Stalking the Unicorn: A Fable of Tonight (32 page)

"I'm glad we understand each other,” said Mürgenstürm. “Where is it?"

"In there,” said Mallory, pointing to the painting.

"In
there?
” repeated Mürgenstürm incredulously.

"In Captain Hook's treasure chest,” explained Mallory. “I thought it would be safe until I decided to come back for it."

Mürgenstürm's eyes narrowed. “Smart, John Justin—very smart.” He smiled triumphantly. “But I guess I'm just a little bit smarter!"

"Maybe so,” agreed Mallory. “And maybe not."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Grundy's probably been watching every move either of us have made since we left the warehouse,” said Mallory. “You don't really think he's going to let you enter the painting, do you?"

Mürgenstürm closed his eyes in intense concentration for a moment, then opened them. “I've frozen Time for him again. He'll be no threat for at least ninety seconds."

"He's going to be one mad demon when he snaps out of it,” said Mallory.

"By then I'll be in your Manhattan with the ruby,” said Mürgenstürm. “Stand over by the wall there, next to your friend."

Mallory moved where the elf indicated.

"I'm taking my gun with me,” said Mürgenstürm. “If you try to follow me, I won't hesitate to use it."

"I believe you,” said Mallory.

"You'd better,” said Mürgenstürm. He dragged a chair over to the painting, climbed up on it, and entered the world of Peter Pan.

Mallory immediately walked along the wall to the corner of the room, approached the painting cautiously, and, when he reached it, quickly turned it to the wall.

"Charm's no substitute for brains, either,” he said with a grim smile.

"What the hell is going on?” demanded Kris.

"I haven't got time to explain,” said Mallory. “We've got less than a minute before the Grundy snaps out of it and starts watching me again. Do you still want to field-test the Kristem?"

"Hell, yes."

"All right,” said the detective, pulling his street map out of his pocket. “Take Fourth Avenue until you come to this little side street—I've marked it on the map."

"And then what?"

"You'll find two guys sitting outside playing chess."

"In this weather, at six in the morning?” said Kris dubiously.

"That game seems to be the one constant in an everchanging universe,” said Mallory. “That's why I chose it.” He stared intently at the desk clerk. “Now, listen carefully, because I haven't got time to repeat it. There will be a saltshaker on white's queen's bishop five. Open it up and empty the salt out. Assuming that a friend named Felina followed my orders, at the bottom of it you'll find the biggest ruby you ever saw. Take it to my Manhattan immediately, pawn it or sell it, and you'll have sufficient operating capital for the Kristem. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but—"

"No buts,” said Mallory, checking his watch. “Wait until I've been gone for a few minutes before you go after it—and if you want to live long enough to test the Kristem, don't mention the ruby to
anyone!
"

"Whatever you say."

"That's what I say. Now, let's go. He'll be awake in another ten seconds."

They walked to the door, climbed down the stairs to the twelfth floor, and took the ancient elevator down to the first floor.

"By the way,” asked Kris as Mallory was about to leave, “what'll happen to the elf?"

"I guess he'll have to learn how to get along with Captain Hook and Mister Smee until someone flips the painting over,” said Mallory with a smile.

"But no one has any reason ever to go up there again,” the desk clerk pointed out.

"Well,” replied Mallory, “that's the chance you take when you become a pirate."

Kris laughed. “Care for a drink before you leave?"

"No, thanks,” said Mallory. “I've still got a couple of things to do before sunrise."

"Thanks for stopping by,” said Kris. “It's been an interesting night."

"My pleasure,” said Mallory. Then, for the Grundy's benefit, he added, “We'll talk more about my funding the Kristem the next time I stop by."

Before Kris could answer, Mallory walked out the door and began strolling down the wet pavement, feeling very pleased with himself as the early morning sky began changing from black to gray.

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6:13 AM-6:57 AM

Since he had no intention of arriving at his destination before Kris had time to retrieve the ruby, Mallory walked at a leisurely pace, stopping to look into the more interesting store windows he passed, purchasing a fresh pack of cigarettes, browsing over the paperback rack in front of a newsstand. When he reached the Broadway area he stopped at a pastry shop and selected a dozen doughnuts of various shapes and flavors, then went next door and bought a pound of ground coffee.

