"I-"
Jack raised his hand.
"I say only that I might suggest this. Of course, I do not. I do not really know what did or did not pass between you-other than Evene and the Hellflame-nor do I care. I know only what occurred. Considering this, and considering also the fact that you are now a relative, I shall allow you to take your own life, rather than lose it at the hands of another."
The Colonel sighed and smiled, raising his eyes once more.
"Thank you," he said. "That is very good of you. I was concerned that you might not give me this."
They sipped their wine.
"I shall have to change my appellation," said the Colonel.
"Not yet," said Jack.
"True, but have you any suggestions?"
"No. I shall meditate upon the question during your absence, however."
"Thank you," said the Colonel. "You know, I've never done anything like this before ... Would you care to recommend any specific method?"
Jack was silent for a moment. "Poison is very good," he said. "But the effects vary so from individual to individual that it can sometimes prove painful. I'd say that your purposes would best be served by sitting in a warm bath and cutting your wrists under water. This hardly hurts at all. It is pretty much like going to sleep."
"I believe I'll do it that way then."
"In that case," said Jack, "let me give you a few pointers."
He reached forward, took the other's wrist and turned it, exposing the underside. He drew his dagger.
"Now then," he began, slipping back into a tutorial mode of speech he had all but forgotten, "do not make the same mistakes as most amateurs at this business." Using the blade as a pointer, he said, "Do not cut crosswise, so. Subsequent clotting might be sufficient to cause a reawakening, and the necessity to repeat the process. This could even occur several times. This would doubtless produce some trauma, as well as an aesthetic dissatisfaction. You must cut lengthwise along the blue line, here," he said, tracing. "Should the artery prove too slippery, you must lift it out with the point of your instrument and twist the blade quickly. Do not just pull upward. This is unpleasant. Remember that. The twist is the important part if you fail to get it with the lengthwise slash. Any questions?"
"I think not."
"Then repeat it back to me."
"Lend me your dagger."
"Here."
Jack listened, nodding, and made only minor corrections.
"Very good. I believe you've got it," he said, accepting the return of his blade and resheathing it.
"Would you care for another glass of wine?"
"Yes. You keep a fine cellar."
"Thank you."
High above the dark world, beneath the dark orb, mounted upon the lazy dragon to whom he had fed Benoni and Elite, Jack laughed into the winds and the fickle sylphs laughed with him, for he was their master now.
As time wore on, Jack continued to resolve boundary disputes to his satisfaction; and these grew fewer in number. He began, idly at first and then with growing enthusiasm, to employ the skills he had acquired dayside in the compilation of a massive volume called An Assessment of Darkside Culture. As his will now extended over much of the night, he began summoning to his court those citizens whose memories or special skills provided historical, technical or artistic information for his work. He was more than half-resolved to see it published dayside when completed. Now that he had established smuggling routes and acquired agents in major day-side cities, he knew that this could be accomplished.
He sat in High Dudgeon, now Shadow Guard, a great, sprawling place of high, torch-lit halls, underground labyrinths and many towers. There were things of great beauty there, and things of incalculable worth. Shadows danced in its corridors, and the facets of countless gems gleamed brighter than the sun of the one-half world. He sat in his library in Shadow Guard with its former Lord's skull an ashtray on his desk, and he labored with his project.
He lit a cigarette (one of the reasons he had established a clandestine commerce), having found the dayside custom a pleasant thing, as well as a difficult habit to break. He was watching its smoke mingle with that of a candle and climb toward the ceiling, when Stab-a man-bat-man reconversion, who had become his personal servant- entered and halted at the prescribed distance.
"Lord?" he said.
"Yes?"
"There is an old crone at the gates who has asked to speak with you."
"I haven't sent for any old crones. Tell her to go away."
"She said that you had invited her."
He glanced at the small, black man, whose lengthy limbs and antenna-like plumes of white hair above an abnormally long face gave him a multi-tactic, insect-like appearance; he respected him, for he had once been an accomplished thief who had attempted to rob the former Lord of this place.
"Invitation? I recall no such thing. What was your impression of her?"
"She had the stink of the west upon her, sir."
"Strange..."
"...And she requested that I tell you it's Rosie."
"Rosalie!" said Jack, lowering his feet from his desk and sitting upright. "Bring her to me, Stab!"
"Yes, sir," said Stab, backing away, as always, from any sudden display of emotions on his Lord's part.
Jack flicked an ash into the skull and regarded it.
"I wonder if you're coming around yet?" he mused. "I've a feeling you may be."
He scribbled a note, reminding himself to inflict several companies of men with severe head colds and set them to patrolling the Dung Pits.
He had emptied the skull and was straightening the papers on his desk when Stab escorted her into the room. Rising, he glanced at Stab. who departed quickly.
"Rosalie!" he said, moving toward her. "It is so good..."
She did not return his smile, but accepted the seat he offered, nodding.
Gods! She does look like a broken mop, he decided again, remembering. Still... It's Rosalie.
"So you have finally come to Shadow Guard," he said. "For that bread you gave me long ago, you shall always be well fed. For the advice you gave me, you will always be honored. You shall have servants to bathe you and dress you and wait upon you. If you wish to pursue the Art, I will instruct you in higher magics. Whatever you wish, you need but ask for it. We shall have a feast for you-as soon as it can be prepared! Welcome to Shadow Guard!"
"I did not really come to stay, Jack, just to look at you again-in your new gray garments and fine black cloak. And what shiny boots! You never used to keep them that way."
He smiled.
"I don't do as much walking as I once did."
"...Or skulking about either. No need for that now," she said. "So you've got yourself a kingdom, Jack-the largest I know of. Are you happy with it?"
"Quite happy."
"So you went to the machine that thinks like a man, only faster. The one I warned you about. Isn't that so?"
"Yes."
"...And it gave you The Key That Was Lost, Kolwynia."
He turned away, groped for a cigarette, lit it and inhaled. He looked at her then and nodded.
"But it is a thing I do not discuss," he said.
"Of course, of course," she said, nodding. "With it, though, you obtained power to match ambitions you once did not even know you possessed."
"I would say that you are correct."
"Tell me of the woman."
"What woman?"
"I passed a woman in the hall, a lovely thing, dressed all in green to match her eyes. I said hello and her mouth smiled at me, but her spirit walked behind her weeping. What have you done to her, Jack?"