Dancers - A Messiah At The End Of Time Part 16

'You could convince him, I think, where I could not."

She was relenting, against all her instincts. "Well, if I saw him for a few moments... And it might help me, too - to lay the ghost, if you know what I mean."

His voice was low. "I should be very grateful to you, Miss Ming. Perhaps we should go immediately."

She hesitated. Then she patted his arm. "Oh, all right. Give me a few minutes to get dressed."

With a deep bow, Doctor Volopsion left the room.

Miss Ming began to consider her clothes. On the one hand, she thought, some sort of s.e.xless boiler suit would be best, to dampen Mr. Bloom's ardor as much as possible. Another impulse was to put on her very s.e.xiest clothes, to feed her vanity. In the end she compromised, donning a flowery muu-muu which, she thought, disguised her plumpness. Courageously she went to join Doctor Volospion, who awaited her in the corridor. Together they made their way to the menagerie.

As they descended flights of stone stairs she observed: "Surprisingly I'm feeling quite light-headed. Almost gay!"

They pa.s.sed through the tiered rows of his many devotional trophies, past the bones and the sticks and the bits of cloth, the cauldrons, idols, masks and weapons, the crowns and the boxes, the scrolls, tablets and books, the prayer-wheels and crystals and ju-jus, until they reached the door of the first section of the menagerie, the Jewish House.

'I had thought of putting him in here," Doctor Volospion told her as they pa.s.sed by the inmates, who ranted, wailed, chanted, tore their clothing or merely turned aside as they pa.s.sed, "but finally I decided on the Non-Sectarian Prophet House."

'I hadn't realized your collection was so big. I've never seen it all, as you know." Miss Ming made conversation as best she could. Evidently the place still disturbed her.

'It grows almost without one realizing it," said Doctor Volospion. "I suppose, because so many people of a messianic disposition take an interest in the future, we are bound to get more than our fair share of prophets, anxious to discover if their particular version of the millennium has come about. Because they are frequently disappointed, many are glad of the refuge I offer."

They went through another door.

'Martyrdom, it would seem, is the next best thing to affirmation," he said.

They pa.s.sed through a score of different Houses until, finally, they came to the Fireclown's habitat. It was designed to resemble a desert, scorched by a permanently blazing sun.

'He refused," whispered Doctor Volospion, as they approached, "to tell me what sort of environment he favored, so I chose this one. It is the most popular with my prophets, as you'll have noted."

Emmanuel Bloom, in his clown's costume, sat on a rock in the center of his energy cage. His greasepaint seemed to have run a little, as if he had been weeping, but he did not seem in particularly low spirits now. He had not, it appeared, noticed them. He was reciting poetry to himself.

'... Took shape and were unfolded like as flowers.

And I beheld the hours. As maidens, and the days as labouring men, And the soft nights again. As wearied women to their own souls wed, And eyes as the dead. And over these living, and them that died, From one to the other side. A lordlier light than comes of earth or air Made the world's future fair. A woman like to love in face, but not A thing of transient lot.

And Jilce to hope, but having hold on truth.

And like to joy or youth, Save that upon the rock her feet were set.

And like what men forget, Faith, innocence, high thought, laborious peace-"

He had seen her. His great blue eyes blinked. His stiff little body began to rise. His bird-like, fluting voice took on a different tone.

'And yet lite none of these..." He put an awkward finger to his small mouth. He put his painted head on one side.

Mavis Ming cleared her throat. Doctor Volospion's hand forced her farther toward the cage.

The Fireclown spoke first. "So Guinevere comes at last to her Lancelot - or is it Kundry, come to call me Parsival? Sorceress, you have incarcerated me. Tell your servant to release me so that, in turn, I may free you from the evil that holds you with stronger bonds than any that chain me!"

Miss Ming's smile was insincere. "Why don't you talk properly, Mr. Bloom? This is childish. Anyway, you know he's not my servant." She was very pale.

Mr. Bloom crossed the stretch of sand until he was as close to her as the cage permitted. "He is not your master, you may be sure of that, this imitation Klingsor!"

'I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about." Her voice was shaking.

He pressed his tiny body against the energy screen. "I must be free," he said. "There is no mission for me here, now, at the End of Time. I must continue my quest, perhaps into another universe where Faith may yet flourish."

Doctor Volospion came forward. "I have brought Miss Ming, as you have so constantly demanded. You have talked to her. Now, if you will give up the Grail to me..."

Mr. Bloom's manner became agitated. "I have explained to you, demi-demon, that you could not keep it, even if, by some means, I could transfer it to you. Only the pure in spirit are ent.i.tled to its trust. If I agreed to your bargain I should lose the Grail myself, forever. Neither would gain!"

'I find your objections without foundation." Doctor Volospion was unruffled by the Fireclown's anger. "What you believe, Mr. Bloom, is one thing. The truth, however, is quite another! Faith dies, but the objects of faith do not, as you saw in my museum."

'These things have no value without Faith!"

'They are valuable to me. That is why I collect them. I desire this Grail of yours so that I may, at least, compare it with my own."

'You know yours to be false," said the Fireclown. "I can tell."

'I shall decide which is false and which is not when I have both in my possession. I know it is on your s.h.i.+p, for all that you deny it."

'It is not. It manifests itself at certain times."

Doctor Volospion allowed his own ill-temper to show. "Miss Ming..."

'Please let him have it, Mr. Bloom," said Mavis Ming in her best wheedling voice. "He'll let you go if you do."

The Fireclown was amused. "I can leave whenever I please. But I gave my word on two matters. I said that I would not take you by force and that I would take you with me when I left."

