result of the promise rashly  given  to the Mistress of  Death.
But then, it is quite likely that he would have proceeded in the same manner
without her persuasions. The major effect of her actions, then, was probably
that it gave him, for a brief time, someone  to  blame  his  later  troubles
upon. He was also known as Brahma the Infallible.
     The  dome of Heaven  was  repaired in several places at the  end of the
time of the revels.
     The  Museum of Heaven  was thereafter  provided with an armed guard who
remained upon the premises at all times.
     Several demon-hunting  parties  were planned, but  never got beyond the
planning stage.
     A  new Archivist was  appointed, one who had  no  knowledge  whatsoever
concerning his parentage.
     The phantom cats of Kaniburrha  were granted symbolic representation in
Temples throughout the land.
     On the  last  night of  the revels, a lone  god entered the Pavilion of
Silence at Worldsend and dwelled for a long while in the room called Memory.
Then he laughed long and returned to  the Celestial  City; and his  laughter
was a thing of youth and beauty and strength and purity, and the  winds that
circle through Heaven  caught it  up and bore  it far across the land, where
all who heard it marveled at the strange and vibrant note of triumph that it
contained.
     These things considered,  it was  thorough as well as  impressive,  the
time of Love and Death, of Hate and Life, and of Folly.



        VI
     <i>During the time that followed the death of Brahma,  there came upon the
Celestial  City  a  period of turmoil.  Several  among the  gods  were  even
expelled from Heaven. It was  a  time when just about everyone  feared being
considered  an Accelerationist; and, as fate would have it, at some point or
other   during   this  period,   just  about  everyone   was  considered  an
Accelerationist.  Though Great-Souled Sam was  dead, his  spirit was said to
live on, mocking. Then, in the days of disaffection and intrigue that led up
to  the  Great Battle, it was rumored that  more  than his spirit might have
lived on. . . .</i>
     <i>When the sun of suffering has set,</i>
     <i>there comes this peace,</i>
     <i>Lord of the quiet stars,</i>
     <i>this peace of creation,</i>
     <i>this place the mandala spins gray.</i>
     <i>The fool saith in his mind</i>
     <i>that his thoughts are only thoughts . . .</i>
     <i><i>Saraha (98-99)</i></i>
     It was early morning. Near the pool of the  purple lotus, in the Garden
of  Joys,  at the  foot  of the statue of the  blue goddess  with the <i>veena</i>,
Brahma was located.
     The girl who  found him  first thought him to  be resting, for his eyes
were  still  open.  After  a moment,  though,  she realized that  he was not
breathing; and his face, so contorted, underwent no changes of expression.
     She trembled as she awaited the ending of the universe. God being dead,
she understood that this normally followed. But  after a  time, she  decided
that  the internal cohesiveness  of things might serve  to hold the universe
together for  another hour or so; and  such being the  case,  she thought it
advisable to bring  the  matter  of the  imminent  Yuga to the attention  of
someone better suited to cope with it.
     She told Brahma's First Concubine, who went to see for  herself, agreed
that her Lord was indeed dead, addressed the statue of the blue goddess, who
immediately began playing upon  the <i>veena</i>, and then sent messages to  Vishnu
and Shiva to come at once to the Pavilion.
     They did, bringing Lord Ganesha with them.
     These viewed the  remains,  agreed as to  their condition  and confined
both women to their quarters against execution.
     Then they conferred.
     "We  need another creator in a hurry," said Vishnu. "The  floor is open
for nominations."
     "I nominate Ganesha," said Shiva.
     "I decline," said Ganesha.
     "Why?"
     "I  do not like  being on the  scene.  I would much  rather remain  off
somewhere behind it."
     "Then let us consider some alternative choices, quickly."
     "Might it  not  be wise," asked Vishnu, "to ascertain the cause of this
occurrence before proceeding?"
     "No," said Ganesha. "The first order of business  must be the selection
of his successor. Even the postmortem  must wait  on that. Heaven must never
be without a Brahma."
     "What say you to one of the Lokapalas?"
     "Perhaps."
     "Yama?"
     "No.  He  is too serious,  too conscientious--  a  technician,  not  an
administrator. Also, I think he's emotionally unstable."
     "Kubera?"
     "Too smart. I'm afraid of Kubera."
     "Indra?"
     "Too headstrong."
     "Agni, then?"
     "Maybe. Maybe not."
     "Perhaps Krishna?"
     "Too frivolous, never sober."
     "Who would you suggest?"
     "What is our greatest problem at the present time?"
     "I  do not feel  that we have any great problems  at the present time,"
said Vishnu.
     "Then it might be wise  to have one just about  now," said  Ganesha. "I
feel that our greatest problem is Accelerationism. Sam came  back, stirring,
making clear waters muddy."
     "Yes," said Shiva.
