Elric to Rescue Tanelorn - Michael Moorcock [158]
“I have been here for some time,” Mrs. Persson explained, “but Werther and the Duke of Queens…”
“Just got here,” explained the Duke. “I hope we’re not intruding. Only we had a slight mishap and Mrs. Persson was good enough…”
“Always delighted,” said the insincere lord. “Would you care to see my new—”
“I’m on my way home,” said the Duke of Queens. “I just stopped by. Mrs. Persson will explain.”
“I, too,” said Werther suspiciously, “am on my way back.”
“Very well. Goodbye.”
Werther summoned an air car, a restrained figure of death, in rags with a sickle, who picked the three up in his hand and bore them towards a bleak horizon.
It was only days later, when he went to visit Mongrove to tell him of his adventures and solicit his friend’s advice, that Werther realized he was still speaking High Melnibonéan. Some nagging thought remained with him for a long while after that. It concerned Lord Jagged, but he could not quite work out what was involved.
After this incident there were no further disruptions at the End of Time until the conclusion of the story concerning Jherek Carnelian and Mrs. Amelia Underwood.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
In Which Elric of Melniboné Recovers from a Variety of Enchantments and Becomes Determined to Return to the Dreaming City
Elric was awakened by the rain on his face. Wearily he peered around him. To left and right there were only the dismembered corpses of the dead, the Krettii and the Filkharian sailors destroyed during his battle with the half-brute who had somehow gained so much sorcerous power. He shook his milk-white hair and he raised crimson eyes to the grey, boiling sky.
It seemed that Arioch had aided him, after all. The sorcerer was destroyed and he, Elric, remained alive. He recalled the sweet, bantering tones of his patron demon. Familiar tones, yet he could not remember what the words had been.
He dragged himself over the dead and waded through the shallows towards the Filkharian ship which still had some of its crew. They were, by now, anxious to head out into open sea again rather than face any more terrors on Sorcerers’ Isle.
He determined to see Cymoril, whom he loved, to regain his throne from Yyrkoon, his cousin…
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
In Which a Brief Reunion Takes Place at the Time Centre
With the manuscript of Colonel Pyat’s rather dangerous volume of memoirs safely back in her briefcase, Una Persson decided it was the right moment to check into the Time Centre. Alvarez should be on duty again and his instruments should be registering any minor imbalances resulting from the episode concerning the gloomy albino.
Alvarez was not alone. Lord Jagged was there, in a disreputable Norfolk jacket and smoking a battered briar. He had evidently been holidaying in Victorian England. He was pleased to see her.
Alvarez ran his gear through all functions. “Sweet and neat,” he said. “It hasn’t been as good since I don’t know when. We’ve you to thank for that, Mrs. P.”
She was modest.
“Certainly not. Jagged was the one. Your disguise was wonderful, Jagged. How did you manage to imitate that character so thoroughly? It convinced Elric. He really thought you were whatever it was—a Chaos Duke?”
Jagged waved a modest hand.
“I mean,” said Una, “it’s almost as if you were this fellow ‘Arioch’…”
But Lord Jagged only puffed on his pipe and smiled a secret and superior smile.
THE BLACK BLADE’S SONG
(THE WHITE WOLF’S SONG)
THE BLACK BLADE’S SONG
(The White Wolf’s Song)
(1994)
Come, Mephistophilis, let us dispute again,
And argue of divine Astrology.
Tell me, are there many Heavens above the moon?
Are all celestial bodies but one globe,
As is the substance of this centric earth?
Christopher Marlowe,
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
CHAPTER ONE
An Unusual Occurrence on the Xanardwys Road
THE RIDER WAS lean, almost etiolated, but subtly muscled. His ascetic features were sensitive, his skin milk-white. From deep cavities within that half-starved face