Incarnations of Immortality

by Anthony, Piers

  "But war is not surgery," Mym protested. "It is butchery! I saw the carnage, today, when-"

  "Anything can be harmful, if it is allowed to proceed uncontrolled. Fire is an excellent example; it can be man's greatest enemy or his greatest friend. One simply needs to learn how to manage it. Likewise the process of cutting; what is butchery in the bad form remains excision in the good form. It is not the agent that is to be condemned, but the abuse, as I said before."

  There was an insidious logic here that Mym distrusted. "I would prefer to abolish war entirely."

  "You can not," Satan said. "Nor would you want to, if you truly understood it."

  "But you will explain my abilities and motives to me," Mym said sourly.

  "Naturally. As I said, it behooves one Incarnation to assist another. You can not abolish war entirely, because it is not a cause; it is a symptom, the tangible manifestation of a more fundamental malady. Only by dealing with that underlying problem can you hope to eliminate war. As it is, all you can do is fan it into greater activity or damp it down, shaping it somewhat to your design."

  Mym remembered the extreme difficulty he had had in turning off the battle between Gujarat and Maharastra;

  certainly there had seemed to be an imperative to combat that defied common sense. "And what is this underlying problem that I would not want to abolish if I could?"

  "It is the nature of man," Satan said. "Man is not a perfect creature; were he so, there would be no need of Heaven or Hell, of God or Me. Man is a composite of good and evil, and the whole of his existence as a mortal being is designed to determine the extent of those elements within him, so that he can be classified and sent to his appropriate locale in the Afterlife. Naturally his mortal span is rife with tensions and disturbance; it is good and evil that are tugging him this way and that. When men band together in the larger societies they call nations or kingdoms, those larger units assume the attributes of the individuals of which they are composed. There is a fabric of social tension, a pattern of complex and subtle pressures. Inevitably these mount until they manifest in overt war, the most drastic form of competition. You could not stifle that without stifling the society's most effective mode of expression. If all such interaction could be truly suppressed, man would never be properly defined, and there would be no point in mortality. So it is not your position, as the Incarnation of War, to prevent war; instead you want to shape and guide this visible aspect of social stress and use it to reduce social inequities and facilitate the emergence of more effective leadership. You want to fashion war into the truly useful tool for redress of inequity that it can and should be."

  Mym did not trust Satan, but this was a most compelling rationale. "I'll think about it," he said grudgingly.

  "Of course you will, Mars; that is your office. I am satisfied to have helped clarify it for you."

  "To be sure." The ease with which he spoke reminded Mym of another question: "How is it that I am not stuttering, now?"

  "You are visiting an aspect of My domain," Satan explained. "This place is not governed by natural laws, but by My laws. I see no need for a person of your status to be afflicted with an impediment of speech; therefore there is none."

  "But I have stuttered all through life, and in Purgatory too!" Mym protested.

  "That is the difference between life and Purgatory and My realm," Satan said. "There is much I can offer you, and not merely suitable concubines."

  "Offer me-in exchange for what?"

  "Merely amicable relations," Satan said blithely. "Bring Rapture here tomorrow, and I will show her also what is available. She will be delighted."

  "She needs no demons for amorous companionship!"

  Satan laughed. "Of course not. Mars! What she craves is nourishing food-without having to travel all the way to Earth for it every day, depriving you of her company."

  "You have mortally nourishing food?" Mym asked, abruptly interested. "Here?"

  For answer, Satan waved a hand. A table appeared, heavily laden with a sumptuous repast.

  "But the food of Purgatory looks and tastes real," Mym said. "How can we tell whether your food is solid?"

  "By eating it," Satan said. "The truth will become apparent soon enough."

  Mym nodded. Satan seemed to have little reason to deceive him on this score. His offerings were attractive. Pleasant surroundings, the abolition of the stutter, and a way for Rapture to remain with him. If this were truly for the sake of neighborliness, Mym was amenable.

