Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [127]
Elric is dragged, screaming, into a black hole. He falls backwards, deeper and deeper into darkness…
… to arrive not in Melniboné, but a chill landscape, grim and near-lightless…
Elric has landed on a black featureless plain. A little pale light comes down from a tiny moon high overhead. There are some distant stars, but unfamiliar.
ELRIC: “Those stars! They are like no constellations I’ve ever seen. This place—what have I done? Where am I?”
VOICE (from outside the frame): “Welcome, young Silverskin. Welcome to limbo—the place some call ‘The Middle March’—the lands between the worlds.”
Elric turns—and there stands the one we know as Arioch, who here calls himself The Unknown. His own light emanates from him. He is a golden, gorgeous youth. A dandy in strange, alien clothes. At his hip is a scabbarded black sword and in his right hand is a golden staff. He himself is of stunning appearance. He smiles a little sardonically.
ARIOCH: “Have you forgotten who I am, Silverskin?”
ELRIC: “We’ve never met before!”
ARIOCH: “Oh, we’ve met before and we’ll meet again, for I am your supernatural mentor. Your interests and mine are the same. And shall be to the end of time …”
ELRIC: “I’ve never seen you before, sir!”
ARIOCH: “Perhaps you don’t recognize me. I’ll forgive your poor manners. After all, you are not very old.”
Elric recovers himself and makes a short bow to the newcomer.
ELRIC: “Excuse me, my lord. Perhaps my memory has been affected by my fall …”
ARIOCH: “I can tell I’m unwelcome. Call for me should you need my help. Farewell.”
And Arioch vanishes in a golden flash, leaving nothing but the dark, bleak, moonlit landscape.
ELRIC: “I suspect that creature. But I need a guide if I’m to return to Melniboné. What’s that slithering, unwholesome sound?”
He whirls at a sound behind him and catches a glimpse of a Night Worm. The Night Worms are huge, blind white worms. They crawl at the edge of the darkness, scenting for Elric’s blood. They have vampire mouth-parts.
Another voice whispers out of the darkness:
FENKI: “Heh, heh, heh—the Night Worms are sniffing for your blood, little Silverskin…They hunger so for such sweet, fresh sustenance …”
ELRIC: “Who’s that?”
Fenki is sitting on a high rock looking down at Elric. The Night Worms slither in closer.
FENKI: “Only old Fenki, master. Just another poor lost soul like yourself…exiled to the Middle March through his own bad sorcery …”
ELRIC: “Come down, sir, and declare yourself!”
FENKI: “It would be rude to interrupt the Night Worms when they feast on your tasty blood …”
Elric has no weapon, no means of defending himself. The worms slither in closer. He tries to scramble for the rocks and slips. Fenki capers above, enjoying Elric’s predicament. Elric kicks futilely at the Night Worms.
ELRIC: “Filthy creatures … Aarkkk!”
FENKI: “Hee, hee! You must learn to scramble faster than that, Silverskin!”
There comes a blast from out of the darkness which sends Fenki hopping away in terror.
FENKI: “EekJ No offense, my lord! Forgive me …”
Arioch has reappeared. He is grinning at Fenki’s discomfort and also at Elric’s disgust. He throws Elric a black sword (it’s Stormbringer).
ARIOCH: “Here, take this blade. See if you can use it!”
Then the Night Worms have closed in on Elric and he is fighting for his life.
ELRIC: “This sword! It seems to lend me strength!” Slicing and stabbing around him.
Elric becomes demonic as he fights the Night Worms. Scores of them attack him, but he succeeds in fighting them off while Arioch, smiling with satisfaction, watches him beat them off. Fenki sits on his own bit of rock nearby, scared both of Arioch and Elric’s sword.
ARIOCH: “He fights well, eh, Master Fenki?”
FENKI: “Oh, aye, master—very well. But who could not, with that damned blade?”
Arioch claps his hand on Fenki’s shoulder.
ARIOCH: “Oh, come now, Master Fenki. You don’t give the lad enough credit…”
FENKI (shuddering): “Whatever you say, my lord.”
Elric rests panting as the remaining Night Worms slither away to