Read Online Gaal the Conqueror by John White - Free Book Online

strange beauty that dwarfed the old man. The
figure appeared to be seated, not on the chair, but on an invisible seat that brought him level with the table. The lower
parts of its body could not be seen. The upper part of the trunk
was so enormous that the top of the head almost reached the
ceiling. Had John been there he would at once have recognized
the Lord Lunacy.
    The old man lifted his eyes, and as he did so his face grew
white as death. Lord Lunacy spoke. "So you completed it, Shagah!"
    Shagah trembled. He was like a bird held hypnotically by the
approach of a snake. "My lord Lunacy!" he breathed.
    "And you stole some of my power to do so."
    For several minutes the old man stared but made no reply.
From time to time his pale lips moved, as if he were about to
say something, but no sound issued from them. Finally he
seemed to rally. A pallid, tremulous smile came on his face, and
he whispered, "You taught me all about stealing power. Iwanted to show you how well I have learned." With a supreme
effort he controlled the tremor in his hands, gripping one hand firmly in the other. Nor did he drop his gaze, staring with eyes
to which frightened life had returned, eyes that looked like
those of a dog that hoped its master would forgive, yet which
also held a glint that bordered, terrified as he seemed, on defiance. For several minutes no word was spoken as the two
stared at each other. Finally the old sorcerer lowered his gaze.
The defiance had gone and his smile was replaced by a look
of utter dread.

    Lord Lunacy spoke again. "And the Sword Bearer has arrived."
    "Yes, my lord, the Sword Bearer has arrived." The sorcerer's
voice was low and tremulous.
    "He has located the treasure, and has even penetrated and
successfully escaped from one of our temples. Shagah, the
treasure belongs to me, just as you yourself belong to me."
    "Yes, my lord." The words were whispered rather than spoken.
    "You are to destroy the Sword Bearer, and to bring my treasure here. You must not allow it to reach Geburah."
    "I understand, my lord. But my lord, the boy is protected,
Gaal-"
    A roar of rage swelled from Lord Lunacy's throat and mouth.
The walls shook at the sound of it, and books tumbled from the
shelves on to the floor. The table rocked uncertainly, while the
chair on which the sorcerer was seated seemed about to pitch
him across the room. Frantically he seized the moving table
with both hands, his eyes wide with terror. The roaring turned
to speech. "Know, magician, that I and I alone rule in Anthropos. And I say that you will destroy the boy. Or your power will
be taken from you." Slowly the roar and the clatter died down.
    Lunacy stared at the cowering sorcerer before speaking
again. His face was expressionless, and his voice calm when
finally he spoke. "I know that you have made plans to deal with
the boy. What are they, my good lord Shagah?"

    Shagah's voice shook, but his thoughts were coherent "Every
road is watched. The ports are closed. I myself shall deal with
the hill tribes."
    "And the plans you had for the forest, Shagah?"
    The trembling sorcerer drew in a breath. In spite of his fear
a note of defiance again sounded in his voice. "The forest will
be watched with unusual care, my lord. The path that winds
through it will be the obvious route to take should his lordship
the Sword Bearer come here to Bamah. I have been preparing
the forest over the centuries, precisely with him in mind. It is
now ready."
    A slow smile darkened the beautiful face of the Lord Lunacy.
"My association with the Sword Bearer goes back a long way,"
he said. "It will give me special pleasure to watch you deal with
him. Please me in this, Shagah, and there will be no limit to the
powers you enjoy."
    Instantly he was gone, and the sorcerer was left alone. He
stared for a moment at the littered floor where books and manuscripts lay in confusion. For several minutes he cursed savagely, until a smile was added to