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Authors: Michael Moorcock
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be proved. I must make amends.”
Lucifer continued: “I placed high value on the power of the intellect to create a luxury of wonders upon the Earth. I sought to prove that my logic, my creativity, my mind, could all outshine anything which God made. Then I came to believe that Man was not worthy of me. Then I came to believe that perhaps I was not worthy, that what I had sought to make had no substance, no definition, no future. You have seen much of the world, captain.”
“More than most are permitted to see,” I agreed.
“Everything is in decay, is it not? Everything. The spirit decays as the flesh and the mind decay.” Lucifer uttered a sigh. “I have failed.”
His voice became hollow. I found that I was pitying Him, even more than I pitied the souls who were trapped in His domain.
“I wish to be taken back into the certainty, the tranquility, I once knew,” Lucifer continued.
We stood again upon the white plain.
“I sought to show that I could create a more beautiful world than anything God could create. I still do not know what I did wrong. I have been thinking on that for many a century, captain. And I know that only a human soul can discover the secret which eludes me. I must make amends. I must make amends …”
“Have you decided how you can do that?” I asked quietly.
“I must discover the Cure for the World’s Pain, Captain von Bek.” He turned his dark eyes upon me and I felt my whole being shiver at the intensity.
“A Cure? Human folly, surely, is the cause of that Pain. The answer seems simple enough to me.”
“No!” Lucifer’s voice was almost a groan. “It is complex. God has bestowed on the world one object, one means of healing humanity’s ills. If that object is discovered and the world set to rights again, then God will listen to me. Once God listens, I might be able to convince Him that I am truly repentant.”
“But what has this to do with me, Your Majesty? Surely you cannot think that I possess a Cure for human folly.”
Lucifer made an almost angry gesture with His right hand.
We were suddenly once more in the library of the castle. We faced one of the great windows. Through it I could see the green, silent forest and noted that very little time had passed. My body was now as solid as it had always been. I felt some relief. My ordinary senses were restored.
Lucifer said: “I asked you to help me, von Bek, because you are intelligent, resourceful and not easily manipulated. I am asking you to embark upon a Quest on my behalf. I want you to find me the Cure to the world’s ills. Do you know of what I speak?”
“I have heard only of the Holy Grail, Your Majesty,” I told Him. “And I believe that to be a myth. If I were shown such a cup I would believe in its powers as much as I would believe in the powers of a piece of the True Cross, or Saint Peter’s fingernail.”
He ignored these last remarks. His eyes flamed and became remote. “Ah, yes. It is called that. The Holy Grail. How would you describe it, von Bek?”
“A legendary cup.”
“If it existed. What would you say it was?”
“A physical manifestation of God’s mercy on Earth,” I said.
“Exactly. Is that not the object I have described to you?”
I became incredulous. “Lucifer is commissioning a godless soldier-of-fortune to seek and secure the Holy Grail?”
“I am asking you to seek the Cure for the World’s Pain, yes. Call it the Grail.”
“The legend says that only the purest of knights is permitted to see it, let alone touch it!”
“Your journey will purify you, I’m sure.”
“Your Majesty, what are you offering me, should I agree to this Quest?”
He smiled ironically at me. “Is it not an honour in itself, von Bek?”
I shook my head. “You must have better servants for such a monumental Quest.”
Was Lucifer mad? Was He playing a game with me?
“I have told you,” He said, “that I have not.”
I hesitated. I felt bound to voice my feelings:
“I am
Lucifer continued: “I placed high value on the power of the intellect to create a luxury of wonders upon the Earth. I sought to prove that my logic, my creativity, my mind, could all outshine anything which God made. Then I came to believe that Man was not worthy of me. Then I came to believe that perhaps I was not worthy, that what I had sought to make had no substance, no definition, no future. You have seen much of the world, captain.”
“More than most are permitted to see,” I agreed.
“Everything is in decay, is it not? Everything. The spirit decays as the flesh and the mind decay.” Lucifer uttered a sigh. “I have failed.”
His voice became hollow. I found that I was pitying Him, even more than I pitied the souls who were trapped in His domain.
“I wish to be taken back into the certainty, the tranquility, I once knew,” Lucifer continued.
We stood again upon the white plain.
“I sought to show that I could create a more beautiful world than anything God could create. I still do not know what I did wrong. I have been thinking on that for many a century, captain. And I know that only a human soul can discover the secret which eludes me. I must make amends. I must make amends …”
“Have you decided how you can do that?” I asked quietly.
“I must discover the Cure for the World’s Pain, Captain von Bek.” He turned his dark eyes upon me and I felt my whole being shiver at the intensity.
“A Cure? Human folly, surely, is the cause of that Pain. The answer seems simple enough to me.”
“No!” Lucifer’s voice was almost a groan. “It is complex. God has bestowed on the world one object, one means of healing humanity’s ills. If that object is discovered and the world set to rights again, then God will listen to me. Once God listens, I might be able to convince Him that I am truly repentant.”
“But what has this to do with me, Your Majesty? Surely you cannot think that I possess a Cure for human folly.”
Lucifer made an almost angry gesture with His right hand.
We were suddenly once more in the library of the castle. We faced one of the great windows. Through it I could see the green, silent forest and noted that very little time had passed. My body was now as solid as it had always been. I felt some relief. My ordinary senses were restored.
Lucifer said: “I asked you to help me, von Bek, because you are intelligent, resourceful and not easily manipulated. I am asking you to embark upon a Quest on my behalf. I want you to find me the Cure to the world’s ills. Do you know of what I speak?”
“I have heard only of the Holy Grail, Your Majesty,” I told Him. “And I believe that to be a myth. If I were shown such a cup I would believe in its powers as much as I would believe in the powers of a piece of the True Cross, or Saint Peter’s fingernail.”
He ignored these last remarks. His eyes flamed and became remote. “Ah, yes. It is called that. The Holy Grail. How would you describe it, von Bek?”
“A legendary cup.”
“If it existed. What would you say it was?”
“A physical manifestation of God’s mercy on Earth,” I said.
“Exactly. Is that not the object I have described to you?”
I became incredulous. “Lucifer is commissioning a godless soldier-of-fortune to seek and secure the Holy Grail?”
“I am asking you to seek the Cure for the World’s Pain, yes. Call it the Grail.”
“The legend says that only the purest of knights is permitted to see it, let alone touch it!”
“Your journey will purify you, I’m sure.”
“Your Majesty, what are you offering me, should I agree to this Quest?”
He smiled ironically at me. “Is it not an honour in itself, von Bek?”
I shook my head. “You must have better servants for such a monumental Quest.”
Was Lucifer mad? Was He playing a game with me?
“I have told you,” He said, “that I have not.”
I hesitated. I felt bound to voice my feelings:
“I am
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