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Sunday, 22 October 2017

Cleaning Up The Mess:

He walked down the rough track, kept clear now by his passing.
Home was calling.  It was both cold and dark, and he thought
Longingly of his warm and convivial barge, the arms of Esme,
Most beautiful of Naiads, and the comfort of a Dwarven beer.
Timothy sat, huddled on his shoulder, still sulking, he thought,
Because of their move from Teddington.  The Raven missed
The Tower, the gossip and the hustle and bustle of London
He, on the other hand, wanted some peace for a while and Esme 
Wished to visit her Mama who had made her home in the soft
Foundations of Folly Bridge in Oxford.  He had enjoyed seeing 
His old friend, the Arch-Mage of Oxbridge and imbibing one or
Two glasses of his Synsepalum dulcificum[1] juice, but the news
From the Realm Of Man was quite grim and he wondered if his 
Master would wish to intervene.  Only time would tell.  For now
Though, the soft lights from the barge blinked their welcome 
Through the trees.  Timothy sat up a little straighter.  Home.
………………………………………………………………….

The Sun kissed his face as he opened the door.  Sweet Esme had 
Slipped into the water earlier to visit her Mama and he had the 
Day to do with as he wished.  Thus it was that he strolled up the 
Road, near Folly House, Timothy a little more chipper now, on 
His shoulder, and on up to the High Street thronged as usual 
With gowned students who seemed to think it their right to walk 
In the middle of the road, carters and herders be damned!  He
Laughed quietly when a grey-bearded dwarf riding a fine grey
Stallion, had it lower its head and carve a route for them with its 
Glittering and menacing horn.  He chose to follow in their wake, 
And soon it was entered the covered market.   The smells that 
Assailed his nostrils and the calls of the vendors delighted him,
Reminding him of his childhood when the family Ogre, Henry, 
Would carry him through on his shoulders.   No problems with 
Folk making way for them then!   He reached his destination 
Soon enough, and purchased three truffle and pomegranate seed 
Pies, one for his darling Esme, another to eat now and a third for 
Timothy, who still needed a bit of cheering up!  Leaving the 
Market he continued on down the High Street to Magdalen 
Bridge, there to pick up a water taxi hauled by a strong-tailed 
Merman who took him back to the barge in a trice and gained a 
Double blessing for his trouble.  He settled, then, whilst he and 
Timothy ate their pies in companionable silence.  As he wiped 
The last crumbs from his lips he sighed.  A message owl landed!
…………………………………………………………………...

Leaving a brief note and her pie for Esme, he had Timothy hail 
A dragon.  The rider was an old acquaintance from Glasgow and
They enjoyed catching up as they flew over the Anglic passage 
And on to Paris, a city he knew well, and loved.  They parted 
Near his destination, a small, family run, hostelry in the Avenue 
Mac-Mahon, close by the Folie de Triumph.  He entered, gave 
Bisous to Jenifra, the aged Pixie who had kept the place open 
And respectable for more than three centuries now, and took 
From her a live memory cell.  He retired to his normal room and 
Having made himself comfortable and secure, knowing Timothy 
Would stay alert, he pressed the cell against the interface on his 
Arm, placed there by his Master, where it slowly sank into him. 
…………………………………………………………………..

Momentarily he was confused, the whole world reeling, and 
Then he found himself standing in a dark tower, one of many 
Such, high above a vast square in the Realm Of Man looking 
Down upon an equally vast multitude which was filling it.  He 
Recognised the place immediately.  He had been here several 
Times before, though never in this vantage point.  Nuremburg.  
The Zeppelin Field, to be precise, with the ‘Curtain Of Light’ in 
Place, reaching high in the sky.  Very dramatic and evocative.
He thought that all of that rubbish had been got rid of years ago!
…………………………………………………………………...

