Incarnations of Immortality

by Anthony, Piers

  Thanatos picked up the phone and dialed the number. When the connection was made, Thanatos turned to his fine pale horse. "Mortis, orient on that location," he said. Then he hung up the phone.

  They went back outside. The zombies were still working on the thugs, and the woman was watching with a certain horrified pleasure. It was not every woman who got such a chance to see an attempted rape and murder so obnoxiously punished.

  They mounted their steeds. "To that location," Thanatos told his horse.

  The animal took off. Mym's own mount followed. They galloped swiftly through the air. Soon they came down in a small jungle clearing and trotted to an isolated cabin.

  This was the place, all right: a number of zombies shuffled about. A trainer was instructing them, evidently teaching them how to walk without falling and how to follow a road. A truck was parked, hidden under a tree the primary transportation for the zombies. "They drove them to the vicinity of the farm, then pointed them toward it," Mym said. "That must have been all that was necessary."

  "Yes. But my concern is with the Grafting of them." They dismounted and walked to the cabin. It was closed, its windows boarded, so they walked through the wall to enter.

  A man was inside, using mortar and pestle to work up a white paste. That was all.

  Thanatos manifested before him. "Look at me, Mortal."

  The man looked up-and stiffened. He recognized Death.

  Thanatos questioned him, and Mym picked up the essence; the man had been seeking a better way to purify cocaine and had stumbled upon a savage variation. This product affected the subject so deeply that he passed right through a trance state into somnambulance, and could not be aroused. His body lived, but his mind was almost entirely gone.

  Thus, the zombies-living people deprived of their souls, proceeding without personal volition, doomed to degenerate shortly from neglect. Hence the connection with the Incarnation of Pestilence; in days, those bodies would be riddled with disease, the prey of flies and worms.

  Certainly this related to War, for these zombies were being used to oppose the Death Squads. In fact, the woman's husband, the man the Squad had come to assassinate, was involved with this project; when he had gotten news that he was to be hit, naturally he had arranged to test the zombies in action. His brave wife had remained at the house to alert him when the Squad arrived. She had been supposed to phone him and hide in the attic, but the premature break-in of the Squad leader had cut off her escape. The zombies would have wrapped things up anyway, but only Mym's intercession had spared her from rape and possibly murder before their arrival.

  However, Mym realized that it was the development of the zombies that had brought him here, so perhaps that was not coincidence. Nevertheless, there was no question that it also overlapped the office of Death, since people were being killed, and in a manner that was supposed to be reserved for Thanatos. They were going to have to work this out.

  Where did they get the people to de-soul by means of this drug? From captive government troops. It made perfect sense, to the guerrillas and to Mym, who had just seen how the government operated. But it didn't make sense to Thanatos. "If mortals learn how to handle souls, there will be no end of mischief," he declared. "This knowledge must be abolished."

  Mym thought of the way the zombies had shuffled into battle and concluded that Thanatos was correct. Killing was bad enough, but de-souling would give unscrupulous people a motive for more of it. They would generate armies of zombies, and no person would be safe. It would transform war, making it uglier than it already was, because the killing would be done before the battles ever started.

  "But how can knowledge be abolished?" he sang.

  "We shall have to get help," Thanatos decided. "Chronos could do it."

  Because Chronos controlled time, Mym realized. He could tilt his Hourglass and cause time to freeze, and-

  No, that wouldn't work. Both Mars and Thanatos had the ability to freeze scenes-but the scenes resumed unchanged later. Chronos would have to run time actually backwards to undo the discovery of the drug. That would complicate the world in other ways. "There must be an easier way," he sang. "Maybe Gaea-"

  "Yes, Gaea would be best," Thanatos agreed. "She knows how to do things with least disruption. I will summon her." He lifted the heavy black watch he carried to his face and spoke into it as if it were a microphone. "Gaea."

