Titans of Chaos

Mavors made a slight, dismissive gesture with his hand. "Even the mortals know the north windfavors England, since the storm whelmed the Armada of Spain. I am merely surprised aChaos-daughter could be raised to learn so noble a passion. Too many mock homeland-love."

Boggin smirked and bowed low again.

Mavors turned back to me. "Your loyalty does you credit, woman of Britain, especially since youare not Saxon, not Norman, not any blood of theirs. You are wise enough to know that the BritishIsles will not survive once the supporting globe is shattered to asteroids."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean your orders are these: Return to your atoll and carry on as normal. It is serviceable to myneeds, remote from human habitation or any sunken city of the sea-elves. I have positionedtroop-bearing ships around the island, below and above, and ranged my cannon and orbitalemplacements. My forces are hidden by the same deception technique Boggin used to place theimage of the Mars lander here. Even the many senses of your people, Phaethusa, cannot penetratesuch Hecatean counterfeits. Your venture above the orbit of the moon, and your downfall oncemore to Earth cannot fail to attract the enemy's attention. You need take no heed for your safety:Once battle erupts, the environment is in my realm, and under my authority. Over other things, Ihave less control, but the outcome of battles is mine. If you fall, you will be avenged, which is allthat any man can ask. Is there any part of these orders you do not understand?"

My eye fell on the golden body, still motionless on the ground next to me. "What happened toVictor? Is he dead?"

Boggin spoke up: "Members of his race, they are not so, ah, friable or, immaterial, there is aperfect word, not so immaterial as to die when their life processes are interrupted. Mr. Triumph isin what we might call a halted condition. He can be restarted without harm to him." To Mavors,he bowed once more, saying, "Dread Prince of ultralunar Heaven, if I might be so bold, the younglady might be, ah, less prone to distraction, not to mention more, what is the word, pliant? Ah,more attentive to Your Highness's words if the burden of worrying about her fallen comrade were,ah, lessened? Ameliorated? Sated? Perhaps if your guest were permitted to view the, ah,mechanisms..."

Mavors said, "Carry on."