He checked his watch again, decided that he had given Kris more than enough time to pick up the precious stone and make his way through the membrane, and increased his pace. Eight minutes later he reached Mystic Place, and a moment later he descended the stairs to Mephisto's front door.

It was locked, but he had little difficulty jimmying it with a credit card. He checked the wall, and discovered that Captain Captain hadn't wasted any time sending a crew over for Periwinkle.

Mallory went into the kitchen, put the doughnuts in the refrigerator, and made up a pot of coffee. Then he returned to the living room, sat down on an uncomfortable Danish modern couch, picked up a telephone from an equally ugly end table, and dialed Information. They gave him the number of the Morbidium, and a moment later he was speaking to Winnifred Carruthers.

"Mallory!” she exclaimed. “Are you all right?"

"I'm just fine,” he assured her. “How about you?"

"We made it home without any trouble."

"Good,” said Mallory. “How's Eohippus?"

"His wounds are healing. We've made a stall for him out of a children's casket that we filled with straw. He says he likes it here, and we've invited him to stay."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"I'm just bursting with questions,” She continued. “What happened to the ruby, and how did you escape from that terrible place?"

"Tell you what,” said Mallory. “I'm about half an hour's walk from the Morbidium. Why don't you come by and I'll tell you all about it over coffee and doughnuts?"

"I'd love to,” said Winnifred. “Where are you?"

"7 Mystic Place. I'll leave the door unlocked."

"Isn't that Mephisto's address?"

"I've sublet the apartment from him,” said Mallory.

"Oh?” said Winnifred. “What's happened to him?"

"He was called away rather suddenly on official government business,” said Mallory with a smile. “I don't think he'll be needing the apartment for the next couple of years."

"Well, I'd best hang up and start on over,” said Winnifred. “I'll see you in ten minutes."

"I said half an hour."

"I thought I'd catch a horse-drawn carriage,” she explained. “They tend to line up at the end of my street; it should be no trouble to get one at this time of night."

"Then get it twenty minutes from now,” said Mallory.

"Is something wrong?"

"No,” he answered. “But there's one last thing I have to do, and I don't want you around for it."

"Will you be all right?"

"Probably."

"It's got something to do with the Grundy, hasn't it?” she said.

"Yes."

"Be careful, Mallory."

"I'll do my best,” he replied. “See you in half an hour."

He hung up the phone, then looked around the room again, searching for some way of contacting the Grundy. His gaze came to rest on the crystal ball, and finally he picked it up and examined it. As he turned it over, searching in vain for some sort of control, snow seemed to fall out of the sky onto a pastoral setting, and when he set it back down it seemed intent on showing him an old Marx Brothers movie.

Finally he sighed, picked up the phone, and asked Information for the Grundy's number. After an initial shriek of horror, he was informed that the Grundy's number was unlisted.

"What the hell,” he muttered to himself, staring at the dial. “You don't hit the moon if you don't shoot for it.” Then, carefully, he dialed G-R-U-N-D-Y.

Instantly there was a puff of reddish smoke, and the Grundy stood before Mallory in all his demonic glory.

"Son of a bitch!” said Mallory. “It actually worked."

"I saw you trying to make contact with me, and decided to accommodate you,” said the Grundy. He stared at the detective, his eyes glowing balefully. “The membrane has hardened, Mallory. You have lost your last chance to escape."

"You've
lost even more than that,” said Mallory, leaning back on the couch. “The war's over, Grundy."

"What are you talking about?” demanded the demon ominously.

"The stone's in
my
Manhattan, where neither you nor I can get at it."

"I don't believe you."

"Believe whatever you want,” said Mallory with a shrug. “But you'll never see the ruby again. You're going to have to be satisfied with
this
world."

"Nobody would willingly relinquish an object of such power,” said the Grundy with conviction. “You still have it, Mallory, and this attempt to convince me that a man of your qualities would give it up is unworthy of you."

"If you say so."