  Mist coalesced, thickening and forming into ghostly, then solid, shape. Mym, still conscious of Five Rings, recognized this as the manifestation of Wind-or Air. Musashi also called it Tradition.

  "I was waiting for your call," the voice of Gaea said, slightly before her appearance was complete.

  "We have knowledge to eliminate," Thanatos said. Gaea frowned "To eliminate!" she exclaimed. "Since when have you become regressive? Satan thrives on ignorance."

  "I shall explain," Thanatos said.

  Mym heard something outside. He signaled the others that he would investigate while they clarified the issue and walked through the wall.

  Military trucks were pulling up. What was this? More victims for de-souling being brought in? The Incarnations were taking action none too soon!

  "The government!" the trainer of the zombies cried.

  The first truck screeched to a stop, and soldiers piled out of the back. "Take them alive!" an officer called.

  The trainer and the zombies fought as well as they were able, but in minutes all were captive, for the government forces were overwhelming. "Spread out!" the officer cried. Mym wasn't sure whether he was speaking English, or whether Spanish was becoming intelligible now. "Secure all property! Destroy nothing!"

  They were after the secret of making zombies! They must have traced the zombie-truck back to its source and mounted a mission to capture both the site and its personnel.

  Mym stepped back into the building. "The government is coming after the secret!" he exclaimed in singsong.

  "Too soon!" Thanatos said. "We have not yet decided on a way to abolish it."

  Gaea smiled. "Perhaps we can delay them somewhat," she said. She stepped to and through the wall. Mym and

  Thanatos followed.

  Outside, the government troops were combing through the jungle and the clearing, hundreds strong, poking at the ground with bayonets. Before long the line would intersect the cabin. There did not seem to be any way to stop it.

  "I think fire is best," Gaea said. She raised her hands, her fingers spread, and jags of electricity radiated from them. The jags touched the ground-and fire erupted. It spread between the points of its origin, formed a line, and swept toward the troops.

  The soldiers were quick to realize their peril. "Fire!" they cried. "They've torched it!"

  "Beat it out!" the officer cried. "Save that shack!"

  But the troops were demoralized by the fire. They retreated from it.

  Gaea turned about. More current flared from her hands. The cabin burst into flame.

  "But the man inside!" Mym sang.

  Gaea shrugged. "Rescue him, then."

  Mym strode through the flames and the wall, feeling neither. The man inside was standing, alarmed. Mym caught him by the arm, then touched the Sword.

  The two of them flew up, through the roof, and into the sky. The man's mouth hung open; he could not believe this was happening. Mym brought them down beside Gaea and Thanatos.

  The woman turned to the man. "Who besides you knows the secret for making the drug?" she asked.

  "N-no one!" the man said, his knees seeming to weaken.

  A streamer of mist poured from Gaea's right hand. Snakelike, it slid toward the man's head, and into it. "No one," she repeated.

  The man's expression changed. "I-have forgotten how!" he said.

  "And you will never remember or rediscover it," Gaea said. "Now depart, before the troops apprehend you."

  "But-but the fire-"

  "Will not touch you," she finished.

  The man walked, neared the line of fire that enclosed the cab
in, and walked through it. He was magically protected-for the moment. Soon he was out of sight.

  The officer had succeeded in restoring some discipline in the troops, and they were now attacking the fire with shovels, beating it out. A gap was forming in the fireline.

  "With the material and equipment destroyed by fire and the memory of its process gone, they will not be able to fathom the secret," Gaea said. She fuzzed, became vapor, and dissipated. Mym exchanged a glance with Thanatos. "It seems our problem has been solved," Thanatos said. "I have no further interest in the proceedings." He made a signal, and his pale horse appeared at his side.

  " Wait!" Mym sang." Your friend Luna-did you know that I once loved her cousin?"

  Thanatos paused. "I did not know I have not met her cousin, but I understand she is easy to love."

