Chapter 5

“We must escape! We must get out of here, Pukah!” Asrial cried distractedly. “That terrible monster is right. Mathew has disappeared! I searched for his being in my mind and could not see him! A darkness shrouds him, hiding him from my sight. Some dreadful thing has happened to him!”

“There, there,” murmured Pukah, too dazzled and confused to know what he was saying. The beautiful creature appearing out of nowhere, her soft hands clinging to him, her fragrance, her warmth. The djinn had just presence of mind enough to take hold of the soft hand and draw the angel down with him upon the bed.

“Let’s relax and think about this calmly.” Pukah brought his lips near the smooth cheek. How did one manage about the wings? They were bound to be in the way. . .

“Oh, Pukah!” Asrial sobbed miserably, lowering her head. Pukah found himself kissing a mass of wet, silver hair. “It’s all my fault! I should never have left him!”

Putting one arm around her waist (sliding it under the wings), Pukah held Asrial nearer. “You had no choice, my enchanter!” he whispered, brushing aside the hair. “The fish told you to come.” His lips brushed her fevered skin.

“What if it was a trick?!” Asrial sprang to her feet with such energy that her wings swept Pukah off the bed. “It could have been a ploy of Astafas’s, an attempt for that Lord of Darkness to steal Mathew’s soul! Oh, why didn’t I think of this before?! And your master, Khardan. He must be with Mathew. He is undoubtedly in danger, too. Let’s leave, Pukah, quickly!”

“We can’t,” said the djinn, picking himself up off the bottom of the basket.

“Why not?” Asrial stared at him, startled.

“Because”—Pukah, sighing, sat down upon the bed—”Kaug sealed the cave before he left.”

“How do you know?”

Pukah shrugged. “See for yourself. Try going back out into the ocean again.”

Asrial closed her eyes, her lips moved, her wings waved gently. Her eyes flew open, she looked about eagerly and her face crumpled in disappointment. “I’m still here!”

“Told you,” said Pukah, lounging back on the bed. Reaching out, he patted a place beside him. “Come, beloved. Rest yourself. Who knows how long Kaug will be gone? We’re trapped here together. We might as well make the best of it.”

“I—I think I would prefer a chair,” said Asrial. Her face flushing rosy red, she glanced about the djinn’s dwelling in search of an article of furniture that was not smashed, missing a leg, or most of the stuffing.

“Not a whole piece of furniture in the place except the bed, I’m afraid,” said Pukah cheerfully. He owed Kaug one. Two in fact. “Come, Asrial. Let me comfort you, distract your sorrowful thoughts, take your mind from your trouble.”

“And how will you do that, Pukah?” Asrial asked coolly, the flush subsiding from her cheeks. “If I am not mistaken, you are attempting to seduce me, to . . . make love to me. That’s completely ridiculous! We do not have bodies. We can’t feel physical pleasure!”

“Tell me I didn’t feel this!” Pukah said grimly, pointing to his swollen lip. “Tell Sond he didn’t feel that drubbing he took!” Climbing out of bed, the djinn approached the angel, hands outstretched. “Tell me I’m not feeling what I feel now—my heart racing, my blood burning—”

“Sond didn’t!” Asrial faltered, taking a step backward. “You don’t! You’ve just tricked yourself—”

“Tell me you don’t feel this!” Grabbing the angel around the waist, Pukah pressed her body close to his and kissed her.

“I . . . I didn’t. . . feel a thing!” gasped Asrial angrily when she could breathe. Struggling, she tried to push Pukah away. “I—”

“Hush!” The djinn put his hand over her mouth.

Furious, Asrial clenched her fists and started to beat on the djinn’s chest. Then she, too, heard the sound. Her eyes widening in fear, she went limp in Pukah’s arms.

“Kaug’s back!” whispered the djinn. “I’ve got to go!” Pukah vanished so suddenly that Asrial, bereft of his support, nearly fell. Weakly, she sank down on the bed and crouched there, shivering, listening to what was happening outside the basket.

Slowly, unconsciously, her tongue moved across her lips as though she could still taste a lingering sweetness.

“Master!” cried Pukah in a transport of joy. “You’ve returned!” He flung himself on the cave floor.

“Humpf,” growled Kaug, glowering at the groveling djinn. “He doesn’t pull the wool over my eyes!”

“Indeed, such a thing would take a great many sheep, Master,” said Pukah, cautiously rising to his feet and padding after the ‘efreet, who was stomping about the cave angrily.

“He fears Khardan!”

“Does he, Master?”

“Not because your former master is mighty or powerful, but because Quar can’t rule him and, seemingly, he can’t kill him.”

“So my master—former master—is not dead?”

“Is that a great surprise to you, little Pukah? No, I thought not. Nor to your winged friend, either, eh?”

“Unless Sond has sprouted feathers, I have no idea to whom my Master is referring.” Pukah prostrated himself, upon the floor, extending his arms out in front of him. “I assure my Master of my absolute loyalty. I would do anything for my Master, even go in search of the Calif, if my Master commands it.”

“Would you, Pukah?” Kaug, turning, eyed the djinn intently.

