“I understand the gist of your speculation,” said Rhialto. “It is most likely nuncupatory.”

Ildefonse gave his head a wistful shake. “Sometimes one’s thoughts go where they will.”

A golden insect darted out of the shadows, circled the lamp and flew back into the darkness. Rhialto instantly became alert. “Someone has entered Falu, and now waits in the parlour.” He went to the door and called out sharply: “Who is there? Speak, or dance the tarantella on feet of fire.”

“Hold hard your spell!” spoke a voice. “It is I, Lehuster!”

“In that case, come forward.”

Into the work-room came Lehuster, soiled and limping, his shoulder feathers bedraggled, in a state of obvious fatigue. He carried a sack which he gratefully dropped upon the leather-slung couch under the window.

Ildefonse surveyed him with frowning disfavor. “Well then, Lehuster, you are here at last! A dozen times during the night we might have used your counsel, but you were nowhere to be found. What, then, is your report?”

Rhialto handed Lehuster a tot of aquavit. “This will alleviate your fatigue; drink and then speak freely.”

Lehuster consumed the liquid at a gulp. “Aha! A tipple of rare quality! … Well then, I have little enough to tell you, though I have spent a most toilsome night, performing necessary tasks. All are ensqualmed, save only yourselves. The Murthe, however, believes that she controls the entire association.”

“What?” cried Rhialto. “Does she take us so lightly?”

“No great matter.” Lehuster held out the empty goblet. “If you please! A bird flies erratically on one wing … Further, the Murthe appropriated all IOUN stones to her personal use —”

“Not so!” said Ildefonse with a chuckle. “We cleverly took them first.”

“You seized a clutch of glass baubles. The Murthe took the true stones, including those owned by you and Rhialto, and left brummagem in their place.”

Rhialto ran to the basket where the presumptive IOUN stones reposed. He groaned. “The mischievous vixen has robbed us in cold blood!”

Lehuster gestured to the sack he had tossed upon the couch. “On this occasion, we have bested her. Yonder are the stones! I seized them while she bathed. I suggest that you send a sandestin to replace them with the false stones. If you hurry, there is still time; the Murthe dallies at her toilette. Meanwhile hide the true stones in some extra-dimensional cubby-hole, so that they may not be taken from you again.”

Rhialto summoned his sandestin Bellume and issued an appropriate instruction.

Ildefonse turned to Lehuster: “By what means did Calanctus confound this dire and frightening female?”

“Mystery still shrouds the occasion,” said Lehuster. “Calanctus apparently used an intense personal force and so kept Llorio at bay.”

“Hmmf. We must learn more of Calanctus. The chronicles make no mention of his death; he may still be extant, perhaps in the Land of Cutz!”

“Such questions also trouble the Murthe,” said Lehuster. “We may well be able to confuse her and induce her retreat.”

“How so?”

“There is no time to lose. You and Rhialto must create an ideal semblance in the shape of Calanctus, and here, at least, I can be of assistance. The creation need not be permanent, but it must be sufficiently vital so that Llorio is persuaded that once again she pits herself against Calanctus.”

Ildefonse pulled doubtfully at his beard. “That is a major undertaking.”

“With scant time for its execution! Remember, by winning the IOUN stones you have defied the Murthe with a challenge which she cannot ignore!”

Rhialto jumped to his feet. “Quickly then! Let us do as Lehuster suggests! Time is short.”

“Hmmf,” growled Ildefonse. “I do not fear this misguided harridan. Is there no easier way?”

“Yes! Flight to a far dimension!”

“You know me better than that!” declared Ildefonse. “To work! We will send this witch squealing and leaping with skirts held high as she bounds over the brambles!”

“That shall be our slogan,” declared Lehuster. “To work!”

The semblance of Calanctus took form on the work table: first an armature of silver and tantalum wires built upon an articulated spinal truss, then a shadowy sheathing of tentative concepts, then the skull and sensorium, into which were inserted all the works of Calanctus, and a hundred other tracts, including catalogues, compendia, pantologies and universal syntheses, until Lehuster counselled a stop. “Already he knows twenty times as much as the first Calanctus! I wonder if he can organize such a mass?”

The muscles were stretched and drawn taut; the skin was applied, along with a thick pelt of dark short hair over the scalp and down the forehead. Lehuster worked long and hard at the features, adjusting the jut of the jaw, the thrust of the short straight nose, the breadth of the forehead, the exact shape and curve of eyebrows and hair-line.

The ears were affixed and the auditory channels adjusted. Lehuster spoke in an even voice: “You are Calanctus, first hero of the 18th Aeon.”

The eyes opened and gazed thoughtfully at Lehuster.

“I am your friend,” said Lehuster. “Calanctus, arise! Go sit in yonder chair.”

The Calanctus-form rose from the table with only a trifling effort, swung his strong legs to the floor and went to sit in the chair.

Lehuster turned to Rhialto and Ildefonse. “It would be better if now you stepped into the parlor for a few minutes. I must instill memories and associations into this mind; he must be vivid with life.”

“A full lifetime of memories in so short a time?” demanded Ildefonse. “Impossible!”

“Not so, in a time-compression! I will also teach him music and poetry; he must be passionate as well as vivid. My instrument is this bit of dry flower-petal; its perfume works magic.”

Somewhat reluctantly Ildefonse and Rhialto went to the parlor, where they watched morning come full to Low Meadow.

Lehuster called them to the work-room. “There sits Calanctus. His mind is rich with knowledge; he is perhaps even broader in his concepts than his namesake. Calanctus, this is Rhialto and this is Ildefonse; they are your friends.”

Calanctus looked from one to the other with mild blue eyes. “I am glad to hear that! From what I have learned, the world is sorely in need of amity.”

Lehuster said aside: “He is Calanctus, but with a difference, or even a certain lack. I have given him a quart of my blood, but perhaps it is not enough … Still, we shall see.”

Ildefonse asked: “What of power? Can he enforce his commands?”

Lehuster looked toward the neo-Calanctus. “I have loaded his sensorium with IOUN stones. Since he has never known harm he is easy and gentle despite his innate force.”

“What does he know of the Murthe?”

“All there is to be known. He shows no emotion.”

Rhialto and Ildefonse regarded their creation with skepticism. “So far Calanctus seems still an abstraction, without over-much volition,” said Rhialto. “Can we not give him a more visceral identification with the real Calanctus?”

Lehuster hesitated. “Yes. It is a scarab which Calanctus always wore on his wrist. Dress him now in apparel, then I will give him the scarab.”

Ten minutes later Rhialto and Ildefonse entered the parlour with Calanctus, who now wore a black helmet, a breast-plate of polished black metal, a black cape, black breeches and black boots, with silver buckles and accoutrements.