     "Accelerationism? Why kick a dead dog?"
     "Ah, but it is not  dead. Not down among men. And it will also serve to
direct  attention  away from  the  succession within Trimurti and  regain at
least surface solidarity here  in the City.  Unless, of course, you'd rather
undertake a campaign against Nirriti and his zombies?"
     "No thanks."
     "Not now."
     "Mmm . . . yes,  then  Accelerationism  is our greatest  problem at the
present time."
     "All right. Accelerationism is our greatest problem."
     "Who hates it more than anyone else?"
     "Yourself?"
     "Nonsense. Except me."
     "Tell us, Ganesha."
     "Kali."
     "I doubt this."
     "I do not. The twin beasts, Buddhism and Accelerationism, draw a single
chariot.  The Buddha  scorned  her. She is  a woman. She will carry  on  the
campaign."
     "It will mean renouncing her womanhood."
     "Speak to me not of trifles."
     "All right-- Kali."
     "But what of Yama?"
     "What of him? Leave Yama to me."
     "I'd rather."
     "I also."
     "Very  well.  Go you  then  forth across the world,  within the thunder
chariot and upon  the back  of the  great bird Garuda.  Find Yama  and Kali.
Return them to Heaven. I will wait upon your return and  consider the matter
of Brahma's passing."
     "So be it."
     "Agreed."
     "Good morning."

     "Good merchant Vama, wait! I would have words with thee."
     "Yea, Kabada. What wouldst thou?"
     "It is difficult to find the words I would  have with thee. But they do
concern a certain state of affairs which hath aroused considerable sentiment
on the parts of thy various adjacent neighbors."
     "Oh? Speak on then."
     "Concerning the atmosphere . . ."
     "The atmosphere?"
     "The winds and breezes, perhaps . . ."
     "Winds? Breezes?"
     "And the things they bear."
     "Things? Such as. . . ?"
     "Odors, good Vama."
     "Odors? What odors?"
     "Odors of-- well, odors of-- of fecal matter."
     "Of . . . ? Oh! Yes. True. True  enough. There may be a few such. I had
forgotten, having grown used to them."
     "Might I inquire as to their cause?"
     "They are caused by the product of defecation, Kabada."
     "Of  this  I am aware.  I  meant to  make  inquiry as to  <i>why</i> they  are
present, rather than their source and nature."
     "They  are  present because of the buckets in my back  room, which  are
filled with such -- items."
     "Oh?"
     "Yes. I have been  saving  the products of my family  in this manner. I
have been doing this for the past eight days."
     "Against what use, worthy Vama?"
     "Hast  thou not heard of  a thing, a wondrous thing, a thing into which
these items are discharged-- into water-- and then a lever pulled, and then,
with a mighty rushing sound,  these  things are borne away,  far beneath the
ground?"
     "I have heard some talk of such .. ."
     "Oh, 'tis true, 'tis true. There is such  a thing. It has but  recently
been invented by one whom I should not name, and it involves great pipes and
a  seat without  a  bottom, or  a  top,  really. It is  the  most  wonderful
discovery of the age-- and I will have me one within a matter of moons!"
     "Thou? Such a thing?"
     "Yea.  It  shall be installed in  the small room I  have built onto the
back of my home. I  may  even give a dinner that  night  and  permit  all my
neighbors to take use of it."
     "This is indeed wondrous-- and thou generous."
     "I feel so."
     "But-- of the-- smells. . . ?"
     "They are caused by the buckets of items, which I am preserving against
the installation of this thing."
     "Why?"
     "I should rather have it on my karmic record  that this thing  was used
for these items  beginning  with eight days ago, rather than  several  moons
from now. It will show my rapid advancement in life."
     "Ah!  I see  now  the wisdom of thy ways,  Vama. I  did not wish  it to
appear that we stood in  the way  of  any man who  seeks to  better himself.
Forgive me if I gave this impression."
     "Thou art forgiven."
     "Thy neighbors do  love thee, smells and all. When thou art advanced to
a higher state, please remember this."
     "Of course."
     "Such progress must be expensive."
     "Quite."
     "Worthy Vama, we  shall take delight in  the  atmosphere,  with all its
pungent portents."
     "This is only my second lifetime, good Kabada,  but already I feel that
destiny touches upon me."
     "And I, also. The winds of Time do shift, and they bear to mankind many
wondrous things. The gods keep thee."
     "Thou also. But forget not the blessing of the Enlightened One, whom my
second cousin Vasu sheltered in his purple grove."
     "How could I? Mahasamatman was a god also. Some say Vishnu."
     "They lie. He was the Buddha."
     "Add then his blessings."
     "Very good. Good day, Kabada."
     "Good day, worthy one."

