The House of Yeel - By Michael McCloskey Page 0,6
visitation, whether of the friendly kind or of a matter of more urgent business. Please ingest some of these edibles, for they are offered at no cost to you, I promise.”
Jymoor examined the multicolored chunks of unidentifiable matter arrayed before her on the plates. “I’m very glad to hear—” Jymoor said.
“Now please relate to me the circumstance by which you have come here, the reason for your quest, your goal in seeking me out. I am, after all, a simple collector of artifacts, a tinkerer if you will, an—”
“Alchemist at heart?” Jymoor finished for Yeel, trying out the tactic of counterinterrupting. It seemed to be almost the only way to get a word in to the talkative host. Jymoor picked up a red cube with a spiked stick and placed it on the plate before her.
“Why yes, that is exactly me. Alchemy truly is the most wonderful of sciences. Why just before you arrived, I was…well, when you…perhaps you will please tell me now why you have come? I didn’t already miss your explanation, did I? Oh surely not. I wouldn’t forget that! Did I?”
Jymoor thought that perhaps the Great Yeel had damaged himself in one too many experiments since mankind had last encountered him. The man clearly suffered from acute logomania. Nevertheless, she resolved to try her best to secure the tall wizard’s help.
“We need your help, mighty Yeel,” Jymoor began. “A terrible migration of barbarians threatens our civilization! I have come to seek your aid in keeping the hordes at bay. Take me as your first payment—”
“Oh my friend, I am afraid that is impossible. You see, I make it a rule not to meddle in human…I mean, I don’t interfere in conflicts between nations, you see. I am, after all, only a humble tinkerer, a collector, a dabbler in the arts of potions and metal smithing. I experiment with substances, investigate the phenomena of nature, and indulge my creative impulses here within the walls of my abode.”
“My people are helpless before these invaders! We will surely fall without your assistance!”
“I realize that this may be hard to assimilate from your biased perspective,” began Yeel, “but there exists the very real possibility that the very strength of culture that allows these so-called barbarians to overcome you may be a natural part of the balance of life, and if in fact their philosophies and traditions prove more efficient than your own, then it may be for the best that they come to dominate this continent. Speaking in the long term, I mean.”
Jymoor realized that the great wizard might be negotiating with her. She took a deep breath and left her seat to walk to Yeel’s side. She dropped to one knee and lowered her head.
“Know, Great Yeel, that I have been instructed to offer myself as a gift for whatever purposes you may desire. I am a pious and pure virgin—”
“Ah, yes, well, despite your, um, obvious suitability for breeding, I am, ah, infertile for now. Yes, I am unready at this time. Please do not be offended if I refuse with absolutely no intentions of offending you or your…family?”
“Or if you wish to make use of me for sacrifice…I am ready to willingly participate in exchange for a pledge of aid to my nation Riken. You know, should you need me for your…magical rituals.”
“Very kind of you, yes, I can see that you mean that. But I need no additional organic reagents at this time. Giving up your own life for superfluous components would be unwise, I’m afraid.”
Jymoor stood up, her eyes filling with tears. Yeel had rejected her most urgent appeals for help.
“These men from the steppes, they’re like animals! They come in immense numbers, hard, savage men who have no sense of honor or mercy! They’ll destroy Riken! How can that be—”
“They sound like a hardy bunch. And they must have mastered complex economic principles to field an army of superior numbers. Also, it sounds as if they have a highly advanced offensive branch. Perhaps these fine qualities will enable them to prevail in the evolution of societies.”
Jymoor did not understand the words Yeel used. She blinked, then continued her plea. “But they will ravage our cities! Burn the palaces, the markets, the libraries…”
“Now, wait a minute there, my little friend,” Yeel interrupted. “Did you say libraries? Libraries, as in repositories of knowledge, implying that libraries as well as palaces and markets will be destroyed? Or were you starting a new sentence, merely preparing to say