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our vintages we will drink the health of the new Lord of Cii."
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Yodo bowed, and brought a dull flagon webbed and dusty, which he decanted
with utmost solicitude, and poured into crystal goblets. Cugel raised his goblet,
and the charm purred warning. Cugel abruptly set down the goblet, and watched
as Derwe Coreme raised hers to her lips. He reached forth, took the goblet, and
again the charm purred. Poison in both? Strange. Perhaps she had not intended
to drink. Perhaps she had already ingested an antidote.
Cugel signaled Yodo. "Another goblet, if you please . .. and the decanter." Cugel
poured a third measure and again the charm signified direness. Cugel said,
"Though my acquaintance with the excellent Yodo is of short duration, I hereby
elevate him to the post of Major-Domo of the Palace!"
"Exalted," stammered Yodo, "this is a signal honor indeed."
"Drink then of the ancient vintage, to solemnize this new dignity!"
Yodo bowed low. "With the most heartfelt gratitude, Exalted." He raised the
goblet and drank. Derwe Coreme watched indifferently. Yodo put down the
goblet, frowned, gave a convulsive jerk, turned a startled glance at Cugel, fell to
the rug, cried out, twitched and lay still.
Cugel frowningly inspected Derwe Coreme. She appeared as startled as had Yodo.
Now she turned to look at him. "Why did you poison Yodo?"
"It was your doing," said Cugel. "Did you not order poison in the wine?"
"No."
"You must say 'No, Exalted.' "
"No, Exalted."
"If you did not who?"
"I am perplexed. The poison perhaps was meant for me." .
"Or both of us." Cugel signaled one of the footmen. "Remove the corpse of Yodo."
The footman signaled a pair of hooded under-servants, who carried off the
unfortunate major-domo.
Cugel took the crystal goblets and stared down into
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The Eyes of the Overworld
the amber liquid, but did not communicate his thoughts. Derwe Coreme leaned
back in her chair, and contemplated him at length. "I am puzzled," she said
presently. "You are a man past the teaching of my experience. I cannot decide
upon the color of your soul."
Cugel was charmed by the quaint turn of phrase. "You see souls in color, then?"
"Indeed. It was the birth-gift of a lady sorceress, who also provided me my
walking boat. She is dead and I am alone, with no friend nor any who thinks of
me with love. And so I have ruled Cil with little joy. And now you are here, with a
soul which flickers through many colors, like that of no human man to come
before me."
Cugel forebore to mention Firx, whose own spiritual exhalation, mingling with
that of Cugel's, undoubtedly caused the variegation Derwe Coreme had noted.
"There is a reason for this effect," said Cugel, "which in due course will be one
shining with the purest ray imaginable."
"I will try to keep this in mind, Exalted."
Cugel frowned. In Derwe Coreme's remarks and the poise of her head he noted
barely concealed insolence, which he found exasperating. Still, there was ample
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time to correct the matter after learning the use of the amulet, a business of
prime urgency. Cugel leaned back into the cushions, and spoke as one who muses
idly. "Everywhere at this time of Earth's dying exceptional circumstances are to
be noted. Recently, at the 'manse of lucounu the Laughing Magician, I saw a great
libram which indexed all the writings of magic, and all styles of thaumaturgical
rune. Perhaps you have similar volumes in your library?"
"It well may be," said Derwe Coreme. "The Fourteenth Garth Haxt of Slaye was a
diligent collator, and compiled a voluminous pandect on the subject."
Cugel clapped his hands together. "I wish to see this important work at once!"
Derwe Coreme looked at him in wonder. "Are you then such a bibliophile? A pity,
because The Eighth Rubel Zaff ordered this particular compendium submerged
off Cape Horizon."
Cugel made a sour face. "Are no other treatises at hand?"
"Doubtless," said Derwe Coreme. "The library occupies
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The Eyes of the Overworld
the whole of the north wing. But will not tomorrow suffice for your research?"
And, stretching in languid warmth, she contrived to twist her body into first one
luxurious position, then another.
Cugel drank deep from a black glass goblet. "Yes, there is no haste in this matter.
And now " He was interrupted by a woman of middle age in voluminous brown
garments, evidently one of the under-servants, who at this moment rushed into
the hal!. She was shouting hysterically and several footmen sprang forward to
support her. Between racking sobs she made clear the source of her anguish: an
abominable act only just now committed by the ghoul upon her daughter.
Derwe Coreme gracefully indicated Cugel. "Here is the new Lord of Cil; he has
vast powers of magic and will order the ghoul destroyed. Will you not, Exalted?"
Cugel thoughtfully rubbed his chin. A dilemma indeed. The woman and all the
servitors fell down upon their knees. "Exalted, if you control this corrosive magic,
employ it instantly to destroy the vile ghoul!"
Cugel winced, and turning his head met Derwe Dor-erne's thoughtful gaze. He
jumped to his feet. "What need I of magic when I can wield a sword? I will hack
the creature organ from organ!" He signaled the six men-at-arms who stood by in
their brass armor. "Come! Bring torchesl We fare forth to dismember the ghoul!"
The men-at-arms obeyed without enthusiasm. Cugel herded them toward the
great portal. "When I fling wide the doors, rush forth with the torches, to create a
blaze which will illuminate the evil being! Have swords drawn so that when I
send him reeling you may strike the coup de grace!"
The men-at-arms each with torch and drawn sword stood before the portal. Cugel
slid back the bolts and flung wide of the portals. "Out! Shine upon the ghoul the
last light of his existence!"
The men-at-arms raced desperately forth, with Cugd swaggering after,
flourishing his sword. The men-at-arms paused at the head of the steps, to look
Uncertainly out over the promenade, frqm which a quite horrid sound could be
heard.
Cugel looked over his shoulder to see Derwe Coreme watching attentively from
the doorway. "Forward!" he
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shouted. "Surround this wretched creature, whose death is now upon him!"
The men-at-arms gingerly descended the steps, with Cugel marching to the rear.
"Hack with a will!" he called. "There is ample glory, .for all! The man who fails to
deal a stroke I blast t>y magic!"
The flickering lights shone on the pedestals, ranging in a long line to merge at last
with the darkness. "Forward!" cried Cugel. "Where is this bestial being? Why
does he not appear to receive his deserts?" And Cugel peered through the
wavering shadows, hoping the ghoul by now would have taken alarm and fled.
At his side came a small sound. Turning, Cugel saw a tall pale shape standing
quietly. The men-at-arms gasped, and fled incontinently up the broad stones.
"Slay the beast by magic, Exalted!" called the sergeant. "The most expeditious
method is often the best!"
The ghoul came forward; Cugel stumbled back. The ghoul took a quick step
forward. Cugel sprang behind a pedestal. The ghoul swung out its arm; Cugel
hacked with his sword, sprang to the protection of another pedestal, then raced
with great ability back across the terrace. The door was already closing; Cugel
flung himself through the dwindling aperture. He heaved the door shut, and
thrust home the bolts. The ghoul's weight slammed against the timbers and the
bolts creaked in protest.
Cugel turned to meet the bright-eyed appraisal of Derwe Coreme. "What
ensued?" she asked. "Why did you not slay the ghoul?"
"The warriors decamped with the torches," said Cugel. "I could see neither where
to hack nor where to hew." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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