'Your boasts are shown to be empty, sir," said Doctor Volospion. He kid the flat of his hand against the energy screen. "There."

Mr. Bloom ran his hand through his auburn mop, continuing to speak to Miss Ming. "You demean yourself, woman, when you aid this wretch, when you adopt that idiotic tone of voice."

'Well!" It was possible to observe that Miss Ming's legs were shaking. "I'm not staying here, not even for you, Doctor Volospion! It's too much. I can stand a lot of things, but not this*"

'Be silent!" The Fireclown's voice was low and firm. "Listen to your soul. It will tell you what I tell you."

'Miss Ming!" Seeing that she prepared to flee Doctor Volospion seized her arm. "For my sake do not give up. If I have that Grail..."

'You may see the Grail, beautiful Mavis, when I have redeemed you," murmured the Fireclown, "but it shall always be denied to such as he! Come with me and I shall let you witness more than Mystery."

She panicked. "Oh, Christ!" She was unable to control herself as she sensed the terrible pressure coming from both sides. She tried to free herself from Doctor Volospion's restraining hand. "I can't take any more. I can'tl"

'Miss Ming!" fiercely croaked a desperate Volospion. "You promised to help."

'Come with me!" cried the Fireclown.

She still struggled, trying to prise his grip away from the sleeve of her muu-muu. "You can both do what you like. I don't want any part of it."

Hysteria ruled now. She scratched Doctor Volospion's hand so that at last he released her. She ran away from them. She ran crazily between the cages of roaring, screaming, moaning prophets. "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!"

And then, just before a door shut her from their view: 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Chapter Fourteen.

In which Miss Mavis Ming is given an opportunity to win the Forgiveness of her Protector

When Mavis Ming next awoke, finding herself in the soft pink security of her own bed, whence she had fled in terror after scratching Doctor Volospion, she was surprised by how refreshed she felt, how confident. Even the threat of Doctor Volospion's anger, which she feared almost as much as the Fireclown's love, failed to thrill her.

'What can he do, after all?" she asked herself. She still wore the muu-muu. She looked at the ripped sleeve, and she inspected the bruise on her arm. She doubted if the scratch she had given Doctor Volospion was any worse than the bruise he had given her, but she also recalled that, in her experience, men had a different way of looking at these things.

'Why do I feel so good? Because of a fight?" She was almost buoyant. "Maybe because it's over. I tried to please him. I really tried. But he's got a way of double-binding a girl like n.o.body else's. I guess little Mavis will have to find a new berth."

She removed the muu-muu and went to take a shower. "Well, it was high time for a change. And I'm not much gone on sharing the same roof with that mad midget downstairs."

The shower was refres.h.i.+ng.

'I'm going to go out. I'm going to visit a few people. Now," elbow on palm of hand, fingertip to chin, "who shall I visit first?"

She reviewed her acquaintances, wondering who would be most sympathetic. Who would welcome her.

And then, of a sudden, depression swept back. It caught her so unexpectedly that she had to sit down on the edge of the unmade bed, dropping her towel to the floor. "Oh, Christ! Oh, Christ! What in h.e.l.l's wrong with you, Mavis!"

A knock on her door interrupted the catharsis before it had properly got under way.

'Yes?"

'Miss Ming?" It was, of course, Doctor Volospion.

'This is it, Mavis." She pulled herself together. She put on a robe. "Time for the tongue-las.h.i.+ng. Well, I'll tell him I'm leaving. He'll be glad of that." She raised her voice: "Come in!"

But he was smiling when he entered.

She looked at him in nervous astonishment.

He was dressed in robes of scarlet and green. There was a tight-fitting dark green hood on his head, emphasizing the sharpness of his features.

'You are well, Miss Ming?" As he spoke he drew on dark green gloves.

'Better than I thought. I wanted to..."

'I came to apologize," he said.

She had glanced at his hand before the glove went on. There was, of course, no sign of her scratch.

'Oh," she said. She was taken aback.

'If I had realized exactly how badly that Mr. Bloom affected you, I would never have subjected you to the ordeal," he said.

'Well, you weren't to know." She bit her lip, as if she sensed her determination dissipating already.

'The fault was wholly mine." He had all his old authority. It comforted her.

'I lost my cool, I guess." Her voice shook. "I'm sorry about your hand."

'I deserved worse."

His voice was warm and, as always, it caused her to purr. It would not have been surprising if she had arched her back and rubbed her body against him. "That Mr. Bloom, he just freaks me, Doctor Volospion. I don't know what it is. I suppose I've completely blown it for you, haven't I?"

'No, no," he rea.s.sured her.

'You talked? After I'd gone?"

'Somewhat. He remains quite adamant."

'He won't give you the Grail?"

'Unfortunately, not..."

'It was my fault. I'm really sorry." She responded almost without any sort of consciousness, mesmerized by him.

'It grieves me. I can think of no way of obtaining it without your help."

'You know I'd like to." The words emerged as if another spoke them for her. "I mean, if there's anything I can do to make up for what happened last night..."

'I would not put you to further embarra.s.sment." He turned to leave.

'Oh, no!" She paused, making an effort of will. "I mean, I couldn't face actually seeing him again, but if there's anything else..."

'I can think of nothing. Goodbye, Miss Ming."

'There must be something?"

He paused by the door, frowning. "Well, I suppose it is possible for you to get the Grail for me."

'How?"

'He said that he would allow you to see it, you recall?"

'I can't really remember the details of what he said. I was too frightened."