     Yama and  Kali entered  into Heaven. They descended upon  the Celestial
City on the back of the bird  called Garuda. In the company of Vishnu,  they
entered into the City. They did not pause for any purpose, but went directly
to the  Pavilion of Brahma. In the Garden  of  Joys they met with  Shiva and
with Ganesha.
     "Hear me,  Death  and  Destruction," said Ganesha, "Brahma is  dead and
only we five now know of it."
     "How did this thing come to pass?" asked Yama.
     "It appears that he was poisoned."
     "Has there been an autopsy?"
     "No."
     "Then I shall perform one."
     "Good. But now there is another matter, of even graver consideration."
     "Name it."
     "His successor."
     "Yes. Heaven cannot be without a Brahma."
     "Exactly. . . . Kali, tell me,  would you consider being Brahma, of the
golden saddle and silver spurs?"
     "I don't know . . ."
     "Then begin thinking about it, and quickly. You are considered the best
choice."
     "What of Lord Agni?"
     "Not   so   high  on   the  list.   It  does  not  appear   he  is   so
anti-Accelerationist as Madam Kali."
     "I see."
     "And I."
     "Therefore, he is a good god, but not a great one."
     "Yes. Who might have killed Brahma?"
     "I have no idea. Have you?"
     "Not yet."
     "But you will find him, Lord Yama?"
     "Aye, with my Aspect upon me."
     "You two may wish to confer."
     "We do."
     "Then will we leave you now. An hour hence  we shall dine  together  in
the Pavilion."
     "Yes."
     "Yes."
     "Till then. . ."
     "Till then."
     "Till then."

     "Lady?"
     "Yes?"
     "With  a changing of  bodies  one is automatically divorced,  unless  a
continuation contract be signed."
     "Yes."
     "Brahma must needs be a man."
     "Yes."
     "Refuse it."
     "My Lord . . ."
     "You hesitate?"
     "It is all so sudden, Yama . . ."
     "You pause even to consider it?"
     "I must."
     "Kali, you distress me."
     "Such was not my intention."
     "And I bid you refuse the offer."
     "I am a goddess in my own right, as well as your wife, Lord Yama."
     "What does that mean?"
     "I make my own decisions."
     "If you accept. Kali, then all things are come to an end between us."
     "That is apparent."
     "What, in  the names of the Rishis, is Accelerationism but a storm over
an ant hill? Why are they suddenly so against it?"
     "It must be that they feel a need to be against something."
     "Why choose you to head it?"
     "I do not know."
     "Unless   there   is   some   special    reason   for    you   to    be
anti-Accelerationist, my dear?"
     "I do not know."
     "I am but young, as gods go, but I have heard it said that in the early
days of  the world the hero with  whom you rode-- Kalkin -- was the  same as
the one called Sam. If you had reason to hate your ancient Lord, and Sam was
truly he,  then  could I see their  enlisting  you against this thing he had
started. Might this be true?"
     "It might."
     "Then if you love me-- and you are truly  my lady-- then let another be
Brahma."
     "Yama . . ."
     "They will want a decision within the hour."
     "And I will have one for them."
     "What will it be?"
     "I am sorry, Yama . . ."

     Yama departed the Garden of Joys before dinnertime. Though it seemed an
unhealthy breach of  etiquette, Yama, among all the gods, was deemed hardest
to  discipline and was aware of  this fact,  as well as the reasons that lay
behind it. So he left the  Garden of Joys and  journeyed to  the place where
Heaven stops.
     He dwelled that day  and that night  at Worldsend, nor was he disturbed
by  any callers. He spent time in each of the five rooms in  the Pavilion of
Silence.  His thoughts  being his own,  you leave  them  alone, too. In  the
morning, he returned to the Celestial City.
     There, he learned of the death of Shiva.
     His  trident had  burnt another hole in the dome, but his head had been
smashed in by means of a blunt instrument, as yet unlocated.
     Yama went to  his friend Kubera.  "Ganesha,  Vishnu and the  new Brahma
have  already  approached Agni,  to  fill  the place of the Destroyer," said
Kubera. "I believe he will accept."
     "Excellent, for Agni," said Yama. "Who killed God?"
     "I have thought much upon it," said Kubera, "and I believe that  in the
case  of  Brahma  it  must have been someone with whom  he  was sufficiently
familiar to have taken refreshment, and  in  the case of Shiva, someone well
enough known to have surprised him. More than this deponent knoweth not."
     "The same person?"
     "I'd bet money."
     "Could it be part of an Accelerationist plot?"
     "I find  this  difficult  to  believe.  Those  who  are sympathetic  to
Accelerationism have  no real organization. Accelerationism  is returned too
recently  to Heaven  for it to  amount to  more than that. A cabal, perhaps.
Most likely a single individual did it, independent of backers."
     "What other reasons might be present?"
     "A vendetta.  Or some  minor deity out to become a major one.  Why does
anybody kill anybody?"
