The Stolen Lake (15 page)

At the queen's words Captain Hughes turned first extremely pale, then bright red. He cast one nerve-racked sideways glance at Lieutenant Windward, who was standing, equally red faced, staring rigidly ahead.

"Your h-h
-husband,
ma'am? King
Arthur?
I'm afraid I don't quite—"

"My husband, King Arthur," she repeated. Her high, fatigued voice held a hint of irritation. "To be healed of his wounds in the isle of Avalon."

"But—but good gad, ma'am, that would make you—"

"Thirteen hundred years old," the queen said coldly. "You do not think I would be such an undutiful wife as to die before my husband returned to me?"

Captain Hughes did not look as if he had any thoughts on the subject at all. He stared at the queen with glazed eyes.

Dido stared, too. Never before had she seen a lady thirteen hundred years old. Queen Ginevra certainly was very fat. She must have been getting fatter and fatter all those hundreds of years, Dido reflected. Don't look as if she walked about much. Or went out in the fresh air.

The queen's skin was pale and soft, like white bread dough. She lolled back wearily against her pillows.

Lucky she ain't bald, Dido thought.

An abundance of limp, rather greasy yellowish-white hair was swept back from the queen's brow and confined by a diamond-studded snood. Like Queen Victoria, she had very little chin, but her eyes, large as poached eggs, made up for that—they were extremely sharp and gave the impression that they observed all that went on, not only in front of the queen but also to the side and behind her. They observed, but they held no expression; they were like birds' eyes. The short fingers of her small, fat hands were loaded with rings.

"The Battle of Dyrham was fought in the winter," Queen Ginevra went on. "After my husband had been conveyed away by his aunts, the lake, Arianrod, very fortunately froze. So we were able to bring it with us to New Cumbria."

"Bring it with you, ma'am? The
lake?
"

"In the form of ice blocks—as ballast," she answered rather impatiently. "Had it been liquid, of course the task would have been by no means so easy."

"By no means," Captain Hughes echoed faintly.

"Of course you will appreciate the necessity of bringing the lake."

"Necessity, ma'am?"

"Do not be continually repeating my words like a gaby, Captain, I beg! Of course it was necessary that the lake should be here, because when my husband returns, it will be by boat
across that lake
—into which, as you will recall, the sword Caliburn had to be dropped in order to summon his aunts."

Captain Hughes remained silent. A light sweat had broken out on his brow.

"When we reached New Cumbria," Queen Ginevra went on, "a convenient location was found for the resiting of Lake Arianrod in a dried-up depression—doubtless volcanic in origin—between Mount Damyake and Mount Catelonde; and it has remained there ever since. Some of the peasants call it Dozmary; but of course Arianrod is its real name."

"Just so," said the captain.

"Now to my purpose," went on the queen. She looked sharply at Captain Hughes. "Captain—Lake Arianrod has been stolen!"

"Gracious me, ma'am," said the captain, after a slight pause.

"It shall be your task to get it back for me."

"Er," said the captain, after another slight pause, "I shouldn't wish to cast doubt, Your Majesty, but—but you are quite
sure
it has been stolen, and not—not merely trickled away—or evaporated—or sunk into the ground?"

"It has been stolen, Captain," repeated the queen coldly. "I am aware of the motive—and I am cognizant of the culprit."

"But how could somebody steal a
lake?
"

"Without the slightest difficulty. The lake frequently freezes, since it is at an altitude of fourteen thousand feet. It was purloined, and removed across my boundary, on llama back, in the form of ice blocks, just as we imported it from Camelot County in the first place."

"You did say, you did mean, ma'am," said the captain a little wildly, "I just wish to be sure I did not misunderstand—you
did
mean that your husband was the King Arthur who established the Round Table?"

Ignoring that, the queen said, "You had best peruse this impudent document!" From among the folds of her draperies, she produced a scroll, embossed with a crowned dragon, and handed it to Captain Hughes.

"You may read it aloud, for the benefit of your companions," she ordered.

