The Stranger's Magic: The Labyrinths of Echo: Book Three (35 page)

Because I had returned home in a company amobiler yesterday, my own amobiler was still on the Street of Copper Pots by the walls of the Ministry of Perfect Public Order. This was no longer a
problem, however. After Sir Lonli-Lokli and I had combined our efforts to destroy my first amobiler, I had lived almost a dozen days without any transportation. When I had finally gotten to the
place that sold them, the variety of amobilers on the market had made me drunk. Without giving it a second thought, I had bought a few, thinking that I couldn’t have too many, given my
lifestyle.

Today it turned out that my risky investment had been a farsighted one. Instead of ripping my hair out and crying, I took one of my spares and drove to the Old City, feeling quite content and
somewhat perplexed by my own coolness: I had more or less gotten used to being a powerful sorcerer, but I’d probably never get used to being rich.

Sir Juffin Hully was sitting at our favorite table in the Glutton Bunba. “Sir Max has shown up in double-quick time, as usual,” he said to the pitcher in front of him. Then he looked
at me and smiled. “Max, your face suggests that you’re going to tell me something extraordinary. Something along the lines of Loiso Pondoxo coming back to life.”

“So you know?” I said.

“I was joking,” said Juffin. “And so were you, I hope.” He stopped short and gave me a look that was a mixture of mockery and surprise. “Hold on a second,
you’re not joking, are you?”

“No, I’m not,” I said. “So should I spit it out here, or should I wait until you’ve finished lunch and returned to the House by the Bridge?”

“Spit it out here. Makes no difference where one hears news like that.”

And I told him everything, beginning with the moment I put my silly head on Tekki’s pillow and ending with my showing Juffin the scratches on my palms.

“Why were you clutching at the sinning grass to begin with?” Juffin said. “To prove it to me later on?”

“Do you think I’m really that smart?” I said. “I grabbed it mechanically, without really thinking about it. I couldn’t think straight by that time. It was real
heatstroke. You have no idea how hot it was there.”

“Oh, but I do,” said Juffin. “I’ve been there.”

“Right,” I said. “Well, how do you like the news?”

“Actually, I don’t know,” said Juffin, staring at me with unconcealed surprise. “In my book, it’s too much. I think I’m glad that Loiso is still kicking. I
used to think that the Universe had become empty without him. Are you surprised?”

“Probably not,” I said. “I . . . liked him, although I do realize that I wasn’t dealing with the real Loiso Pondoxo, just my own reflection—idealized, augmented,
and corrected in compliance with my own recommendations. You were right: it’s the most devastating kind of personal charm. In any case, I bought into it—lock, stock, and barrel. Who could ever resist himself? What does the real Loiso
Pondoxo look like, I wonder? Or did you only deal with a nice copy of yourself, too?”

“It depends. Besides, Loiso and I have many mutual acquaintances. Take Maba Kalox, for example—he and Loiso used to be good friends. So I think I know what the real Loiso looks like.
He’s moody but always aggressive—that’s the only thing that never changes in him. He’s not evil, but he’s definitely aggressive. When you’re dealing with the
real Loiso, it seems as though he has no choice: he’ll either tear everything around into pieces or blow up himself. He’s a very charming person, and insufferable at the same time. His
old friends in the Xolomi Higher Institute used to tell me that everybody adored Loiso. At the same time, they avoided inviting him to parties. Even back then, there was too much of him for others
to be able to relax in his company. He poured bucketfuls of his unpredictability on others. Then again, Loiso was never really fond of parties or other social events. He was a self-contained
fellow. Solitude fit him like a glove.”

“You seem to be madly in love with your old enemy,” I said.

“In a way, you’re right,” said the boss. “I love strange birds. Loiso Pondoxo was not just an eccentric psychopath; he was a brilliant sorcerer, too. He had an innate
talent for Apparent Magic. People used to say that he’d learned to fly before he learned to walk, and I have reasons to believe that legend.”

“And yet you beat him,” I said.

