Elric to Rescue Tanelorn - Michael Moorcock [32]
Lamsar was seated on a smooth rock. “You are welcome, Red Archer,” he said, “and I perceive by your manner that you wish information from me and that your mission is urgent.”
“I seek the help of the Grey Lords, Lamsar,” said Rackhir.
The old hermit smiled. It was as if a fissure had suddenly appeared in a rock. “To risk the journey through the Five Gates, your mission must be important. I will tell you how to reach the Grey Lords, but the road is a difficult one.”
“I’m willing to take it,” Rackhir replied, “for Tanelorn is threatened and the Grey Lords could help her.”
“Then you must pass through the First Gate, which lies in our own dimension. I will help you find it.”
“And what must I do then?”
“You must pass through all five gates. Each gateway leads to a realm which lies beyond and within our own dimension. In each realm you must speak with the dwellers there. Some are friendly to men, some are not, but all must answer your question: ‘Where lies the next Gate?’ though some may seek to stop you passing. The last gate leads to the Grey Lords’ Domain.”
“And the first gate?”
“That lies anywhere in this realm. I will find it for you now.” Lamsar composed himself to meditate and Rackhir, who had expected some sort of gaudy miracle-working from the old man, was disappointed.
Several hours went by until Lamsar said: “The gate is outside. Memorize the following: If X is equal to the spirit of humanity, then the combination of the two must be of double power, therefore the spirit of humanity always contains the power to dominate itself.”
“A strange equation,” said Rackhir.
“Aye—but memorize it, meditate upon it and then we will leave.”
“We—you as well?”
“I think so.”
The hermit was old. Rackhir did not want him on the journey. But then he realized that the hermit’s knowledge could be of use to him, so did not object. He thought upon the equation and, as he thought, his mind seemed to glitter and become diffused until he was in a strange trance and all his powers felt greater, both those of mind and body. The hermit got up and Rackhir followed him. They went out of the cave-mouth but, instead of the Sighing Desert, there was a hazy cloud of blue shimmering light ahead and when they had passed through this, in a second, they found themselves in the foothills of a low mountain-range and below them, in a valley, were villages. The villages were strangely laid out, all the houses in a wide circle about a huge amphitheatre containing, at its centre, a circular dais.
“It will be interesting to learn the reason why these villages are so arranged,” Lamsar said, and they began to move down into the valley.
As they reached the bottom and came close to one of the villages, people came gaily out and danced joyfully towards them. They stopped in front of Rackhir and Lamsar and, jumping from foot to foot as he greeted them, the leader spoke.
“You are strangers, we can tell—and you are welcome to all we have, food, accommodation and entertainment.”
The two men thanked them graciously and accompanied them back to the circular village. The amphitheatre was made of mud and seemed to have been stamped out, hollowed into the ground encompassed by the houses. The leader of the villagers took them to his house and offered them food.
“You have come to us at a Rest Time,” he said, “but do not worry, things will soon commence again. My name is Yerleroo.”
“We seek the next Gate,” Lamsar said politely, “and our mission is urgent. You will forgive us if we do not stay long?”
“Come,” said Yerleroo, “things are about to commence. You will see us at our best, and must join us.”
All the villagers had assembled in the amphitheatre, surrounding the platform in the centre. Most of them were light-skinned and light-haired, gay and smiling,