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"But you have always tried to preserve the lives of the mortals," Satan reminded him. "To ease the
suffering brought about by war."
"That was before I realized the extent of my power," Mym replied. "Now I prefer to exercise it in full
measure." He raised the Sword again.
Satan glanced about at the other Incarnations. "You tolerate this?" he asked. "You, who have always
sought what was good for mankind?"
"Each Incarnation is supreme in his own bailiwick," Gaea said. "Our preferences do not matter; this is
Mars' show."
Satan shrugged. "Well, certainly if none of you are interested in doing what is good, it ill behooves Me
to do it for you. I will receive more souls in one batch than ever before."
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r r
"And God will receive even more," Mym said. "Since the balance of this world is currently positive-as it
will not be after your folk assume political power among the mortals." The hands of the Clock resumed
their motion toward midnight.
"You would destroy the world-merely to deny Me a few souls?" Satan asked. "That is very
shortsighted."
"Well, the whole matter of war is shortsighted," Mym agreed. The sweep-hand passed fifteen seconds.
"Wait!" Satan cried desperately.
The hand paused. "I wish you wouldn't keep interrupting me with inconsequentials," Mym said. "I'm
sure we all want to get this matter expeditiously completed."
"If the world ends now," Satan said, "God will win, for the balance will be in his favor at the Final
Reckoning."
"Fancy that," Mym agreed. "Since I have no interest in your victory, this does seem to be the appropriate
time to make my play. Then I can retire from this office and go to Heaven to join my love who is there.
Now, if you have no other observations-"
Small flames crackled about Satan's body. He knew that Mym had found the key to victory. The Lord of
Evil could not afford to have the world end in holocaust while the overall balance of living souls was in
God's favor, however marginally. "How did you learn of this?"
"Does it matter?" Mym asked. "All that should concern us is that it is true. Now, of course, if you should
happen to choose to give up your plans for dictatorships and martial law on Earth-"
"Lila!" Satan exclaimed. "That demoness betrayed Me!"
Lila appeared. "I no longer serve you, Satan," she said.
Satan stared at her, considering. Then he seemed to come to a private conclusion. "There is something
that may interest you. Mars," he said. "You mentioned joining a certain party in Heaven. Did you know
that your companion in Hell did not go to Heaven?"
"She didn't?" Mym asked, dismayed. "But I know her balance was good! The hearings-"
"She is good-but she declined to go," Satan said.
"For some reason she wished to return to mortality, though it would seem that she had little to gain and
everything to risk by that."
"But she's already dead!" Mym protested. "She couldn't-"
"She could-with the help of one of your kind," Satan said, glancing meaningfully at Gaea.
"This much is true," Gaea said. "The woman wanted to be with you, Mars, so at the hearing she
petitioned for a body among the mortals. There are some few soul-dead bodies, so I made one available
to her. I did not realize that Satan had an involvement in this. I think she had in mind a surprise for you."
"I-I never dreamed-" Mym said, amazed.
"And here she is," Satan said, gesturing.
A woman appeared. Her appearance was not that of Ligeia, but she approached Mym as if she knew
him. He put out his hand and touched her, and knew immediately that it was her soul. Now the body
began to assume some of the traits of her former one, as her personality animated it. She was young and
comely, and her love for him was manifest.
"But it seems she did not realize that you had made a deal with the demoness," Satan said.
Ligeia gazed at Mym with hurt questioning.
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r r
Satan, with uncanny insight, had brought about the confrontation Mym least desired. To have his lost
love abruptly returned to him-after he had made the pact with the demoness! What was he to do now?
"But of course your choice is clear," Satan said. "You did not know that your true love was returning to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]