth with an arch grin, and said in a low voice, 'How do you know that I have not already done so?'
Leth felt himself stiffen, a chill racing down his spine. Urch-Malmain gave a knowing nod. 'I can give people complete new personalities, and have done so. Whole new trains of memories. Taken everything of them that existed before, and replaced it. How else do you think a woman such as Hellia can abide a wretch as hideous as I? She adores me, Swordbearer! Just in the particular manner in which I wish to be adored. She lives for me, only for me, and is utterly compliant to my wishes!'
'Do you have no feelings for her?'
Urch-Malmain shrugged and reached for more almonds. 'A fellow must have his diversions.'
'Yet you referred to her as your spouse.'
'She believes it. It appeals to her sense of propriety. I find that touching, if ridiculous.'
Leth eyed him with distaste, still deeply unsettled by the idea that Urch-Malmain might already have tampered with his memory. But if so, would he permit my dislike of him? Would he allow me to question him in this manner? To some degree this thought eased his mind, though a creeping unease lingered.
'And she dislikes you, Swordbearer,' Urch-Malmain went on, his manner becoming ever more scathing. 'I instilled within her a profound aversion to rugged, heroic types. She deems you a dullard, a fool, vainglorious and quite inadequate. Were you to attempt a seduction she would laugh in your face. There is but one man for her, and that is I, the cripple, Urch-Malmain!'
'And what was she before?'
'Before? I hardly know. She came here from our world, via the artefact. She was terrified, until I placed her under hypnotic reverie and tinkered with her hopes and fears, redrew her thoughts and dreams. Then, when she awoke she loved me in precisely the way I wish to be loved. She neither desired nor knew anything of her former existence. Her one wish is to live out her span with me. She cannot, of course, for I grow bored very quickly.'
'This is a grotesque violation.'
'I care not.'
'Did you make no attempt to discover anything of her former life?'
'Why would I? Of what interest could it possibly be to me?'
'How many others have you performed this 'tinkering' upon?'
'Oh, a goodly number. I keep no record. Some, of course, approached me, having heard of my reputation. They asked that I perform my operations upon them, for their lives were miserable beyond recounting. I did so, gladly, and they were grateful. Well, actually, they weren't, for quite obviously, upon awakening they were not aware that anything had been done. But they served me in the capacity I required.'
'But you have not done this to me, otherwise, why would you be telling me this?'
'You are perceptive. So you hope.'
Leth felt sudden apprehension. So you hope. What did he mean
by that?
Leth leaned angrily back in his chair. He brooded for some moments while Urch-Malmain poured himself wine. 'You speak of 'our' world, as if we herald from the same place.'
'That is so. Have you not guessed? You are Leth, King of Enchantment's Reach; and I am Urch-Malmain, of Enchantment.'
'Enchantment?'
'Quite. I am one of those whom you, against the will of your people, refuse to acknowledge as gods.'
Leth was astounded. 'Then what are you doing here?'
'An unfortunate accident. Caught by the hem of my robe, so to speak. When his enemies - of whom I was one - captured Orbelon eons ago and banished him to this 'non'-place, they sealed me with him in his Encystment of Perpetual Banishment. Gah! It pains me to recall! They are devious folk, gods. Low on morals and simple human decency.'
'That has already become plain.'
Urch-Malmain gave a humourless chuckle. Leth considered what he said. If he spoke the truth then he, a god, existed now like Leth, within Orbelon, another god - or as Orbelon had once termed himself and his kind: an aberration, a conscious being of immense power, a node or uncommon concentration of energy.
Urch-Malmain knew Leth's true identity; he knew Orbelon. This in itself suggested that he spoke at least partial truth. But a god? Leth looked him over.
'Yes, yes, I hardly look like a god!' Urch-Malmain declared with impatience. 'I know it. But it was a conceit, an affectation adopted at the time for reasons I have no wish to explain. And when I found myself in this dreadful domain I had been deprived of all ability to alter my form. Still and all, I am almost able to return. Almost. And in Enchantment I will be strong once more, and those who fooled with me will know my vengeance.'