The crowd were responding in wild, hysterical rapture to a bile-
Filled speech from a woman whose face was one of the most 
Stunning, extraordinary beauty.  Lilith!  He swiftly crowd-
Scanned and, sure enough, found there her wretched Samael 
Sired, evil lilim spawn in their black shirts scattered amongst it, 
Encouraging ever greater frenzied support.  How, he pondered, 
As he watched the crowd become an adoring potential tool for 
Violence and rioting, had she succeeded in entering this reality?   
That wasn’t really his concern however, he thought, as the vast 
Throng turned into a tool of savagery, pouring out of the square, 
Getting ready to, as instructed, run through the streets of their 
Home towns smashing shop fronts, looting and setting fire to 
The vehicles of whichever hapless minority Lilith had decided 
Would make a good focus for their frustration.  She stoked fear 
Of an imagined enemy within, oft using the words, ‘incomers’ 
And ‘immigrants’, plus loaded phrases carping about taking jobs 
And destroying the culture – all the ghastly garbage dictators
In the Realm Of Man had used since time immemorial.  He was 
Staggered that these people didn’t notice the formula and the 
Nonsense being peddled!  Then the world he was viewing ended 
Returning him to his room in the hostelry in sane Home Realm.
…………………………………………………………………...

He sat there for two days, eating, drinking Dwarven Ale which 
Jenifra got in specially for him, thinking and doing research as 
Much as he could, what Lilith was doing.  This, of course, had 
Entailed several trips to the Realm Of Man to access the News 
Media of one sort or another.  Her malevolent actions rippled to 
Countries outside Deutsche Bestellung, through all of old Gaul.

Obviously he was not being called upon by his Master to slay 
Lilith, she being one of the ‘Dark Side’ untouchables whom 
One was forbidden to harm, so he must want him to find some 
Way to somehow remove or discredit her and her tainted vision.  
It would be pleasant, he mused aloud one evening whilst sitting 
In his room with Timothy, partaking of a lightish supper of spiced 
Potatoes and peas, if his Master would be a little more specific 
Now and then in telling him what he wanted as an end result, 
But no, he was always presented with situations and expected to 
Know the right thing to do.  So, first things first, he needed to  
Travel to Berlin, enter the Realm of Man and analytically study 
The real situation on the ground.  He didn’t look forward to it.
…………………………………………………………………...

Timothy had hailed him a fast rickshaw with two fine centaurs 
Working in excellent tandem to spirit him to the Place Du Terte.  
On arrival he gave them, each a strong charm in thanks for a 
Speedy and trouble-free journey through the hustle and bustle of 
Busy Parisian streets, their only holdup being the enforced stop 
Whilst a herd of unicorn were taken through to the market at the 
Marché Bastille.  The Parisians really loved their unicorn meat.  
The herd needs must be culled from time to time, due to their 
Fouling which was one of the serious impediments to walking in 
Paris looking anywhere but down, but he would stick to not 
Eating aught he could cuddle, which pretty much made him a 
Committed pescatarian, and a most fortunate one at that, since 
Esme knew the lore of the water, and could catch fish with ease.

Having alighted the rickshaw he made his way to the very busy
Concourse, there to hire a dragon to take him to Berlin.  To his 
Delight he found again his old friend, the Dragon Master from 
Glasgow who was happy to fly him there.  He scrambled up into 
His saddle and passed an enjoyable flight talking about the old 
Days when they had done officer training at Sandlehurst and 
Gone on to serve the Master in the Goblin Uprisings, he in the 
Special Ops core and his friend a Squadron Leader of a force of
One thousand wyverns.  Though they both shared some happy 
Memories they also recalled the horror.  Thus it was that they 
Both still served the Master, his friend flying the world over 
With passengers of every stripe, listening out for discontent or 
Injustice, whilst he, of course, was the Master’s Prime Envoy 
And Assassin.  Thus it was that the flight appeared to end too 
Abruptly, as suddenly they were spiralling down to the slightly 
Sleepy, Centre City Dragon port in Potsdamer Platz where his 
Dear friend Timothy took to the wing to organise an auto-
Rickshaw whilst he made his farewells and they arranged to 
Meet up the next time he was in the bonnie city of Glasgow.
…………………………………………………………………...

He didn’t like auto-rickshaws but that’s what Berliners did like,
So he had no option.  He gave it a charm, with an address in 
Schinkelpl, and it’s little clockwork engine sprung into life and 
Off they went, Timothy preferring to fly rather than put up with 
This noisy and somewhat juddering contraption.  It brought him 
Swiftly and safely, however, to the little Gasthaus  which Jenifra 
Had recommended to him.  It was run by a cousin, was large 
Enough to have a well-stocked and frequented bar and she’d 
Sent a message owl ahead of him to book the best room and to 
Ensure there was Dwarven beer.  When he got there he found a 
Charming old building, a warm welcome, delightfully appointed 
Room overlooking the river and a jug of Dwarven beer brought 
Up for him to enjoy as he settled in.  His work wasn’t all bad!
…………………………………………………………………...