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure, My Master.”

“I believe that for once you are telling the truth, little Pukah.” The ‘efreet grinned. “Yes, I think I will take you up on your offer, slave of the basket. You understand who it is you serve now, don’t you, Pukah? By the laws of the djinn, I am your master, you are my servant. If I ordered you to bring Khardan sliced neatly into four equal parts, you would do so, would you not, slave?”

“Of course, My Master,” said Pukah glibly.

“Ah, already I can see your mind turning, planning to find some way out of this. Let it turn all it wants, little Pukah. It is like a donkey tied to the waterwheel. Round and round he goes, never getting anywhere. I have your basket. I am your master. Do not forget that or the penalty if you disobey me.”

“Yes, My Master,” said Pukah in a subdued voice.

“And now, to prove your loyalty, little Pukah, I am going to send you on an errand before you go and search for the missing Khardan. I command you to take the chirak of Sond to a certain location. You will leave it there and you will return to me for my orders concerning the Calif.”

“Where is this ‘certain location,’ My Master?”

“Not backing out already, little Pukah, are you?”

“Certainly not, My Master! It is just that I need to know where I am going in order to get there, you dundering squidhead.” This last being muttered under Pukah’s breath.

“Despite his harsh treatment of me, I am going to grant Sond his heart’s wish. I am going to reunite him with his beloved Nedjma. You wanted to know where the Lost Immortals were, little Pukah?”

“I assure my Master that I have not the slightest interest—”

“Take the lamp of Sond and fly with it to the city of Serinda and you will discover what has become of the Vanished Ones.”

“Serinda?” Pukah’s eyes opened wide; he raised his head from the floor. “That city no longer exists, My Master. It vanished beneath the desert sands hundreds of years ago, so long past that I cannot even remember it.”

Kaug shrugged. “Then I am asking you to deliver Sond’s chi- rak to a dead city, little Pukah. Do you question my commands already?” The ‘efreet’s brow creased in a frown.

“No, Master!” Pukah flattened himself completely. “The wings of which you speak are on my feet. I will return to my dwelling—”

“No need to rush, little Pukah. I want you to take some time to look around this interesting city. For—if you fail me, djinn— your basket will find itself sitting in Serinda’s marketplace.”

“Yes, My Master. Now I’ll just be getting back to my dwelling—”

“Not so fast. You must wear this.” A black, threesided rock attached to a leather thong appeared in the ‘efreet’s hand. “Sit up.” Pukah did as he was ordered and Kaug cast the thong around the djinn’s neck. The rock—which came to a point at the top like a small pyramid—thumped against Pukah’s bare chest. Pukah regarded it dubiously.

“It is kind of you to give me this gift, Master. What is this interesting looking stone, if I might ask?”

“Black tourmaline.”

“Ah, black tourmaline,” said Pukah wisely. “Whatever this is,” he muttered.

“What did you say?”

“I will keep it always, Master, to remind me of you. It’s ugly enough.”

“You must learn to speak up, little Pukah.”

“I was saying that if you don’t need me, I will return to my dwelling and put this marvelous object somewhere safe—”

“No, no! You will wear it at all times, little Pukah. Such is my wish. Now, be gone!”

“Yes, Master,” Rising to his feet, Pukah headed for his basket.

“What are you doing?” Kaug growled.

Pukah stopped, glancing over his shoulder. “I am returning to my dwelling, O Mighty Master,”

“Why? I told you to take Sond’s lamp and leave.”

“And so I will, Master,” said Pukah firmly, “after I have made myself presentable. These”—he indicated his pantalons—”are stained with blood and slime. You would not want me appearing before your friends in such a state, Master. Think how it would reflect upon you!”

“I have no friends where you are going, little Pukah,” Kaug said with a grim smile. “And believe me, in Serinda, no one will remark on a few spots of blood.”

“Sounds like a cheerful place,” Pukah reflected gloomily. “Then I am not going to my dwelling. I am just going over to pick up Sond’s lamp, Master,” the djinn said loudly, sidling nearer and nearer his basket. “The floor of this cave is extremely wet. I hope I don’t slip and fall— Ooops!”

The djinn sprawled headlong on the floor, knocking over the basket. As it hit the ground, the lid flew off and Pukah made a desperate attempt to slip inside, but Kaug was there ahead of him. Grabbing the lid, the ‘efreet slammed it on top of the basket and held it there firmly with his huge hand.

“I hope you have not hurt yourself, little Pukah?” the ‘efreet said solicitously.

“No, thank you, Master.” Pukah gulped. “It is amazing how fast one of your bulk can move, isn’t it, Master?”

“Isn’t it, little Pukah? Now, you will be going!”

“Yes, Master.” Sighing, Pukah leaned down and picked up Sond’s lamp. Slowly and reluctantly, the young djinn began to dwindle away into the air until all that remained of him was his eyes, staring disconsolately at the basket. “Master!” cried his disembodied voice. “If you would only grant me—”

“Be gone!” roared Kaug.

The eyes rolled upward and disappeared.

Instantly the ‘efreet snatched off the lid of the basket and thrust his huge hand inside.