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Fa¨¦thor - Zek ¨C Perchorsk
In the Möbius Continuu for Fa&u dead and gone, and had been incorporeal - which is to say bodiless - for a very long ti that by noas probably reat importance which the Necroscope wanted to ask him About Harry’s ’disease’ and how he’d coh that possibility seemed almost as remote as Fa¨¦thor himself
M&ou hi time-stream, Harry paused, framed in the doorway, and looked out on humanity as few flesh-and-blood men had ever seen it -and then only on his authority He saw it as blue light -the near-neon blue of all huh, an orchestrated angelic Ahhhhhhhhh, into forever and ever But the sigh was all in his ), for time is quite silent Which was just as well For if all the sound in all the years of all the LIFE he witnessed had been present, then it would have been an utterly unbearable cacophony
He stood or floated in the ht strea out and away - the ht: It’s like a blue star gone nova, and these are its ato for their lives! And he knew that indeed every dazzling line was a life, which he could trace from birth to death across the tractless heavens of Möbius time: for even now his own life-line unwound out of hi from a bobbin, to cross the threshold and shoot away into the future But where the rest were pure blue, his own thread carried a strong crimson taint
As for Fa¨¦thor’s line: if it existed at all, it would be pure (impure?) scarlet But it didn’t, for Fa¨¦thor’s life was over No life now for that ancient, once-undead thing, but true death, where he sped on and on beyond the bounds of beingall thanks, or whatever, to Harry Keogh Bodiless, yes, the old vampire, but still the Necroscope kne to track hiht and, like tio on for ever
Fa&u ahead as he launched himself down the time-stream, I’d like to pay you a visit If you’re in the mood for it
Oh? The answer caly, a chuckle; one of Fa¨¦thor’sof two old friends, eh? And is it visiting day? Well, and why not? But truth to tell, I’ve been expecting you
You have? Harry caught up with Fa¨¦thor’s spirit: with the memory, the mind which was all that remained of him
Oh, yes! For who else would know the answer if not h what hesuch a solution existed
Come, come! Fa¨¦thor tut-tutted Am I naive? Call ave a deadspeak nod and looked the Necroscope over Well, well! But, you know, you never fail to amaze me? I mean, so many talents! And now this faster-than-life travel! Why, look-you’ve even outstripped yourself!
Even as Fa&ule, a shudder, and split down the middle Half of the line bent back a little on itself and shot off at right-angles to the Necroscope’s line of travel, shortly to disappear in a brilliant burst of red and blue fire But the other half, like a comet with Harry himself for its nucleus, sped on as before and kept pace with Fa&u some such The phenomenon he’d just witnessed (which in fact had been his departure point for Starside) was in the probable future But this was M&ou was for certain It was the reason why reading the future was so very hit andcontrary should happen to him between now and then, his departure simply wouldn’t happen Or possibly not In other words - and despite the fact that he’d seen it - it was only soht happen
But probably, said Fa&uain he chuckled So they’re driving you out, eh? No, Harry shrugged, I’ of my own free will Because if you stay they’ll hunt you down and destroy you
Because I will it, Harry repeated You brought yourself into prominence, said Fa¨¦thor, and they looked at you - closely! Now they know you for what you are All of these years you’ve been their hero, and now you’re their worst nightood luck to you But mind you look out for that son of yours Why, the last ti their conversation, Harry very carefully shielded his mind Only show Fa¨¦thor the tiniest crack in the door and he’d be in Not only to spy on the Necroscope’s e himself in his mind as a permanent tenant It was the ancient vampire’s one chance - his very last chance - for any sort of continuity other than this e into the future
And so, when Harry was satisfied that he’d reed Robbed me of my deadspeak, denied me access to the Möbius Continuum It was easy for him then, because I was only a o back to do battle with him? Fa¨¦thor hissed Your own son?
If that’s the only way Harry shrugged again, uise his lie But it doesn’t have to be a fight Starside is a big place Even bigger, now that the Wamphyri are dead or fled
Hmmm! Fa¨¦thor mused So you’ll return to Starside, build yourself an aerie there, and if necessary do battle with your son for a piece of his territory Is that it?
Possibly
So why have you come to see o to it
For long moments Harry was silent; finally he answered: But it was ht like to co silence - was of stunned disbelief Until, eventually: That I ain
But: No, said Fa¨¦thor in a while, and Harry sensed the unbodied shake of his head I can’t credit this It is - can only be - a trick! You who once fought so long and hard to keep me out, now invite me in? To be one with you in your new Wamphyri mind, body and -
Don’t say soul! said Harry Also, you have it wrong
Eh? Fa&uuard But how can I have it wrong? To go with you from this this hellish no-place into Starside is out of the question, unless it is as part of you Here I a, but if of your own free will you’re now inviting my mind into yours?
Initially, yes, said Harry But this tiree to le, without that I must use trickery, as last tiasted Move out to where?
Into theor such, in Starside
And finally Fa&uht he did, and his deadspeak thoughts turned sour as vinegar And so you are unworthy after all, he said then And have been from the start I used to lie in the earth in my place in Ploiesti and think: ’The Necroscope can have it all, everything, the world! Thibor was a ruffian, unworthy, but not so Harry Janos was the scummy froth of my loins, beside which Harry has the consistency, the purity - or if not that, then at least the hoeneity - of cream I shall make Harry hts, of which you were unworthy
How come? said Harry I mean, why do you insult me?
What? (astonishment, disbelief) Surely you mean why do I sorrow! But you could have been - could still be - the most powerful creature of all tiue Bearer! Because I, Fa¨¦thor Ferenczy, willed it, you are Wamphyri! You have admitted as much yourself And yet now you would throw it all away Does itto you, to be Walory?