After an excellent supper, sound night’s sleep and equally good 
Breakfast, he dressed appropriately for his mission, popped    
Timothy into his carry-bag and slipped into the Realm Of Man.
He wanted to get a real feel for the city, everyday Berlin, which 
Had of course already embraced extremism once, with appalling 
Consequences. He hailed a cab and had himself dropped off in 
Front of the Reichstag Building in the great Platz der Republik, 
Paying the bemused driver with a charm – he didn’t do money.  
Filthy stuff !– and then stood quiet, viewing the unsettling scene 
Around him.  He had known what to expect but the reality was 
More personal, deeply unpleasant.  As he had noticed during the 
Drive, there were men and women in uniform everywhere, all 
Black shirted, as Lilith’s children had been, many with insignia 
Of a variety of types, and a large number carrying weapons, 
Some merely holstered pistols, some with submachine-guns – 
Heckler And Koch MP5s, he thought.  More disturbing by far 
Was the multi-gallows in front of the Reichstag occupied by 
Several hooded human beings swinging and turning slowly on 
Their ropes in the strong breeze.  A sign below their bodies was 
Prominent, as was its simple message: ‘So sterben muslimische 
Verräter’[2]. So, evil Lilith had obviously managed to acquire 
Complete power, using a perfectly innocent minority religious 
Group as her ‘enemy within’.  Why had these folk, especially 
After the ghastly holocaust of less than a century ago, fallen for
This kind of fanatical leader’s claptrap once again?  He walked 
A little closer to the gallows.  There he could smell the urine 
And excrement the victims had released when they dropped 
Through the trap doors.  As he stood musing on a tragedy that 
Was being repeated, he caught the attention of one of the black 
Shirts with a machine-gun who waved him away.  It was tragic.
…………………………………………………………………...

For the next three days he remained holed up in his room at the 
Gasthaus sipping Dwarven beer, alternated with Martian coffee, 
Which to his mind was the best coffee a charm could purchase, 
Reading copious newspapers, mostly German but some of them 
International, educating himself in more detail as to the situation 
That Lilith had created.  As he did so, Timothy flew through the 
Realm Of Man in Berlin talking to other Ravens and watching 
What was taking place on the streets before coming back and 
Linking with him to transfer his newly acquired knowledge.  It 
Was clear that not only had Lilith manufactured an (innocent) 
Enemy within, she had also, partly as a  result of this, managed 
To start wars on several different fronts. She liked nothing 
Better than wars and mass killings.  As well as the wars, she had 
Also stirred up a poisonous stew of terrorists who supported the 
Many fatwas against the country and leader, who were killing, 
With a certain element of abandon, innocent souls of their own 
Faith.  Car bombs, gas attacks, poisoned reservoirs and a variety 
Of shootings were all fairly commonplace, which had resulted 
In polarising the citizenry, even those whose general inclination 
Was to oppose Lilith and her deadly spawn.  The situation was 
A mess and since he was unable to kill Lilith he needed to take 
Another course and either ruin her credibility or frighten her.
…………………………………………………………………...

He loved the experience of Martian gravity.  It made him feel 
Both a hundred years younger but incredibly clumsy.  He knew 
If he stayed for a day or so it would change, as it always had 
Before, but this visit was going to be time constrained, as he 
Was here on duty, working for the Master.  He exited the portal 
And made his way carefully along the fungi lit tunnels and met 
His old mentor, the Archmage of Barsoom who controlled the 
Vast network of Predecessor tunnels which Home Realm folk 
Now occupied in this sector.  A quick glance around showed the 
Progress.  He instantly had the somewhat superficial thought 
That hopefully this would mean an increase in production, and a 
Lowering of price, of his favourite coffee.  Now, however, he 
Was merely checking that there was still a labour insufficiency.  
There was, and Archmage Raunien would happily receive more 
Recalcitrants to continue the irrigation work and the planting.  
They were good dealing with all sorts of intractable souls; There 
Were even some from the Realm Of Man.  The simple Rule 
Here was that work was not obligatory, but no work led to no 
Food.  It was a great motivator, and hard work could result in 
The reward of citizenship and a land title.  The Archmage would 
Happily post a pair of Security Ogres at the Reception Centre 
For the next week or three, as necessary.  That sorted, and with 
A gift of the best coffee in the Solar System under his arm, he 
Returned to the portal and a few moments later was back in the 
Home Realm in the Tiergarten, by the lovely lake where he sat 
Outside a little biergarten and sipped a cool local wine, a rather 
Pleasant thimbleberry with a honey aroma and sweet/tart fuzzy 
Taste, whilst his body adjusted and he got his ‘Earth legs’ back 
As Timothy stretched his wings going to hail an auto-rickshaw.
…………………………………………………………………