     "Can you think of anyone in particular?"
     "The  biggest problem, Yama, will be  eliminating suspects, not finding
them. Has the investigation been given into your hands?"
     "I  am  no longer certain. I think so.  But I will  find  who  did  it,
whatever his station, and kill him."
     "Why?"
     "I have need of something to do, someone to. . ."
     "Kill?"
     "Yes."
     "I am sorry, my friend."
     "I, also. It is my privilege and my intention, however."
     "I wish  you had not spoken with me at all, concerning this  matter. It
is obviously quite confidential."
     "I won't tell anyone if you won't."
     "I assure you I shan't"
     "And you  know I'll  take care of the  karmic  trackings,  against  the
psych-probe."
     "That is why I mentioned it, and spoke of Shiva also. Let it be so."
     "Good day, my friend."
     "Good day, Yama."
     Yama departed the Pavilion of the Lokapalas. After a time,  the goddess
Ratri entered there.
     "Hail, Kubera."
     "Hail, Ratri."
     "Why sit you there alone?"
     "Because I have none to make me unalone. Why come you here -- alone?"
     "Because I had none to talk with, till now."
     "Seek you counsel, or conversation?"
     "Both."
     "Sit down."
     "Thank you. I am afraid."
     "Are you hungry, too?"
     "No."
     "Have a piece of fruit and a cup of soma."
     "All right."
     "What is it that you fear, and how may I help you?"
     "I saw Lord Yama leaving here . . ."
     "Yes."
     "I realized when I looked upon his face that there <i>is</i> a  god of  Death,
and that there is a power which even gods might fear . . ."
     "Yama is strong, and he is my friend. Death is  mighty, and is no one's
friend.  The  two exist together though,  and it  is strange. Agni is strong
also, and is Fire. <i>He</i>  is my friend. Krishna could be  strong  if he wished.
But he never wishes so. He  wears out bodies at a fantastic  rate. He drinks
soma and makes music and women.  He hates  the past and the future. He is my
friend. I am least among the Lokapalas, and I am not strong. Whatever body I
wear goes quickly to fat. I am more father than brother to my three friends.
Of  them, I can appreciate the  drunkenness and the music and the loving and
the fire, for these are things of life, and so can I love my friends  as men
or as gods. But the other Yama makes me  to be afraid, also, Ratri. For when
he takes upon him  his Aspect  he is a  vacuum,  which  sets  this poor  fat
a-tremble. Then he is no one's friend. So do not feel awkward if you fear my
friend. You know  that when a  god  is troubled,  then his Aspect  rushes to
comfort him, oh goddess of the Night, as even now it becomes twilight within
this bower,  though the  day is  far  from  ended.  Know  that you passed  a
troubled Yama."
     "He returned fairly suddenly."
     "Yes."
     "May I ask why?"
     "I am afraid the matter is confidential."
     "Does it concern Brahma?"
     "Why do you ask?"
     "I  believe  Brahma is dead. I fear that Yama was summoned to find  his
slayer. I fear he will find me, though I  call down a century of  night upon
Heaven. He will find me, and I cannot face the vacuum."
     "What do you know regarding this alleged slaying?"
     "I believe I was either the last  to see  Brahma alive or  the first to
see him dead, depending upon what his twitching signified."
     "What were the circumstances?"
     "I had gone to his Pavilion early yesterday morning, to  intercede with
him that he might lift  his wrath and permit the  return of  Lady Parvati. I
was told to seek him in the Garden of His Joys, and I walked there-- "
     "Told? Who told you?"
     "One of his women. I don't know her name."
     "Go ahead. What happened then?"
     "I found him at the foot of the blue statue which plays upon the <i>veena</i>.
He was twitching. There was no breathing. Then he stopped twitching even and
was still. There  was  no heartbeat and no  pulse  that  I could feel.  So I
called back  a portion of  the night to cloak me in shadows and departed the
Garden."
     "Why did you not  summon assistance? It  still might not have  been too
late."
     "Because I wanted him to die, of course. I hated him for what he did to
Sam, and for the driving away of Parvati and Varuna,  and for what he did to
the Archivist, Tak, and for-- "
     "Enough. One could go on all day thus. Did you depart directly from the
Garden, or did you stop back at the Pavilion?"
     "I passed the Pavilion and saw the same  girl. I made myself visible to
her and told her  that I could not locate Brahma and would return later. . .
. He is dead, isn't he? What shall I do now?"
     "Have another piece of fruit and some more soma. Yes, he's dead."
     "Will Yama come after me?"
     "Of course. He will go after everyone who was seen anywhere near there.
It was doubtless a reasonably quick-acting poison, and you were  there right
near the time of death. So naturally he will go after you-- and he will have
you psych-probed, along with all the  others. This will reveal  that you did
not do  it. So I suggest  you simply await being called into custody. Do not
tell anyone else this story."
