Keys To The Kingdom_ Sir Thursday Part 3

"I don't know. A silver spear or sword would annoy it, I suspect, and like al l Nithlings it would not eat salt voluntarily, but only the lesser Nithlings suffer much from silver or may be banished with salt."

"Does it sleep?" Leaf asked. "And will it have Arthur's pocket on it or will it keep that somewhere else?"

"Good questions, excellent questions," muttered Scamandros. "I'm afraid my so urces don't say anything about it sleeping, but it is quite possible that it does. I suspect it will hide the pocket somewhere near its lair but again, my information is sadly lacking."

"And do you have any idea where its lair will be?" Leaf continued to questi on. "Arthur's house?"

Two small clouds of dust on Scamandros's cheeks whirled up into miniature t ornadoes that threatened a house tattooed across the bridge of his nose.

"My sources are incomplete. One of the references refers to the 'Spirit-eater 's Lair' but is not more forthcoming."

"I guess if it's imitating Arthur, it will leave the house sometime," Leaf poi nted out. "I can sneak in the back door or something. Is there a back door?"

"The best way would be through the garage," Arthur volunteered. "There's a r emote switch for it under a blue rock in the driveway. I suppose it would pr obably be in my bedroom, up on the top floor, if it's being me. But I think we'd better get more information about it before we say for sure."

He picked up the Third Key again and laid his other hand on the Atlas. Its g reen leather binding quivered under his hand.

"Wait a second!" said Leaf. "You don't have to "

"I can't let you take on something like a Spirit-eater without being prepared ," said Arthur. "Besides, it will be a good test to see how much more I get c ontaminated."

"Arthur " Leaf started to say, but Arthur was already focusing on his ques tions for the Atlas.

What is a Spirit-eater? How can the one that has copied me be defeated? Wher e is its lair?

The questions had hardly formed in his mind before the Atlas burst open, exp anding to become a much larger book, it pages fluttering like a wind-caught fan. When it reached its full size, the pages settled down and an invisible hand began to write. The first few letters were in a strange alphabet of str aight lines and dots, but they shimmered as Arthur watched, turning into the stylish English characters of a fine calligrapher.

Everyone watched Arthur as he stared down at the Atlas. Even Suzy, from behind Dame Primus.

For the benefit of the others, Arthur read the entry aloud, with some diffic ulty because he wasn't used to reading the old-fashioned writing. Many of th e words were not ones he'd used before.

"Spirit-eater" is a term often used to describe one of a type of ft it Mings t hat are close to Denizen cla.s.s, known as Near Creations, for they utilize some of the technical sorcery used by the Architect herself to create life from No thing, white lacking Mer artistry.

A Spirit-eater is always based upon one of the Architect's own creations, eith er directly, as in a copied Denizen, or indirectly, in the case of a copied mo rtal, the current end result of the Architect's ancient experiment with the ev olution of life.

Zhe purpose of a Spirit-eater, in either case, is to replace an original, usua lly for the purposes of espionage, treachery, or other foul deeds. Jn order to do so, the Spirit-eater will, to most onlookers, appear to have the physical appearance of its target. Jts true face and form may be seen by gazing at it t hrough a veil of raindrops on a sunny day, or by application of various sorcer ies.

Jnitially the Spirit-eater will have limited knowledge of its subject, no more than it has been told by its creator. Mowever, part of the spell used to grow a Spirit-eater in Nothing also develops other powers within the Mthling. Jt i s able to extrude its mentality into any sentient mind that it has physical contact with, by the use of a mentally conductive mold that is symbiotic with the Spirit-eater. Zhe mold is derived from a semi-intell igent life-form from a world in the Secondary Realms (House name: Jivraxyn, ocalJVame.

"I can't read the local name "

Leaf was shaking her head, but it wasn't at Arthur's inability to read the ali en name.

"A mentally conductive what? What did you say? It grows mold on people? "

"That's that's what it says here," said Arthur, who had only just realized what he was reading. He'd been concentrating so hard on getting the words ri ght.

"I don't like the sound of that," said Leaf with a shudder. "How do you stop it from doing that?"

"I'llI'll see what the Atlas says," said Arthur. He continued reading.