Having contacted the local mayor and showed him his Master’s 
Seal charm, he had arranged for two Ogres and a robust paddy  
Wagon to be available for him in front of the Reichstag.  He’d 
Decided he would pick the low hanging fruit first.  Utilising his 
Unique skill he slipped back and forth into the Realm Of Man, 
Swiftly plotting on a chart the location of the most obvious of 
The spawn of Lilith and Samael, and then he ran from place to 
Place, the ogres rumbling along behind him, leaping in to the 
Realm Of Man and dragging back each time a startled victim.  
Their automatic reaction was to attempt to use their weapons 
Which never had, thank Chance, functioned in the Home Realm.  
This allowed the Ogres time to quickly scoop them up without 
Damaging them too much, not something Ogres generally gave 
Consideration to, and propel them, firmly and surely, into the 
Paddy wagon where strong shock charms kept them very secure.
He managed this until his interventions were noticed and the 
Spawn scattered out of the Square.  By this time he had filled 
The wagon, however, and decided to go with it and ensure that 
The contents were bound and pushed through the Martian portal 
Before calling it a day and returning to the Gasthaus and a beer.
…………………………………………………………………...

Having now removed 3 wagon loads from the more obvious 
Places he commenced the next phase.  Disguised and hands-off 
In the Realm of Man he strolled the busy city streets, chatting, 
Visiting bars and restaurants, finding the favourite haunts of the 
Spawn of Lilith, and when he identified a target he had Timothy 
Follow it back to wherever it resided.  It was slower work but 
Capturing in the night from their residences had a psychological 
Impact, adding, as it did, to the mystery of the disappearances 
From public spaces.  Now nowhere was safe!  He was guessing 
Too, that the result of this was not more restful sleep and that 
Would lead to impaired judgement.  Indeed, after he had sent 
Another group through the portal he found that they started to 
Sleep in dormitories, always guarded by alert colleagues.  His 
Only, and in retrospect, foolish attempt to remove one from 
Such a circumstance had ended up with his target being shot, 
Causing much inconvenience to the Doctors back in Home 
Realm.  If he were honest, he should have known that would be 
The case, and he could very easily have ended up killed or 
wounded himself, not something he aspired to.  Thus it was that 
He decided that it was time for him to visit the beautiful Lilith.
…………………………………………………………………...

He entered the Reichstag building in the Home Realm and then
Crossed to the most opulent of offices in the Realm Of Man and 
Stepped through.  Here he found her, sitting at a vast desk with
Documents scattered all over it.  She was alone.  Close to, he 
Noted that she was even more beautiful.  Alluring was the word 
That popped into his mind.  She looked up from the document 
She was reading and a puzzled look briefly crossed her features, 
To be followed swiftly by one of annoyance.  In a voice both 
Beautifully modulated and menacing she asked him just who he 
Was, what it was he wanted and how he got in?  He ignored her 
Questions and drew from his pocket a large pistol which he had  
Liberated from one of her captive children.  Her eyes widened 
Slightly, though not fearful, more calculating.  He’d see about 
That!  He knew he couldn’t harm her, but she didn’t.  Swiftly, 
Then, he moved round her desk, slipped his arm round her soft 
Throat and placed the barrel of the pistol against her temple.  At 
This point, as he expected, and indeed hoped, a pair of heavily 
Armed guards burst through the door, obviously summoned by 
Some concealed alarms or cameras.  Lilith had wisely decided 
That perhaps it was time to be fearful and remained very still.  
He let the guards have a clear view of events, nodded a greeting, 
Stepped back into Home Realm and picked up from the desk of 
The empty office there a syringe he had earlier purloined and 
Carefully prepared from the Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Hospital.  
He was not certain as to its efficacy on one such as Lilith but 
After a bit of rather necessary experimentation on a few of her 
Children, none of whom were harmed in any way, he had some 
Reason for optimism, and having deployed it found to his joy 
And satisfaction that she was unconscious almost instantly but, 
As per the Directive, had also in no way been harmed.  As was 
Usual, the information supplied by his Master, at his request, 
Had proved correct.  Relieved he signalled for his ogres who 
Picked her up and removed her to her place of confinement.
…………………………………………………………………...

