the lock, then turned it in an elaborate series of moves. The lock was, in fact, a nine number combination lock, and it had to be done just right, including removing the key before attempting to open the door.
He did so, then pulled up on the handle and the great metal door swung away.
Page 29 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods The vast treasure trove of Ruddygore's went back for what seemed to be miles, but he didn't try and walk the corridors and check every little thing. It was all keyed to him and to a personal inventory spell, and it took him almost no time at all to determine that the only things missing were fifty-one pounds of gold—real, not fairy, although the fairy gold would have been a better prize— and one of his American Express cards. The gold one, naturally.
There was, of course, only one way to get someone and that much gold back out, and he immediately walked far back along the corridors of the vault until he came to the Lamp. He was more than a little surprised to find it still there.
The Lamp of Lakash had been formed in the earliest days of Creation by the great powers who created the world. It looked, in fact, the way it should have—an ancient oil lamp that had once reminded Joe of an antique gravy boat with a top on it, sitting atop a rounded stand.
It was originally designed as a fudge factor by the early Creators, since it could, within some strong limitations, violate or alter the laws of science and magic and grant a wish. Hell had made a stab for it, and it had been lost in the turmoil for eons afterward, even existing at various times on Earth as well as here, and giving rise to both worlds' legends of magic wishing lamps and genies. Rud- 40 JACK L. CHALKER 41 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS dygore picked up the lamp and rubbed it gently, trying to remain calm and mark his words well while he held it.
No matter what legend said, none were entitled to more than one free wish on the Lamp. Make two and, while the second was granted, the wisher changed places with the genie, becoming the slave of the Lamp in place of the one now there. Ruddygore had no desire to pay the price he would have to pay if he, even inadvertently, made a wish.
When it had been recovered by Joe and Marge, it had contained Dacaro, the evil wizard and former pupil of Ruddygore's, who had taken refuge in it against the demon prince Hiccarph.
The genie of the Lamp appeared, and Ruddygore sighed as he saw who it was.
"It's not my fault!" Macore the genie protested.
"I should have known," Ruddygore said disgustedly.
"First tell me why you did it, then how..
"The why of it I only now fully understand," Macore replied, and proceeded to tell the story of the gem, the Page 30 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods snowstorm, and the demon. Now that he had completed the geas the demon had laid upon him, he remembered all the details.
"So, anyway," Macore continued, "I was set up to do it. I had lots of information from the demon—he ducked down You Know Where and talked to Hiccarph, who, it seems, is currently shoveling shit and hating it. With the information he planted, added to my knowledge of you and my own skills, I did it. I can tell you, it wasn't easy, even with that..
"I can see getting to the mirrors. Many have done so.
But how did you get past them?.
"Simple. The mark the demon laid on me was to have no shadow or reflection. The mirrors saw nothing. I, of course, saw the mirrors and deduced the gimmick, so that meant you had to have something to kill vampires beyond.
Way back when, I lifted one of those pairs of sunglasses you had made for Marge, on the idea that it might come in handy, so I put 'em on and saw the keystone plain as day..
"But the sonic alarm—that's battery-powered! Earth technology! How did you come up with the combination?.
"I didn't. The young punk of a black wizard I traded the gem to
He did so, then pulled up on the handle and the great metal door swung away.
Page 29 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods The vast treasure trove of Ruddygore's went back for what seemed to be miles, but he didn't try and walk the corridors and check every little thing. It was all keyed to him and to a personal inventory spell, and it took him almost no time at all to determine that the only things missing were fifty-one pounds of gold—real, not fairy, although the fairy gold would have been a better prize— and one of his American Express cards. The gold one, naturally.
There was, of course, only one way to get someone and that much gold back out, and he immediately walked far back along the corridors of the vault until he came to the Lamp. He was more than a little surprised to find it still there.
The Lamp of Lakash had been formed in the earliest days of Creation by the great powers who created the world. It looked, in fact, the way it should have—an ancient oil lamp that had once reminded Joe of an antique gravy boat with a top on it, sitting atop a rounded stand.
It was originally designed as a fudge factor by the early Creators, since it could, within some strong limitations, violate or alter the laws of science and magic and grant a wish. Hell had made a stab for it, and it had been lost in the turmoil for eons afterward, even existing at various times on Earth as well as here, and giving rise to both worlds' legends of magic wishing lamps and genies. Rud- 40 JACK L. CHALKER 41 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS dygore picked up the lamp and rubbed it gently, trying to remain calm and mark his words well while he held it.
No matter what legend said, none were entitled to more than one free wish on the Lamp. Make two and, while the second was granted, the wisher changed places with the genie, becoming the slave of the Lamp in place of the one now there. Ruddygore had no desire to pay the price he would have to pay if he, even inadvertently, made a wish.
When it had been recovered by Joe and Marge, it had contained Dacaro, the evil wizard and former pupil of Ruddygore's, who had taken refuge in it against the demon prince Hiccarph.
The genie of the Lamp appeared, and Ruddygore sighed as he saw who it was.
"It's not my fault!" Macore the genie protested.
"I should have known," Ruddygore said disgustedly.
"First tell me why you did it, then how..
"The why of it I only now fully understand," Macore replied, and proceeded to tell the story of the gem, the Page 30 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods snowstorm, and the demon. Now that he had completed the geas the demon had laid upon him, he remembered all the details.
"So, anyway," Macore continued, "I was set up to do it. I had lots of information from the demon—he ducked down You Know Where and talked to Hiccarph, who, it seems, is currently shoveling shit and hating it. With the information he planted, added to my knowledge of you and my own skills, I did it. I can tell you, it wasn't easy, even with that..
"I can see getting to the mirrors. Many have done so.
But how did you get past them?.
"Simple. The mark the demon laid on me was to have no shadow or reflection. The mirrors saw nothing. I, of course, saw the mirrors and deduced the gimmick, so that meant you had to have something to kill vampires beyond.
Way back when, I lifted one of those pairs of sunglasses you had made for Marge, on the idea that it might come in handy, so I put 'em on and saw the keystone plain as day..
"But the sonic alarm—that's battery-powered! Earth technology! How did you come up with the combination?.
"I didn't. The young punk of a black wizard I traded the gem to
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