Part 27 (2/2)

”Yos.h.i.+ is supervising its installation up in the gallery right now, High King.”

”Good.” Aiken strode to the throne and dropped into it.

”We want to be d.a.m.n sure no unauthorized parties eavesdrop on this next little confab.”

”Do you have any other commands?”

Aiken waved a hand. ”Just get some greys in here to spiffy up the tea table, then bring on the Children of Rebellion.”

Ochal saluted and would have withdrawn, but the King suddenly said, ”Do you remember the night I first came to Muriah-King Thagdal's crazy feast, and the show-and-tell we newcomers put on so you could bid for our services?”

”I remember, High King.” Ochal's mouth twitched. ”What a wild affair that was! And now I see that it was your opening move in the great game.”

Aiken seemed to be staring into the far distance. ”There was a little human redactor woman, a silver, who sang. Do you remember?”

”I hear her still in memory, s.h.i.+ning One.”

Please, said Aiken.

And later, when the North Americans came apprehensively into the sigma-sheltered salon to meet the terrible King of the Many-Coloured Land, they saw a little man sitting on a large lion-crested throne, and at his feet a faerie knight enarmed in amethyst, singing and playing ”All Through the Night” on a jewel-starred harp.

When he was certain that the silver-torc castellan and his minions were gone, Basil Wimborne went out onto the balcony of his bedroom, located the Pliocene Polaris, and oriented himself as best he could. The ma.s.sif of the Flaming Mountains lay between Calamosk and Black Crag and his fa.r.s.ensing ability, even when he was wearing gold, had been only meagre. But Elizabeth was a Grand Master, and there was a chance she would hear his feeble grey call.

He closed his eyes, placed his fingers on the warm metal about his neck, and channelled all his psychic energy into the hail: ELIZABETH ...

Basil! O mydear mydear we thought you dead.

CloudRemillard&Nodonn took b.a.s.t.a.r.ds&all in aircraft Afaliah.

But you safe? And others?

Safe now yes. With Aiken Calamosk. You know RebelChildren come?

Yes. And I know theirfather won't be far behind.

Aiken&Children plan use us&aircraft. We agreed.

But Basil ... since you wear grey I presume the others do also and you have been forced to cooperate. There is danger. Aiken will make enemy of Marc by allying with Children. You will be caught in metapsychic quarrel. Better perhaps that I demand Aiken free youElizabeth don't you know?

Why Children come ally with Aiken?

... To escape parents flex muscles mingle other mindTo open time-gate from this side.

Elizabeth? ... Elizabeth?

Yes Basil. How they plan do this?

<script>