She reached the circular floor and walked past Snowclaw, oblivious to him and the mangled bodies. Arms folded, Snowclaw regarded her in puzzlement. She walked on, moving in the direction of the dark boulder. The rods began to vibrate violently. She took a few more steps, and then the rods flew from her hands.
Gene ducked as they streaked by. He heard a clinking sound and looked toward the base of the rock. The two silver rods clung to the stone as if to a great magnet.
“So,” the woman said. She stood regarding the rock, then elevated her gaze to the jewel atop it. “Of course … of course.”
Presently her attention was drawn to Gene. She looked him up and down, then asked, “Who are you?”
“The name’s Gene Ferraro.”
“How did you find this chamber?”
“Just wandered in. Why?”
She did not answer, moving past him toward Linda and Jacoby. She looked the fat man over, then turned to Linda. “Are you a virgin?”
“Huh?”
“Have you known men?”
“What kind of —”
“Answer the question or it will go badly for you.”
“It’s none of your darned business.”
Melydia slapped her face. “I ask you again. Are you a virgin?”
Linda was shocked, unbelieving. “No!Okay? No, I’m not.”
“I thought not. Pity. A female is always preferable, but I suppose I can make do with the boy.” She turned and cast her eyes about the cathedral-like chamber. “I was beginning to think that there was no way into this room.” Frowning, she noticed the elevator door high in the wall. “That is most strange.”
“Look, what do you want with us?” Gene said.
She walked slowly back toward him. “What were you doing in this place?”
“I already told you that. We’re lost. We want to go back to our own world. We were trying to find it.”
“Odd, then, that you should be here in the Hall of the Brain.”
“Is that what you call this cross between St. Peter’s and Madison Square Garden? As I said, we’re here by accident. You were right about this room not having a door. We had to create one to get in. We had no idea what was here.”
“Indeed? And what of the disturbance we heard a while ago? Was that your doing?”
“Not ours,” Gene said. “We were nearby when it happened, but we don’t know what it was or what caused it.”
“I see.” Melydia turned and headed toward Snowclaw. “And what manner of hell-spawned beast is this?”
“What’s it to you, lady?” Snowclaw answered.
Melydia’s right hand came out from the folds of her gown and performed a few quick motions.
Snowclaw howled and threw himself against the iron bars of the cage that had suddenly materialized around him.
Melydia took a deep breath. “I surprise even myself. Ordinarily I would need an hour to bring forth an object of that size, but in this place …” Her eyes sought the ceiling. Her whisper came softly. “Incarnadine, thy fate is sealed!”
“Move back!” one of the soldiers told Gene.
Ten minutes later Gene, Kwip, Linda, and Jacoby were bound, hands behind them, but were free to walk. The soldiers had searched them for hidden weapons. They had rummaged through Kwip’s backpack and discovered dried meat and journey cake. They divvied it up and were now taking a meal break.
Melydia drew one infantryman aside. “Take them wherever you wish, as long as it is away from this place. Do not wander far, as you might lose your way. Kill them all.”
“Yes, my lady.”
She went to the Stone.
“Do you hear me?”
I hear.You have found it.
“I have found you as well.”
Indeed? I sense your closeness.
“Hear me. A while ago you underwent an unusual perturbation. Did you perceive it?”
Yes.
“Do you know what it was, or what caused it?”
It was …a loss.
“A loss? Of what?”
A long silence, then: Alas, I cannot say.
“Very well. It may not be important.”
I will soon be free.
“You will. And you will remember your liberator, heed her, and do her bidding.”
It is difficult to say. Only one has ever commanded me. His name is no longer in my memory.
“Ervoldt commanded you.”
A slight tremor vibrated the floor.
I remember! I recall the day. It was he who put me here, in this place that is not a place. It was he who enthralled me.
“Yes, and it is I who will set you free.”
Family Residence
There was nothing left to do but rest.
He lay abed and pondered what might have caused the spasm of a short while ago. The castle periodically underwent minor convulsions, but that one had been different. He had never experienced its like. Try as he might, he could not convince himself that Melydia had been responsible, although her spell-casting might commence at any moment.
He was loath to contact the voice, but decided it would have to be done.
“Attend me,” he spoke.
He was surprised when the voice did not respond within a reasonable time.
“Attend me,” he commanded.
I hear.
“You did not come when summoned.”
I was otherwise engaged.
“How can this be possible?”
Another speaks to me.
“Indeed? This is unusual.”
You are no longer the only one, son of Ervoldt.
He laughed. “I see you are being well tutored.”
I have forgotten many things. I must learn.
“Why?”
In order to regain my former existence.
“Yes, of course. Enough of this. I wish to know the nature of the paroxysm you experienced a short while ago.”
I do not know what it was. The other has also asked.
His eyebrows rose. “I see. And what did you tell her?”
What I told you.
He nodded.
Also …
He waited. “Yes?”
That it was a loss. I can characterize it better now. It was insignificant, but it was a loss nonetheless.
He sat up. “Can you tell me what was lost?”
A long pause. Then, Part of what constitutes me. I am no longer the sum of my parts. I am less.
“Indeed? This is news. Can you elaborate further?”
No.
“Do you know your name?”
A single bead of sweat formed on his forehead as he waited.
Finally, No. Still am I nameless, still am I in thrall. But the time will come when I will once more beat the air with my wings.
“Before that time comes, tell me this. Could the loss have been the result of a taking away of something?”
Yes! That was it. What I have lost was taken from me.
Breath slowly went out of him. “Good,” he said. “Perhaps. Perhaps not.”
He rose and left the room. In the next he turned to the right and exited through an arch, coming into a third room with a few tables and benches, a large fireplace at its farther end. He stopped and faced an area of wall demarcated by two stone pilasters.
He extended his arms and touched both index fingers together. Then he drew his arms apart.