Jack London On the Makaloa Mat and Island Tales
An Essay on Morals_ A Science of Philoso Philip Wylie
Jacques Philippe Szukaj pokoju i
Jack London Tales of the Klondike
Brenden Laila Hannah 01 Wybór
Lauren_Kate_ _Fallen_2 _Tormen
Sutton_Wall_Street_and_Hitler
Hohlbein, Wolfgang Enwor 03 Das Tote Land
God's Demon Wayne Douglas Barlowe
Howard Robert E. Conan i Skarb Tranicosa
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else that seemed to provide Selous with a fresh burst of adrenaline, and he
brought his knee up hard into Caligula's groin. The Roman emitted a falsetto
shriek, rolled over on the ground, and began screaming incoherently.
Selous, blood flowing down his torso onto his belly, leaped to his feet and
examined himself as best he could. It really could use some stitches, but wounds
seemed to heal magically on this world. Besides, he'd received worse from lion
and leopard; if Caligula's teeth weren't septic, and there was no reason to assume
they were, it would be only a temporary annoyance.
Still, it hurt like the devil, and he walked over to the fallen god and kicked him
again, this time on the side of the head. There was no further reaction from
Caligula, who was still howling and hugging his groin, and all he got for his
trouble was a sharp shooting pain in his foot.
He searched around for the rope that he had been carrying coiled over his
shoulder, found it where he had fallen, and brought it over to Caligula. Before the
Roman could resist, Selous had tied his hands behind his back and then wrapped
the rope a few times around his neck, giving him about a ten-foot slack.
"All right," he grated. "On your feet!"
He jerked the rope, and Caligula, gasping and choking, rose awkwardly.
"You hurt me!" he said accusingly.
"You tried to kill me," answered Selous.
"But it is an honor to die for a god's pleasure," said Caligula, honestly puzzled by
Selous's reaction.
EVERY MAN A GOD
125
"It's an honor I can do without."
"Then you are a fool."
Selous jerked the rope, and Caligula began gasping again.
"What about a god dying for my pleasure?" he asked.
"Blasphemy!" cried Caligula, charging at Selous with his head lowered.
Selous sidestepped him just as he would sidestep a rhino that had lowered its
head to charge. Instead of putting a bullet in his ear, as he would then have done
with the rhino, he simply waited until Caligula reached the end of the rope and
gave it a quick, hard tug. The Roman did a complete flip in the air and landed
heavily on his back.
"I think I broke my arms!" he wailed.
"I thought gods couldn't feel pain," said Selous sardonically.
"Help me!" whined Caligula. "I'm hurt!"
"I'll help you," said Selous, approaching him. "You've got three seconds to get up
before I kick you in the groin again."
"No!" shrieked Caligula, jumping to his feet. "My person is sacrosanct! You can
never touch it again!"
"Just so we understand each other," said Selous, approaching him and slapping
his face.
He expected Caligula to curse, or cry, or perhaps even giggle. Instead the Roman
looked at him as if nothing had happened, and said conversationally, "I think
we're more likely to find a city by the River. Cities need commerce, and the lake
doesn't afford much likelihood of that."
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Once he got over his temporary surprise, Selous found
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Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg
EVERY MAN A GOD
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that he agreed with his prisoner. "All right," he said. "Let's start walking toward
the River. You first."
"We could use some horses," commented Caligula as he headed off to his right.
"If we find any, I'll trade you for them."
"Gods are not property to be traded by merchants," said Caligula, suddenly
haughty.
"What makes you a god, anyway?" asked Selous.
"I am a god by proclamation."
"Whose proclamation?"
"My own," answered Caligula.
"That's all there is to it?"
"No one has ever challenged it."
"No one?"
"Well, no one who was still alive an hour later."
"Nice work if you can get it," commented Selous dryly.
"I am a god," insisted Caligula. "Without me there would be no night or day, no
rain or sunshine. When I die the heavens will open up and pour forth a stream of
black lava that will kill all living things and cover the earth."
"That must comfort you in times of need," said Selous.
"You don't believe me?"
"If you're a god, create a pair of horses for us. If not, stop talking; you'll need all
your strength for the march that lies ahead of us."
"I can create horses," said Caligula with conviction. "I can bring them to life right
here this instant."
"Then why don't you?"
"Because you dared to lay your hand on a god. You don't deserve to ride."
"Do you deserve to walk, too?" asked Selous.
"I am a god. I feel no pain, no fatigue. The sun is my brother; it cannot burn my
skin. The grass is my lover; it renews me with every step I take."
"How very fortunate for you."
"I require no nourishment, no water, no sleep," continued Caligula. "Later
tonight, when you finally can remain awake no longer, I shall change into a snake
and squeeze the life from you. Then," he continued conversationally, "I will eat
your heart, and very possibly your eyeballs, for you have truly excellent vision,
and I will go find my city."
"Since you are capable of all these things, I assume you won't mind if I tie you
securely to a tree before I go to sleep?" said Selous.
"Not at all," said Caligula pleasantly. "I would expect no less of you... though of
course it will do you no good."
They walked another mile in silence, and then Selous stopped, causing Caligula to
choke when he reached the end of the rope.
"Are you tired already, mortal?" asked the Roman.
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"Be quiet," said Selous, raising his free hand to shade his eyes from the sun.
"What do you see out there?" asked Caligula.
"I'm not sure. Something. It could be a group of men."
"Come to worship me, no doubt."
"Or to kill you."
"I cannot die."
"Try to stay sane long enough to remember that you are no longer an emperor
and never were a god, and
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Mike Resnick and Barry N. Malzberg
EVERY MAN A GOD
129
keep your mouth shut until I can find out if these people are friends or foes."
"I will turn myself into a hummingbird, so they cannot see me until I know why
they are here," agreed Caligula promptly.
"A very quiet hummingbird," said Selous. "Start walking."
"Flying," corrected Caligula.
"Whatever."
"I can't fly," said Caligula suddenly. "You have bound my wings."
"Even birds have feet," noted Selous.
"True," said Caligula. "You are a very wise man. In a way, I will be almost sorry to
rip you open and eat your innards."
And then, chirping very quietly to himself, the Roman began leading the
Englishman across the savannah toward the distant cluster of men.
Hie command had seemed to come from inside him, as it always did when a real
stemwinder was building.
"Here I stand my ground," said Huey Long. "Come around! I want to talk to you!"
In the dim light of the infernal sun, Huey thought he could see them beginning to
stumble before him, but then again it might have been only an illusion. He had
Beethoven's attention, though; the musician was crouched in place, squatting
there, looking at Huey with those odd and flickering eyes, a crazy man's eyes.
"Let me tell you about my friend the great musician here," continued Huey. "He
had plans. He wanted to enter the city and find the emperor, to settle old
accounts
with him, but he has changed his plans. Do you know why? Do you?"
There was no response to the question, just the sound of empty breathing and
perhaps a rumble in the distance. You had to have confidence, however; then you
could draw them in.
"He gave it up," said Huey, "because, like you, he thought that there was nothing [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