  He turned about and made his way back toward the castle. The shrubbery became more normal, and the statuary became stone; it was like moving from the supernatural to the natural.

  As he entered the castle, he tried an experiment. "Hh-h-hello," he said to himself. Yes, the stutter was back.

  In the morning he touched the Sword and willed himself to travel to Luna's mortal residence, where Rapture was staying. One moment he was standing in the castle; the next he was at the entrance to the house. It was a trifle unsettling to travel so far so readily, but he liked it well enough. He knocked on the door.

  Rapture herself opened it, expecting him. She threw herself into his arms. "Oh, it is wonderful here!" she cried. "I missed you so much!"

  Luna stood beyond. Mym caught her eye, over Rapture's shoulder, and she nodded knowingly. It is the way of woman," she said. "To suffer pleasure and pain together."

  "I will bring her back soon," Mym sang. Then he touched the Sword, and he and Rapture stood in the castle.

  Rapture disengaged and started for the bedroom, but he restrained her. "Contrary to appearances," he sang, "there is sometimes more on a man's mind than that. I want to show you something."

  Perplexed, she accompanied him to the garden. They walked down the path and into the extension of Satan's realm.

  "But this wasn't here yesterday!" Rapture exclaimed. "There was a wall, the far end of-"

  "True," he said. "But this is special."

  "It must be! These plants are-" She paused. "Did you say something?"

  "Not a thing," he said.

  "You did!" she exclaimed. "You didn't stutter!"

  "I told you this was special."

  "But a moment ago-why did you sing, if you have conquered the stutter?"

  "I haven't conquered the stutter. This is a gift of this garden. Here I can speak normally, nowhere else."

  "Here? What is this place?"

  Satan appeared, with Lila at his side. This time both were clothed. "It is an extension of My domain," he said grandly. "I thought you would like it."

  Rapture turned to Mym. "Who is he?"

  "Rapture, meet Satan," Mym said. "The occidental equivalent of Siva."

  "Siva!" she cried, retreating.

  "And Satan, meet Rapture of Malachite, my betrothed," Mym concluded.

  Satan bowed. "My pleasure, lovely mortal woman."

  "But Siva-God of Destruction and of-"

  "Of sex," Satan finished. "Which brings us to Lila, here, a demoness of My realm. It occurred to Me that your betrothed is short of concubines, here in Purgatory, and if you approve, Lila will be happy to serve."

  Rapture did a rapid reassessment. Western nations had different and peculiar standards, but in India the Rajahs and noblemen were expected to have plenty of concubines, who were subservient to the wife. It would be a sorry Rajah who lacked concubines, and his wife would suffer loss of status, too. People would think he was impotent. On the other hand, this was not India, and it was a trifle early for Mym to be needing a regular concubine; it would be better for Rapture to get gravid with a son first. Thereafter, it was a relief for her husband to have plenty of concubines; it provided the wife more time to herself. But Rapture was a dependent person, who didn't want to be left to herself too much.

  "Let's let that wait a few months," Rapture decided.

  "By all means," Satan said. He gestured negligently, and Lila vanished; only a faint puff of smoke remained where she had been.

  Mym made no comment, but h
e was privately relieved. Concubines still made him remember his father's lesson in obedience: they tended to find their heads on spikes when declined. Since Rapture had turned this one down or at least postponed her-he didn't have to worry about that this time. Also, he was far from ready to trade Rapture off for other women in his bed; he loved her and wanted to make the most of her while the emotion remained high. Evidently she felt the same, and that pleased him deeply.

  Now the table laden with food reappeared. "This is a I feast for you, honored Lady," Satan said grandly.

  "But I can't live on-" she protested.

  "Satan says that you can be sustained on this food," Mym said. "Just as I can talk here without stuttering."

  Slowly, she smiled. "Then I can remain here with you, always!" she exclaimed.

