“Guests do not come here,” she added, “but do use the gardens in the other wing of the building. Go through yon archway—”
“You were always welcome in my garden, Ratri,” he said.
“Your . . . ?”
“Kubera.”
“Lord Kubera! You are not—”
“Fat. I know. New body, and it’s been working hard. Building Yama’s weapons, transporting them. . .”/p>
“When did you arrive?” “This minute. I brought Krishna back, along with a load of firepacks, grenades and antipersonnel mines. . .”
“Gods! It’s been so long , . .”
“Yes. Very. But an apology is still due you, so I have come to give it. It has bothered me these many years. I am sorry, Ratri, about that night, long ago, when I dragged you into this thing. I needed your Attribute, so I drafted you. I do not like to use people so.”
“I would have left the City soon, at any rate, Kubera. So do not feel overly guilty. I should prefer a more comely form, though, than this which I now wear. This is not essential, however.”
“I’ll get you another body, lady.”
“Another day, Kubera. Pray sit down. Here. Are you hungry? Are you thirsty?”
“Yes, and yes.”
“Here is fruit, and soma. Or would you prefer tea?”
“Soma, thank you.”
“Yama says Sam is recovered from his sainthood.”
“Good, the need for him is growing. Has he made any plans yet — for us to act upon?”
“Yama has not told me. But perhaps Sam has not told Yama.”
The branches shook violently in a nearby tree and Tak dropped to the ground, landing upon all fours. He crossed the flagstones and stood beside the bench.
“All this talk has awakened me,” he growled. “Who is this fellow, Ratri?”
“Lord Kubera, Tak.”
“It thou beest he—then oh, how changed!” said Tak.
“And the same might be said of yourself, Tak of the Archives. Why are you still an ape? Yama could transmigrate you.”
“I am more useful as an ape,” said Tak. “I am an excellent spy — far better than a dog. I am stronger than a man. And who can tell one ape from another? I will remain in this form until there is no longer any need for my special services.”
“Commendable. Has there been further news of Nirriti’s movements?”
“His vessels move nearer the large ports than was their wont in the past,” said Tak. “There appear to be more of them, also. Beyond this, nothing. It would seem the gods fear him, for they do not destroy him.”
“Yes,” said Kubera, “for now he is an unknown. I’m inclined to think of him as Ganesha’s mistake. It was he who permitted him to leave Heaven unmolested, and to take what equipment he did with him. I think Ganesha wanted someone available as an enemy of Heaven, should the need for one ever arise in a hurry. He must never have dreamed a nontechnical could have put the equipment to the uses he did, and build up the forces he now commands.”
“There is logic in what you say,” said Ratri. “Even I have heard that Ganesha often moves in such a manner. What will he do now?”
“Give Nirriti the first city he attacks, to observe his means of offense and assess his strength—if he can persuade Brahma to hold back. Then strike at Nirriti. Mahartha must fall, and we must stand near. It would be interesting even to watch.”
“But you feel we will do more than watch?” asked Tak.
“Indeed. Sam knows we must be on hand to make more pieces of the pieces, and then to pick some up. We will have to move as soon as someone else does, Tak, which may be soon.”
“At last,” said Tak. “I have always wanted to go to battle at the side of the Binder.”
“In the weeks to come, I am certain that almost as many wishes will be granted as broken.”
“More soma? More fruit?”
“Thank you, Ratri.”
“And you, Tak?”
“A banana, perhaps.”
Within the shadow of the forest, at the peak of a high hill, Brahma sat, like a statue of a god mounted upon a gargoyle, staring downward into Mahartha.