Amanita (Chapter 23)

Template:Amanita nav I don't remember sleeping -- I lay down, ten hours passed, and I was awake again. The sun was high, my belly was empty, and the sweaty padding I laid out the night before was almost dry again. If I ever retire from the business (dying is always an option) I'm going somewhere where clothes dry out eventually. Breakfast was palm nuts and fish with ginger. The woman who did the cooking didn't charge me, and was really eager for me to like it. It was probably the best food she had. I guess I've made an impression.

I'm still not much for accepting gratitude, so I skulked out into the jungle. Well, 'ported out into the city. By waypoint. There were two ways I could go: across a bridge further into Kurast, or down into the city sewers. There was only one bridge over the canal, and it was sure to be guarded. The sewer might not be, at least not deliberately. There were probably some nasty things down there, and it would stink, but that's what cigars are good for. I lit one up and headed down.

Kurast's sewer system is weird. First off, there aren't any tunnels. The sewer is one open area, with small blocks of stone to hold up the ceiling and channels in the floor for the water. Every now and then there was a big block, probably the foundation of a temple. The sewer nodes were more like ponds; some even had boats tied up at the edge. Why would anyone go boating in a sewer? It did seem like a well-used sewer, signs of activity were all over. I kept finding stashed trinkets, chests, or things hidden under rockpiles, or human skulls. The skulls didn't all look recent, either. Some holy city this was turning out to be.

There were bats, and a few tentacle things in the bigger nodes. There were also skeleton Flayers running around, but only a few. They weren't half as much trouble in an open area with plenty of places to run. Off one corner near the river, I found a hatch to a lower level, maybe extra drainage for rainy weather. Three poison spitters were living in the muck pool down there, with a dozen chests and strongboxes stacked neatly on the sides. Hell of a place to put the city treasury, though it might explain the boats. Well, whosoever it was, possession is at least nine-tenths of the law. The last chest had a heart in it. What's-his-face the saint will be thrilled.

The sewers went right under the canal, and there were hatches going up. This part of Kurast was the richest yet -- the pyramids were the tallest, and even the ordinary buildings were stone. There was no welcoming committee either, so I explored. There were tree hulks and vultures, but the worst was what was left of the church's paladins.

There were only two groups of men, about half a dozen each, with a priest. The first group was near a temple pyramid, probably guarding it. I've got no love for murderous zealots, but this was the skinniest, sorriest bunch I've ever seen in my life. The shining armor was gone, most of them didn't even have shoes. All they had were rusty farm tools, sticks, and rocks. Rabid, yet pathetic. I hit their minds, and almost yelped when I felt something else inside their heads.

My shields snapped up almost by themselves, and I took a longer look at the nearest zealot. Something else was belted around his mind like iron. Was it the priest? I shot him. He died fast, and went up in a puff of dust and fire. Stylish, but not exactly heavenly, and the grip on the zealot's minds didn't die with him. Every now and then, one would defy the hold and run, but they never made it very far. Whoever or whatever was on them might not always be paying attention, but they couldn't break the hold. None of my mental battering could either. They were in such bad shape, one actually died from it.

The second group of men was waiting by the gate, with a big group of tree men. I confused them and took out the trees, then got the priest between me and his zealots before I killed him. Even the sight of their priest going up in flames couldn't shock them out. They weren't even surprised. They already knew.

"Hey, Cain, what do you know about mind control magic?"

"Mind control?" The question worried him. "Have you encountered such a thing?"

"Maybe. But I've never heard of anything that could control more than one person."

"Hmm..." His brows knitted together. I thought of two caterpillars having marital relations. "It may be that Mephisto is using a compelling orb. These fiendish devices can sap the wills of more than one victim, but I have never heard of one being used to command more than a few at a time. Even a demon as powerful as Mephisto could not concentrate on every mind in Kurast at once."

"How about forcing a few to attack, then moving on to another bunch? Those paladins up there attack, then run away. They don't want to attack, but can't break away for long."

Cain was silent for a while, bent in thought. I couldn't believe it, but I might actually have stumped him. Eventually, he said, "I know little about the use of artifacts, even less about ones such as this. Perhaps Ormus could help us. I have been speaking with him, and must say I am impressed with his knowledge of artifacts and of the church."

Yeah, I'll bet he knows all about compelling orbs. And Mephisto. "Oh, I almost forgot: I found another saint bit in the sewers."

"Ah, Khalim's heart! Every day, you bring us good omens. We can only hope this provides us with the courage to face the Prime Evils."

"Yeah. I'm going to talk with Ormus. Wish me luck."

Cain smiled, shaking his head slightly. "At times, you amaze me. Your own courage never seems to falter."

"Are you kidding? I'm scared pissless. But if I don't take 'em out now, I'll have to do it when they're together. That scares me even worse."

Ormus was standing where I'd left him, like he never went anywhere at all. Could he be controlled? No, he wasn't twitchy enough. Could he be controlling them? No, that's crazy thinking, even he doesn't have that kind of power. When I stepped around the corner, his eyes locked into mine. I was expected.

"You have done well, noble hero. Ormus congratulates you. The time has now come to face those responsible for the evil that has stifled this land. You must destroy the High Council of Zakarum!"

"If they're in my way, sure. What do you know --"

"The council serves Mephisto as cruel mockeries of the holy men they once were. Using a compelling orb, the council commands the jungle itself to choke the life from our home."

Ah. "You know about this orb?"

"The orb was taken by the church many years ago. In happier times, the orb was used with reluctance, to find truth in those who wish it concealed. Now, it is used continuously, to force obedience from the reluctant hands of Zakarum."

I lit a fresh cigar. Those things were getting to be a real habit. "You were listening to me talking with Cain, weren't you?"

"Ask this of yourself: what else is there to hear?"

I looked at him, then listened. The jungle was quiet. You could have heard a Flayer fart, it was so quiet. I'd been running in and out so fast, I never noticed.

"Diablo and Baal have surely reached their goal," Ormus continued. "and the Three have been reunited. Their dark gathering must be disrupted at all costs. Should you die on your quest, Ormus will compose an epic poem in your honor. It will survive to the end of humanity's last days."

"No matter how long that is. Right. How do I take out the orb?"

"The High Council of Zakarum guards it and the blackened Guardian Tower where Mephisto was buried. Slay the council, and Hatred's hold over the land will be broken."

"Then what?"

Ormus stared impassively into the distance. "Ormus suggests you wing it."

There were only two more temples in Kurast. I emptied them both, killing more spiders, bats, Vampires, and cannibal nuns. Above the city was a lake, with a bridge leading to a built-up island in the center. Two more temples were on the bridge. I cleared them out too, fighting off Claw Vipers and lightning beetles. Maybe I shouldn't have taken the time, I was on a mission, but I didn't want to leave anything behind me. Or maybe I was scared. Who the hell wouldn't be? My best information says the three most dangerous beings in the universe are on, or in, or under, that island.

I stood on the bridge. The sun was going down behind me, the last red light oozing up a cold ash-black tower on the far side of the island. The sky was clear, but the air crackled like a storm was coming. The air smelled like dried blood. I charged in.