Old Mars

We were damned lucky. I only had about twenty seconds of power left in my burner. Scorpio got to his feet and put new power packs into his burners. Where’s Cutie Pie?

Believe it or not, he’s just standing there, reading.

“Hey, Cutie Pie,” said Scorpio, getting to his feet. “Let’s get ready to go.”

“No,” said the Martian.

“Why not? You’ve got the book, we’ve killed the bad guys—if they were bad guys—and the rest of the place has been looted. It’s time to head home.”

“This is more important,” insisted Quedipai, staring intently at the manuscript.

“Read it when we get back to the city,” said Scorpio. “I’m sore and I’m tired and I want to lie down.”

“No!” yelled the Martian. “I have found it!”

“I know you found it. Now let’s take it with us.”

“You don’t understand!” said Quedipai excitedly. “I have found the prayer for resurrecting the king!”

“We just met his friends and relations,” said Scorpio. “Let’s let it go at that.”

But Quedipai never looked up from the prayer, and finally he began reading it aloud.

On your toes, came Merlin’s thought. We’re not alone anymore.

And as Scorpion drew his burner and turned to see what the Venusian was referring to, a huge being, some twelve feet in height, resembling Quedipai but clearly not of the same race, clad in a jeweled military outfit, arose from where he had been lying.

Quedipai took one look at him and dropped to his knees. Scorpio and Merlin stood side by side in the mausoleum’s entrance, the Earthman’s burner aimed directly at the newcomer.

“I live again!” announced Xabo in a rich, deep voice, and although it was in a language neither Scorpio nor Merlin had ever heard before, they both understood it. Xabo’s gaze fell on the burner in Scorpio’s hand. “Put that away,” he said. “I will forgive you your transgression this one time only.”

Scorpio stared at the huge king for another few seconds, then holstered his burner.

“Who is this?” asked Xabo, indicating Quedipai, who had fainted dead away and lay sprawled on the floor, still clutching the manuscript.

“The one who brought you back to life,” answered Scorpio.

“There will be a place for him in my kingdom,” announced Xabo. He stretched his massive arms. “It is good to be alive again!” He turned back to Scorpio and Merlin. “And who are you, and this creature?”

“We’re his protectors.”

“Now I am his protector.”

Scorpio shrugged. “He’s all yours—once he pays us what he owes us.” He paused for a moment, studying the massive king. “What are your plans, now that you live again?”

“What they always were,” replied Xabo. “I will reestablish my kingdom and bring back the old ways and the old religion.”

You know what I’m thinking. Are you game?

Go ahead, replied Merlin. I’m with you.

“You’ve been away a long time, Xabo,” began Scorpio. “You may not know it, but no other member of your race has survived, and there’s every likelihood that the current inhabitants of the planet may resent your giving them orders, resurrected king or not.”

“What they want makes no difference,” replied Xabo. “It is my destiny to rule, and I will do so with more justice and wisdom than any king has displayed since I was sealed in this tomb.” Suddenly, he glared at the Earthman and the Venusian. “Or do you propose to stop me?”

“Not at all,” replied Scorpio. “This isn’t our world. We don’t have a problem with you … but a lot of people will. People who know their way around today’s Mars and especially today’s weapons.” He paused again to give that time to register. “Like it or not, you’re going to need some help.”

“Are you offering it?” asked Xabo.

“That’s our business,” replied Scorpio. He stepped aside so that Xabo could see the bodies of his warriors strewn across the floor. “And those are our bona fides.” He pointed to Xabo’s neck. “That’s a very pretty gold necklace you’ve got there.”

Xabo strode out of the mausoleum, stared at the bodies, and seated himself on his golden throne. “Let us talk,” he said.

And while Mars slept, the ancient king, the Earthman, and the Venusian settled down for a long night of hard negotiations.

LIZ WILLIAMS