Now Kevan MacGreene was not especially accustomed to travel--before
this day his travels had been limited to a few trips to Coney Island,
once or twice to Canarsie, and once to Staten Island when he'd made
the mistake of asking a girl for a date before finding out where she
lived. As a result, he was none too sure how to act in the present
circumstances. In the travels already mentioned, he'd never come across
a god imprisoned in golden chains--he wasn't even sure he'd ever read
of such a thing before. Yet it was rather foolish to act as if nothing
were unusual. At the same time, the god might be sensitive to strange
remarks about his condition.
It needed a diplomacy which Kevan MacGreene wasn't sure he possessed.
Should he (he wondered) offer his help or would such an offer coming
from a mere mortal be considered an impudence.
"I'll wager," said Loki with a laugh, "that the mortal caught sight
of your ruby lips, Signe, and is wondering if you'd reward him for
rescuing your husband." He laughed louder as Kevan MacGreene blushed.
"She would at that, Kevan MacGreene," he said, "but I fear you'll go
unrewarded. I was put here by my father and brothers and no mortal can
undo their work. But it shall be undone in time, never fear. As it
is, I don't find it too bad except for the moments when Signe goes to
empty the cup. Although it is a bit confining." He laughed again in
appreciation of his own wit, rattling the chains to the accompaniment
of his laughter.
"You're a brother of Thor?" Kevan asked.
"Aye, that I am. If you're looking for Thor, I can tell you one thing.
He'll bore you to tears trying to show you how strong and smart he is.
I'd rather be in chains than with Thor."
"Well," said Kevan, "the truth of the matter is that I don't want to
see Thor, but I'm afraid I have to."
"Ah," said Loki, "is it a matter of asking Thor for some sort of
intercession on behalf of the yeomen or peasants? I wasn't aware that
we were still worshipped among people. It seems to me I remember Hermod
returning from one of his trips with the news that other gods now had
the concession among you mortals. But then I suppose that new gods are
a bit like wine--all fizz and not very much kick."
Kevan had been embarrassed by the turn of the conversation but saw no
way of stopping it once it had started. When the god finished speaking,
he cleared his throat nervously and tried to straighten things out.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Loki," he said, "but I'm afraid that you aren't
worshipped by mortals--at least, by none that I know. In fact, most
people know nothing about you." He thought he saw a look of sorrow
cross the face of the chained god. "I must confess I'm not very
familiar with the facts about you myself, but I do know there are a
number of written records about all of you. I believe some of them are
quite complete, although of course they usually add that you were only
superstitious myths."
"Oh, well," Loki said, laughing softly, "I don't care what you call me
so long as you spell my name right."
Kevan was pleased that the god was taking it so well.
"But," Loki continued, "if it's not a matter of arranging a sacrifice,
what does bring you here? I cannot remember when a mortal last visited
Asgard."
* * * * *
Kevan quickly debated the matter in his mind and decided there could be
no harm in telling this god the reason for his visit. It even occurred
to him that since Thor had helped to chain him in the cave, Loki
might be anxious for revenge and would be willing to furnish him with
valuable clues.
"Do you remember a dwarf named Alviss?" he asked. "He once visited
here, although I believe it was quite some time ago."
"Alviss," mused the god, staring into space, although still managing to
keep one eye on his wife to be sure she didn't shift the cup. "Wasn't
that the one who became infatuated with Thrud?"
"That's the one," said Kevan.
"I remember him now," said Loki. "He's the one that Thor tricked into
staying around until morning and he turned to stone." Loki laughed
until the cave rang with the merry sound. "Thor was always a tricky
one. Oh, a fine fellow when it came to drinking or wenching, but
tricky. I well remember the time he and I met two little redheads at
a convention of--_OUCH!_" The last was a bellow of pain as his wife
moved the cup just enough to permit a drop of venom to fall on him. He
strained against the chains until the pain subsided. Then he grinned
ruefully at Kevan. "Sorry," he said. "It must have been two other
fellows."
"Well," said Kevan, rushing to fill what he thought was an embarrassing
gap, "Alviss is still in love with Thrud."
"Even as a stone," exclaimed Loki. "Oh, I remember now--he was stolen
from Thor's palace a few nights later. I suppose his friends unstoned
him, as it were."
Kevan nodded. "Exactly," he said. "Now, there's a small matter with
Alviss which needs adjusting and his price is that I bring Thrud to
him."
"Hmmmm," said Loki. He re-examined Kevan, with something like
admiration in his gaze. "I could better understand it if you were
after Thrud yourself--she is a winsome wench. But to do it for this
Alviss--well, you've sliced yourself a bit of a job."
"I'm well aware of it," Kevan said modestly. "Naturally, I'd appreciate
any advice...."
"Naturally," Loki said, not unkindly. He looked at Kevan again. "I
admit I wouldn't mind seeing you put one over on Thor. Maybe...."
"Loki," the god's wife said sharply, speaking for the first time, "you
promised to keep out of politics."
"But this isn't politics, honey," Loki said. "It's romance. In a way,
it's legitimately part of my business. If love is a fire kindled in the
heart, then surely the god of fire can concern himself with it. Tell
me, Kevan MacGreene, is there anything in your mortal world which Thor
might consider flattering to himself?"
Kevan thought for a minute and then suddenly remembered something. "I
believe so," he said. "One of the days of our week is called Thursday.
I believe that it was originally named after Thor."
"Just the thing. When you leave here--wait, do you come from a
particular province in the mortal world?"
"Not exactly a province. I'm from New York City in America. It's the
largest and greatest city in the world, located, I might add, in the
greatest country in the world."
"Of course," Loki said amiably. "Now, when you leave here you will stop
at the first station you come to and send Thor a ravengram. You'll tell
him that you're the American ambassador and--"
"But I couldn't say that," protested Kevan. "It's not true."
* * * * *