Gene Wolfe - The Wizard

Mani’s voice smiled. “I wish you would, Sir Able.”

“I saw a cat at Sheerwall that had been born crippled. It had to hop like a rabbit, more or less.”

Mani nodded.

“Now imagine every cat was like that. And after years and years something happened to you so you could run and jump the way you do. How would you feel?”

“I suppose I’d go mad with joy.”

“Exactly. That was what Skai was like. Our lives in Mythgarthr had been bad dreams and now we were awake and the sun was shining, and those dreams had no more power over us. Do you want to hear about Folkvangr?”

“Yes, if that’s where the Lady’s cats live.”

“Folkvangr is a beautiful hall in the loveliest of all meadows. Sometimes it’s near the Valfather’s castle, and sometimes it’s far from it. They both move, but in different ways. There are gardens, and the meadow is the best garden of them all, always full of wildflowers. There are towers, rotundas, and courts, and a thousand hives filled with great golden bees that never sting anybody. There are special places for dancing and games, for singing, for talking and teaching, and for practicing the arts of war, both inside and out. You’re forever finding something new there, and it’s always something good. Secret stairs leading to rooms full of books and instruments you’ve never seen anyplace else, or windows with beautiful views you never knew were there.”

“It certainly sounds like a place I’d like,” Mani said thoughtfully. “Are there only four cats? It must be a very big house for four cats.”

“I only saw four,” I told him, “but maybe there’s more. Even though I lived there for years, I didn’t see everything, and it’s possible nobody could see everything, even if he lived there a thousand years. Did I tell you that the Lady and the Valfather swap heroes?”

Mani shook his head.

“They do. The Lady’s the Chief of the Choosers of the Slain. Some are brought to her, and she keeps a few. But she lends to her father sometimes, and sometimes he lends her a few of his. I was lent to her for a while.”

“What do her cats do?”

I smiled just thinking about it. “Hunt in the meadow and sleep in the sun. Wander through her hall for purposes you’d understand a lot better than I do. They’re her friends and messengers. On great days they draw her chariot.”

“Male or female?”

“Both, I think, and that’s all I know about them.”

“No, it isn’t,” Mani declared. “What colors are they?”

“Two tabby, one black-and-white, and one all black like you. Now it’s your turn to talk.”

“You’re aware that cats see ghosts?”

I shook my head. “I’d never even thought about it.”

“Seeing ghosts,” Mani explained with satisfaction, “is one of the many areas in which cats are superior to you, and seeing ghosts was one of the chief functions I performed for my late mistress. Dogs also see ghosts at times, as do some birds. Cats, however, are far superior to either.”

Gylf growled softly.

“He knows it’s true. It goes along with our nine lives. Once you’ve been dead, it seems very natural to see ghosts.”

“That’s interesting.”

“Isn’t it though,” Mani purred. “Now, dear owner, we must go outside. My news requires it.”

“This is convenient,” Mani said, “but not comfortable. Walk that way, toward the big barn. Would it be possible for me to get into your cloak with you, kind master?”

I shut it around him. “I thought you were Idnn’s now.”

“I am indeed,” Mani explained. “Lady Idnn is a person of distinction. Thus I’m her cat whenever it’s advisable. I’m your cat as well, however, just as I was. A cat can’t have too many friends in these wild northlands.”

“I see.”

“Not my mistress’s ghost, I hope, since I don’t see it myself. But I did, earlier. She’s been hovering around us ever since we left her house, hoping to do us some good turn. Now, having gained information she believes may be of value to—Are you aware that your dog is following us?”

“Of course.” I turned to look at Gylf, who glanced behind him. “I know,” I said. “Don’t worry about it.”

Bracing his legs against my arm, Mani stood up to see over my shoulder. “Something’s going on between you two.”

“Nothing important, but you said your mistress’s news was. What is it?”

“A friend of yours has been hurt.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.” I stroked Mani’s head with my free hand. “I don’t have many.”

“And another friend, knowing you could help her, is refusing to ask you to.”

My hand shut on Mani’s neck. “Is it Disiri? Tell me!”

“It isn’t, I promise you. Another friend.”

“A woman.” I pulled the hood of my cloak up. “I’ve forgotten so much, Mani. Who is it?”

“One of those red Aelf girls. I forget her name, but they’re pretty well interchangeable anyway.”

The barn was as dark as the gut of a tar barrel. “This way,” Mani said. “Up in the hayloft. There’s a ladder.”

“I know. I slept up there. It seems so long ago.”

“Your dog will have to stay here, I’m sorry to say.” Mani did not sound the least bit sorry. “He can make himself useful by watching for intruders. Don’t worry about me, I’ll ride on your shoulder.”

“I’m not worrying about you,” I whispered. “I’m waiting for the intruder. Talk about something else.”

“In that case I’ll go up.” Mani climbed to my shoulder. “And make sure she’s still alive.”

From the hayloft, someone called, “L-Lord?”

I was listening to the squeaking of feet in the new-fallen snow outside, and did not reply.

Slowly, almost silently, the big barn door swung, and a vertical bar of starlight appeared. Toug slipped through, and I caught him by the shoulder, making him squawk.

“If you want to be a knight, you mustn’t scare so easy,” I told him. “It helps not to shut your eyes tight, too.”

“I didn’t mean any harm, sir.”

“I never thought you did, and a talking cat’s bound to make anybody curious.”

“It wasn’t that. I knew Mani could talk. He talked to me, and I think he talks to Lady Idnn. It was you, talking about Skai. It sounded so wonderful. I wanted to stay with you and learn more if I could.”

Above, the voice whispered, “Please, L-Lord Able...”

Mani leaped, hitting the logs of the wall with a thump. After a few seconds, he called, “I think her back’s broken.”

“I can’t help her,” I told Toug, “but you can. This is why you were awake when you should’ve been asleep, and why you followed us. Go up and heal her.”

As Toug mounted the ladder I told Gylf, “I’m going back in for a minute. You can come with me or wait here.”

“I’ll come,” he rumbled.

We returned to the house and found a cup, and a big lamp made for Bymir. Outside, its flame fluttered in the wind, and I had to shield it with my hand.

“I want you up there,” I told Gylf when we regained the shelter of the barn, “and the hole Toug went through won’t be big enough. See the big one where they throw hay down?”

“Yep.”

“Put your forelegs on the edge and jump a little, and you ought to be able to get up pretty easily.” Gylf said nothing.

“The giant who owned this place stuck his head through there. So it’s around twice my height.” To see it better, I held up the lamp. “Say half a rod and a bit more. Still, it won’t be too hard for you.”

“Can’t jump that high.” Gylf would not meet my eyes.

“Maybe if I go up first, and call you?”

After a long moment, Gylf nodded.