The River of Dancing Gods (41 page)

At that moment there was a commotion outside, and into the tent burst an awesome figure. He was enormous, towering over the others—but still below the suspended captives. He Page 214 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods wore a full set of shiny black armor covering every part of his body, including gloves and a fighting helmet, 'visor down, whose aspect was cast in the shape of a terrible demon. He had the kind of commanding presence that seemed inborn, that of regal bearing and total self-confidence. Even masked and featureless, the Dark Baron captured everyone's immediate attention. Dacaro seemed slightly awestruck by the presence, which was a far cry from the fat and slovenly Ruddy gore.

The Baron wasted no time getting to the point. "You have the Lamp of Lakash," he said to Dacaro in a deep, commanding 245 JACK L. CHALKER voice that Joe couldn't help comparing to one electronically disguised—although that was obviously impossible. "I am here to receive it..

Dacaro was certainly awestruck and totally aware that he was facing someone as far beyond him as Ruddygore was beyond Joe, but not so awestruck as to buckle under. The stakes were too high here. Instead, he unclasped the Lamp and held it in his right hand. "I have the Lamp, my lord, here. It is my intent to present it to you—but I must have certain assurances of my own before I do..

The Baron seemed slightly amused. "You propose to bargain with me? I do not drive bargains to receive what is mine by right. And, since you are here in my camp and in my presence, you are in a poor position to bargain..

"I am Dacaro, formerly adept to Ruddygore," he began, but the Baron cut him off.

"I know exactly who you are and what you are. I have no time to dawdle or dicker. The battle begins with the dawn and I must be there. You will hand me the Lamp now..

Dacaro gave a slight smile. "I wish you would accept my terms and conditions for handing it over," he said mildly.

The Baron started a bit. "So you have not yet used the Lamp. Very well—what terms do you suggest?.

"I wish to have my training completed so that I may be elevated to full rank and initiated as a true sorcerer. Then I would aid you as, say, sorcerer to one of the armies, in the balance of the war. After we are victorious, I would like to be installed at Terindell..

The Dark Baron chuckled. "Only that, huh? You wish to be elevated to the Council and replace Ruddygore. Well, my treacherous friend, we see no reason for trusting traitors. The man who would so willingly betray Ruddygore for such power has no honor, and without honor he would as lief betray any lord and all oaths of fealty and allegiance. / will take that Lamp now!.

The veneer of self-confidence Dacaro had worn now crumbled in total confusion. "But—but I wished! You can't go against the wish!" He took a step backward and looked about Page 215 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods nervously. "Slave of the Lamp! Attend me!.

Smoke poured out of the Lamp and congealed into the figure of Marge. Joe was struck by how much she'd changed, but he THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS 246 was too concerned with the drama being played out in front of him to think much about that right now.

Dacaro looked at Marge. "Why didn't it give me my wish?.

he demanded.

Marge seemed to take some satisfaction in her answer. "Because this is not the Dark Baron," she told him, "but another in his armor. And the other within is not of this earth, nor of any earthly kingdom, and, as such, is not bound by the Lamp at all..

The Baron's hands went to the demonic helmet, unfastened it, and lifted it off, showing the head beneath. It was the same as the mask—a terrible, demonic face, only not fashioned by craft of metal but in a blue-black, leathery skin. "I am Hiccarph, Prince Regent of Hell," the creature told him. "The Baron sends his regrets, but he has a war to fight." And then the demon prince laughed.

Dacaro screamed. "No! No! I wish you back to Hell! Begone!.

"Free!" Marge, breathed and stepped back from the two now facing each other.

Dacaro gave a laugh. "You haven't won me, Prince of Hell! I go to the land of the djinn!" And, with that, he faded into smoke and poured back into the Lamp, which had dropped on the floor of the tent with his second wish.

The demon just stood there a minute, thinking. He moved, then, to get the Lamp and picked it up.

Joe realized that, because he was hanging so high, the demon's head was now between his hand and Irving. Held painfully by the wrist, he nonetheless managed to open his hand.

The magic sword was on the floor, with Poquah's weapon and their clothing. The idea had come into his head from the start, and now was the first and perhaps only time it might work.

With a little silent prayer he yelled, "Irving! To me!.

The sword flew from the bundle of clothes right at the demonic head, striking it and knocking the creature back, then continued on to Joe's hand. With a flip of the wrist that was tremendously painful, he brought the blade around and it sliced neatly through the rope. One arm free, he brought the blade up and cut through the other rope, falling to the floor.

The demon had been knocked over, losing the Lamp, but Page 216 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods now the terrible creature rose to its feet. Its face was the face 247 JACK L. CHALKER of nightmare, its power something that could be felt by all in the room.

Marge dived, scooped up the Lamp, and pitched it to Joe.

The demon got to his feet, smiled, and said, "Now feel the powers of Hell, mortal!" He threw out his hand and Joe instinctively drew back—but nothing happened.

The demon looked puzzled. "What in... ?.

Joe gave him no more time. "I wish all in this room and its contents were now with Ruddygore!" he yelled, holding the Lamp.

In a moment, they all winked out of the tent.

To say that Ruddygore was shocked and surprised was an understatement. One moment he had been alone in his tent thirty miles across the Valley of Decision from the enemy army, meditating for added powers, when suddenly in popped Joe, Marge, Poquah, a strange soldier looking scared to death, and a full suit of the Dark Baron's armor.

Joe whooped and hollered, waved his sword in the air, then tossed the Lamp to the astonished Ruddygore. "It worked! We did it!.

It was Marge's and Poquah's turn to be astonished. "But— how?" they both asked at the same time.

The black-clad captain, still in a state of shock, looked around fearfully and squeaked, "I surrender! Won't somebody accept my surrender?.