Yet again Leth was visited by the unwelcome sensation that he was dealing with irrationalities, that he trod the lonely twisting paths of some terrible dream. And he thought of Issul, who he missed and needed so greatly; Issul, who knew instinctively how to soothe and distract him when his thoughts grew dark and troubled.
'Do you suspect me of untruths, King Leth?' queried Urch-Malmain, observing him sidelong with one eye closed.
'I-- I no longer know what I suspect. Recent days have all but stripped me of my ability to reason.'
'Well, for the sake of progress in our discussion, will you assume, at least for the present, that what I say is so?'
'For the present I perceive no advantage in attempting to gainsay you. Say on, then. You have been sealed with Orbelon in his Encystment all this time?'
'I was imprisoned within his non-existence. I could not awaken until he did, and it was not intended that he should wake. Yet he did, and in that act gave birth to this world and gave liberty to me within it, misshapen and reduced though I was.'
'Is Orbelon aware of you?'
'I would think not, for I still live unchallenged.'
Leth nodded. A distant memory had stirred: the name 'Urch-Malmain' mentioned by Orbelon as being one of a cabal of Enchantment's 'gods' who had defeated him. Leth considered the strange tale Orbelon had told him of how he had come to exist within his blue domain. For the first time since Leth had entered this world, something - the first intimations of a coherent pattern - was beginning to emerge. Something fantastical entered his mind, a wild idea, not yet wholly-formed, which he dismissed. He considered it again, his eyes on Urch-Malmain. It was too grand, hovering audaciously at the borders of his imagination, utterly impractical. And yet. . . . if a pattern could be discerned, could not a plan equally be laid? It was a glimmer of hope, at least; a tiny candle-flame in the despairing darkness that had consumed him.
'Have you seen Orbelon?' he asked Urch-Malmain.
Urch-Malmain shook his head. 'He occupies a hidden domain to which I have no access.'
'And Orbelon. . . has he been within this world? Has he at any time left his domain?'
'I know not. And I tire of your questions.'
Leth shifted his position. 'Well, you have given me much information, and most obviously there is something you wish of me.'
'There you have it!' exclaimed Urch-Malmain. 'I knew from the first that you were a perspicacious fellow. Though I have already said it, there is a task for you to perform. You will be of great service to me, and to yourself also.'
'How so?'
'Your success will enable me to open the way back to our world. You, and I, will be free once more.' Grabbing a last fistful of almonds, he pushed himself up from his seat. 'Now, enough! I can bear you no longer!'
He began to limp towards the upper stairway. 'I go to dally with Hellia. The machine will awaken in due course. In the meantime I suggest you entertain yourself in whatever fashion you prefer. Eat and drink, and rest. A sleep will do you good. Alternatively, my guards are available should you wish a game of cards or chequers. However, I fear you will find them dreary company and witless opponents. Their skills are generally limited to slaying unwelcome intruders. Make of it what you will. I shall come for you at the appropriate time.'
THREE
I
'Urch-Malmain, my patience is sorely tried!'
'As is mine!'
'And mine also!'
The voices issued from within the semi-sentient machine in the musty lowest level of Urch-Malmain's Tower of Glancing Memory. They were querulous and imploring, reproachful and splenetic.
'You have used us!'
'This is not part of our arrangement!'
'We demand an end to this! We demand that you release us!'
'It is past time you let us go!'
Urch-Malmain twitched his bent body indignantly. 'Oh hssst! Cease your squabbling, all of you! It does no good! You cannot leave until I release you, and I will not release you until your function is fulfilled!' Over his shoulder he spoke sharply to Leth. 'Pay these petulant entities no heed, Swordbearer. They have entered into a compact of business, yet are bearing their travails with poor grace. The facts are simple, whatever they may claim: I employed them to a specific end, and that end is not yet achieved. Hence, they remain in my service.'