  They fell to, and the food was excellent. But privately Mym had a reservation. Satan was doing him favors here, and he did not trust this occidental version of savage Siva not to make some inconvenient claim on him at some later date. But as long as Rapture was happy, he would not interfere.

  Later, alone again, he pondered further. He knew that Satan was tempting him, offering gifts it was difficult indeed to decline. He distrusted this; but, when the alternative was to be without Rapture or to have her unhappy, what choice did he have? So he knew he would not interfere with this offering, but he knew he had to some minor degree compromised himself. How could he ensure that no offering of Satan's subverted his ability to perform his office?

  He wandered the bare halls of the Castle of War, nominally exploring its reaches, but actually exploring his own disquiet. Mym was a prince; he had received expert training in the administrative as well as the physical aspects of government. He knew he was treading on treacherous ground, and he wanted to find some way to improve his position without sacrificing anything he valued. It was not necessary for him to turn down Satan's offerings; it was only necessary for him to shield himself from subversion by them. If he could do that, Satan would not have the leverage he thought he had. But since Satan could withdraw the benefits of the garden at any time, any overt denial would be costly.

  Perhaps he should simply inform Satan that he refused to be influenced by any such gifts, so that Satan was wasting his effort. That would be the honest course, and it was important to be honest, because Satan was the Father of Lies. Any lie would be playing into Satan's hands. But if he told the truth, and Satan still thought the gifts would subvert him-

  Mym came to a chamber he had not seen before. He had been following an unfamiliar hall, and it had terminated in a flight of stairs that evidently mounted a turret, and here was a closed wooden door. Curious, Mym pushed at it with his hand, but it would not budge. He was sure the chamber beyond was not intended to be barred to the master of the castle; it had to be sealed against intrusion by the servants or visitors. Why?

  He explored the door, tapping it here and there. It was solid. There was a large keyhole-but he had no key.

  He touched the Red Sword. He could hack through the door-but he didn't want to do that, for that would be admitting some kind of defeat. Or he could render himself into ghost status, and walk through it-but again, that implied defeat. He should be able to obtain access legitimately, without special measures.

  He touched the Sword again, considering. Then, abruptly, he snapped his fingers. He drew the Sword and willed it to change its form to that of a key.

  The Sword shimmered and changed. Now a large key was in Mym's hand. He inserted this into the keyhole, and turned it. If he had guessed correctly, this should be the right key. The tumblers clicked, and the lock gave way. Victory!

  He opened the door and entered the chamber. It contained only a table, and on the table was a book. Mym crossed over and picked up the book.

  The volume had symbols on the cover and symbols inside. Mym recognized these as Chinese or Japanese, but could not read them. Then, as he watched, the symbols shimmered, as the Sword had, and became words, identifying the book. Its title was Go Rin No Sho. But he still couldn't read it.

  Then the words shimmered and became English: Five Rings-A Book. The volume had finally zeroed in on a language he could use.

  Mym had seen this book before; he had read it years ago. It was a very well known reference for Kendo, or the Way of the Sword, and was studied by serious martial artists everywhere. It seemed that the prior Mars had valued it too; evidently the man had come here often to review it, for the volume was well-thumbed.

  He opened it randomly, and read a passage. In strategy make the gaze broad. Learn to see to the sides without shifting the eyeballs. Use this gaze always, whether in battle or in ordinary life.

  Interesting. Mym had forgotten this-or perhaps he had understood it on another level before. Of course it was literal-but it was also figurative. A warrior did not want to give away the focus of his attention by shifting his eyes about; he needed to take in everything while looking at nothing, to spy the enemy to the side, without seeming to, so that the enemy would not have the advantage of surprise he thought he had. That much was literal. But also in the mind-a person should grasp concepts without seeming to and fathom deceptions while focusing on ordinary matters-just as he was trying to do with Satan.

  He flipped randomly again, and read another passage. Become the enemy. Merge with the enemy's situation. In this manner you will gain understanding to prevail over him.

