Elric in the Dream Realms - Michael Moorcock [133]
Elric turns to his father.
ELRIC: “Father, they’re catching up with us. Another few days and there will be no more than half a mile between us.”
FENERIC: “At least our wounded are in better condition and we need fear no attack from above…”
FENERIC: “… but I agree our chances of staying ahead of them are slim unless we can lose them in the marshes ahead.”
ELRIC: “I’m beginning to wish I had not given up that sword so readily.”
Feneric becomes intense. He seizes his son by the shoulder and turns him round so that they are face to face …
FENERIC: “Believe me, my son, that blade is cursed, and cursed is any man who makes a compact with Chaos. As it is, Lord Arioch now inhabits our world by your invitation. And that can only mean disaster for some, if not for Melniboné.
ELRIC (grins): “Then let’s hope it is for King Minak and the Karasim who reap Chaos.”
The little band is now in the wide marshland. Marsh birds fly overhead and the place has a desolate beauty. The tiny figures of the Melnibonéans make their difficult way from one piece of relatively dry land to another and, very close behind, with tracker beasts of a reptilian appearance, who can swim easily through the swamps as well as run over dry land, comes Minak and his great army of Karasim.
ELRIC: “Perhaps I was hasty in ridding myself of that sword, Father. After all, you said yourself the damage is done and Arioch already in our world.”
FENERIC: “No need to compound the folly, my son. We can only hope—and press on …”
MINAK: “There! Ahead! They’ll soon be paying the price of inconveniencing the Karasim …”
Soon there was nothing for it but to make a stand and prepare to fight.
The grim-faced band of Melnibonéans has found some relatively high ground surrounded by a natural moat with only a narrow causeway leading to it. Here they will make their stand against the whole Karasim army.
FENERIC: “Here’s a natural fort we can defend. At least we’ll take a good many of our enemies with us!”
A full scale battle scene as the Karasim attack from all sides, wading or swimming through the water, using the corpses of their own slain men and animals to get to the mound on which the Melnibonéans stand. Elric, Feneric and their men give good account of themselves, through the course of the day.
But as night falls …
MINAK: “Fall back! The darkness only aids them. We’ll attack again at dawn!”
The Karasim fall back, leaving the battle-weary men of Melniboné to count their losses—four dead and twelve wounded—and be rallied by Elric’s praise.
ELRIC: “Well, done, warriors of Melniboné! Each of you has sent at least a score of Karasim down to hell!”
FENERIC: “But can we last another night, my son?”
ELRIC: “Only by calling on supernatural aid, Father.”
Close up of a weary, angry Feneric clutching at Elric.
FENERIC: “No! Future generations will curse us if we rely on the aid of Arioch of Chaos and that damned black blade!”
ELRIC: “And I will curse myself if, by not summoning Chaos, I see my father die under Karasim steel!”
FIRST MELNIBONÉAN SOLDIER (points): “Dawn is almost upon us and the Karasim advance!”
Elric, scowling, backs away from where his father stands, sword in hand, rallying the weary remnants of his army.
FENERIC: “Stand ready!”
ELRIC (slips down behind a rock): “Arioch! Bring me back the black blade, I beg thee!”
We get a glimpse of a triumphantly smiling face as Arioch causes the Black Sword to materialize.
ARIOCH: “There, little mortal. Do your worst with it.”
The Melnibonéan soldiers are forced into a tighter and tighter knot as the Karasim gain the islet and close in on them.
FENERIC: “They close for the kill! Where’s my son? Dead already?”
Elric, his face a mask of terrible vengeful glee, the Black Sword in both hands, suddenly appears to deal death to the astonished Karasim.
MINAK: “No! He wields the Chaos sword again! But he still cannot defeat so many of us. Destroy him and make the sword