Part 43 (2/2)

”Call me Nameless. It seems you've gone and done it again.”

”Done what?”

”Produced another unacceptable anomaly.”

”Well... What's that to you?”

”I'm the Anomaly Eater,” Nameless said. ”I'm the Special Circ.u.mstance that arises in the maw of the universe when things get too hairy. I'm the one Ananke was trying to warn you about. Through your actions you have called me into being.”

”I'm sorry to hear that,” Azzie said. ”I didn't mean to awaken you from your sleep of uncreation. What about if I promise never to produce another anomaly?”

”Not good enough,” Nameless said. ”You're in for it this time, my lad. You've fooled around with the universal machinery once too often. And while I'm at it, I think I might as well destroy the cosmos and overthrow Ananke and begin everything all over again with me as Supreme Deity.”

”That's an overreaction if I ever heard one,” Azzie said. ”To destroy an anomaly you propose to produce a greater one.”

”Well, that's how the universe crumbles,” Nameless said. ”I'm afraid I'll have to destroy you.”

”I suppose you have to try,” Azzie said, ”but why don't you have it out with Ananke instead? She's top gun around here.”

”That's not the way I do business,” Nameless said. ”I'll start with you. After I've eaten your soul and washed it down with your body, I'll think about who to take on next. That's my agenda.”

Chapter 2.

Nameless waved what might have been an arm. Before he even had a chance to say good-bye to the watchman. Azzie found himself transported to an outdoor cafe table in a city whose architecture made it look very much like Rome.

Azzie was impressed by the transition, which Nameless had effected without any visible apparatus, but he was careful not to show his admiration. Nameless seemed to have a swelled head anyway. Nameless was there with him, wearing an overweight human body with a green Tyrolean hat on top of it. A white-coated waiter came over; Azzie ordered a Cinzano and turned to Nameless.

”Okay, now, about this fight. Are we going to have any rules, or is this going to be freestyle all the way?”

Azzie knew he didn't stand a chance against Nameless, whom he suspected of being a just-born superdeity. But he was putting a bold face on it, trying to bluff his way to some advantage.

”Which fighting style are you better at?” Nameless asked.

”I'm known as a master of the contest without rules,” Azzie said.

”Is that so? Then I guess we'll have some rules.”

Rules were something Azzie knew he could deal with. He had been taking exception to them since he was born, so already he had an advantage. But he was careful not to gloat visibly.

”What rules do you want to fight by?” Nameless said.

Azzie looked around. ”Are we in Rome?”

Yes, we are.

”Then let's go by regulation gladiatorial drill.”

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