Vengeance of the Dancing Gods (25 page)

"I informed the woman at the desk that you had just flown in and were dead tired, and not to give you any disturbance or perform any maid service today," Poquah told them, "but you never know with these places. Keep all the locks and chains on, and put out the 'Do Not Disturb' signs. Problems might develop before we could correct them with spells, and we do not need problems right now..

"Small bathtubs." Tiana sniffed. "Still, I suppose this will do..

"It will have to. I will return later on." The Imir looked at his wrist, which sported a fancy digital watch. "It is 170 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS JACK L. CHALKER 171 now almost seven-thirty. I shall return by three this afternoon with what is needed and the information to brief you. Until then, I suggest that you get some rest. We will keep to a nocturnal schedule for the time being, both for security's sake and until you get accustomed to acting on your own in this environment..

Macore was in the other room, looking around. He had a childish joy in the light switches and spent a couple of minutes just turning them on and off. He was even more delighted with the small air-conditioning console. To be told about such things academically was one thing; actually to see them was something else. Macore's world was a world of magic, demons, and spells which he took entirely for granted. This was truly a Husaquahrian child's magical dream.

"Shall I bring something to eat or drink before I go into the city?" the Imir asked them.

"No, we had plenty on the boat," Joe replied. "You might bring something back when you return, though..

"I'll do what I can," the Imir assured them, and left.

Page 133 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods Macore, in the other room, went over to the television and stared at it. "This is a window of some kind?.

Marge laughed. "That's TV. Look—I'll show you..

She switched it on, suddenly aware that her position was the direct opposite of her early life in Husaquahr. There she learned the language by spell and was illiterate. Now Macore was in that spot, although at the moment it didn't seem to bother him.

He was fascinated by the images on the television and had to be assured that they could not see him. The major networks all had their morning news shows on, and some of the cable channels were showing things like Wheeler and Wollsey "B" pictures from the thirties, while the sports channel was showing the curling finals on tape delay from Halifax. There were several apparently all-religious channels, and four other channels were showing different episodes of Gilligan's Island.

"Same old junk," Marge commented sourly.

"Oh, I kind of like it," the little thief commented. "Particularly the ones with the little short fellow and the fat one on the island..

"Yeah," Marge told him. "Wait till you've seen the same rerun half a dozen times!.

"Huh? You mean they are not acting companies all performing this as we watch?.

"I'll explain film and tape to you later," she said tiredly.

"I'm going to sleep..

"So am I," Joe called from the other room. The sound of water filling a tub almost drowned him out. He was a bit distressed to discover that from now on, his wife would have to sleep nights in the bathtub. It simply hadn't occurred to him in all this.

Macore bade them a good rest and closed the door between. It wasn't completely soundproofed, but Marge told him that it wouldn't bother her a bit if he kept the TV on, although he'd best do it softly to avoid waking Joe. "Okay—great!" he responded. "I caught a nap on the way over, and I'm not very tired right now..

She removed the goggles and was soon comatose. From the other room came snores louder than Macore's television.

He just sat there, curled up in front of it, watching one thing after the other, often changing channels.

Poquah's hefty tip seemed to keep the maids away; but close on to noon, Macore, who was still sitting there, got irritated when the same episode of Gilligan's Island he'd just watched on one channel began on another and he turned the dial. He caught a slight glimpse of something as he turned it, then frowned, stopped, turned it back, and stared at the screen.

He pressed his face right up to it, then stood back.

"Oh, my god!" he breathed. There was no mistake. There Page 134 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods couldn't be that much of a mistake.

It was some sort of talk show or forum, and apparently it was before a huge live audience. He wouldn't have even noticed it—he'd found seven minutes of David Hartman intolerable and could take about forty seconds of Jim 172 JACK L. CHALKER 173 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS Bakker—and this, certainly, was the same format. The speaker seemed to be some kind of preacher, and he was dressed in a finely tailored, dark blue suit, had short hair, and wore round, apparently rimless glasses; but still he knew that face, which had been looking into his only a few weeks before.

Dacaro had sure as hell come a long way on Earth in only a few weeks! "What are these little round things?" Joe asked. "Potato puffs?.

"They are supposedly chicken," Poquah informed him.

"You dip them in the little sauce cups, I'm told." He rummaged in the two bags, took out another wrapped package, then handed it to Tiana, who was still very much a mermaid but slowly drying out.

"That's all right," Tiana assured him, unwrapping the package and finding two raw whole fish and a package of raw shrimp still in the shell. "They probably won't taste like much, but they'll probably be better than whatever it is you gave Joe to eat..

Poquah walked over to the connecting double-doors, opened them, then peered in. Marge, of course, was still out cold, and Macore was now curled up, sound asleep in front of the television which was still on. The Imir decided not to awaken them, but went in and turned off the set, then returned to Joe and Tiana and quietly shut the doors again. "Forgive me, but I simply cannot abide that drivel. It has made the civilized part of this world into a mass of illiterate morons." He paused a moment, then added, "Of course, it also appeals to those already in that condition as well, no matter what their origins..

Joe managed to polish off two Big Macs, the nuggets, and a lot more that Poquah had brought along. He was still hungry, but it would do. His only complaint was that the Imir had brought no coffee; the in-room stuff the motel provided was hardly worth the name even on Earth.

Still, Poquah was anxious to get down to his business.

"You have the text of the prophecies, I hope?.

"Well, we weren't exactly there for them, and we didn't exactly have pockets," Joe replied. "Macore's got the Page 135 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods text, though. You got some clothes for us?.