'That is not so!' came a voice from beneath the circular troughs, where a coruscating blue-green fume now curled and billowed.
'Yes it is. You simply have a predilection for argument. Were I not here you would find fault with each other and squabble until your vapours dissipated, the plasmas were expelled and your voices became less than whispers between the stars. You do it because it is in your natures. You can do nothing else.'
'Our grievances are genuine! Your principles are called to question!'
'Ah, pah!' Urch-Malmain waved his stiff withered arm in irritation.
Leth stood by, bemused. He had entered the chamber moments earlier to find, as his dark-minded host had stated, that the machine had awoken. It hummed and burred lightly; strange lights glowed and shivered on various of its parts; fluids bubbled and spat and streamed through pipes and tubes, mingled in clear glass bulbs, became something other and coursed brightly into the machine's innards. The little beads rolled in their troughs, back and forth, and passed through gates, dropped through traps; and the whole thing gave off a disconcerting gaseous stench.
Urch-Malmain had lurched forward and taken a pinch of plum-coloured powder from with a little onyx box. This he tossed onto the coloured pattern on the floor within the frame. There was a flash, a silent explosion and a great puff of vapour. And then the voices had begun.
Their babbling became an annoyance, even to Leth who was not best equipped to judge whether they had justifiable cause for complaint. None of the entities were visible; their sound issued from within the coloured vapour that sparkled in the space within the metallic arch.
'We can’t be blamed for what is happening here! Together we have merged to create a magnificent portal, perfect in every respect!'
'But it does not work!' Urch-Malmain stamped his twisted foot.
'It works! It works! It is the Great Sow that has influenced its operation, not us!'
'Yes! Yes! The Sow! The mons
trous Sow!'
A voice somewhat calmer than the others, spoke out in a brief moment of silence. 'Who is this, Urch-Malmain? I see you have brought a visitor.'
'Ah, at last! One of you has perceived something beyond his own whining.' Urch-Malmain, stepping aside, beckoned to Leth. 'Come forward, Swordbearer. Here, irritating wisps, be silent and let me introduce Leth, the Swordbearer.'
'Is this another of your experiments, Urch-Malmain?' cried an entity. 'Is he to be sent through the portal? It will not work, you know. The result will be as before as long as the dreadful harridan exerts her influence.'
'No!' shouted Urch-Malmain. 'Just listen! Cease your ululations and woeful gnashings and listen! The Swordbearer is here to serve our ends.'
'How?' called an unseen entity.
'What is his power?' queried another.
'He will suffer the fate of the others. The Great Sow cannot be vanquished,' yet another brayed.
Incensed, Urch-Malmain drew his warped form to its fullest height, and filled his cramped lungs with a great draught of air that he might deliver a roared command: 'OH, SHUSH!!'
All fell obediently quiet. He continued in a more moderate tone, addressing the entity who had first perceived Leth's presence, 'You, Aztin, you are a little less prone to foolishness than your companions. Explain all to the Swordbearer, that he might be in no doubt as to the cause of your malfunction.'
'It is not a malfunction--'
'Just explain!'
'Very well. Swordbearer, something is happening to impair our perfect function. For long ages we have striven to establish the portal between this sorry world and that of our gracious master, the here-standing Urch-Malmain, in accordance with his instructions. And yet, through no fault of ours, those who Urch-Malmain has had pass through via our agency have travelled not quite as they should. We had no explanation for that, for we had merged precisely to form this perfect artefact. We take great pride in our work and were sorely addled at this inexplicable failure. So we passed psychic eyes through the portal, and had them rest unseen in the inter-world drift, to monitor what went on. At first they detected nothing. But then, more recently, we discovered the subtlest waves of disturbance. A flux of instability! Further investigation revealed the source. The flux has been deliberately introduced. It is the Sow, the monstrous Kancanitrix, Ascaria. And nothing we can do will deter her or expunge her baleful influence.'