     "What shall I tell Yama?"
     "If he reaches you before I reach  him, tell him everything,  including
the fact  that you have  spoken  with  me.  This is because  I  am not  even
supposed to  know  that this thing has occurred.  The  passing of one  among
Trimurti is always kept secret for as long  as possible, even at the expense
of lives."
     "But the Lords of Karma  would read it  from your memory when you stood
to a judgment."
     "Just so they do not read it from  your  memory today. The knowledge of
Brahma's passing will be kept to as small a  group as  possible.  Since Yama
may be conducting the official investigation and is also the designer of the
psych-probe, I don't think any yellow wheel people will be dragged in to run
the machines. Still, I must confirm  this fact with Yama-- or  suggest it to
him -- immediately."
     "Before you go . . ."
     "Yes?"
     "You said that only a few may know of this thing, even if lives must be
spent. Does this mean that I. . . ?"
     "No. You will live, because I will protect you."
     "Why will you?"
     "Because you are my friend."

     Yama operated  the machine that probes the mind. He probed thirty-seven
subjects, all  of whom could  have had access to Brahma in his Garden during
the  entire  day prior  to  the  deicide. Of  these,  eleven  were  gods  or
goddesses, including Ratri,  Sarasvati, Vayu, Mara,  Lakshmi, Murugan,  Agni
and Krishna.
     Of these thirty-seven, gods and men, none was found to be guilty.
     Kubera  the  artificer  stood at  Yama's  side,  and  he  regarded  the
psych-tapes.
     "What now, Yama?"
     "I do not know."
     "Mayhap the killer was invisible."
     "Perhaps."
     "But you think not?"
     "I think not."
     "Supposing everybody in the City were made to stand the probe?"
     "There are many arrivals and departures  every day, via  many entrances
and exits."
     "Have you given  thought to  the possibility of its having been one  of
the Rakasha? They are again abroad in the world, as well you know-- and they
hate us."
     "The Rakasha  do not  poison their victims. Also, I  do not believe one
could enter the Garden, because of the demon-repelling incense."
     "What now?"
     "I shall return to my laboratory, and think."
     "May I accompany you to the Vasty Hall of Death?"
     "If you wish."
     Kubera returned with Yama; and while Yama  thought,  Kubera perused his
master-tapes index, which he  had set up  when experimenting  with the first
probe-machines. They  were discarded, they  were incomplete, of course; only
the  Lords  of Karma  kept up to  date life-record tapes  on everyone in the
Celestial City. Kubera knew this, of course.

     The printing press was rediscovered  in a place called Keenset,  by the
river Vedra. Experiments with  sophisticated plumbing were also going  on in
this place. Two very fine Temple artists also  appeared on the scene, and an
old  glasscutter  made  a  pair  of bifocals  and began  grinding  out more.
Therefore,  indications were that one of  the city-states was  undergoing  a
renaissance.
     Brahma decided it was time to move against Accelerationism.
     A war party was raised in Heaven, and the Temples of cities adjacent to
Keenset sent out the call to the faithful to be ready for a holy war.
     Shiva the Destroyer bore only a token  trident, for  his real faith lay
with the wand of fire that he wore at his side.
     Brahma, of the golden saddle  and  silver  spurs, bore a sword, a wheel
and a bow.
     The new Rudra bore the bow and quiver of the old.
     Lord Mara wore a shimmering cloak, which changed colors constantly, and
none could tell what manner of  weapons he  bore or what sort of  chariot he
mounted.  For to stare upon  him  overlong  was to feel one's head swim, and
things  changed their shapes about him,  save  for his horses,  whose mouths
constantly dripped blood, which smoked where it fell.
     Then, from among the  demigods were  fifty chosen, still struggling  to
discipline  erratic  Attributes, eager to strengthen Aspect  and  gain merit
through battle.
     Krishna declined battle and went off to play his pipes in Kaniburrha.

     He found him lying  upon a grassy hillside beyond  the City, staring up
into the star-filled sky.
     "Good evening."
     He turned his head and nodded.
     "How goes it with you, good Kubera?"
     "Well enough, Lord Kalkin. And yourself?"
     "Quite well. Have you a cigarette upon your most impressive person?"
     "I am never far from them."
     "Thank you."
     "Light?"
     "Yes."
     "Was that a jackbird that circled the Buddha before Madam Kali tore his
guts out?"
     "Let us speak of pleasanter matters."
     "You killed a weak Brahma and a mighty one has replaced him."
     "Oh?"
     "You killed a strong Shiva, but an equal strength replaces his."
     "Life is full of changes."
     "What did you hope to gain? Revenge?"
     "Revenge is part of the illusion of self. How can a man kill that which
neither lives  nor dies truly, but which  exists only as a reflection of the
Absolute?"
