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.The powers of the Underworld had been defeated for the time being.But the great serpent and his supporters did not withdraw entirely until therewas one more flurry of combat, in which something, perhaps a last parting shotof Jormungand's poison, struck at Wodan and did him serious damage.Hal firstrealized the fact when Alvit came silently beckoning him, her face showing alook of gloom and doom he had never seen there before.Thor was one of the first to know that the All-Highest had fallen, and he wasfirst after Alvit to reach Wodan's side.The great god's body lay spilled out ofhis tipped and broken Chariot and clouds of steam or smoke were coming up.Someforce more blunt than poison seemed to have been at work, though it had left noobvious wounds.Hastily Hal sent his own servant powers to work.They in turn called uponsurviving wraiths to form a screen around the tumbled Chariot and those who werenear it.To Alvit he said sharply: "We must keep this a secret, if we can."As Hal/Thor turned over the old man's body, he could see that Wodan was stillalive.The old man's single eye was open, showing the vacant blue of summerskies.The first words that issued from his bearded lips were threats againstthose the Father of Battles believed had betrayed him.At first the murmuring was so low that even divine hearing could barely make itout.".must root out.treachery."Thor tried to shift the massive body into an easier position."Can you sit up?"Suddenly the voice was louder."Who're you? All, all have turned against me.""My respected colleague, that is wrong.""One of the damned Valkyries was here.They've all failed me.Should never havetrusted women.Who're you? Another shape-changer?""I am Thor, as much a god as you are, Wodan.We are fighting on the same side."In the circumstances it seemed only prudent to make that clear.As usual, the All-Highest did not seem to be listening."All mortals betray mewhen I trust them, especially the women.But I'll have the last laugh on thetraitors."When Hal/Thor told him that the battle was effectively won, the enemy in fullretreat, Wodan reacted with alarm and refused to believe him."This is the day of the final battle, and they all must die.I'll see to it!"There was a long pause.Then: "The end of the world has come!" If the fightingwas really ending, then the world must too.The All-Highest could tolerate noother outcome.Hal left the enclosure momentarily to tell Alvit that Wodan was not yet dead.When he returned, the great god was struggling to get back on his feet.With asurge of effort Wodan had grasped his Chariot and set it once more upright uponits wheels.Sleipnir looked back with the dull fear of a real horse.Thor tried to be placating."We have won, great Wodan.You will need yourChariot no more today.""No, the battle cannot be over! The fighting must go on.The world is going toend.The world must end!" Then he stumbled and would have fallen, but for Thor'ssupporting arm.Wodan would have it that the world must end; therefore the battle could not beover yet.Therefore he must order all his remaining forces, human and otherwise,into a suicidal charge."If the enemy has retreated, we must pursue!"Hal tried arguing."But the enemy has retreated to the lower regions.""Then we must follow them! We'll invade the Underworld! Drive our own humansforward, Thor! Help me.Help me to my Chariot.""Maybe when our troops are rested—""Damned traitors! I'll give them no rest." Wodan was going to insist on rootingout and punishing the traitors in his own ranks, those who were trying tosubvert the Fate of the world for their own mere cowardly survival.FaithlessValkyries! Worthless human trash! Were it not for them, the whole world couldhave been brought to its proper climax in destruction!Gradually Hal was coming to the realization that once more Thanatos, god ofDeath, had failed to claim the god of battles.Hal/Thor knew a sinking feeling.Wodan was not really dying.If he went forward with his mad plan to invade theUnderworld, death would probably claim him soon—but maybe not soon enough.It seemed to Hal that he and Thor now thought as one, with no hint of conflictin their joint awareness.His god-voice went out smoothly."Of course, All-Highest.Depend on me to giveyou the help you really need.See, there, for instance." And he pointed.Whenthe other's head turned, Hal with his right hand slid Myelnir from his belt.Theforce of the blow was precisely calibrated, getting the job done without causinginconvenient noise or mess.Myelnir was quite capable of fine precision workwhen such was called for.Nothing to disturb the tranquility of the mindlessscreen of wraiths surrounding the two gods; all of them were still staring, withgreat apparent interest, into some distant nothingness.A moment later, Hal was holding the Face of Wodan in his land, and a momentafter that, he had stuffed it into the new belt pouch that Thor had alreadyrequisitioned from his powers.With any luck at all, some considerable time would pass before the retreatingenemy discovered that the Father of Battles was dead.Now, for the third time in only a few hours, Hal had the disposal of divinity [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]