Vance, Jack - SS - The Sorcerer Pharesm.pdf - Jack Vance - przemosta

The Sorcerer Pharesm

Jack Vance

Like Dunsany and Clark Ashton Smith, Jack Vance (b. 1916) delights in exotic language. His

work is firmly in the tradition of both writers, most notably in the stories that he has set in the

earth's last years. These first appeared in The Dying Earth (1950) and were continued in The Eyes

of the Over-world (1966) , Cugel's Saga (1983) and Rhialto the Marvellous (1984). The following is

one of the Cugel stones, which form part of a connected series. Cugel is a crafty but at times

naive thief who is caught while trying to burgle the manse of the wizard Iucounu. Iucounu

despatches Cugel to the far side of the earth on a quest, after inserting into him the monitor, Firx,

which ensures that Cugel will return. The stories follow Cugel's attempts to complete the wizard's

quest and get back home .

THE MOUNTAINS WERE BEHIND: THE DARK DEFILES, the tarns, the echoing stone

heights - all now a sooty bulk to the north. For a time Cugel wandered a region of low rounded hills the

colour and texture of old wood, with groves of blue-black trees dense along the ridges, then came upon

a faint trail which took him south by long swings and slants, and at last broke out over a vast dim plain. A

half-mile to the right rose a line of tall cliffs, which instantly attracted his attention, bringing him a haunting

pang of deja-vu . He stared mystified. At some time in the past he had known these cliffs: how? when?

His memory provided no response. He settled himself upon a low lichen-covered rock to rest, but now

Firx, the monitor which Iucounu the Laughing Magician had implanted in Cugel's viscera, became

impatient and inflicted a stimulating pang. Cugel leaped to his feet, groaning with weariness and shaking

his fist to the south-west, the presumable direction of Almery. "Iucounu, Iucounu! If I could repay a tenth

of your offences, the world would think me harsh!"

He set off down the trail, under the cliffs which had affected him with such poignant but impossible

recollections. Far below spread the plain, filling three-quarters of the horizon with colours much like those

of the lichened rock Cugel had just departed: black patches of woodland; a grey crumble where ruins

filled an entire valley; nondescript streaks of grey-green, lavender, grey-brown; the leaden glint of two

great rivers disappearing into the haze of distance.

Cugel's brief rest had only served to stiffen his joints; he limped, and the pouch chafed his hip. Even

more distressing was the hunger gripping his belly. Another tally against Iucounu who had sent Cugel to

the northern wastes on a mission of wanton frivolity! Iucounu, it must be allowed, had furnished an amulet

converting such normally inedible substances as grass, wood, horn, hair, humus and the like into a

nutritious paste. Unfortunately - and this was a measure of Iucounu's mordant humour -the paste retained

the flavour of the native substance, and during his passage of the mountain Cugel had tasted little better

than spurge, cullion, blackwort, oak twigs and galls, and on one occasion, when all else failed, certain

refuse discovered in the cave of a bearded thawn. Cugel had eaten only minimally; his long spare frame

had become gaunt; his cheekbones protruded like sponsons; the black eyebrows which once had

crooked so jauntily now lay flat and dispirited. Truly, truly, Iucounu had much to answer for! And Cugel,

as he proceeded, debated the exact quality of revenge he would take if ever he found his way back to

Almery.

The trail swung down upon a wide stony flat where the wind had carved a thousand grotesque

figures. Surveying the area Cugel thought to perceive regularity among the eroded shapes, and halted to

rub his long chin in appraisal. The pattern displayed an extreme subtlety - so subtle indeed, that Cugel

wondered if it had not been projected by his own mind. Moving closer, he discerned further

complexities, and elaborations upon complexities: twists, spires, volutes; discs, saddles, wrenched

spheres; torsions and flexions; spindles, cardioids, lanciform pinnacles: the most laborious, painstaking

and intricate rock-carving conceivable, manifestly no random effort of the elements. Cugel frowned in

perplexity, unable to imagine a motive for so complex an undertaking.