"Yes. I had to guess on the lady, of course, but I think it will do until she can find some of her own more to her liking." He had, of course, taken the measurements of all three mortals before leaving, so he was actually dead on.

He either had a keen eye or an uncanny ability to know just what was required, although he did leave it practical. Joe's outfit was pretty much an upsized version of what Poquah was wearing—jeans, boots, a flannel shirt, and even socks and underwear, two items of clothing he'd not really been used to wearing for many years. For Tiana, Poquah had selected equally practical clothing—but with women's undergarments, of course, even a bra if she wanted one—and with a long woman's yellow T-shirt. "I decided that you would find boots more problem than asset, so I found you some sandals. I regret the higher heel but they don't seem to come any other way here. I know you will probably wish to remain barefoot most of the time, but there are establishments all over that will not admit you without shoes..

Her lower body had already split but was still more fishlike than human, giving her a really unusual appearance.

"I am sure they will be fine," she assured him. "I will try them as soon as I can..

"I procured a very comfortable motorized wheelchair that folds rather nicely," Poquah told her proudly, "and I also found a pair of ingenious folding aluminum crutches for when that is more practical. I think that will take care of your needs..

He was emotionless and officious, but she was touched.

"You are very kind. It is more than I expected," she told him sincerely.

Poquah went out and came back with a small object, which he gave to Joe. The big man removed the top of 174 JACK L.CHALKER 175 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS the box and found a wallet, and inside were a number of major credit cards in the name of "Joseph Romero." He looked at Poquah. "That me?.

"Yes. We established the accounts after closing out the stolen one for Ruddygore. They are good, and the best part is that the bill will not have to be paid by you. Do not, I pray, abuse them, though. They are for business and survival. When you return to Husaquahr, none of you will be allowed to take anything from this world with you, anyway..

"Yeah, well I—hey! This is a Class-G chauffeur's license!" Joe exclaimed, then frowned. "But it doesn't Page 136 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods have my picture!.

"Not necessary in that state, which is why we chose it. The particulars are a bit off, but I doubt if anyone will really notice..

"You want me to drive a rig, then?.

"Yes. You'll find the permits in order, and we've used a few spells to make it impervious to inspectors. I am having it modified somewhat today but the company we are dealing with here is quite interested in money and assures me that my modification will be ready tomorrow..

"All five of us are gonna fit in a cab?" Joe said dubiously.

"It won't be necessary. You'll see..

The sound of the conversation apparently awakened Macore, who came through the doors and into the other room, not exactly wide awake but definitely excited.

"Sorry I fell asleep," he apologized needlessly. "Man! I wanted so bad to wake somebody up earlier! I saw him!.

"Who?" Tiana asked, puzzled. They all turned to look at the little thief.

"Dacaro! That's who!.

"Dacaro!" Joe exclaimed. "Here?.

"No—on the TV thing in there! He was on a show.

You know, on one of those religious channels..

Poquah seemed suddenly very interested. "Indeed? Are you certain?.

"Yeah, sure—I'm not gonna forget him any time soon! Oh, he was wearing one of those funny suits it seems like they make men wear here, and he had short hair and, believe it or not, pink eyeglasses, but it was him. His voice, too. Silky smooth, you know? His English is perfect —at least, it's not much different from what the other TV people speak—but he's some speaker. Really stirring up the crowds. You could feel the emotion right through the TV..

The Imir frowned. "I had not expected him to get so far so soon. I thought we had weeks, perhaps even months or a year. This changes everything. On national television within a month of his arrival! Oh, my!.

"You act like you expected it sooner or later," Joe noted. "You know where he is, then?.

"Of course. It's been rather easy to find both him and the Baron; they are not exactly engaged in secretive activity..

He paused for a moment, as if making a decision, then said, "I was going to wait until Marge was up, but I suppose this can be done twice..

Macore came in, sat on a comer of Tiana's bed, then got up again fast. "That's wet\" he complained, then sat Page 137 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods down on the floor. They were all ears.

When the Baron had been exiled from Husaquahr, Macore explained, he'd been sent first to the center of Ruddygore's Earth operations, which was in Basel, Switzerland.

He had remained there for more than three months, getting to know the new world in which he'd found himself and checking out his place in it. He had been very comfortable, living in a villa owned by Ruddygore just across the Rhine in France, and had spent the first month doing nothing but reading everything in French, German, and English that he could get his hands on. He needed no spells or courses in language or literacy; he proved himself unexpectedly adept at both. The Demon Prince with whom he'd made his alliances in Husaquahr had been a good teacher and supplier of certain books and reading materials from Earth.

He was, of course, a genius with a finely tuned ana- 176 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS lytical mind; he had been the best theoretician of magic in the history of Husaquahr, far beyond anyone else, no matter what their power. Being stripped of his powers had not made him any less brilliant or knowledgeable.

He spent another six weeks or so on a sort of European grand tour, using a liberal stipend from Ruddygore's company, visiting Rome and much of Germany, France, and England, using falsified Swiss papers that looked genuine enough to stand almost any challenge. Ruddygore's European organization even got them in his own name.

Agents reported him both fascinated by the wonders of technology and appalled by the contrasts such technology created. Still, it was hard to pin down just what real interests he had, since he was fascinated by the ideologies and tensions of the modem world with its omnipresent threat of nuclear holocaust and with the imbalances of wealth, yet he was also apparently fascinated by computers, space science, and technology, and even the misfits and oddballs of society.