“Well, looks like I didn’t after all,” said Juffin. “Still, better than nothing, I suppose. I was lucky that Loiso had begun taking lessons in True Magic much later than
I had. Plus, he was more stubborn than talented. This put me at an advantage. It was probably the funniest battle in the entire history of the Troubled Times: two powerful magicians, neither
wanting to kill the other yet being compelled to do it. On top of that, both of us were curious to find out how it would end.”

“Why did you even engage in that battle of the titans to begin with?” I said. “From the looks of it, you and Loiso could’ve become buddies.”

“It was my job,” said Juffin. “I had orders. Also, Loiso was very capable of destroying this World, and he certainly never lacked the desire to do it. It’s not a metaphor but a fact. He even had time to do some damage. Kettari, as you know, disappeared from the face of the earth, and for Loiso it was a mere warm-up
before the main show. But in any event, we wouldn’t have become buddies. Fate has always been very persistent at making our paths diverge, and you can’t fool fate.”

“Yeah,” I said, “that I know. Well, that’s all very neat, but what am I supposed to do now, Juffin? I mean with myself, my darn dreams, Loiso, and Tekki, of course? I
don’t know how to proceed.”

“Hold onto your seat, but I don’t know either. I don’t think you should do anything at all. Live and wait for the situation to unfold. Just make sure your head always stays on
your own pillow. Perhaps Loiso can only communicate with you through his daughter. Tekki is his last living offspring, a small reservoir of his powers set aside for a rainy day. She’s a
‘window’ on our World. I suspect that your affair may have been a well-crafted trap from the outset.”

“But she has no clue,” I said nervously. “That’s for sure.”

“And that’s the dangerous part. If Tekki were capable of controlling the situation in any way, I’d feel much safer. She’s a good girl, Max. Don’t fret. You
don’t need to run away from her to the end of the World. Just, to be on the safe side, don’t put your crazy head on her pillow, that’s all. Can you manage that?”

“It’ll be hard, but I’ll manage,” I said. My good mood had returned to me.

“Maybe it’ll be harder than you can imagine,” said Juffin. “You don’t know what your body is doing while you’re running around in your dreams. It tosses and
turns, it kicks and mutters. The next thing you know, your head will be on Tekki’s pillow.”

“Ahem, that’s very unlikely,” I said, embarrassed. “Tekki and I sleep at different times and often in different places. This morning was an exception rather than a
rule.”

“Okay, we’ll see,” said Juffin. “Deep down in my heart, I’m sure these are vain efforts. Loiso is probably powerful enough now to get to you without Tekki’s
help. He got you once, and now it doesn’t matter which pillow your head rests on. On the other hand, who says that visiting Loiso will necessarily harm you? He’s a dangerous creature, of course, but you weren’t born yesterday,
either. I’ll bet you’re curious as heck.”

“I am,” I said. “I’m so curious it makes my head spin. Loiso was right about that chiffa fox. You and I are very much alike.”

“You bet he was. I’m not sure which of us is more curious. You, probably.”

“I’m just younger so it’s easier to lure me out of my foxhole simply by standing on your head. And that’s exactly what your old friend there is doing.”

We both fell silent, each thinking his own thoughts. After a pause, I said, “You know, Juffin, I’m absolutely sure that your great and mighty Loiso Pondoxo poses no danger to me, at
least not now. Otherwise, my heart would’ve warned me.”

“And it hasn’t?”

“Nope. So I’d love to pay him a couple more visits on my own volition. The only thing that stops me is that the situation might change at some point and there will be no going
back.”

“There’s no going back for you already,” said Juffin. “Because there’s no going back for anyone. It’s just a fairy tale, a pacifier that’s as good as a
lullaby. Okay, let’s consider this conversation about Loiso over. Enough for today. I suspect that you and I will have plenty of time to get sick of this topic. A word of warning, Max: this
is a real secret. No one must know about your meeting with Loiso. And I mean no one. Period. Well, except maybe for Tekki, but it’s up to you. On the one hand, she has the right to know. On
the other hand, who knows what she might do to try to protect you from her daddy?”

“What can she do?” I said.