     "You did a pretty good  job of it, though, even  if, as you say, it was
only a rearrangement."
     "Thank you."
     "But why did you do it? . . . And I'd prefer an answer to a tract."
     "I intended to wipe out the  entire hierarchy of  Heaven. It would seem
now, though, that this must go the way of all good intentions."
     "Tell me why you did it."
     "If you'll tell me how you found me out. . ."
     "Fair enough. Tell me, why?"
     "I  decided that mankind could live better  without gods. If I disposed
of them  all,  people could start having can openers and cans to open again,
and things like that, without fearing the wrath of Heaven. We've stepped  on
these poor fools enough. I wanted to give them a chance to be free, to build
what they wanted."
     "But they live, and they live and they live."
     "Sometimes, and sometimes not. So do the gods."
     "You were about the last Accelerationist left in the world, Sam. No one
would have thought you were also the deadliest."
     "How did you find me out?"
     "It occurred to me that Sam would be the number one suspect, except for
the fact that he was dead."
     "I had assumed that to be sufficient defense against detection."
     "So I asked myself  if  there  was any means  by which  Sam could  have
escaped death. I could think  of none, other than a change of bodies. Who, I
then asked myself, took upon him a new body the day Sam died? There was only
Lord Murugan.  This did not seem  logical, however, because he  did it <i>after</i>
Sam's  death,  not  before it.  I  dismissed that part  for  a moment. You--
Murugan-- having  been  among  the  thirty-seven  suspects,  were probed and
passed  upon as innocent by Lord Yama. It  seemed I had  surely  taken to  a
false trail then -- until I thought of a very simple way to test the notion.
Yama can beat the psych-probe himself, so why could not someone else be able
to do it? I recalled at this point that Kalkin's Attribute <i>had</i> involved  the
control of lightnings and electromagnetic phenomena. He could have sabotaged
the machine  with his mind so that it saw there no evil. The  way of testing
it, therefore, was not to consider what the machine had read, but rather <i>how</i>
it had read it. Like the  prints of the palms and the  fingers of the hands,
no  two minds register the same patterns;  But  from body to  body  one does
retain  a  similar mind-matrix, despite  the fact  that a  different brain's
involved. Regardless of the thoughts  passing through  the mind, the thought
patterns record  themselves  unique to the  person. I compared  yours with a
record of Murugan's which I  found in Yama's  laboratory. They  were not the
same. I do not know how you accomplished the body-change, but I knew you for
what you were."
     "Very  clever,  Kubera.  Who   else  is  familiar   with  this  strange
reasoning?"
     "No one, yet. Yama, soon though, I fear. He always solves problems."
     "Why do you place your life in jeopardy by seeking me thus?"
     "One  does  not  generally achieve  your  age,  my  age,  without being
somewhat reasonable. I knew you would at least listen to me before striking.
I know, too, that since what I have to say is good no harm will come to me."
     "What do you propose?"
     "I am sufficiently sympathetic with what you have done to assist you in
escaping from Heaven."
     "Thank you, no."
     "You would like to win this contest, would you not?"
     "Yes, and I'll do it in my own way."
     "How?"
     "I will  return to the City now and destroy as  many of them  as I  can
before they stop me. If enough of  the great ones  fall, the others will not
be able to hold this place together."
     "And if you  fall?  What then of the world,  and of the cause  you have
championed? Will you be able to rise again to defend it?"
     "I do not know."
     "How <i>did</i> you manage the comeback?"
     "One time was I possessed  of a  demon. He rather took a liking  to me,
and  he told me at a time when we were in peril that he had 'strengthened my
flames,' so that I could exist independent of my body. I had forgotten  this
until I saw my mangled corpse lying beneath me upon the streets of Heaven. I
knew of  only  one place  where  I might get me another body, that being the
Pavilion  of the Gods  of Karma. Murugan was there demanding service. As you
say,  my power is electrodirection. I learned there that it  works without a
brain to back it, as  the circuits were momentarily  interrupted and I  went
into Murugan's new body and Murugan went to hell."
     "The fact that  you  tell me all  of  this seems to  indicate  that you
intend to send me after him."
     "I am sorry, good Kubera, for I like you. If you will give me your word
that you  will  forget what you have learned and that you will wait for some
other to discover it, then I will permit you to live and depart."
     "Risky."
     "I know  that you have never given your word and  broken it, though you
are as old as the hills of Heaven."
     "Who is the first god you would slay?"
     "Lord Yama, of course, for he must be closest upon my heels."
     "Then  must you kill me, Sam,  for  he  is  a  brother Lokapala and  my
friend."
     "I am sure we will both regret it if I have to kill you."
     "Then has your acquaintanceship with the Rakasha perhaps given you some
of their taste for a wager?"