  "Now I love Rapture-and I don't like the influence that Satan is having on her. I want her to be more with Luna, a better influence. But she-she fears any contact I might have with Luna, because of her similarity to Orb-"

  Thanatos smiled. "I will deliver Rapture between Luna's estate and your castle," he said.

  Mym grasped his bony hand. "I thank you, Thanatos! If I can ever repay the favor-"

  "We Incarnations must help each other to oppose Satan," he said. "When I help you, I help myself, for now you will oppose Satan's designs on Luna."

  "I will certainly do that! But what is it Satan means to do to Luna? Lachesis told me that Luna is destined to balk-"

  "She is to cast a decisive vote against Satan's political power on Earth, some years hence. Satan means to remove her from political office, or in some way circumvent her, so that his will shall govern, and he shall be able to corrupt the mortal realm and gain a majority of souls for himself. This would represent his final victory over God."

  "Satan can do that? Change things about on Earth to suit himself? Why doesn't God stop him?"

  "The two made a Covenant of noninterference," Thanatos explained. "God is good, therefore he honors it and allows free will among the mortals, wherever it may lead. But Satan, being evil, violates it and seeks always to win more power."

  Mym remembered that Gaea had said the same. Still, he found it hard to accept. "But then-what is to prevent Satan from winning?"

  "The other Incarnations," Thanatos said. "And the war is now coming to you. Wage it well."

  "I will try," Mym sang. "But I remain new in this office and still have much to learn."

  11 - CHRONOS

  Rapture, having made a genuine effort to find a place for herself in the mortal world, had found one. She was to be a part-time consultant on Indian Culture for the University of Kilvarough. Luna, when asked, had been of considerable help, and Rapture was pleased. She was well qualified for this position, as she spoke both English and the languages of several Indian Kingdoms and was excellently versed in the conventions and artifacts of them. The money she would earn would enable her to pay a nominal rental for her stay at Luna's house, which gave her a sense of independence that she had never enjoyed before.

  Thanatos, true to his word, brought her to and from the Castle of War each day. At first she had been leery of the skeletal figure, but acquaintance with Luna had reassured her. "Zane," Luna had told her-that was the name she called Thanatos- "is not really the Grim Reaper. He is an ordinary man with a difficult job and a great deal of compassion."

  Compassion. It was, in its way, a magic word. A dependent person valued that quality in others. So she came to respect Thanatos, without being any more thrilled by the nature of his employment than she was with Mym's.

  And that employment was a continuing wedge between them. Rapture did not argue the case or make demands on him, but he could feel the tension in her whenever the subject of his work came up. He learned not to tell her of the details of his day's work, because that made her uncomfortable, and she grew cold without being conscious of it. Their lovemaking became awkward. Yet what could he do? He had reservations of his own about his office, but had thrashed it out with himself and concluded that his best course was to stick with it. It was ironic that the same office that had enabled him to rescue himself and Rapture from the heartbreak that had awaited them in the mortal realm was now inexorably separating them.

  There came a night when Rapture did not appear. It seemed that there was a special late seminar at the University that required her presence, so it was easier to stay over at Luna's so that she would not be late the following morning. She would see him the next evening.

  This was all clear and sensible-but Mym did not like being alone at night. Out of sorts, he walked again in the garden.

  There was Lila, of course. "I think you are ready for a concubine," she said. "Give me leave to enter your premises, and I will serve in any manner you desire."

  Mym looked at her. She was garbed in a slightly iridescent, slightly luminescent, slightly translucent robe that enhanced a figure he knew was crafted in Hell. Her face was classic in its perfection, and her lustrous hair flowed down across her shoulders like a midnight river of silk.

  But he had seen-and possessed-beautiful women before and he still distrusted the motives of the creatures of Satan. He did not want any of them having access to his Incarnation premises. "You," he said shortly, again able to speak without stuttering in this region. "You were the one who gave Rapture notions of independence!"

  Lila's eyes widened innocently. "Why, we talked, and she inquired about the ways of western women," she protested. "I told her nothing that was not true."