He went on and a moment later heard voices, together with the clank of tools. He stopped short,

listened cautiously, then proceeded, to come upon a gang of about fifty men ranging in stature from 3

inches to well over 12 feet. Cugel approached on tentative feet, but after a glance the workers paid him

no heed, continuing to chisel, grind, scrape, probe and polish with dedicated zeal.

Cugel watched for several minutes, then approached the overseer, a man 3 feet in height who stood

at a lectern consulting the plans spread before him, comparing them to the work in progress by means of

an ingenious optical device. He appeared to note everything at once, calling instructions, chiding,

exhorting against error, instructing the least deft in the use of their tools. To exemplify his remarks he used

a wonderfully extensible forefinger, which reached forth 30 feet to tap at a section of rock, to scratch a

quick diagram, then as swiftly retract.

The foreman drew back a pace or two, temporarily satisfied with the work in progress, and Cugel

came forward. "What intricate effort is this and what is its object?"

"The work is as you see," replied the foreman in a voice of penetrating compass, "From natural rock

we produce specified shapes, at the behest of the sorcerer Pharesm… Now then! Now then!" The cry

was addressed to a man 3 feet taller than Cugel, who had been striking the stone with a pointed maul. "I

detect over-confidence!" The forefinger shot forth. "Use great care at this juncture; note how the rock

tends to cleave? Strike here a blow of the sixth intensity at the vertical, using a semi-clenched grip; at this

point a fourth-intensity blow groin-wise; then employ a quartergauge bant-iron to remove the swange."

With the work once more going correctly, he fell to studying his plans, shaking his head with a

frown of dissatisfaction. "Much too slow! The craftsmen toil as if in a drugged torpor, or else display a

mulish stupidity. Only yesterday Dadio Fessadil, he of 3 ells with the green kerchief yonder, used a

19-gauge freezing-bar to groove the bead of a small inverted quatrefoil."

Cugel shook his head in surprise, as if never had he heard of so egregious a blunder. And he asked:

"What prompts this inordinate rock-hewing?"

"I cannot say," replied the foreman. "The work has been in progress 318 years, but during this time

Pharesm has never clarified his motives. They must be pointed and definite, for he makes a daily

inspection and is quick to indicate errors." Here he turned aside to consult with a man as tall as Cugel's

knee, who voiced uncertainty as to the pitch of a certain volute. The foreman, consulting an index,

resolved the matter; then he turned back to Cugel, this time with an air of frank appraisal. "You appear

both astute and deft; would you care to take employment? We lack several craftsmen of the half-ell

category, or, if you prefer more forceful manifestations, we can nicely use an apprentice stone-breaker of

16 ells. Your stature is adjusted in either direction, there is identical scope for advancement. As you see I

am a man of 4 ells. I reached the position of Striker in one year, Moulder of Forms in three, Assistant

Chade in ten, and I have now served as Chief Chade for nineteen years. My predecessor was of 2 ells,

and the Chief Chade before him was a 10-ell man." He went on to enumerate advantages of the work,

which included sustenance, shelter, narcotics of choice, nympharium privileges, a stipend starting at ten

terces a day, various other benefits including Pharesm's services as diviner and exorcizer. "Additionally,

Pharesm maintains a conservatory where all may enrich their intellects. I myself take instruction in Insect

Identification, the Heraldry of the Kings of Old Gomaz, Unison Chanting, Practical Catalepsy and

Orthodox Doctrine. You will never find a master more generous than Pharesm the Sorcerer!"

Cugel restrained a smile for the Chief Chade's enthusiasm; still, his stomach was roiling with hunger

and he did not reject the proffer out of hand. "I had never before considered such a career," he said.

"You cite advantages of which I was unaware."

"True; they are not generally known."

"I cannot immediately say yes or no. It is a decision of consequence which I feel I should consider in

all its aspects."