     "Of what sort?"
     "You win, and  you have my word  not to speak  of this. I win,  and you
flee with me upon the back of Garuda."
     "And of the contest?"
     "Irish stand-down."
     "With you, fat Kubera? And me in my magnificent new body?"
     "Yes."
     "Then you may strike first."

     On a  dark hill on the far  side of Heaven, Sam and Kubera stood facing
one another.
     Kubera drew back his right fist and sent it forward against Sam's jaw.
     Sam fell, lay still for a moment, rose slowly to his feet.
     Rubbing his jaw, he returned to the spot where he had stood.
     "You are stronger than you seem, Kubera," he said, and struck forward.
     Kubera lay upon the ground, sucking in air.
     He tried  to  rise,  thought better of  it, moaned once, then struggled
back to his feet.
     "I didn't think you'd get up," said Sam.
     Kubera moved to face him, a dark, moist line descending his chin.
     As he took his ground, Sam flinched.
     Kubera waited, still breathing deeply.
     <i>Run down  the  gray night wall.  Flee! Beneath  a  rock. Hide! The fury
turns  thy bowels to  water.  The friction of this crossing grates  upon thy
spine. . . .</i>
     "Strike!" said Sam, and Kubera smiled and hit him.
     He lay there  quivering, and  the  voices  of the night,  compounded of
insect sounds and the wind and the sighing of grasses came to him.
     <i>Tremble, like  the last loosening leaf of  the year. There is a lump of
ice  in thy chest.  There are no words within thy brain, only  the colors of
panic move there. . . .</i>
     Sam shook his head and rose to his knees.
     <i>Fall  again, curl thyself into a ball and weep.  For this  is  how  man
began,  and this is how  he ends. The universe is a  black ball, rolling. It
crusheth what it toucheth. It rolls to thee. Flee! Thou might a moment gain,
an hour perhaps, before it comes upon thee. . . .</i>
     He raised his  hands to his  face, lowered  them, glared up  at Kubera,
stood.
     "You built the room called Fear," he said, "at the Pavilion of Silence.
I remember now your power, old god. It is not sufficient."
     <i>An invisible horse races through pastures of thy mind. Thou knowest him
by his hoof marks, each of which is a wound. . . .</i>
     Sam took his position, clenched his fist.
     <i>The  sky creaks above thee. The ground may open beneath  thy  feet. And
what is that tall, shadowlike thing that comes to stand at thy back?</i>
     Sam's fist shook, but he drove it forward.
     Kubera rocked back upon his heels and his head snapped to the side, but
he did not lose his footing.
     Sam  stood there trembling as Kubera drew  back his  right arm  for the
final blow.
     "Old god, you cheat," he said.
     Kubera smiled through his blood, and his fist came forward like a black
ball.

     Yama was talking to Ratri  when  the  cry of awakened Garuda broke  the
night.
     "This thing has never happened before," he said.
     Slowly, the heavens began to open.
     "Perhaps Lord Vishnu goes forth. . ."
     "He has never done so at night. And when I  spoke with him a short time
ago he said nothing of this."
     "Then some other god would dare his mount."
     "No! To the pens, Lady! Quickly! I may have need of thy powers."
     He dragged her forward with him, toward the steel aerie of the Bird.

     Garuda was  awake and untethered,  but  the  hood was  still  upon him.
Kubera,  who had carried Sam to the pens, strapped him into the saddle seat,
still unconscious.
     He climbed down to the  floor and activated a final control. The top of
the cage rolled away. Then he took up the long metal pinion hook  and  moved
back to the  rope  ladder.  The bird smell was overpowering. Garuda  shifted
restlessly and ruffled feathers twice the size of a man.
     Slowly, he climbed.  As  he was strapping himself into place,  Yama and
Ratri approached the cage.
     "Kubera! What madness is this?" cried Yama.  "You have never  been fond
of the heights!"
     "Urgent business, Yama," he replied, "and it would take a day to finish
servicing the thunder chariot."
     "What business, Kubera? And why not take a gondola?"
     "Garuda's faster. I'll tell you about it on my return."
     "Perhaps I can be of help."
     "No. Thank you."
     "But Lord Murugan can?"
     "In this case, yes."
     "You two were never on the best of terms."
     "Nor are we now. But I have need of his services."
     "Hail, Murugan!. . . Why does he not reply?"
     "He sleeps, Yama."
     "There is blood upon your face, brother."
     "I had a small accident earlier."
     "And Murugan appears somewhat mishandled also."
     "It was the same accident."
     "Something is amiss here, Kubera. Wait, I'm coming into the cage."
     "Stay out, Yama!"
     "The Lokapalas do not order one another about. We are equals."
     "Stay out, Yama! I'm raising Garuda's hood!"
     "Don't do it!"
     Yama's eyes suddenly flashed and he stood taller within his red.
