“I haven’t got trouble enough,” Azzie remarked. “Now I got to have an angel looking over my shoulder.”
“I just want to watch,” Babriel said. “We hear a lot about evil where I come from, but I’ve never seen any close up.”
“It must be pretty dull where you come from,” Azzie said.
“It is, of course. But it’s good, so of course we like it anyhow. But this chance of seeing a real demon in action- doing bad things-well, I must confess, the idea of evil titillates me.”
“You like it, huh?” Azzie said.
“Oh, no! I wouldn’t go so far as to say that. But I am interested, yes. And perhaps I can even be of some help.”
“To me? Are you kidding?”
“I know it must seem odd. But Good, by its very nature, tends to be helpful, even in an evil cause. Real Good has no prejudice against Evil.”
“That’s all I want to hear about good,” Azzie said. “I hope you’re not some missionary type here to convert me to the Other Side. It’s no use. You understand what I’m saying?”
“I’m sure I won’t be any trouble,” Babriel said. “And your own people have agreed to this.”
“Your scroll looks official enough to me,” Azzie said. “Well, I’ve got nothing against it. Observe all you want. Just don’t try to steal any of my spells.”
“I’d rather lose my right arm than steal from you!” Babriel said.
“I believe you,” Azzie said. “You really are a fool, aren’t you? Never mind,” he added, seeing Babriel’s crestfallen expression, “it’s just my way of talking. There’s plenty of food in the larder. No, on second thought, you probably wouldn’t like that. Frike, get our guest some chickens from the village.”
“But I’d be happy to partake of whatever you eat,” Babriel said.
“No, you wouldn’t,” Azzie said. “Trust me on this. So how’s Good doing these days?”
“Our entry is coming along well,” Babriel replied. “Foundations down and all that. Transepts, nave, choir in place -”
“Entry? What are you talking about?”
“Good’s entry in the Millennial contest.”
“You’re building something for it?”
“Yes. We’ve inspired a master builder and enspirited an entire village for labor in a massive architectural undertaking. It will be a glorious structure – inspiring humanity to the higher things: truth, beauty, goodness – ”
“What do you call the thing?”
“We rather like the term ‘Gothic cathedral.’ ”
“Hmm. And well, well. You guys stuck with an observer, too?”
“Yes. Bestialial is checking it out.”
Azzie snorted.
“He’s not exactly field personnel,” he said. “Desk type. Still . . . Sound, I suppose, when he’s paying attention. So you think it’s a good entry, huh?”
“Oh, yes. We’re happy with it,” Babriel said. “And that’s what Good is doing. But you know the saying, ‘It’s good, but it could always be better.’ ”
“That’s just how it is with Evil,” Azzie said. “Come into the study. I’ll pour you a shot of ichor.”
“I’ve heard of it,” Babriel said, “but I’ve never had any. Is it intoxicating?”
“It gets the job done,” Azzie said. “Life being what it is, I mean.”
Babriel found this last statement opaque, to say the least. But when has good ever understood evil? He followed Azzie into the study.
“Well then,” Azzie said, “if you’re going to stay, you’re going to stay. I suppose you want to live here in the mansion?”
“It would be more convenient for my duties,” Babriel said. “I could pay rent. . . .”
“What sort of piker do you take me for?” Azzie asked indignantly, though the idea of charging rent had crossed his mind. “You’re a guest. Where I come from, a guest is sacred.”
“That’s how it is where I come from, too,” Babriel said.
“Big deal!” Azzie sneered. “For a Creature of Light to hold a guest sacred is no big matter; but for one of Darkness to do so is remarkable indeed.”
“Just what I was going to say,” Babriel said.
“Don’t try to ingratiate yourself with me,” Azzie said. “I know the tricks and I despise you and everything you stand for.”
“That’s just as it should be,” Babriel said, with a smile.