Part 36 (1/2)

”Maybe Fornax made him leave his shoes as a decoy, and took him to another cell. You will be locked in here, unable to pursue your rescue mission.”

”But I can't be locked in as long as I have the key.”

”True. But then why leave the shoes?”

”Maybe Justin found another way out, but could not take his shoes.”

Sim went to the shoes-and discovered a round hole just beyond them. Beyond it was a large stone cover for the hole, that evidently would fit perfectly to make the floor level. The hole was deep; in fact, it seemed to open into another chamber below.

”An oubliette!” Sim squawked. ”They put him down the hole without his shoes! The rats will be gnawing at his toes.” He stuck his head down the hole, but could see nothing. There was only dank silence down there.

He fetched another torch and tossed it into the hole. It dropped into a deep pit and guttered in a chamber whose sides were not visible from above. There was no help for it but to climb down and take a direct look.

”I don't trust this,” Jupiter said fearfully.

”He could be bound and gagged, so that he can't call out to us,” Sim pointed out. ”I can climb reasonably well. It won't take long to check.”

He stepped into the hole, and used feet, wings, and beak to brace himself against the rough stones forming the sides. He wedged down until he reached the point where it widened into a cavelike chamber, with water dripping slowly from the ceiling. Indeed it seemed to be a cave, with extensions crawling out to the sides. He dropped to the floor and followed one tunnel until it ended in nothing, then followed another. Before long he had explored them all, and found neither exit nor prisoner. It had, after all, been an untamed gander chase.

The torch was guttering out. Quickly he returned to the entrance hole-and found that it was blocked. Someone had replaced the heavy floor tile, sealing off the oubliette. It would not be possible to dislodge it from below; there was insufficient purchase. He was trapped, just as Jupiter had feared.

”I fell for it,” he squawked in abysmal dismay. ”How could I have been so stupid!” For he was supposed to be the very smartest of birds. That ignominy was worse than the fact that he had been made another prisoner. ”The lack of guards, the prop-bones, the shoes-all designed to trick me into trapping myself, and I did exactly that. I am a prime idiot!”

”Yes, of course,” Jupiter agreed sympathetically. ”But mortals are expected to have such limits. We shall have to wait for the game to end.”

”How can you be so philosophical about it?”

”I am a Demon. Time has little relevance to our interests. Perhaps if more than one percent of my attention were here, I would be more concerned. As it is, my inculcated fear is eased, because my aspect of this game is abated. Let me tell you all about the strong nuclear force.”

Actually, Sim was interested. Resigning himself to his captivity, he settled down to listen to the Demon's information. But meanwhile he wondered: Exactly where had Justin and the Demon Earth been so cunningly hidden?

Jaylin stood in near shock as the Fornax figure came toward her and abruptly moved into her. She was being possessed! But then the Demon's awareness spread out through her body and into her mind, and it was all right. ”I am Fornax, mistress of contra-terrene matter.”

”But that's explosive! I mean, the moment it touches real matter, they both dissolve into pure radiation.”

”Your well soup prevents that from happening, so we can a.s.sociate physically while playing the game.”

”Well soup?” She giggled mentally. ”Oh you mean Swell Foop! Yes, it's magical. But I never expected to a.s.sociate with-with-”

”The enemy. I am aware of that. It is for your innocence I selected you.”

”I'm not innocent! I'll have you know I kissed a boy behind the kitchen once, and-” She stopped, realizing that not only was the example meaningless to this alien ent.i.ty, it was hardly a solid example of un-innocence. These Demons, as she vaguely understood it, were not exactly male or female; they were hemale and s.h.e.m.a.l.e and all points between. Fornax merely seemed female as a convenience. Innocence hardly applied. It could be worse, if Fornax decided to be male without leaving Jaylin's body. ”Okay, I'm innocent. I don't know anything that might help you, and I don't want to help you anyway.”

”But you shall help me, for that is the nature of the game. What is this about kissing a boy?”

”Nothing that would interest you.”

”I will decide that.”

Jaylin tried to resist, but discovered that she did indeed have to cooperate. For the others, the mortal creatures' decision might be the one that counted, but in her case it was the Demon's will that governed. That was probably inherent in the bylaws for using a creature provided by the enemy. She reviewed in her mind the scene in which she had kissed the boy. Of course there was also David, but she had done that openly, so it didn't count.

Meanwhile, Fornax was using her voice to address the others. ”Hold the stone out.”

The others paraded by, each touching the Swell Foop. Then Fornax made Jaylin touch it. A flood of emotion came, causing her to reel.

”What is it?” Fornax demanded, reeling with her. For the moment the alien Demon was helpless.

Jaylin sorted rapidly through her experiences of emotions. She was feeling an overwhelming surge of urgency, but of what nature? She desperately wanted something, but what? She felt as if she would expire if she didn't get-what?

Then she had it. ”Desire! The emotion of desire!”

Fornax, highly disciplined, already had her reaction under control. ”This must be explored.”

Jaylin looked around. The others were gone, including Justin. ”It's started?”

”True. They have one full day and night as you measure it to bring Demon Earth and his attached mortal body out of this stronghold. They may be able to accomplish this, if we do not interfere; I doubt the guards can withstand them, as those are merely programmed humanistic golems. We shall have to see to it ourselves.”

”You have to,” Jaylin said. ”Not me.”

”When you go against my will, you will experience this,” Fornax said. Then something distressing developed, not exactly pain, but faintly infinite regret that soon became other than faint. Jaylin couldn't balk the Demon's will; she would kill herself first.

”Got it,” she said, and the feeling eased.

”My will is your will.”

And that turned out to be the case. Jaylin had free will only where it did not conflict with Fornax's purpose. ”How can I serve?”

”In this manner.” Fornax spread out a thought.

”I can't do that! I never-” But that regret returned, draining her. ”I can do that,” she said, ashamed. She realized that she was like a horse who had discovered the futility of fighting against the bit; it was easier to let the rider's will translate immediately to action, so that there was no mental or physical discomfort.

She walked to the doorway that Justin had used as he departed. Justin stood there with the accompanying guard. ”Who are you?” she asked for Fornax.

”I am-Demon Earth,” he said.

”Give me the stone.”

He handed the Swell Foop to her. She held it in place. ”Touch it.”

He touched it. His face lighted. ”Hope!” he exclaimed. ”Now I have hope!”

”What is hope?” Fornax asked Jaylin.

”It-it is akin to desire. It is the belief that-that something good will happen. The wish for it to happen.”

”Then we are compatible. That is fortunate.”