Constant Fire

14. In which Miss Mavis Ming is given an opportunity to win the Forgiveness of her Protector

When Mavis Ming next awoke, finding herself in the soft pink security of her own bed, where she had fled in terror after scratching Doctor Volospion, she was surprised by how refreshed she felt, how confident. Even the threat of Doctor Volospion's anger, which she feared almost as much as the Fireclown's love, failed to thrill her.

"What can he do, after all?" she asked herself. She still wore the mou-mou. She looked at the ripped sleeve, and she inspected the bruise on her arm. She doubted if the scratch she had given Doctor Volospion was any worse than the bruise he had given her, but she also recalled that, in her experience, men had a different way of looking at these things.

"Why do I feel so good? Because of a fight?" She was almost buoyant. "Maybe because it's over. I tried to please him. I really tried. But he's got a way of double-binding a girl like nobody else's. I guess little Mavis will have to find a new berth."

She removed the mou-mou and went to take a shower. "Well, it was high time for a change. And I'm not much gone on sharing the same roof with that mad midget downstairs."

The shower was refreshing.

"I'm going to go out. I'm going to visit a few people. Now," elbow on palm of hand, fingertip to chin, "who shall I visit first?"

She reviewed her acquaintances, wondering who would be most sympathetic. Who would welcome her.

And then, of a sudden, depression swept back. It caught her so unexpectedly that she had to sit down on the edge of the unmade bed, dropping her towel to the floor. "Oh, Christ! Oh, Christ! What in hell's wrong with you, Mavis?"

A knock on her door interrupted the catharsis before it had properly got under way.

"Yes?"

"Miss Ming?" It was, of course, Doctor Volospion.

"This is it, Mavis." She pulled herself together. She put on a robe. "Time for the tongue-lashing. Well, I'll tell him I'm leaving. He'll be glad of that." She raised her voice. "Come in!"

But he was smiling when he entered.

She looked at him in nervous astonishment.

He was dressed in robes of scarlet and green. There was a tight-fitting dark green hood on his head, emphasizing the sharpness of his features.

"You are well, Miss Ming?" As he spoke he drew on dark green gloves.

"Better than I thought. I wanted to…"

"I came to apologize," he said.

She had glanced at his hand before the glove went on. There was, of course, no sign of her scratch.

"Oh," she said. She was taken aback.

"If I had realized exactly how badly that Mr Bloom affected you, I would never have subjected you to the ordeal," he said.

"Well, you weren't to know." She bit her lip, as if she sensed her determination dissipating already.

"The fault was wholly mine." He had all his old authority. It comforted her.

"I lost my cool, I guess." Her voice shook. "I'm sorry about your hand."

"I deserved worse."

His voice was warm and, as always, it caused her to purr. It would not have been surprising if she had arched her back and rubbed her body against him. "That Mr Bloom, he just freaks me, Doctor Volospion. I don't know what it is. I suppose I've completely blown it for you, haven't I?"

"No, no," he reassured her.

"You talked? After I'd gone?"

"Somewhat. He remains quite adamant."

"He won't give you the Grail?"

"Unfortunately not…"

"It was my fault. I'm really sorry." She responded almost without any sort of consciousness, mesmerized by him.

"It grieves me. I can think of no way of obtaining it without your help."

"You know I'd like to." The words emerged as if another spoke them for her. "I mean, if there's anything I can do to make up for what happened last night…"

"I would not put you to further embarrassment." He turned to leave.

"Oh, no!" She paused, making an effort of will. "I mean, I couldn't face actually seeing him again, but if there's anything else…"

"I can think of nothing. Goodbye, Miss Ming."

"There must be something?"

He paused by the door, frowning. "Well, I suppose it is possible for you to get the Grail for me."

"How?"

"He said that he would allow you to see it, you recall?"

"I can't really remember the details of what he said. I was too frightened."

"Quite. You see somehow he controls his ship's protective devices from where he is. After you had gone he told me again that he would let you see the Grail, but not me. I think he believes that if you see it you will realize that he is this spiritual saviour he sets himself up to be."

"You mean I could get into the ship and find the Grail?"

"Exactly. Once I had it in my possession, I would let him go. You would be free of him."

"But he'd suspect."

"His infatuation blinds him."

"I wouldn't have to see him again?" She spoke as firmly as she could. "I won't do that, whatever else."

"You will never be asked to go to the menagerie and, in a while, he will have left this planet."

"It's stealing, of course," she said.

"Call it recompense for all the damage he has done while here. Call it justice."

"Yes. That's fair enough."

"But no," he looked kindly down on her, "I ask too much of you."

"You don't, really." He had inspired in her a kind of eager courage. "Let me help."

"He has assured me that he will lower the barriers of his ship for you alone."

"Then it's up to Mavis, isn't it?"

"If you feel you can do it, Miss Ming, I would show my gratitude to you in many ways when you returned with the cup."

"It's enough to help out." But she glanced at the power rings on his gloved fingers. "When shall I go?" She paused. "There won't be any danger, I suppose…?"

"None at all. He genuinely loves you, Miss Ming. Of course, if you consider this action a betrayal of Mr Bloom…"

"Betrayal? I didn't make any deals with him."

His voice was rich with gratification. "It would mean much to me, as you know. My collection is important to my happiness. If I thought that I possessed an artefact that was not authentic, well, I should never be content."

"Rely on Mavis." Her eyes began to shine.

"You are possessed of a great and admirable generosity," he said.

His praise sent a pulse of well-being through her whole body.

15. In which Mavis Ming sets off in search of the Holy Grail

Doctor Volospion had made no alterations to his force-screen since the Fireclown had passed beyond it. Mavis Ming moved through the eternal twilight of the castle's grounds, towards the dark and ragged hole in the wall of ice. On the other side of the hole she could see the brilliant scarlet of Emmanuel Bloom's ship.

Gingerly she stepped through the gap, sensitive to the stillness and silence of her surroundings. She wished that Doctor Volospion had been able to accompany her, at least this far, but he was wary, he had told her, of the Fireclown suspecting treachery. If Bloom detected another presence it was likely that he would immediately restore his ship's defences.

The teardrop-shaped ship was a red silhouette against a background of dark trees. Its airlock remained open, its ramp was down. She paused as she looked up at it.

It was impossible from where she stood to see anything of the ship's interior, but she could smell a warm mustiness coming from the entrance, together with a suggestion of pale smoke. If she had not known otherwise, she might have suspected the Fireclown still inside. The ship was redolent of his presence.

She spoke aloud, to dispel the silence. "Here goes, Mavis."

She was wearing her blue and orange kimono over her bikini, for Doctor Volospion had warned her that it might be uncomfortably warm within the Fireclown's ship. She struggled up the pebbled surface of the ramp and hesitated again outside the entrance, peering in. It seemed to her that points of fire still flickered on the other side of the airlock's open door.