'Of course,' Trask told him. 'In the same way that it takes these weapons from us, so it will take us. It's like an invisible conveyor-belt, or an elevator to another world.' He passed up a self-loading rifle butt-first, watched the stock disappear into the glare and felt first the attraction, then the fierce, irresistible suction as the weapon was drawn from his hand and into the Gate. 'Just don't let your fingers touch the surface, that's all - unless you want to be the first of us into Starside . ..'
Who is there now in Starside to remember me? The ex-Lord of the Wamphyri wondered in Nathan's mind.
'No one, in Starside,' Nathan answered. 'But weren't you a Traveller first? Didn't you ascend in the usual way? You must have had your tribe like everyone else. Maybe sons of your sons are alive even now, on Sunside?'
I was a Ferenc, said the other gloomily. We were outcasts, supplicants. Metalworkers, we made war gauntlets for the Wamphyri. We had a 'pact' with them - hah! I was taken when I was seventeen. No human offspring from my loins, Nathan Keogh.
But as the thing in the stalactite had mentioned the name Ferenc, so a massed groan of horror had gone up from others among the cavern's inhabitants who, until now, had been silent. Ferenc! A curse in itself, the very word. And the object of their terror had heard their deadspeak moaning.
Aye, a Ferenc/ he told them. And even now ... well, quite obviously it means something, to be what I have been. That is why I find comfort, however cold, even in a place such as this. The very knowledge of your fear comforts me . .. that as a dead thing, even now I strike terror into your hearts. You quaking leathery trogs and Traveller cowards/ For such as you, even to be in the same company with myself ... it's an honour! And for as much as a stone thing may have thralls, all of you are my thralls from this time forward. So be it!
Nathan bridled. This dead thing - Ferenc, Wamphyri, whatever - he should not have named Travellers cowards. The Szgany were never that. And so: 'Pay him no heed,' he told the ghosts of everyone who was ever trapped here. 'For if he is the greatest of you all, then he is also the greatest coward! What, Wamphyri? Strong and fearless as ten men? Oh? But if so, how is it he's still here? Or is it that he feared the water as much as the rest of you? - Aye, and maybe feared it even more! Now let me tell you something:
'Since time immemorial this watercourse has been the route by which certain "brave" Wamphyri Lords invaded the hell-lands, so becoming a pestilence in both worlds. But in this world they were small,' (which wasn't entirely true; small in number, perhaps) 'and kept small by the efforts of mere men! But this one - this Ferenc - was too small to even venture into the water! His supplicant blood ran true to the very end, aye. And how is that for a coward? Such as you
could never be thralls to such as this. What? Why, he was even usurped and thrown from his seat in Starside, else why is he here at all?'
Occasionally deadspeak conveys more than is said. But now the Ferenc's fury couldn't be more in evidence if he were alive and free of his stalactite sheath: Why ... you . .. insolent... little ... pup//.'
'Oh, be quiet.' Nathan climbed up to the encysted figure and rapped with hard knuckles against the dripstone. 'And think on this, Ferenc. If ever I should pass this way again, I might easily bring a hammer and chisel with me and chip away at you until you're no more. And when all of your pieces are rounded to pebbles in this dark river, and your evil essence dispersed far and wide, what will you have of "comforts" then, eh? And how many trembling thralls?'
But from the other there was no answer at all, except perhaps a far faint whimper .. .
'Nathan.' Anna Marie was looking up at him. 'The time.'
And Trask said, 'Son, it's not getting any warmer in here. We'd best be on our way.'
Nathan got down, said, 'Very well. But that -' he glanced up once last time at the horror in the crack, and glared at the thing - 'was something I had to do. And anyway, my time wasn't wasted. Like my father before me, I've learned something.'