  "Such as the relationship between Luna and Orb?"

  " They are both good women."

  "And you are not."

  "And I am not," she agreed.

  "You told Rapture that you were in Hell on a 'bum rap.' I am sure that's not true."

  "She misunderstood. I was speaking of another. I am a demoness. I never had a mortal existence. But for that reason, I lack the modesty of true spirits. I can provide you with the kinkiest types of passion that a decent woman would never-"

  Angry, he caught her by the arm, not certain what to do with her. She came readily in close, the musky perfume of her body manifesting. "You may hit me if you wish," she murmured. "Or whatever else may please you. Anything at all ..."

  He cast her loose. "Nothing about you pleases me!" he snapped, turned about, and stomped back toward the Castle.

  "Each lie you tell," she called dulcetly after him, "brings you closer to Satan, the Father of Lies."

  He ignored that gibe. But as he returned to his solitary room and tried to settle down for sleep, the barb returned to haunt him. Five Rings had advised him not to think dishonestly, but he had lied, for Lila's body, if not her nature, pleased him quite well. And actually her nature, her willingness to be with him and to serve his needs, was also quite tempting. He was not looking for a wife, just a concubine; why hadn't he taken her?

  Because of what Lachesis had said about Satan. If Satan had really conspired to deprive Mym first of Orb, and then of Rapture-the second plot foiled only by Mym's accession as Mars-then Mym wanted no further association with the Incarnation of Evil. Indeed, Satan had been using his agent Lila to subvert Rapture's mind, putting female-suffrage notions in her head; he was glad he had gotten her away from Lila. Was he now to be with Lila himself? Obviously not.

  Finally he slept-and dreamed that Lila had come to his bed, her flesh quivering lusciously. He woke, angry, and found himself alone. And could not get to sleep again.

  * *

  The next action requiring his attention was in Cush, a kingdom in Africa. It seemed that a tribe of Nubians in its northern section were rebelling and that the government was using its troops to combat this uprising.

  Of course it was more complicated than that, because Mars did not need to supervise every battle personally, any more than Thanatos needed to supervise every death personally. It was only when something special was happening that he had to attend. Wars and battles were going on continually in scattered regions of t
he world; if they ever all stopped at one time, Mym would be retired.

  "So what's the situation, this time?" he asked Conquest as they rode to the site.

  "Interesting that you should say 'this time,'" the white-cloaked Incarnation replied. "It does seem to involve time, though we aren't sure how."

  The subsidiary Incarnations never seemed to have full information; Mym realized that that was probably one reason they were subsidiary. It would be up to him, again, to ascertain the precise situation and decide what action should be taken. If it really involved time, he would have to consult with Chronos.

  They came down to Earth and galloped across the hot terrain. The earth was sere and barren; there had been a bad drought, destroying the crops. What a time to fight a war!

  They arrived at the site. The battle was about to begin; the government troops were converging on a rebel site. There were mounds and trenches around the village, so it was evidently defended. But there was no sign of anything unusual.

  "I will investigate," Mym said. He dismounted and strode across to the village perimeter.

  He stepped down into the first defensive emplacement he saw and phased in to the man there. The initial confusion was milder and shorter than before; he was learning how to minimize this, as he gained experience. In just a few minutes he identified reasonably well with the man and could understand what the man heard in his own language, though it was foreign to Mym himself.

  This man had been a small farmer, doing not well but adequately, back in the years when the weather was better and the crops grew satisfactorily. Then the government had been taken over by the Communists and American aid had stopped and the drought had come, making it impossible to farm effectively. This man's farm had not made its quotas and had been expropriated; rather than serve as a laborer on what he had once owned, he had joined the opposition. Many others had done the same. But the same government that said it lacked the resources to hire magic for rainmaking to save the crops seemed to have plenty of resources to send troops to harass the common folk who tried to stand up for their rights.