Zhe mold enters its victim through skin, scales, or hide once the Spirit-eater has provided a bridge by means of shaking hands, gripping a shoulder, or such -like. Its spores are a gray color, but they linger on the skin for only minut es, so the target is usually unaware it has been colonized. Zhe mold travels t hrough the blood, eventually lodging itself in the target's brain or other maj or sensorium. At this location it rapidly spreads, duplicating the nervous tis sue until it is able to sift through the target's thoughts and memory, telepathically sharing them with the greater part of the mold that lies within the Spirit-eater's own secondary brain, usually locate d in its midsection. Zhe Spirit-eater uses these memories and thoughts to bet ter mimic the target it has replaced. Jt is able to control the minds of thos e subjects where the mold is well-established, but not with great precision.

Zhe influence of the mold is also felt in the behavior of the Spirit-eater. Jn its natural state on Avraxyn, the mold always establishes a lair where it loc ates its primary host safe from harm. Jn the Spirit-eater, the mold is subordi nate and must go where the Spirit-eater wills, but it will always influence th e Spirit-eater to establish a lair. Zhis will be dark and as deep in the groun d as is practical for the Spirit-eater to easily access. Jt will be lined with soft materials, and somewhere in it will be the original seed item from which the Spirit-eater has been grown. Zhis is usually a bone, piece of flesh, item of clothing, treasured personal possession, or long-term pet or companion of the victim.

"That's really foul," said Leaf.

"I've known worse," muttered a voice from somewhere under the table. Dr. Scamandros looked around, but either no one else heard Suzy's comment or they were well-practiced at ignoring her.

"It's writing more," said Arthur. The page cleared, and the invisible hand wr ote on.

The particular Spirit-eater that has duplicated Cord Arthur has chosen to c all itself the Skinless Koy, perhaps because in its natural appearance it d oes not have very much skin, instead showing exposed bone. Jt may be defeat ed by taking its seed item, the pocket from Cord Arthur '$ school shirt. Co rd Arthur must plunge that pocket back into Nothing.

At present, 10:20 AM. local Sarth Arthur time on Zhursday, the Skinless Boy has established a temporary lair in the primary linen closet of Sast Area Mo spital on Cower Qround Zhree. Jf the Spirit-eater moves to Arthur's home, it is most probable that it will establish its lair in the sump cavity beneath the house, which can be accessed by raising a concrete slab in the garden n ear the back fence.

"What was that about Thursday?" asked Leaf. "What's Arthur time?"

Arthur read it again.

"It shouldn't be Thursday back home! We need to get back on Wednesday a fternoon! How can it be Thursday?"

"Time is malleable between the House and the Secondary Realms," said Dr. S camandros. "But powerful personages such as yourself, Lord Arthur, affect and govern the relative flows. I can only surmise that the Spirit-eater, h aving something of your quality, has taken your place for chronological pu rposes. In ah other words, you are back."

"But what about Leaf? Can she go back to Wednesday?"

"I would say not," said Dr. Scamandros. "But I am no expert in these relat ivities. Perhaps Sneezer may know more, from the Seven Dials."

"Without putting it to the test, sir, I cannot say," said Sneezer. "However, as a general rule, the temporal relationship between a Secondary World and the House is set by the Front Door and defies explication. It presumably tho ught you had returned to your Earth and did not miss Miss Leaf, if you pardo n me saying so. Therefore, the earliest Miss Leaf can return is twenty minut es past ten on Thursday. If it is still that time. More orange juice?"

"But that means I'll have been missing all night!" Leaf couldn't believe it. "

My parents will kill me!"

Chapter Four

Really?" asked Dr. Scamandros. "That seems rather harsh."

"Oh, they won't actually kill me." Leaf sighed. "Even if they wanted to, the y're in quarantine, so they can only shout at me through the intercom and po und on the interview window. It's just going to make life more difficult."

Arthur was looking at the Atlas. Something had changed there, catching his eye. It took a second to work out what it was.

"Hey! The time back home's 10:21 now!"

"I have got to get back," said Leaf. "I'll try and do something about the S kinless Boy, I promise, but I really have to at least go and wave at my par ents. So how do I get home? And how do I get back here if once I get hol d of that pocket?"

"Sneezer can use Seven Dials to send you back to the hospital, I think," said Arthur.

"Indeed, sir," said Sneezer, with a low bow.