The Chief Chade gave a nod of profound agreement. "We encourage deliberation in our craftsmen,

when every stroke must achieve the desired effect. To repair an inaccuracy of as much as a fingernail's

width the entire block must be removed, a new block fitted into the socket of the old, whereupon all

begins anew. Until the work has reached its previous stage nympharium privileges are denied to all.

Hence, we wish no opportunistic or impulsive newcomers to the group."

Firx, suddenly apprehending that Cugel proposed a delay, made representations of a most agonizing

nature. Clasping his abdomen, Cugel took himself aside and, while the Chief Chade watched in

perplexity, argued heatedly with Firx. "How may I proceed without sustenance?" Firx's response was an

incisive motion of the barbs. "Impossible!" exclaimed Cugel. "The amulet of Iucounu theoretically suffices,

but I can stomach no more spurge; remember, if I fall dead in the trail, you will never rejoin your

comrade in Iucounu's vats!"

Firx saw the justice of the argument and reluctantly became quiet. Cugel returned to the lectern,

where the Chief Chade had been distracted by the discovery of a large tourmaline opposing the flow of a

certain complicated helix. Finally Cugel was able to engage his attention. "While I weigh the proffer of

employment and the conflicting advantages of diminution versus elongation, I will need a couch on which

to recline. I also wish to test the perquisites you describe, perhaps for the period of a day or more."

"Your prudence is commendable," declared the Chief Chade. "The folk of today tend to commit

themselves rashly to courses they later regret. It was not so in my youth, when sobriety and discretion

prevailed. I will arrange for your admission into the compound, where you may verify each of my

assertions. You will find Pharesm stern but just, and only the man who hacks the rock willy-nilly has

cause to complain. But observe! Here is Pharesm the Sorcerer on his daily inspection!"

Up the trail came a man of imposing stature wearing a voluminous white robe. His countenance was

benign; his hair was like yellow down; his eyes were turned upwards as if rapt in the contemplation of an

ineffable sublimity. His arms were sedately folded, and he moved without motion of his legs. The

workers, doffing their caps and bowing in unison, chanted a respectful salute, to which Pharesm returned

an inclination of the head. Spying Cugel, he paused, made a swift survey of the work so far

accomplished, then glided without haste to the lectern.

"All appears reasonably exact," he told the Chief Chade. "I believe the polish on the underside of

Epi-projection 56-16 is uneven and I detect a minute chip on the secondary cinctor of the nineteenth

spire. Neither circumstance seems of major import and I recommend no disciplinary action."

"The deficiencies shall be repaired and the careless artisans reprimanded: this at the very least!"

exclaimed the Chief Chade in an angry passion. "Now I wish to introduce a possible recruit to our

workforce. He claims no experience at the trade, and will deliberate before deciding to join our group. If

he so elects, I envision the usual period as rubble-gatherer, before he is entrusted with tool-sharpening

and preliminary excavation."

"Yes; this would accord with our usual practice. However…" Pharesm glided effortlessly forward,

took Cugel's left hand and performed a swift divination upon the fingernails. His bland countenance

became sober. "I see contradictions of four varieties. Still it is clear that your optimum bent lies elsewhere

than in the hewing and shaping of rock. I advise that you seek another and more compatible

employment."

"Well spoken!" cried the Chief Chade. "Pharesm the Sorcerer demonstrates his infallible altruism! In

order that I do not fall short of the mark I hereby withdraw my proffer of employment! Since no purpose

can now be served by reclining upon a couch or testing the perquisites, you need waste no more

irreplaceable time."

Cugel made a sour face. "So casual a divination might well be inaccurate."

The Chief Chade extended his forefinger 30 feet vertically in outraged remonstrance, but Pharesm

gave a placid nod. "This is quite correct, and I will gladly perform a more comprehensive divination,

though the process requires six to eight hours."

"So long?" asked Cugel in astonishment.