What of me? Harry answered The real reater!
I don’t resent the greatness Harry shook his head Only that it was not onyou terms, and no more time to waste Can you help meor can’t you?
Cards on the table, then, said Fa¨¦thor You will take me into your mind, transfer or transport me to Starside - which after all is or should have been uide hiuided you In return for which, you desire to know if there’s a way youwithin you Now, do I have it right?
And if there is a way - Harry qualified the deal - you’ll describe it in detail, a fool’s guide, so that Iwhich, you’ll return to your oorld, leaving me, embodied once more, in Starside?
That’s the plan
And if there is no way to free you?
Harry shrugged A deal is a deal You’ll be a power on Starside anyway, as stated
Eventually to becoain the Necroscope’s shrug Like I said, with the old Wa place
Fa¨¦thor was cautious It seeet the best of this bargain Nohy should you be so good toof two old friends
Fiends, Fa¨¦thor corrected hi fiend And despite the fact that you’re the engineer of et that in the past you’ve put yourself out to do h all of them (a little sourly), as I’ve since come to realize, were to your ultirown accustoa to your own rules, that’s all Wamphyri rules Also, I’m full of human compassion - I can’t help it - and I have to ad me About you, stuck here in M&ou you here And finally well, you said it yourself: if there is a cure for my complaint, who’d know it better than you? Which is the Number One reason I’m here and doesn’t leave
Very well, said Fa¨¦thor (as Harry had supposed he would), you have a deal Now take me into your mind
When you have told me what I want to know
Whether or not you may rid yourself of your vampire?
A little ot into ht it out for yourself?
It was the toadstools, right?
Fa¨¦thor’s deadspeak nod Yes
And the toadstools were you?
Yes They were spawned ofin the earth where I’d burned andThen, when the breas ripe, I willed the fungi up into the light - but not until I knew you’d be there to receive theh thei: are they a natural part of the Wamphyri chain? Part of the overall life cycle?
I don’t know Fa&uenuine loss There was no one to instruct ht have known - e down tonever told me I only knew that the spores were in rowth; but don’t askkno to bark?
And the spores were your very last vestiges?
Yes
Could it be that such toadstools grow in the vaical to me, since those swamps are the source of Wahed his impatience But I’ve never even seen the vah I hope to - and soon! Now then, let me into your mind
Can I be rid of my vampire?
Do we still have a deal, however Ias you answer true
No, you are stuck with your vampire for ever!
Harry wasn’t hard hit; he had supposed it would be so Even concerning the very question or idea or thought of ’curing’ hi, probably had been for so what it was to be Waht hand didn’t like it, then his left hand did The dark side of er side And what of women? The Lady Karen’s cure had been her destruction
In his mind, like an echo, the Necroscope heard once more Fa¨¦thor’s answer: You are stuck with your vaht: So be it! And to Fa&uan to decelerate, leaving the astonished vaap rapidly widened, Fa&uly called back, What? But you said-
I lied, Harry cut him off
What you, a liar? Fa¨¦thor couldn’t accept it But but that’s not like you at all!
No, Harry answered, gri inside me It is like my vampire For it’s part of you, Fa¨¦thor, it’s part of you
Wait! Fa¨¦thor cried out in his extremity You can be rid of it It’s true You really can!
And THAT is the part! said Harry, transferring out of ti part’
And in M&ouibber, but faintly now and fading, like the slithering whispers of winter’s cru leaves, whirled for ever on the winds of eternity
Harry went to see Jazz and Zek Simmons on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian They had a villa in the trees, overlooking the sea and hidden well away from the holidayht in the evening when he materialized close to the house; he put out a probe and saw that Zek was on her own, but guessed that Jazz wouldn’tfor both of them First he reached out to her telepathically; and the way she answered him, unafraid, it was as if she’d expected hi hi ’But of course she’ll be OK here, the poor girl!’
’Not so poor,’ he was prompted to answer, almost defensively ’Because she doesn’t really understand it, she won’t fight it as hard as I have And before she knows it, she’ll be Wamphyri’
’But Starside? Hoill you live there? I ave up She was after all talking to a vampire She knew that behind those dark lenses his eyes were fire; knew, too, how easily she could be burned by them But if she feared him it didn’t show, and Harry liked her for that He always had liked her
’We’ll do e have to do,’ he answered ’My son found ways to survive’
’The way I see it,’ she said, with an almost unnoticeable shudder, ’blood is a powerful addiction’
The most powerful!’ he told her ’It’s e have to go-’
Zek didn’t want to push it, but felt she must: her female curiosity ’Because you love your fellow ed and offered her a wry smile ’Because E-Branch can’t trust me!’ But his half-sht not to’ And after long moments of silence he asked, ’What about Jazz?’ She looked at him and lifted an eyebrow, as if to say, do you really need to ask?
’Jazz doesn’t forget his friends, Harry But for you, ere long since dead on Starside And in this world? But for you, the Ferenczy’s son Janos would still be alive and festering Anyway, Jazz is in Athens seeking dual nationality’
’When can I bring Penny here?’
That’s up to you Now, if you wish’
Harry gathered Penny up fro her, and ently he laid her between cool sheets in the guest bedrooe And she nodded to herself, certain now that if anyone was able to look after this girl - on Starside or anywhere else - then it would be the Necroscope
’And what now, Harry?’ she queried, serving coffee sweetened with Metaxa brandy on her balcony where it jutted over the cliffs and the moonlit sea
’Now Perchorsk,’ he answered simply