Herark the Harbinger called out: “I second the motion!”
The vote was carried almost unanimously, the only silent voices being those of Ildefonse and Rhialto.
Herark rose to his feet. “The hour is late; our time is short! Each of us must resolve to visit Fader’s Waft and study the Perciplex at his earliest convenience. Then, when Ildefonse ascertains that all have done their duty, he shall reconvene the conclave and we will once more consider this affair, in a more conciliatory atmosphere, or so I trust.”
Rhialto uttered a grim laugh and stepped up on the dais beside Ildefonse. “Any who wish may go to Fader’s Waft and test Hache-Moncour’s didactic theories at their leisure. I am going now to consult the Adjudicator. Let no one think to test his magic against me! I did not leave all my spells at Falu, and I am protected in dimension.”
Byzant the Necrope took exception to the remark. “Rhialto, you are contentious! Must the Adjudicator be troubled by every trifling snit and swivet? Be large, Rhialto!”
“Good advice!” declared Rhialto. “I shall solicit mercy for you at Fader’s Waft. Ildefonse, the ‘Bill of Accusations’, if you please! The Adjudicator will also need this list of names.”
Hache-Moncour spoke politely: “Since Rhialto is determined, I must warn him of the dangers he will incur at Fader’s Waft. They are large indeed!”
“How so?” asked Ildefonse. “Where and how does Rhialto face danger?”
“Is it not clear? The Monstrament states that any person who presents an altered or damaged copy of the Blue Principles in the effort to prove a case at law is guilty of a Schedule H crime and must be expunged. Rhialto, I reluctantly must declare, has today committed such a crime which vitiates his entire case. He will go before the Adjudicator at peril to his life.”
Rhialto frowned down at his copy of the Monstrament. “I see no such interdict here. Please indicate the passage which you are citing.”
Hache-Moncour took a quick step backward. “If I did so, I would then become guilty of the identical crime we are now discussing. The passage perhaps has been elided by the damage.”
“Most peculiar,” said Rhialto.
Herark spoke out. “Rhialto, your accusations have been voided by this new crime, and your claims must now be abandoned. Ildefonse, I move that the meeting be adjourned.”
“Not so fast,” said Ildefonse. “We are suddenly faced with a most complex matter. I suggest that, in view of Hache-Moncour’s exposition, we send a committee to Fader’s Waft, consisting, let us say, of myself, Eshmiel, Barbanikos, and perhaps Hache-Moncour, there to study the Monstrament quietly and carefully, without reference to our little troubles.”
“I will meet you there,” said Rhialto. “Even if Hache-Moncour’s recollection is correct, which I doubt, I have not quoted from the damaged Monstrament and so am innocent.”
“Not so!” declared Hache-Moncour. “You just now examined your spurious document and used it to dispute my statement. Your crime takes precedence and you will be expunged before uttering the first of your charges, which thereupon become moot. Return at this instant to Falu! We will ascribe your conduct to mental disorder.”
Ildefonse spoke wearily: “This advice, no matter how well-meant, clearly lacks persuasion. Therefore, as Preceptor, I rule that all present shall go now to Fader’s Waft, there to inspect the Monstrament. Our purposes are informational only; we will not disturb the Adjudicator. Come, then! All to Fader’s Waft! We will ride in my commodious whirlaway.”
5
Ildefonse’s majestic whirlaway flew southward, into a region of low rolling hills at the southern edge of Ascolais. Certain of the magicians strolled the upper promenade, intent upon the far vistas of air and cloud; others kept to the lower deck that they might overlook the lands below; still others preferred the leather-cushioned comfort of the saloon.
The time was close upon evening; the near-horizontal light spread odd patterns of red and black shadow across the landscape; Fader’s Waft, a hillock somewhat higher and more massive than its fellows, loomed ahead.
The whirlaway settled upon the summit, which, exposed to the draughts of Fader the west wind, was bare and stony. Alighting from the vehicle, the magicians marched across a circular terrace to a six-sided structure roofed with tiles of blue gold.
Rhialto had visited Fader’s Waft on a single other occasion, for reasons of simple curiosity. The west wind Fader flapped his cloak as he approached the fane; entering the vestibule he waited for his eyes to adapt to the gloom, then stepped forward into the central chamber.
A pedestal supported the Egg: a spheroid three feet across the widest diameter. A window at one end displayed the Perciplex, a blue prism four inches tall, inwardly engraved with the text of the Monstrament. Through the window the Perciplex projected an image of the Monstrament in legible characters upon a vertical dolomite slab, and so charged with magic was the Perciplex that should an earthquake or other shock cause it to topple, it must right itself immediately, so that it should never present a faulty image, or one which might be misconstrued, to the viewer.
So it had been; so it was now.
Ildefonse led the way across the terrace, with Hache-Moncour, erect and controlled in his movements on one side, and on the other Hurtiancz in full gesticulation. Behind came the others in a hurrying clot, with Rhialto sauntering disdainfully alone at the rear.
Into the vestibule marched the group, and into the central chamber. Rhialto at the rear heard Hache-Moncour’s voice raised in sudden shock and dismay, followed by a mingling of other astonished voices.
Pressing forward, Rhialto saw all as he remembered from his previous visit: pedestal supporting Judicial Egg, Perciplex glowing blue, and the projection of the Monstrament upon the dolomite slab. Today, however, there was a noteworthy difference: the text of the Monstrament appeared in reverse, or mirror-image, upon the dolomite slab.
Rhialto felt a sudden flicker across his consciousness, and almost instantly he heard Ildefonse’s roar of protest. “Impropriety, bad faith! The monitor shows a hiatus3! Who would so dare to work a spell on us?”
“This is an outrage!” declared Hache-Moncour. “Whoever is the guilty party, let him step forward and explain his conduct!”
No one replied to the challenge, but Mune the Mage cried out in wonder: “The Monstrament! Was it not in reverse? It now seems in correct condition!”
“Odd!” said Ildefonse. “Most odd!”
Hache-Moncour looked angrily around the company. “These sly tricks are intolerable! They besmirch the dignity of us all! In due course I will personally investigate the case, but as of now our business is the tragic determination of Rhialto’s guilt. Let us study the Monstrament.”
Rhialto spoke in a voice of icy politeness: “Are you not ignoring a most remarkable fact? The Monstrament was projected in reverse.”
Hache-Moncour looked back and forth between Rhialto and the Monstrament in puzzled inquiry. “It seems now as steadfast as ever! I suspect that your eyes played you false; entering darkness from the daylight is often confusing. Now then! With true sorrow I call attention to this passage in Section 3, Paragraph D, which reads —”
“One moment,” said Ildefonse. “I too saw the reverse projection. Am I also confused?”
Hache-Moncour gave a light laugh. “Such little errors betoken neither degeneracy nor turpitude; perhaps for your lunch you enjoyed a surfeit of plum-pickle, or took a mug too many of your excellent sub-cellar ale! Ha ho! Dyspepsia is the plight of many strong men! Shall we proceed with our business?”
“By no means!” declared Ildefonse in brusque tones. “We shall return to Boumergarth for a fuller investigation of what at every turn becomes a more mystifying situation.”
Amid a subdued murmur of conversation, the magicians departed the fane. Rhialto, who had paused to inspect the Egg, held Ildefonse back until they were alone. “You may be interested to learn that this is not even the authentic Perciplex. It is a forgery.”