"I do,” said the Grundy. “But you have still blundered. You had the opportunity to walk away in safety, and you ignored it. Now I shall watch and wait, and when you reach for the ruby I shall strike. However brief the remainder of your life may be, you will spend it here."

"There are worse places to be,” replied Mallory. “Hell, in one night I learned the ground rules, found the ruby, and managed to keep it from you. Who knows? In a week's time, I could own this place."

"This Manhattan is not the utopia you think it is, Mallory,” said the demon.

"Perhaps not,” acknowledged Mallory. “But on the other hand, it's no worse than the one I left."

"You think not?” thundered the Grundy. “Then keep your eyes on the crystal!"

He made a gesture with his hand, and suddenly Mallory could see the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street in Mephisto's crystal ball. A number of pedestrians were standing at the corner, waiting for the light to change.

"The policeman, I think,” said the Grundy, pointing an arrow-shaped finger toward a cop who was directing traffic. Suddenly the policeman clutched his chest and collapsed. “And the old woman,” added the Grundy. He pointed again, and an elderly lady was jostled and fell into the street, right in front of a passing carriage.

The Grundy turned to Mallory, a malevolent smile on his thin lips. “Do you know what I have done this night in your world and mine—the grief I have caused, the lives I have taken, the terrible toll I have extracted in pain and misery?"

"I can imagine,” said the detective.

"I doubt it,” said the Grundy contemptuously. “Watch again, Mallory."

A large office building appeared in the crystal ball. The Grundy snapped his fingers, and suddenly a flame shot up from his forefinger. He lowered his head to it and blew gently—and the office building immediately turned into a fiery inferno.

"What have you in your arsenal to match such power, Mallory?” demanded the Grundy.

"Nothing yet,” admitted Mallory. “But in one night I've cut your domain in half.” He paused. “Who knows? Someday I may find a way to do the same to you."

"Then perhaps I should kill you now."

"Perhaps,” agreed Mallory. “But you won't, not as long as you think I've got the ruby."

"True,” said the Grundy. “But I shall vent my anger upon the city. It will be visited with death and decay, and you will be the cause of it."

"I thought your function was to bring order to it, not chaos."

"There is an almost perfect order in destruction."

Mallory shook his head. “Why? Because you destroy things in a pleasing pattern? We've got pattern killers where I come from, too—and when we catch them we lock them away, not in jails, but in insane asylums."

The Grundy laughed. “In point of fact, you lock them away for a period of weeks or months, and then turn them back out on the streets to kill again.” He stared at Mallory. “If you truly wish your actions to be meaningful, come over to my side and join me in my unending battle against the Opponent."

"I'll choose my own enemies, if it's all the same to you."

"There is a difference between an enemy and an irritant,” said the demon. “You are an irritant, nothing more."

"Don't bet on it,” said Mallory. “Every world's got ground rules, even this one. And someday, when I learn enough of them, I may come after you."

"Are you threatening me?” roared the Grundy.

"I would never presume to threaten the most powerful demon around,” said Mallory. “Let's just say that I'm using this crystal ball to predict the future."

"Then look deeply into it and tell me what you see!"

And suddenly Mallory could see his own image in the ball, his skin corrupted by some hideous disease, his body broken and mangled, his eyes filled with pain and defeat.

"That is what the future holds for you, and nothing else!” promised the demon.

Mallory looked up from the crystal ball and forced himself to smile nonchalantly. “That's even more impressive than one of Mephisto's card tricks."

Suddenly the Grundy grinned. “The Opponent has picked an excellent tool!” he said approvingly. “I knew it the first time I saw you!"

"Then I passed the exam?"

"The
first
one,” acknowledged the Grundy. “Each succeeding one will be harder."

"Tell me something,” said Mallory. “Did you really kill those people and set that building on fire?"

The Grundy nodded. “Certainly. I draw my sustenance from pain and misery."

"I'll have to do my best to stop you."

"I expect no less of you, Mallory—but you will lose in the end, as everybody loses to Death in the end."

"Then I'll have to try to win the battles, and let the war take care of itself,” replied Mallory.

"And
I
shall watch you day and night,” promised the Grundy, “and when you finally attempt to retrieve the ruby, as sooner or later you must, I shall strike."