Accordingly he read:

"Dear Cousin, Pendragon, and Ruler of New Cumbria. Since you have unlawfully and barbarously violated the treaty of alliance that binds our two countries in that you have seized my child, heir, and most precious treasure, be it known to you that I have seen fit to retaliate by removing one and one half million tons of inland water from the boundaries of our two realms, which water I shall be prepared to return to you immediately upon restoration to me of the said princess, in good health and unharmed. Mabon, Rex."

"What is this about?" inquired Captain Hughes, when he had digested the contents of the epistle. "Mabon? I understand him to be the ruler of the kingdom of Lyonesse, which lies to the southeast of Your Majesty's dominions? But what is this heir, this princess of whom he speaks?"

"Oh, it is all such nonsense! The most ridiculous, laughable mistake!" exclaimed Queen Ginevra pettishly. "The idiot has taken it into his head to accuse
me
of abducting his daughter. Why should I do such a thing? And in consequence, he had the effrontery—the outrageousness—to remove my sacred lake."

"There is no truth in his accusation?"

Queen Ginevra drew herself up. "Do you doubt me, Captain?"

"Of course not, ma'am. Of course not. Who is this princess?"

"Oh, the child's name is Helen, or Elaine—some such thing."

Dido started. Instinctively she clenched her white-gloved hand.

"The girl went to boarding school in England," Queen Ginevra continued. "As you may not have heard, there is a popular, superstitious belief that the climate of these latitudes is unsuitable for young female persons. I believe the young lady attended a seminary in Old Bath. Upon her return home, what happens? Undoubtedly her ship was captured by pirates—the South Seas hereabouts teem with them.

"And yet Mabon immediately accuses
me!
Without the least grounds for doing so! And has the impudence to steal my lake. Imagine it! Suppose this should be the time—and it might well be so, for the soothsayers have given this year as a particularly fortunate, auspicious period—when my dearest husband, my dear
Quondam Rex,
should be due to return? What would happen if the lake were not in its place? The thought is not to be borne!"

A very strange mixture of expressions blended and battled in the queen's countenance: resentment, wistfulness, anger, coyness, grief, pride, self-satisfaction. Dido did not care for any of them. She supposed she ought to feel sorry for a deserted wife who had been sorrowing so many hundreds of years for her lost husband—but how
could
you feel sorry for anybody quite so fat?

Besides, she oughter got used to doing without him by now, Dido thought.

"What did you wish
me
to do in the matter, ma'am?" Captain Hughes sounded exceedingly glum.

"Well," Queen Ginevra replied, in a tone that was unexpectedly cheerful and chatty, "I
had
originally intended you to go and reason with King Mabon, Captain Hughes, and, if necessary, threaten armed intervention by British forces; my own army is, unfortunately, sadly depleted. But since you have brought your charming young friend to see me, I have been visited by a much better notion." She fixed her pale eyes on Dido.

"You shall go to King Mabon, Captain; I will give you a safe-conduct across the frontier through the Pass of Nimue. Young Miss Twite there shall accompany you, and you will inform King Mabon, who will know no better, that you are returning his daughter to him!"

"
What?
" gasped the captain, who could hardly believe his ears. "What, ma'am? You cannot be serious! You
cannot
intend the substitution of that young person there for—for the missing princess?"

"Why not, pray?" said the queen coldly. "The princess has been away at boarding school for ten years.
He
will never know the difference. Why, you could easily pretend to be his daughter, could you not, child? Of course," she added, with what was evidently meant to be a winning smile, "I should greatly prefer that you remain with me, as my dear little guest—but you would do this small service for me, would you not? You need not remain with King Mabon for long, you know—merely until he has restored my property. Then you can run away and return to me here, and we shall have such splendid times together!"

Dido gaped at the queen. So many snags in the plan presented themselves to her that she did not know which to mention first. Meanwhile the captain was spluttering like a firecracker.

"But—but—but, ma'am! That would be rank deceit—fraud—imposture—knavery! It is not to be thought of!"

"No?" Queen Ginevra turned her protruding eyes on him. The look in them was now far from friendly.

"I could by
no
means countenance such sharp practice in the name of King James's government, or my masters at the admiralty."

The queen sharply clapped her hands. Immediately a dozen gray-clad guards appeared from behind the curtains at the side of the hall. Queen Ginevra gestured toward Captain Hughes.

