Piers Anthony - Out of Phaze

‘There be information existing only in Proton, that we of Phaze could use to increase our power. Likewise, some exists in Phaze, that the Citizens there require.”

“What information?” This was new to him.

“When the frames separated, twenty years ago, the Oracle went to Proton, and the Book of Magic came to Phaze.”

‘The Book of Magic—that the Red Adept possesses?”

“The same. Dost think a mere troll could become Adept without it? The spells in that one volume be so apt that a common earth-borer, hardly human, be now, an he choose, the most powerful Adept of all. He supports Blue, who gave him the Book, and that makes Blue the strongest. Whoever possesses that Book holds the key to the governance of Phaze.”

“Aye,” Bane said. “But what would anyone of Proton want with it? Magic works not there.”

‘That be a matter of interpretation. What we call magic, they call science, and both be powerful tools. The formulae underlying the spells of the Book also underlie the scientific applications of the technology of Proton. If those spells be conveyed there—“

Now Bane grasped it. “Whoever has that information has a phenomenal advantage in his frame! Proton could have an Adept of science!”

“Aye. And whoever here in Phaze has access to the powers of the Oracle, called a computer there, can profit similarly- The combination can shift the balance of power.”

“So if you other Adepts had such contact, you could force my father to retreat, and you would dominate Phaze.”

“Aye, in time. But there be problems. The exchange of information be necessarily slow, perhaps one spell at a time, and must necessarily be through thee and thy opposite self. Without thy cooperation, nothing be feasible.”

‘That’s why Purple was trying to pressure me into working with him! To make me carry spells and things back and forth between the frames, so he could increase his power.”

“Aye. And make no mistake, Bane, I want the same. I merely oppose Purple’s method, not his design. And of course I prefer to have that added power for myself.”

“But it be to my interest to use that power for my father! And the Book of Magic be in the hand of our supporter, Red. How canst thou think I would give such power to thee?”

Translucent smiled. “That be why special mechanisms be necessary. Purple thought to coerce thee; I prefer to persuade thee.”

“How canst thou hope to persuade me to act against the interest of my father?”

“It seems, to save thy life, I have made a wager that I can do that thing.”

That set Bane back. It was true; he would have been dead, had not Translucent intervened. He did owe the man something.

Or did he? The Adepts could be devious; suppose they had set it up to make him seem to be beholden to Translucent? Purple could have made the threats, knowing Translucent was waiting to step in at the last moment. In that case, Bane would be doubly the fool to cooperate.

“I trust thee not,” he said.

“And why not, Bane?”

Bane explained his suspicion. “Canst thou deny it?” he demanded.

Translucent smiled. “Aye, I can.”

“With truth?”

Translucent looked about. “I do deny it,” he said gravely.

There was a ripple in the water and in the sea-floor, spreading out from the Adept. It passed through Bane himself.

Bane watched the ripple’s progress, amazed. “That be the splash!” he exclaimed.

“Aye.”

Bane spread his hands. ‘Then must I believe thee, Translucent. I apologize for my suspicion.”

“Be not concerned about that,” Translucent said. “I saved thee because I knew that all of us would lose, an Purple vented his malice on thee. I had to act for the benefit of all. My persuasion be not in the form of any debt thou mightst feel toward me, but in the form of common sense. Thou must agree that it be proper and best to do this; then will all be well.”

Bane regrouped his thoughts. This man had spoken truth—that could not be disbelieved, for the splash could not be feigned—but he remained an Adverse Adept. ‘To do it for thee—instead of for my father? I see no common sense in that!”

‘Thou must appreciate the larger picture. I suppose thou canst not be convinced that thy father’s side might be wrong—“

‘True,” Bane agreed grimly.

“But thou canst appreciate the practicalities of the situation. Like it or not, some you value be hostage.”

“Fleta escaped!”

“But what of those in Proton? Hast thou no interest there, in either thine other self or any other party?”

Shrewd guess! “Aye,” Bane agreed. ‘There be captives there.”

“Whether or not we approve of such tactics, we must deal with what exists, not with what we like. If someone there be held hostage against thy performance, thou canst not be free no matter what occurs in Phaze. And if thine other self be in the power of one like Citizen Purple, thou canst not exchange into Proton without going back into his power. In fact, thou wouldst have to return to the Purple Adept to overlap the location of thine other self.”

Bane nodded. “I’m not free at all,” he agreed.

“Therefore it behooves thee to cooperate, at least until thou canst discover the situation there. An I tell Purple thou hast changed thy mind, he will let thee return to his Demesnes without molestation. Otherwise, thou canst not do so.”

“But Mach might escape, and free Agape—“ Bane broke off, realizing that he had said more than he should have.

“Aye, he might, and come to exchange with thee in the Blue Demesnes, and victory would be thine. But dost thou care to take the chance, when by cooperating with me, at least for a time, thou canst be sure no harm will come to any?”

Bane realized that the Adept was making a disturbing amount of sense. As long as the situation in Proton was in doubt, he should not take any chances he didn’t have to.

“Let me think about it,” he said.

“Welcome to, Bane. There be no urgency here, now that thy friend be free. Go home to thy Blue Demesnes, and summon me when thou dost choose.”

“Thou art letting me go?” Bane asked, hardly daring to believe it.

“I told thee: I believe logic, not coercion, will bring

thy cooperation. Go talk to thy father, tell him all, and do as he advises thee. He and I have ne’er been close, yet do we respect each other’s discretion, and mayhap we can work to mutual benefit.”

Bane considered. This seemed too easy, but the lure of finally getting home with his full story of Proton was great. Once he did that, he could look for Fleta, to be sure she had made it safely back to her Herd. “Then that shall I do,” he said.

Translucent made a beckoning gesture, and a mermaid swam up. “Conduct Apprentice Bane to shore, and give him this token of safe passage from my Demesnes,” he said. He reached out and caught a small fish from the water, giving it to her.

The mermaid swam up to Bane, and smiled. She was a half-person, of course, but her upper half was as delightfully human as any man could wish. Her hair was as green as seaweed, billowing out behind as she moved, and her full breasts needed no external support because of the buoyancy of the water. But human interest ended at roughly the waistline, where the scales began. They were tidy scales, of course, tinted the same hue as her hair, but her nether portion could never be mistaken for anything other than a fish. That destroyed the better part of her appeal, for him.

He followed her out of the cave and through the water. He walked along a path that traversed the sea floor, while she swam above it. When the path ascended toward the surface, she halted, handed him the fish, and kissed him on the right ear. She pointed up, and waited while he made his way up and out.