"This is the barest minimum. First you are swathed head to foot in the intestines of fresh-killed owls,

then immersed in a warm bath containing a number of secret organic substances. I must, of course, char

the small toe of your left foot, and dilate your nose sufficiently to admit an explorer beetle, that he may

study the conduits leading to and from your sensorium. But let us return to my divinatory, that we may

commence the process in good time."

Cugel pulled at his chin, torn this way and that. Finally he said, "I am a cautious man, and must

ponder even the advisability of undertaking such a divination; hence, I will require several days of calm

and meditative somnolence. Your compound and the adjacent nympharium appear to afford the

conditions requisite to such a state; hence—"

Pharesm indulgently shook his head. "Caution, like any other virtue, can be carried to an extreme.

The divination must proceed at once."

Cugel attempted to argue further but Pharesm was adamant, and presently glided off down the trail.

Cugel disconsolately went to the side, considering first this stratagem, then that. The sun neared the

zenith, and the workmen began to speculate as to the nature of the viands to be served for their midday

meal. At last the Chief Chade signalled; all put down their tools and gathered about the cart which

contained the repast.

Cugel jocularly called out that he might be persuaded to share the meal, but the Chief Chade would

not hear of it. "As in all of Pharesm's activities, an exactitude of consequence must prevail. It is an

unthinkable discrepancy that fifty-four men should consume the food intended for fifty-three."

Cugel could contrive no apposite reply, and sat in silence while the rock-hewers munched at meat

pies, cheeses and salt fish. All ignored him save for one, a quarter-ell man whose generosity far exceeded

his stature, and who undertook to reserve for Cugel a certain portion of his food. Cugel replied that he

was not at all hungry, and rising to his feet wandered off through the project, hoping to discover some

forgotten cache of food. He prowled here and there, but the rubble-gatherers had removed every trace

of substance extraneous to the pattern. With appetite unassuaged Cugel arrived at the centre of the work,

where sprawled on a carved disc he spied a most peculiar creature: essentially a gelatinous globe

swimming with luminous particles from which a number of transparent tubes or tentacles dwindled away

to nothing. Cugel bent to examine the creature, which pulsed with a slow internal rhythm. He prodded it

with his finger, and bright little flickers rippled away from the point of contact. Interesting: a creature of

unique capabilities! Removing a pin from his garments he prodded a tentacle, which emitted a peevish

pulse of light, while the golden flecks in its substance surged back and forth. More intrigued than ever,

Cugel hitched himself close, and gave himself to experimentation, probing here and there, watching the

angry flickers and sparkles with great amusement.

A new thought occurred to Cugel. The creature displayed qualities reminiscent of both coelenterate

and echinoderm. A terrene nudibranch? A mollusc deprived of its shell? More importantly, was the

creature edible?

Cugel brought forth his amulet, applied it to the central globe and to each of the tentacles. He heard

neither chime nor buzz: the creature was non-poisonous. He unsheathed his knife, sought to excise one of

the tentacles, but found the substance too resilient and tough to be cut. There was a brazier nearby, kept

aglow for forging and sharpening the workers' tools. He lifted the creature by two of its tentacles, carried

it to the brazier and arranged it over the fire. He toasted it carefully and when he deemed it sufficiently

cooked, sought to eat it. Finally, after various undignified efforts, he crammed the creature down his

throat, finding it without taste or sensible nutritive volume.

The stone-carvers were returning to their work. With a significant glance for the foreman Cugel set

off down the trail.

Not far distant was the dwelling of Pharesm the Sorcerer: a long low building of melted rock

surmounted by eight oddly shaped domes of copper, mica and bright blue glass. Pharesm himself sat at

leisure before the dwelling, surveying the valley with a serene and all-inclusive magnanimity. He held up a

hand in calm salute. "I wish you pleasant travels and success in all future endeavours."

"The sentiment is naturally valued," said Cugel with some bitterness. "You might however have

rendered a more meaningful service by extending a share of your noon meal."