"Coming back, I don't know"

"The Skinless Boy went through the Front Door, so the House will have manif ested itself on your world," said Dame Primus with an airy wave of her hand . "All you need to do is find it, knock on the Front Door, and everything w ill be taken care of. Now, I must insist we return to the Agenda!"

"Okay, okay," said Arthur.

He turned to Leaf but was suddenly unable to think of anything to say. He h adn't known her long but she already felt like an old friend, and he was as king her to do something really huge for him. He didn't know how to tell he r how grateful he was for her friendship and help.

"I I'm sorry I got you into this, Leaf. I mean I really appreciate it you uh even my old friends back where I used to live wouldn't be as a nyway I wish there was something oh!"

He bent his hand back behind his neck and pulled off the string with the Mar iner's medallion. It was the only thing he had that he could give.

"I don't know if it will be any use, but if things get really bad, try callin g the Mariner. Maybe not that he was very quick last time, butwell, good lu ck."

Leaf dropped the string over her head, nodded firmly, and turned away.

"Never gave me nuthin'," mumbled an unseen voice. Arthur looked down at the chair Leaf had just left and saw Suzy there, hunched over under the table.

She was eyeing Dame Primus's foot and holding a large darning needle. She grinned at Arthur and stuck the needle in, but it had no effect. Tiny lette rs moved apart to allow the needle entry and then a savage red spark shot a long the metal. Suzy dropped it and sucked her fingers as the needle became a small puddle of molten steel.

Arthur sighed and gestured at Suzy to come and sit next to him. She shook her head and stayed where she was.

Even though Leaf hadn't seen Sneezer move, he was already at the door whe n she reached it. She was about to go through when Dr. Scamandros scurrie d over and put something in Leaf's hand as she went past.

"You'll need this," he whispered. "Won't be able to see the House without it or find the Front Door. Dame Primus is a bit impatient not intentionally, I'm sure."

Leaf looked at what he'd given her: an open leather case that contained a pa ir of gold wire-rimmed spectacles, with thin lenses that were heavily cracke d and crazed with tiny lines. She snapped the case shut and slipped it into the tight waistband of her breeches.

"This way, please, Miss Leaf," said Sneezer as Scamandros ran back to his place at the table. "Will you be requiring clothes more suitable to your own Secondary Realm and era?"

"If you've got something, that'd be great," said Leaf, who was wearing a wid e-sleeved cotton shirt and blue canvas breeches, the basic uniform of a ship 's boy from the Flying Mantis. She hadn't even started to think about how to explain her clothes. Explaining why she hadn't been to see her parents, aun t, and brother in quarantine for at least sixteen hours was going to be hard enough.

As she left, Leaf heard Dame Primus say something to Dr. Scamandros and the n launch into a speech. She sounded like a politician in a televised debate , wary of her opponent's delaying tactics.

"I trust, Lord Arthur, that we may now proceed as you have requested, with the Agenda rearranged in order of importance."

"Sure," said Arthur wearily, but he couldn't stop thinking about the Spirit -eater, this "Skinless Boy" who was pretending to be him. What was the crea ture going to do? His parents would have no idea. They'd be helpless, and s o would his sisters and brothers. The thing would take over their minds and then even if the Spirit-eater was destroyed and Arthur could go back, he might not have a family anymore.

Something penetrated Arthur's thoughts. Dame Primus had just said someth ing. Something very important.

"What was that?" he asked. "What did you just say?"

"I said, Lord Arthur, we now suspect that the Morrow Days' misgovernance is no accident. They have been influenced or induced to behave as they do, wi th the ultimate aim being the complete and utter destruction of the House and with it, the entirety of creation."

"What!?" Arthur jumped out of his chair. Everyone looked at him, and he sl owly sat back down again, taking a deep breath to try and slow his suddenl y speeding heart.

"Really, Lord Arthur, must I repeat myself again? If the Morrow Days are all owed to continue as they are, there is a great risk the entire House will be destroyed."

"Are you sure?" asked Arthur nervously. "I mean, Mister Monday was really lazy, and Grim Tuesday wanted to make lots of stuff and own it, and Wedn esday she couldn't help being a total pig. That doesn't mean they wanted to destroy the House."