"Take him to the Wen Pendragon prison," she said. "He may cool his heels there, until, perhaps, he has second thoughts."

Captain Hughes was dragged away, struggling, cursing, and protesting loudly. "I object! This is an outrage! An act of war! Disgraceful detention of a diplomatic official! One of King James's subjects! Monstrous! Intolerable!" His voice died away in the distance.

Ignoring him, the queen looked thoughtfully at Dido.

"As for you, child..." Ginevra reflected for a little, as if undecided. Then she said, "You may have two days to decide. If you are prepared to go on this mission to King Mabon for me—I daresay that young man would escort you?"

Dido and Lieutenant Windward eyed one another uncertainly; after a moment Dido slightly jerked her head, and he answered, "Y-yes, ma'am," in a faltering voice.

"Very well! If you undertake the mission for me—if King Mabon returns my lake—your captain shall be re-leased. Now you may leave me. In forty-eight hours—or sooner, of course—I shall expect your decision."

Dido found voice enough to croak, "Might we go look at this here lake, missus—Your High and Mighty? Where it was, I mean? Jist to make sure it has really gone, like?"

"You doubt me?" asked the queen formidably.

"No—no, ma'am! But—you never know—somebody mighta put it back by this time."

"Most unlikely! But, in any case, if you travel to the court of Mabon in Lyonesse, you must cross the frontier at the head of Lake Arianrod, so you will see it then. You will need a safe-conduct to show to the guardian of the Temple of Sul, which commands the Pass of Nimue. If you agree to go, I will see that the grand inquisitor supplies you with the necessary pass."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Mr. Jones, the queen's physician, now approached and, deferentially but firmly, wrapped a black bandage round the queen's plump arm, pressed a pigskin bulb, and studied the motions of a small dial.

"You should rest, Your Mercy," he said. "The audience with the gringo captain has tired you more than you are aware."

"Oh, very well, very well," snapped the queen, who did not appear particularly tired, so far as Dido could judge. However, she accepted a dishful of pills—red, yellow, green, black, and pink—which the doctor handed her, swallowed them with a little milk, and said to Dido, "You may depart, child. On your decision rests whether you see your captain again."

The atmosphere in Bath Palace was stifling, warm as a conservatory. Despite this, Dido felt icy cold as she walked away from the dais; Queen Ginevra's glance seemed to pierce like an oyster knife between her shoulder blades. It was a comfort to have Lieutenant Windward's firm clasp on her arm. He was walking at a measured pace, trying to avoid undignified signs of nervous hurry. Dido had leisure to observe that the side hangings were in fact spiderwebs—huge, sagging curtains of them, swinging from roof to floor. They sparkled, here and there, with precious stones, diamonds perhaps. And the spiders, occasionally to be seen lurking in thickety knots of web, were as large and hairy as coconuts.

In the curving gallery outside they found Daffyd Gomez, the grand inquisitor, waiting to intercept them.

"Here comes more trouble," breathed Dido, as the venerable white-bearded figure extended a skinny hand.

"Er—young man! Miss!" The inquisitor's voice was conspiratorial; he gave them a sly smile.

"Sir?" Lieutenant Windward's tone was sharp with worry. He was a capable, conscientious young man, a good second-in-command, but not used to dealing with such a crisis as this.

"I know—I know—you are in a pucker about your captain! Small blame to you. Her Mercy is so impulsive. That was what I tried to warn him, but he would not be advised. Now, doubtless, he is sorry. But listen to me: Do not
you
be so hotheaded. Take my advice.
Pretend
to agree to the queen's mission—then come to me. Will ye do that?"

"Not really go to King Mabon, you mean?" Windward said cautiously.

The grand inquisitor shook his head.

"Mabon has not taken the lake—gracious me, no! Y Diawl, he would not do such a thing. It will have sunk away from natural causes. She will only make us into a laughingstock with such a message. Their queen is cracked in the head, Mabon will be saying. A great pity that would be."

"But—" Dido began. It seemed plain the grand inquisitor had no idea of her part in the plan: the queen's intended deception of King Mabon. Gomez looked at her severely.

"Hold your tongue, child! Little girls should be seen and not heard."

"But what about Captain Hughes?" Windward asked doubtfully.