Androids!
Thor drew his lips back from his teeth and flung the ruby from him.
But, as it twisted in air, Aava cried, "A trick, Thor. But just a trick
to test you. Pay no heed to the androids. They are here to lead us back
to the city of the Urn. I tell you--" Thor caught his war-axe where it
rested against the helm. He shook it at the ruby.
"You foul liar!" he rasped. "You hypnotized me. You showed me things
that existed only in your mind. All right, I'll play your little game.
But I'll show you things, too. And the things I show you will be real.
Real, like death, Aava!
"You don't know what death is, do you? But you'll learn. I'll find a
way. I'll pay you back--"
A lance sang in the air as it slid over his head. The androids were
closer, hemming him in. They began to clamber up the sides of the ship.
Aava said swiftly, "You can make the dream come true, Thor! With you to
help, I shall build a city of alabaster, make it lovely as the one I
showed you.
"And Stalyl! We will create her, you and I. We will make her as lovely
as the Stalyl I showed you. Far lovelier than any woman--"
"You lack materials! Otherwise you would have made more androids to
fight the outlaws!"
An android hurdled the rail. Thor stepped forward, swung his axe. The
keen edge bit through hair and skull.
Thor grunted, "This is the opening move, Aava. I'll find a gambit to
beat you. I'll checkmate you yet."
The axe bit and dug at climbing androids, toppling them. Thor aimed
always at the heads, for that was swift annihilation. Android after
android dropped under the slashing impact of the double-edged Viking
weapon. Thor used it with a full swing, letting the weight of his
body add the impetus, learning that the perfect balance of the axe
was manageable with a twist of the wrist. His hand on the ivory haft
changed course and the edge drove home; it swerved, and the axe dipped
under a sword to cut upwards through a jaw.
He spoke no more to Aava, though he felt the blazing green gaze
fastened on him where he held the Viking deck. He used his wits for
fighting.
After a while Thor dropped the tip of the axe to the deck and grinned
at Aava, "You didn't send enough androids. Take a look!"
He held the ruby at arm's length above his head. The deck and sides of
the ship were littered with sprawled bodies, with broken springs and
gears spilling from crushed and severed heads.
Aava sighed, "It is hard, using androids. They are good servants, but
they lack one thing. They lack initiative. They can't think."
Thor brought the ruby down, grinning mirthlessly into its depths. "How
long have you lived, Aava?"
"I am immortal. I always was."
"You will die, some day. I will kill you, myself."
"Nothing can kill me, Thor."
"I will."
"Nothing can kill--"
Aava checked. Thor felt the cunning of the green fire, beating up
through the crystal layers of the jewel. He whispered, "Nothing can
kill--_what?_ What are you, Aava? What is your secret?"
"You will never learn."
Thor shrugged and knelt. With his fingers he pried up a rotting board.
There was a beam-joint beneath it. Thor placed the ruby in the crotch
of the joint and stared down at the jewel, knowing the wild rage of
Aava.
"I must leave you here--in darkness, Aava. I can't take you with me. If
I did, you would see all I am going to do to whip you. You understand
that?"
"Thor, be my friend!"