  Again, that seemed both literal and figurative. If a warrior considered his enemy's situation, really getting into it, he could more readily fathom that enemy's likely reactions. That could be a valuable tool for victory. But, in the more subtle interpersonal relations, it was just as useful. Satan was not threatening him physically; Satan was trying to modify his attitude. If he could just comprehend Satan's motive, he could judge it and work out an effective counter.

  Mym closed the book. He was impressed. If two random glances offered this much insight, what would the entire volume provide? The random passages had not given him answers, but had suggested alternate ways of considering the problem. He felt that his awareness had been broadened already.

  Mym sat at the table and commenced reading the volume from the beginning. Though he had read it before, this time it was as if he had an entirely new text, because he was absorbing it on a different level.

  9 - LACHESIS

  A few days later another battle was shaping up, and the grim horsemen gathered again at the front of the castle. Rapture shuddered as she saw them in their impressive white, red, black, and brown cloaks, their matching horses stamping their hooves and snorting with eagerness.

  "Must you associate with those ruffians?" she asked. "I realize that you have a job to do, exactly as you would have had as a Rajah, but these casteless creatures-!"

  "I fear I must," he sang. "I did not choose them, but I did choose to assume the office of War, and they are the handmaidens of war."

  She laughed, somewhat hysterically. "Handmaidens!"

  "But I will try my best to minimize the conflict I supervise today," he continued. "War may be inevitable, but it doesn't have to be totally destructive, if properly managed. Then those subsidiary Incarnations will not have much benefit from it."

  She had to be mollified. "Return as soon as you can, my beloved. I don't like being here without you."

  "Well, you can return to Luna's house in the mortal realm," he reminded her. "Or you can go to the garden and have something to eat."

  "You would have to take me to Luna's house, and, anyway, she's busy. She's nice and always polite, but she is engaged in local politics, and I don't like to take up her time. But the garden ..." She trailed off. "I'm sure nothing there can hurt you," he sang. "I wouldn't trust Satan unduly, but he is currying my favor and he knows that what pleases you is likely to please me. You could go and talk to Lila, to see whether she is worthwhile."

  Rapture brightened. "Yes, I must find out how well she sews and weaves, and whether she dances."

  Mym smiled inwardly. What a n
eat solution to her problem! Concubines did a lot of sewing and weaving in their off hours, supervised by the wife. Sometimes the Kingdoms of modem India had contests between the harems of their ranking nobles to see which produced the finest tapestries, and great honor accrued to the wives who organized the winning shows. It was said that the wives were more interested in the harems than the husbands were, though there was a snide side to that remark.

  But this exchange reminded him of Satan's influence on his present existence. Satan was helping to make Rapture happy and Satan could help to make her unhappy. That remained awkward.

  He had read Five Rings, and it had provided him with much upon which to cogitate. But he had not yet digested it sufficiently to apply it to Satan.

  The heart of the book, as he now understood it, was the five great rings, which equated on one level to the five elements: Ground, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void. None of these were simple concepts, and complete understanding would require long experience and contemplation. But it was as if it were a chart for his future understanding. Once he comprehended the full nature of each of the rings, he should possess sufficient understanding of the universe to know his true course. He intended to work on it.

  He donned his golden cloak, mounted his palomino, and rode out with the others. This time they descended on the border between two so-called Middle-Eastern nations, whose long-dragged-out war had broken out again after the breakdown of a truce. Persia was preparing a massive assault on the entrenchments of Babylonia, and the scale was far larger than that of Gujarat and Maharastra had been. There was no single spot that Mym could settle on for effective supervision; there were thousands of troops deployed along a front hundreds of kilometers long.

  Last time, he had sought to enter the mind of a general and had made little progress. This time he wanted to act with better effect. He had to gain a proper understanding of what was going on here. Then he could devise some strategy to diminish the wastefulness of it. Perhaps it would be better to phase in to the situation of one of the common troops.