He had arranged for Lilith to be housed in a cell, designed as 
Though in the Realm Of Man.  He had not talked with her.  
There was no point.  He ensured that she was well fed, received 
Books from the other realm, was not greatly discomforted,
And considered herself to be being held in her own realm.  All 
That she received was sent to her via dumbwaiter and each day 
He renewed the charm he had placed upon her which kept her 
Unquestioning and content, despite her obvious imprisonment.
It was a shame he couldn’t have done that in the other realm.
As she took her enforced rest he continued with his routine of 
Kidnapping her children from the Realm Of Man and sending 
Them up to Mars.  As word of their disappearance and then hers 
Spread, plus increasingly exaggerated rumours concerning what 
Had taken place, the whole robust system of communication and 
Command started to unravel, and the prodigious multitude of 
Her spawn started to behave with great violence at the moment 
They perceived any threat.  This did not enamour them to the 
Local Berliners, and nor did the internecine strife that rapidly 
Commenced within the family of lilim as they jockeyed for 
Position and tried to fill the vacuum of Lilith, which her absence 
Led to.  Slowly, at the first, the organisation unravelled.  News 
From the various fronts became appalling, so much so that all 
Troops were pulled back, merely to hold the borders firm.  The 
Terrorism which had plagued the country slowly receded as the 
Causes of it ceased.  The situation was finally ended, he thought 
Probably to his Master’s satisfaction, when, with total of kidnap 
Victims reaching 179, the lilim  spawn of the now, it was said, 
Totally emasculated Sameal and Lilith, at last quit the task and 
Slunk stealthily by night to the safety of their ship, concealed 
Deep below the waters of the Bodensee.  At this point the whole 
Country collapsed into chaos and it was quickly the case that
The entire population lost any military adventurism, completely 
Absorbed as they were in acquiring life’s basic requirements.
…………………………………………………………………..

Having again drugged Lilith he took her on dragon-back to the
Lake where her children were cowering, returned to the Realm
Of Man and watched over her from a discrete distance as she
Came round and took in her surroundings. She was, of course,
Confused but did as he had anticipated and slipped into the dark
Waters and out of sight. He relaxed and gently scratched the
Back of Timothy’s neck where he liked it and then unpacked his
Picnic hamper and tucked in to some Wilstermarschkäse and
Brötchen washed down with a bottle of most pleasant Blanc de
Noir Spatburgunder which complimented the tang of the cheese
Perfectly. They truly did know how to excel at some things in
The Realm Of Man. Unfortunately they were really very few.
As he sat, the hum of bees and the carolling of birds relaxed him
And it was almost with disappointment that he observed Lilith’s
Vast ship leap from the waters and within seconds disappear
From sight. She and her children obviously didn’t care if they
Were seen; they just wanted to get away from this disaster, fast!
.......................................................................................................

Once again, having made his genuinely sad farewells to the
Gasthaus and Jenifra’s cousin Sofia, he made his way to the
Potsdamer Platz and Timothy found him a dragon which would
Take him directly to Oxford. On this occasion the Dragon
Master was from Éireann. He enjoyed the musical brogue and
The tall tales, so the trip went very quickly and he was surprised
How soon it was that they had crossed the Anglic Channel, the
White Cliffs a welcome sight, as always, and shortly thereafter
Spiralled down to Merton Field, where he tipped the Master
Handsomely with extra charms to thank him for an enjoyable
Trip. Freeing Timothy from his travel bag he made his way to
Poplar Walk, across what in the Realm Of Man they named
Christ Church Meadow and was locally known as the big field!
Soon it was that the barge was nearly in sight and his footsteps
And heart quickened at the thought of holding again the most
Delightful of Naiads, his lovely Esme, hoping that she was not
At her mother's. In the dusk’s haze he saw the welcoming light
Shining from his home’s windows, and joy washed over him.

[1] Miracle Fruit

[2] Thus die Muslim traitors

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