     Kubera leaned forward with the hook and raised the hood from the Bird's
high head. Garuda threw his head back and cried once more.
     "Ratri,"  said Yama, "lay shadows upon Garuda's  eyes,  that he may not
see."
     Yama  moved  toward  the  entrance  of  the   cage.  Darkness,  like  a
thundercloud, hid the head of the Bird.
     "Ratri!" said Kubera. "Lift this darkness and lay  it upon Yama, or all
is lost!"
     Ratri hesitated only a moment, and this was done.
     "Come to me quickly!" he cried. "Come mount Garuda and ride with us! We
need you, badly!"
     She entered the cage  and  was  lost  to sight, as  the  darkness  kept
spreading and  spreading, like a pool of ink, Yama  groping his  way through
it.
     The ladder jerked and swayed, and Ratri mounted Garuda.
     Garuda  screamed then  and  leapt into  the air,  for  Yama  had  moved
forward, blade in hand, and had cut at the first thing he had felt.
     The night rushed about them and Heaven lay far below.
     When they reached a mighty height, the dome began to close.
     Garuda sped toward the gate, screaming again.
     They were through it before it closed, and Kubera prodded the Bird.
     "Where are we going?" asked Ratri.
     "To Keenset, by the river Vedra," he answered. "And this is Sam. He  is
still alive."
     "What has happened?"
     "He is the one Yama seeks."
     "Will he seek him in Keenset?"
     "Doubtless, lady.  Doubtless.  But ere he finds him,  we may  be better
prepared."

     In the  days  that preceded  the Great Battle,  the  defenders  came to
Keenset. Kubera and Sam and Ratri  brought  the warning. Keenset was already
aware of the  raising of its neighbors, but not of the heavenly avengers who
were to come.
     Sam drilled the troops who would fight against gods, and Kubera drilled
those who would fight against men.
     Black armor was forged for the  goddess of Night, of  whom  it has been
said, "Guard us from the she-wolf and the wolf, and guard us from the thief,
of Night."
     And on the third day there was a tower of fire before Sam's tent on the
plane outside the city.
     "It is  the  Lord of Hellwell come to keep his promise, oh Siddhartha!"
said the voice that rang within his head.
     "Taraka! How did you find me-- recognize me?"
     "I look upon the flames, which are your true being, not the flesh which
masks them. You know that."
     "I thought you dead."
     "I nearly was. Those two <i>do</i> drink life with  their  eyes! Even the life
of one such as I."
     "I told you that. Do you bring your legions with you?"
     "Yes, I bring my legions."
     "It is good. The gods will move against this place soon."
     "I know. Many times have I visited Heaven atop its mountain of ice, and
my spies remain  there yet. So I  know  that they make ready to come to this
place. They  also  invite  humans to share in the battle. Though they do not
feel they need the assistance of men, they think  it good  that they join in
the destruction of the city Keenset."
     "Yes, that is understandable,"  said  Sam, studying the great vortex of
yellow flame. "What other news have you?"
     "The One in Red comes."
     "I expected him."
     "To his death. I must defeat him."
     "He will have demon-repellant upon him."
     "Then I will find a way to  remove it, or kill him from  a distance. He
will be here by nightfall."
     "How does he come?"
     "In a flying machine-- not so large as  the chariot of thunder we tried
to steal-- but very fast. I could not attack it in flight."
     "Comes he alone?"
     "Yes-- save for machines."
     "Machines?"
     "Many machines. His flying machine is filled with strange equipment."
     "This may bode ill."
     The tower spun orange.
     "But others come also."
     "You just said he comes alone."
     "This is true."
     "Then riddle me your true meaning."
     "The others do not come from Heaven."
     "Where, then?"
     "I have traveled  much  since  your departure  for Heaven, going up and
down in the world and seeking  allies among those who also  hate the Gods of
the City. By the way, in your  last  incarnation I <i>did</i> try  to save you from
the cats out of Kaniburrha."
     "I know."
     "The gods <i>are</i> strong-- stronger than they have ever been before."
     "But tell me who is coming to aid us."
     "Lord Nirriti the Black, who  hates all things,  hates the  Gods of the
City most of all. So he is sending a thousand unliving ones to fight on  the
plains beside the Vedra.  He said that,  after the battle, we of the Rakasha
may take our choice from the bodies which yet remain among the mindless ones
he has grown."
     "I do not relish aid from the Black  One, but  I am in  no position  to
discriminate. How soon will these arrive?"
     "Tonight.  But Dalissa  will  be  here sooner. Even  now,  I  feel  her
approaching."
     "Dalissa? Who . . . ?"
     "The last of the Mothers  of  the Terrible Glow. She alone escaped into
the depths when Durga and Lord Kalkin  rode to the dome  by the sea. All her
eggs were sm