Ruddygore was the first to regain some sense of self-control.

He walked over to the fearsome armor, kicked it, and frowned. It was empty. He turned to the captain. "Just put your sword over there and sit down like a good fellow," he told the frightened soldier. "We'll get around to you when everything's sorted out." The captain complied.

"Now, then," the sorcerer continued, "just what is going on here?.

As quickly as possible, the three sketched the events in the tent. Ruddygore listened attentively. Finally he nodded his head affirmatively and sighed. "Well, I think I can at least explain it. The Baron, knowing that he was vulnerable to a well-stated wish even if he could block moves against himself with the Lamp, drew upon his ultimate power and raised Hiccarph.

Now, Hiccarph's powers are quite limited on this plane—he 248 THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS JACK L. CHALKER 249 Page 217 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods has, in fact, no more real existence than the genies of the Lamp—but he could move that suit of armor and, most important, he was totally invulnerable to any magic of Husaquahr.

Using the armor, he could pick up the Lamp and take it to his ally. When you summoned Irving, Joe, the sword struck the upper part of the armor. In the summons it was an irresistible force—so the armor went sprawling. That was quick thinking, by the way..

"I'd hoped it would run the Dark Baron through, damn it,.

Joe muttered.

"Be content. This was a major victory from the very brink of total defeat. It's a good thing I wasn't in Terindell, though— or you and the Lamp would have gotten there, but not the rest.

I shudder to think what might have happened to you..

Marge frowned. "But the Lamp was completely powerless against this demon! And he seemed amazed to be powerless against us!.

Ruddy gore nodded. "The forces of Hell would not be directly subject to any of the Laws or Rules, because they have no physical existence on this plane. They must work through humans—in this case the will of the Baron that placed Hiccarph in that armor. But as to why Hiccarph had no power over you, Joe—it was because you are not a native of this world. Your soul is still your soul, and it is of a different place. Hiccarph was summoned by a native of this world and, as such, he was attuned totally to the things of this world. Since he had no physical being beyond the armor, he could only reach out for your soul—but he was wrongly attuned. That's the best way I can put it. On your native world he would have plucked your soul from your body and carried it with him back to Hell itself.

But here—let's just say he was on the wrong frequency. That's what I counted on. It is the extra edge you and Marge have over anyone else." He paused a moment. "I fear it will also mean both of you are now marked. Hiccarph and his bosses will never rest until they know why they failed against you.

They will be after you..

Joe grinned. "Let 'em come! We faced down the Prince Regent of Hell a few minutes ago." He leaned over, grabbed a startled Marge, and kissed her on the lips. "We're ready for anything now." He paused and looked at her and smiled. "Welcome back to the land of the living..

She smiled and patted his hand. "What of Dacaro?" she asked. "He's now in the land of the djinn..

"And there he'll stay," Ruddygore assured her. "Nor will he get what he seeks there. They will string him along, but give him nothing of substance. And one day I will pay him a visit there, and he will leam that the Lords of the Djinn may be disinterested in our affairs but do value old friendships..

A military officer entered, bowed slightly, and said, "Sir— it will be dawn in less than half an hour. Lord Kasura awaits your pleasure..

Ruddygore turned and looked suddenly very tired. "Tell him I will be there straightaway." He turned back to Joe, Marge, and Poquah. "The three of you have done what you can, and it is more than any man had a right to expect. Get Page 218 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods something to eat at the mess tent—anyone will be able to tell you where it is—and then get some rest. The outcome of this day will no longer depend on your labors, but our cause has certainly been fortified by your deeds..

Poquah, who was pulling on his clothes, said, "Master, I will be with you. My place is not to rest during a battle..

"As you wish, old friend. But ours is a different sort of battle from what those brave ones will face..

"I can still fight," Joe told him, and Marge nodded as well.

"No. It is time for the professionals now. A battle requires planning and discipline, and you were not a part of the training.

Remain here, or go up the heights nearby at the command post and watch it unfold as best you can. But fight not today— unless we are lost and overrun." And, with that, he turned and left, Poquah following, trying to get his pants fastened.

The captain'stirred in the corner. "Won't somebody take my surrender?" he pleaded.

Joe looked at him. "Go. On your word of honor, go to the river and join your own forces, but do not fight us until you are with your own..

The captain shook his head from side to side. "Oh, no. I'm going to surrender. / looked into that thing's eyes..

Joe sighed. "Then turn yourself in to the captain of the guard. I'm sure they'll have a place to accommodate you..

Then they, too, walked out, leaving the prisoner alone.

They found the officers' mess tent with no trouble. They filled plates from a cauldron of scrambled eggs, and Joe, at 250 JACK L. CHALKER 251 THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS least, took slices from the roast of pork on a spit as well. Both sipped abnormally strong black coffee.

After a while they felt somewhat themselves again and began to relax a bit, although the tension throughout the camp was too thick to ignore. Still, in the moments before things broke loose, Joe took advantage of the little time remaining. "Well— you sure have changed, that I'll say..

She looked a little embarrassed. "The djinn accelerated the process. It was only a few days, but time there didn't pass like time here..

He nodded, although he didn't quite understand. Certainly her short pageboy hair was now down to her shoulders, and was a true silver color except for the ever-present streak in the Page 219 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods middle, now a burnt orange. Her elfin ears stuck out cutely, and it seemed that her whole face and figure radiated an unnatural sexuality. Her figure had become so exaggerated that the clothes she wore bulged and pulled, and he knew they wouldn't last long. "You're going to have a hard time with that nun's vow," he noted playfully.

She sighed. "I know. But maybe that's for the best. Huspeth will never understand, though..

His brows went up. "Then she didn't do this?.