Julian May - The Many-Coloured Land

Claude smiled at the little exotic and let his gaze wander about the fantastic hall that lay within the heart of the Vosges’ highest mountain.

“Your Majesty, right this minute humanity’s direct ancestors are small apes cowering in the forest. They have no language, and so there is no way they can pass on to their descendants any memories whatsoever. Primitive human beings having the power of speech won’t evolve for another two or three million years or so, and they won’t develop oral traditions until, oh, say, eight or nine thousand years before my time. Wouldn’t you agree that it was highly unlikely for future humanity to have retained any recollections of a race of small shape-changing exotic people who live in underground dwellings?”

The King shrugged. “It was only a thought… So you know where the Ship’s Grave is, eh?”

Claude said, “I believe so. And you have no moral objections to our plundering it to our mutual benefit?”

Yeochee’s beady green eyes flashed dangerously. “Be careful, old Claude. You won’t be robbing the Ship of anything that can’t be returned in good time, with interest, when the unfair advantage that the despicable Foe has seized is equalized.”

Madame said, “We will help you to accomplish this end, Monseigneur. I have sworn it as part of my expiation! When humans can no longer be enslaved by the Tanu, the status quo between your two races will be restored. And our first strike will be against Finiah, using an aircraft and the Spear from the Ship’s Grave.”

The King twisted his beard into golden ropes. “The time factor! It’s only three weeks to the equinox, then another week and a half and we’re into the Truce for the Grand Combat in-gathering. H’mm. Our forces would need at least a week to prepare for an attack against the Tanu. Is there a chance that you can get back here with the flyer and the Spear before the Truce begins? We’d be willing to join you in an attack if there was a real hope of knocking off Velteyn and his flying circus. If we were successful against Finiah, the morale of our lads and lasses would be at zenith going into the Games this year.”

The old woman turned to Claude. “Is it possible for us to get to the Ries and back inside of a month?”

“We might barely manage it. But only if we obtain a guide who can take us by the shortest route to the head of small boat navigation on the Danube. This would be some place beyond the Black Forest in a kind of sediment-filled basin, the molassic foredeep between the Swabian Jura and the Alps. The river would likely flow as gentry through the molasse as the Sweet Afton. We could sail to the Ries easily and fly back.”

“Within the month?” the King persisted.

“If you use your good offices to get us a guide, it’s feasible.’’

Fitharn stepped forward. “The mighty Sharn-Mes suggested that one Sugoll might be made to assist the expedition. A bad-tempered joker, even for a Howler, and not any too loyal. But he claims to rule the Feldberg country, even the Water Caves beyond the Paradise Gorge. Sharn-Mes thought that if anyone knew of this river, Sugoll would. I can take these people to his lair if you’ll authorize Madame to impress his service.”

“Oh, very well,” grumbled the King. He crouched down and began groping under the throne, presently hauling out a small coffer that looked as if it was carved from black onyx. After fumbling with its golden catch, he flung it open, rummaged around, and came up with a Parker pen of twenty-second-century vintage and a much-creased, stained piece of vellum. Still kneeling on the floor he scrawled several emphatic ideographs and appended the royal signature.

“That should do it.” He replaced the writing materials and the chest and handed the missive to Madame. “It’s the best I can do. Freely translated, it says: Help these people or It’s your ass . You have our royal leave to coerce this Sugoll into slime-mold if he gives you a hard time.”

Madame gave a gracious nod and tucked the note away.

A bowlegged little fellow in a belted red smock came trotting into the audience hall and saluted the King. “You rang, Appalling One?”

“We hunger and thirst,” said the Monarch of the Infernal Infinite. He turned abruptly from the steward and shot a question at Madame. “You really think this expedition has a chance of success?”

“It does,” she affirmed solemnly. “Captain Richard, here, was a master of starships. He will be able to pilot one of the flyers spoken of in your legends, if they have not been destroyed by the elements. Martha and Stefanko possess technical knowledge that will enable us to make both the aircraft and the Spear operational. Chief Burke and Felice will defend us against natural perils en route. I myself will use my metafunctions to confound inimical members of your own race, as well as such Tanu that may venture to pursue us. Professor Claude will lead us to the crater once we are safely on the river. As to success…” She ventured a wintry smile. “That remains in the hands of le bon Dieu, n’est-ce pas?”

Yeochee glowered at her. “Why can’t you speak English like a regular human being? Don’t I have enough trouble with you? Oh, I admit the plan sounds good. But so did the scheme for tunneling under the Finiah wall and setting off that damned guano explosive your people cooked up. And at the last minute Velteyn let the Rhine into the diggings! A hundred and eighty-three Firvulag stalwarts swiming for their lives in a soup of bird shit!”

“This time it will be different, Monseigneur.”

Yeochee beckoned to the steward. “Bring me some of the best ale. And have that new human cook, Mariposa, the one with the nose, bake up one of those big flat open-face tarts with the melted chamois cheese and tomato sauce and the new sausage.”

The steward bowed low and ran off.

“We have your leave, then, to pursue the expedition immediately?” Madame asked.

“Oh, yes, yes.” The King’s growl was petulant. He drew his golden bathrobe around himself. “We command it, in fact. And now you are dismissed… Fitharn, you stay here. I’ve got something to talk over with you.”

The palace guards, who had stood immobile in their black-glass armor during the interview, now thumped short lances on the floor and prepared to escort the human visitors out. But the smallest female, the one with the cloud of pale hair , who was scarcely as tall as a Firvulag woman, had the boldness to call out.

“Your Majesty! One more word.”

“Oh, very well,” sighed the King. “I know who you are. I suppose you still think we ought to give you a golden torc.”

“Don’t make me wait!” Felice fixed him with a gaze even more penetrating than Madame’s. “With a golden torc I could insure that the expedition would be a success.”

The King vouchsafed what he hoped was a suave smile. “I know all about your extraordinary abilities. You’ll be rewarded with your heart’s desire in good time. But not yet! First, help your friends get the Spear and the flyer. If you should happen to find Lugonn’s torc there at the crater, take it! If not, we’ll see what can be done when you return. Deliver the goods and then we’ll talk about presents.”

He waved his hand in dismissal and the guards ushered the humans out.

“Are they gone?” Yeochee whispered, jumping down off the dais to peer into the gloom.

“Gone, King,” Fitharn confirmed. He sat on the edge of the regal platform, pulled off one boot, and tipped a pebble from it. “Ah, you little bastard!”

“Show some respect,” growled Yeochee.

“Speaking to the stone in my shoe, Appalling One… Well? What do you think?”

“Risky, risky.” The King paced up and down, hands clasped behind his back. “If only we could do without these damned middlemen! Pull off the whole thing ourselves!”