“She still might try. She holds very dear the chance to touch your body from time to time, you know. Besides, she has her own bone to pick with Loiso. She really hates being in her own
shoes, even though I know a lot of people who’d trade with her in a heartbeat.”

“Being in one’s own shoes is a special thing. There are very few who are lucky enough to be happy about it,” I said. “But we always find something attractive about being
in someone else’s shoes.”

“Very wise words, young Max,” said Juffin. His lighthearted mockery had a pacifying effect on me. I knew that when Sir Juffin Hully spoke in this tone, the World was safe. It
wouldn’t disappear or collapse. It would withstand whatever some Loiso Pondoxo or other might do to try to destroy it.

“Speaking of my wisdom,” I said. “Something intriguing and peculiar happened last night—” I was going to tell him Captain Giatta’s story, but Juffin shook his
head and didn’t let me finish.

“Talk to Kofa about it.”

“How do you know what I was going to say?” I said.

“I don’t, but my heart tells me that story is meant for Sir Kofa’s ears. Did you think you were the only one with a good adviser sitting in your chest?”

“Fine. Then I’m not lunching with you,” I said. “To reach an understanding with Kofa, one must speak with his mouth full.”

“Are you saying that you’re willing to sacrifice one of the two possible lunches?” said the boss. “Now I see that Loiso cast the evil eye on you after all.”

I chuckled and sent Sir Kofa Yox a call.

Kofa, I’m starving. Besides, I’m dying to share a little secret with you and you alone.

Imagine that, I’m also dying to share a little secret with you, or possibly Melifaro. I haven’t decided yet. Where are you, by the way?

I’m sitting in the Glutton and staring at Juffin’s empty plate.

Good. Bring in Melifaro and start eating. I’ll join you in a quarter of an hour.

“Are you done talking with Kofa?” said Juffin, getting up from the table. “Wonderful, let’s go.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said. “Sir Kofa told me to stay here and expand my circle of companionship, if possible.”

“I see. Good luck expanding it then. Kofa doesn’t give bad advice. Good day, Max. Maybe we’ll run into each other later today.”

“It’s a small world. And the House by the Bridge is even smaller,” I said. “Thank you, Juffin. You set my mind at ease.”

“Really? Silly me. I had hoped to scare the living heck out of you instead.” He waved goodbye and left. I sent a call to Melifaro.

I’ve been waiting for you in the Glutton for half an hour already. What’s wrong with you?

Nothing’s wrong with me, but did you ever stop to think that it’s a good idea to invite me somewhere before starting to wait for me there?

I did. Just now. That’s why I’m talking to you. Also, if you hurry, you’ll have a good chance of getting here before Kofa.

Is this a business meeting or a party?

Does it matter.

Less than a minute later Melifaro rushed into the Glutton Bunba, this time wearing a brand-new fiery red looxi. I cringed but my colleague was quite happy with himself.

“Did I beat Kofa?” he said. “Sweet. Just tell me, has something happened or not? I must know, because if it has, I’ll eat twice as much as I usually do so I don’t
have to waste time on it later.”

“I’m not sure. First Kofa will come and tell me his news,” I said. “Then I’ll decide. But you should eat more, just in case.”

“Thanks for the advice. What would I do without you?”

“Mostly stupid things,” I said.

“True, that,” he said and opened the menu. I noticed that his mood was going off the scale on the “Good” side of the gauge.

“Is everything super?” I said.

“Oh, I don’t know. I guess. Yes. It is!” Melifaro wasn’t speaking; he was singing, addressing, for the most part, the ceiling. Look at him, mister, and learn, I said to
myself. And keep in mind that when you begin an affair, your face assumes the same idiotic expression. Maybe even more idiotic because you just love going overboard with everything.

“What’s with the mocking stare?” said Melifaro.

“Don’t take it personally,” I said. “If anything, I’m mocking myself. Well, maybe you, too. But just a little.”

“Oh, I don’t mind. Go ahead. It’s your right. That’s the only thing that husbands who are being cheated on can do, anyway.”