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Nox evidently could not affect the events of Day directly, but this would be an excellent way to affect
them indirectly.
"I think we had better observe Mars most carefully," Jolie concluded.
They presented themselves at the front gate of the Cause of War. The drawbridge descended
immediately, and the portcullis lifted. Two lovely women came out, garbed in flowing gauzy outfits
reminiscent of medieval royalty. One was in pastel pink, the other in pastel blue.
Orlene, in control for this visit, was taken aback. She was in contemporary street clothes: a conservative
feminine suit, with hat and shoes. She suddenly felt dowdy, though the host was only fifteen years old in
real terms. "Hello, I'm-"
"You must be Orlene," the lady in blue said. "I am Lila, and if I may, without offending you, I would
like to talk privately with Jolie for a moment."
"And I am Ligeia," the lady in pink said. "I shall be happy to entertain you while Lila and Jolie talk. My
husband is out at the moment, but will return shortly."
Orlene hesitated. "You mean-alone? Jolie could take over the host-"
I had better talk to her, Jolie thought. Don't worry; you can trust these women. I know them both. I will
leave you, and return soon. She withdrew her spirit from the body and assumed her own form, as a
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ghost.
"Please come in, Orlene," Ligeia said. "I died abruptly myself, and not so long ago as to have forgotten
what it feels like. I was so lucky to have been rescued by the Incarnation of War!" She took Orlene's
arm, guiding her into the Castle.
Jolie was left standing with Lila. "Where to, demoness?" she inquired. "We are not enemies anymore."
"We never were," the demoness replied. "I had no share in your untimely death, and your man was
merely an assignment to me-until I came to love him. Then I did what I could to save him, with your
help. But before you returned, he had cast me off, and any onus between us was gone. He is yours now-
as I think he always was, until he encountered the current Gaea."
"Understood. But we shouldn't remain here to talk."
"The high turret will do," Lila said. "Follow me." She rose into the air.
Jolie rose with her. They floated up to the highest turret of the Castle and in through its stony wall. This
was a place of virtually guaranteed privacy!
They settled into two chairs that were set in the tiny chamber. "You haven't told him," Jolie said.
"What point? He doesn't want to be improperly influenced any more than Gaea does. But now that you
have brought his daughter here, we shall have to brace the matter. My concern with you is how this
should be broached."
Jolie considered. "Orlene learned after her death. Her mission here is coincidental-but yes, I knew that
their relationship would have to be brought out. She already knows other connection with Luna, and
with Lachesis, and of course she was Chronos' mortal lover. I think she can handle it; she has gained
poise since the trauma of her death."
"Ligeia knows; I advised her when I saw your approach.
She will keep her own counsel until we return, but of course she is quite interested. How will Orlene
react to the knowledge that her father has a wife and a mistress, neither of whom is her mother?"
"Oh, I'm sure she can handle that aspect! She has had a considerable recent education in human nature.
But there is another aspect to this that could be a problem."
"That she comes begging a favor? He will not be moved by the relationship between them. He has a will
of cast iron when it comes to compromise. I should know; he saved me from extinction with that will!"
"So I have heard. She does come for a favor, but expects him to set what price he will, as the other
Incarnations have. No, my concern is what we have learned along the way. You see, we were visited by
Nox, who indicated that World War Three and the end of the world as we know it is approaching."
"That was supposed to be classified information," Lila said. "Mars is trying to divert it, but each fuse he
extinguishes leaves another burning. For example, one of the first things he did when he assumed the
Office was to eliminate the leading figure of Babylon, so as to abate the war between Babylon and
Persia. But that reprieve was only temporary; factions rose up and the war was reignited, and now
threatens to explode into a much broader and worse conflict. There just isn't any simple fix!"
"This bears on the problem. You see, I have been watching a mortal who may be a candidate to replace
an Incarnation. It occurred to us that Mars might be the one replaced. That would account for Nox's
intercession at this time, and for her alerting us to the threat."
"Now hold it!" Lila protested. "Mym is not due for replacement! "Her blue dress was fuzzing out, in her
alarm.
"Mym?"
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"Sorry, I forgot; that's his private name. I mean Mars, or Ares. He's a good Incarnation; there's no call to
question his performance." Her dress disappeared entirely, leaving her naked and voluptuous in the
manner only a demoness could be.
"None at all," Jolie agreed quickly. "This is nothing we seek! It's just that we were perplexed as to why
Nox should intercede at this time-just before we were to visit the Incarnation of War. Why didn't she go
to Mars directly?"
Lila settled back, and her dress reappeared. "I have known Nox for a long time. She always has reason
for what she does, but that reason is generally opaque to mortals and often to immortals too. I suppose if
she knew that Mars was to be replaced, and there was something urgent involving his successor, she
would act. But I distrust it. She would have known that her action would be conveyed to the current
Incarnation of War."
"Maybe that's why!" Jolie exclaimed. "To warn him!"
Lila nodded. "I am sure he will take the warning to heart. I think not even your spouse wants that war."
"Agreed. Satan wants to rule, or at least to prevail, but that war would destroy his prospects as much as
any of yours. But perhaps we should not rush to convey that warning, until the matter of the favor is
settled."
"Yes. Let's keep both the relationship and the warning out of it until later."
Jolie smiled. "I will advise Orlene. Does that conclude our business?"
"I think so. I will advise Ligeia."
They floated down through the floor, orienting on the other figures.
Orlene and Ligeia were seated in the garden, which was about as delightful a setting as existed in
Purgatory, with exotic flowers and statuary throughout. Jolie drifted into the host and immediately
relayed a portion of her information. So we concluded that it is best not to advise the Incarnation of War
of our thought that he might be replaced, Jolie thought. Orlene must state her case and get his decision [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]