"In every case, the Trustees have put the House at risk," said Dame Primus stiffly. "Mister Monday's sloth meant the Lower House did not properly tran sport or store records, so it is even now impossible to ascertain what has happened to numerous Denizens, parts of the House, important objects, milli ons or possibly trillions of sentient mortals, and even entire worlds in th e Secondary Realms. There has also been considerable interference with the Secondary Realms, most of it via the Lower House.

"Grim Tuesday's case is even worse, for in his avarice, he mined so much No thing that the Far Reaches of the House were in danger of inundation by Not hing. If the Far Reaches had fallen into Nothing, it is quite possible the rest of the House would have collapsed as well.

"Drowned Wednesday failed to stop the Border Sea from breaking its bounds and now it extends to many places it should not, allowing pa.s.sage to and f rom the House for those able to pa.s.s the Line of Storms, and impinging on areas of Nothing, again weakening the fabric of the House."

She paused to sip her blood-red wine.

"All of this together suggests that the Trustees, knowingly or not, are part of a plan to demolish the House and reduce it and everything else the Archite ct created into Nothing!"

"The whole universe?" asked Arthur.

"The whole universe,''' said Dame Primus. "Though as yet we do not know who is behind this plot, or what they can possibly hope to gain. Lord Sunday o r Superior Sat.u.r.day are the obvious candidates but then they too would be destroyed. Unless they have found a way to destroy only part of the Housei t is a curious puzzle. Being only three parts of the Will, I lack significa nt knowledge. In any case, it matters not, for our strategy does not differ , whether we oppose the Trustees or some force behind them."

"What is 'our' strategy?" asked Arthur.

"As it has been," said Dame Primus. "You will wrest the Fourth Key from S ir Thursday, the Fifth from Lady Friday, the Sixth from Superior Sat.u.r.day , and the Seventh from Lord Sunday."

"That's it?" asked Arthur. "You call that a strategy?"

"What did you expect from a frog-bear-fish?" said Suzy under the table, just loud enough for only Arthur to hear her.

"It is the grand strategy," replied Dame Primus stiffly. "Naturally there are details to be gone into. One of the first things that must be done is to res tore the bounds of the Border Sea before it causes any more problems. Since y ou have decided to retain the Third Key, Arthur, this should be your next tas k."

"What do I have to do?"

"Wednesday's Dawn has identified thirty-seven thousand, four hundred and s ixty-two places where the Border Sea has impinged on the Secondary Realms or Nothing. In each case, you must use the power of the Key to force the S ea back to its proper place. Fortunately, you do not need to visit each lo cation, as the power of the Third Key can be directed from Port Wednesday. "

"But I'd have to use the Key thirty-seven thousand times," said Arthur. He l ooked at the crocodile ring on his finger. It didn't appear to have changed at all since he'd used the Atlas. Then he lifted it really close, and could see that the gold had spread by the width of a hair and was now right on the fourth band. "I'd become a Denizen in no time. And I could never go home."

"This sentimental attachment to your original world and mortality is a ser ious weakness, Arthur," said Dame Primus. She leaned forward as she spoke, and Arthur felt his eyes drawn to her gaze. Her own eyes grew brighter, i nfused with a golden glow, and though she was not wearing her wings, Arthu r could sense them rearing up behind her, increasing her majesty. He felt an almost overpowering urge to bow before her, because she was so beautifu l and powerful.

"The Border Sea must be brought within its bounds and only the Third Key c an do it."

Arthur tried to force his chin up, resisting the pressure to bow before the Will. It would be so easy to give in, to agree with whatever she wanted. B ut if he did, that would be the end of a boy named Arthur Penhaligon. He wo uld be something else, no longer human.

But it would be so easy Arthur opened his mouth and then shut it again as something sharp p.r.i.c.ked his knee. The momentary pain enabled him to b reak eye contact with Dame Primus and he quickly looked down.

"Let me think about it," said Arthur. It cost him an effort to even say that , but it worked. Dame Primus leaned back and the almost-visible aura of her wings diminished, and her face no longer seemed so unbearably beautiful.

Arthur took a sip of his orange juice and glanced under the table. Suzy was p ushing another large needle through the lining of her outer coat, where it ne stled with half a dozen others.

He took a deep breath and continued, "What's your plan for me after the Bor der Sea is taken care of?"