Pharesm's placid benevolence was as before. "This would have been an act of mistaken altruism.

Too fulsome a generosity corrupts the recipient and stultifies his resource."

Cugel gave a bitter laugh. "I am a man of iron principle, and I will not complain, even though,

lacking any better fare, I was forced to devour a great transparent insect which I found at the heart of

your rock-carving."

Pharesm swung about with a suddenly intent expression. "A great transparent insect, you say?"

"Insect, epiphyte; mollusc - who knows? It resembled no creature I have yet seen, and its flavour,

even after carefully grilling at the brazier, was not distinctive."

Pharesm floated 7 feet into the air, to turn the full power of his gaze down at Cugel. He spoke in a

low harsh voice: "Describe this creature in detail!"

Wondering at Pharesm's severity, Cugel obeyed. "It was thus and thus as to dimension." He

indicated with his hands. "In colour it was a gelatinous transparency shot with numberless golden specks.

These flickered and pulsed when the creature was disturbed. The tentacles seemed to grow flimsy and

disappear rather than terminate. The creature evinced a certain sullen determination, and ingestion proved

difficult."

Pharesm clutched at his head, hooking his fingers into the yellow down of his hair. He rolled his eyes

upwards and uttered a tragic cry. "Ah! Five hundred years I have toiled to entice this creature,

despairing, doubting, brooding by night, yet never abandoning hope that my calculations were accurate

and my great talisman cogent. Then, when finally it appears, you fall upon it for no other reason then to

sate your repulsive gluttony!"

Cugel, somewhat daunted by Pharesm's wrath, asserted his absence of malicious intent. Pharesm

would not be mollified. He pointed out that Cugel had committed trespass and hence had forfeited the

option of pleading innocence. "Your very existence is a mischief compounded by bringing the unpleasant

fact to my notice. Benevolence prompted me to forbearance, which now I perceive for a grave mistake."

"In this case," stated Cugel with dignity, "I will depart your presence at once. I wish you good

fortune for the balance of the day, and now, farewell."

"Not so fast," said Pharesm in the coldest of voices. "Exactitude has been disturbed; the wrong

which has been committed demands a counteract to validate the Law of Equipoise. I can define the

gravity of your act in this manner: should I explode you on this instant into the most minute of your parts

the atonement would measure one ten-millionth of your offence. A more stringent retribution becomes

necessary."

Cugel spoke in great distress. "I understand that an act of consequence was performed, but

remember! my participation was basically casual. I categorically declare first my absolute innocence,

second my lack of criminal intent, and third my effusive apologies. And now, since I have many leagues

to travel, I will—"

Pharesm made a peremptory gesture. Cugel fell silent. Pharesm drew a deep breath. "You fail to

understand the calamity you have visited upon me. I will explain, so that you may not be astounded by

the rigours which await you. As I have adumbrated, the arrival of the creature was the culmination of my

great effort. I determined its nature through a perusal of 42,000 librams, all written in cryptic language: a

task requiring a hundred years. During a second hundred years I evolved a pattern to draw it in upon

itself and prepared exact specification. Next I assembled stone-cutters, and across a period of 300 years

gave solid form to my pattern. Since like subsumes like, the variates and intercongeles create a

suprapullulation of all areas, qualities and internals into a crystorrhoid whorl, eventually exciting the

ponentiation of a proubietal chute. Today occurred the concatenation; the 'creature', as you call it,

pervolved upon itself; in your idiotic malice you devoured it."

Cugel, with a trace of haughtiness, pointed out that the "idiotic malice" to which the distraught

sorcerer referred was in actuality simple hunger. "In any event, what is so extraordinary about the

'creature'? Others equally ugly may be found in the net of any fisherman."

Pharesm drew himself to his full height, glared down at Cugel. "The 'creature'," he said in a grating

Vance, Jack - SS - The Sorcerer Pharesm.pdf

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