Part 13 (1/2)

”This is as far as I can go,” Piper told them in a sweating voice. ”Over there is the tomb.”

Odin and Gunnar scrambled ash.o.r.e. Piper pushed the boat back into the river and was gone. Three thin sickles of moons were cleaving their way across the sky. A few unfamiliar stars were out. There was enough light now for them to see Maya's tomb not far away. It seemed to be fas.h.i.+oned of moonbeams. It was such a perfect copy of the Taj Mahal that here both death and sleep were brothers--and a nirvana of peace hung over it in an aura of silver light.

”That Piper is a smart lad,” Gunnar whispered. ”He knows what he wants.

He'll go far--maybe.”

They approached. Odin knew that four guards were stationed here at all times. They were all gone. The two went in, Gunnar turned on a little flash.

Had there been time, Odin might have grudgingly given Grim Hagen a few kind words for the work he had done and the tribute he had paid Maya. The best of a planet's treasures and art had been brought here. But all he could see was Maya, lying upon a golden, diamond-set couch. A silk embroidered coverlet was drawn over her, and it too seemed to have been spun from moonbeams. She looked no older. Odin could see no sign of breath. But he touched her hand and it was warm. He knelt beside her.

”Here,” Gunnar handed him the light. ”Hold this while I get busy. Here now, Nors-King. No blubbering.”

He opened his buckskin bag and took out the last of its treasures--a small hypodermic case. He filled the hypodermic from a little vial that glittered in the light of the lamp. ”Turn the light upon her forearm, now,” he instructed.

Gunnar slowly counted to sixty after he had given her the shot. Maya's b.r.e.a.s.t.s moved. She sighed and raised a hand to her dark curls. Then her eyes opened--in fear and wonder as a child opens its eyes in a strange place.

Then her vision cleared and she recognized them.

”Jack--Gunnar--” she gasped. Then she was in Odin's arms. And Gunnar, the strong one, was standing over them--sniffling.

It was one of those moments that seem to last forever. And then it was over and she drew her hand through his light hair, ”What happened? Where are we? I dreamed the strangest dreams.”

”Never mind,” Odin comforted. ”We will explain later. Can you walk now?”

”Walk? Of course I can walk.” But when Maya tried to sit up, she moaned in pain. ”My whole body is stiff and sore. Have I been sick?”

Odin helped her to her feet. As he did so, hundreds of precious stones that had been heaped upon the couch rolled unnoticed to the floor.

Maya winced as she stood up. Reaching down, she rubbed the calves of her legs and then stood straight with a little gasp of pain.

”Carry her, Nors-King,” Gunnar muttered. ”The night grows old and we must make our way to the Nebula.”

Odin lifted her easily. She put her arms around his neck and clung to him.

The perfume of her hair was as faint as the ghost of autumn flowers. Her breath was warm and caressing against his throat.

Then the mausoleum turned into a blinding glare of lights. Gunnar dropped the flash and his broadsword shrieked against the scabbard as he drew it.

Odin set Maya's feet upon the floor. Still holding her with one arm, he drew his sword and made ready to stand beside Gunnar.

A dozen cloaked figures came into the room. The first was Grim Hagen, smiling sardonically. The others were Brons. The last to enter was carrying poor Piper's dripping head by a handful of hair.

”So.” Grim Hagen bowed. ”The Princess awakens. And here is Prince Charming.

And here is the last Neebling that I shall ever kill. I would like to kill you very slowly, but I am afraid I do not have time. h.e.l.l is bubbling over in that fair city of mine tonight. I thought I paid my captains well, but some of them wanted more. Or they wanted what I could not give them. It doesn't matter. Let them fight it out. We have the Old s.h.i.+p with the New Drive. Out there at the edge of s.p.a.ce a desperate people are waiting for me. And now I have Maya. Gunnar, that was a mean trick. You used the science that your people stole from us to cheat me of my bride and my slave.”

Gunnar had heard enough. The huge sword flashed in a circle as he swung it above his head with both hands. A Bron stepped forward and Gunnar slashed him from shoulder to stomach-pit.