Zombie Mage (13 page)

'I've learnt all I can from the rats. Although ready
to advance my work to that of a human corpse, I feel it prudent to disregard
further study in this area.  The dangers most surely outweigh the benefits. The
return rate of the faders is significantly lower than expected and therefore I
feel it a requirement to resume my studies into the cosmos itself before
advancing to the next stage.

The cosmos appears capricious in its nature yet it
follows a strict regime when dealing with the dead.  One cannot escape its
eye.  We're all a vital part of its greater plan and often I feel that we're
the ones being studied. If so, this is a magnificent discovery beyond any
mortal's comprehension.'

Olligh stroked his chin thoughtfully. So many memories
of his past research had returned during his time reading but the haze still
remained in his mind, clouding the bits he so desperately needed to discover. 
His memory loss continued to prevent him from remembering and understanding
what had gone wrong.  He slammed his hand onto the table, frustrated by his
weak mind.  Just as he was about to stand, he noticed a green leather tome on
the floor poking out from under a book shelf.  Intrigued, he stood to
investigate and slid it out from its hiding place.  Olligh smiled and blew the
dust and cobwebs from the cover; it was the first of his tomes of knowledge
which contained advanced incantations and studies into the cosmos.  He clutched
it to his chest and returned to the table to read it, his fingers almost
trembling with anticipation. 

For a while, he flicked through the pages becoming
familiar with the words of power that could be used to manipulate the cosmos. 
He shook his head, hardly believing that he'd forgotten some of the more basic
techniques.  As he read, he heard some movement from above and a bright light
shone in through the trapdoor.

"I know you're down there!" Bakkus yelled. 
"I'm not going to harm you... Come out, I've got some visitors to see
you."

Olligh shivered.  He wondered if Bakkus was trying to
coax him out under false pretences. “Visitors?"

"Aye. They're waiting downstairs by the
entrance."

"Hmm.  Wait a moment.  How'd you know they want
me?"

Bakkus paused.  "Well, you're Olligh Selthnik,
aren't you?"

"Yes, but how-"

"Look," Bakkus interrupted. "I haven't
got time to explain.  I'm going downstairs now but I'd advise you to hurry. 
It's not wise to keep these visitors waiting for too long."

Olligh waited until he could hear Bakkus' footsteps on
the stairs before tucking his tome of knowledge under his arm and returning up
the ladder.  Thankfully there was nobody waiting for him at the top so he
walked cautiously to the landing and peered downstairs.  Near the entrance
stood Bakkus and three figures cloaked in hooded robes.  One of them boasted a
long black beard and Olligh found his face strangely familiar.

"Mage Selthnik!" the bearded man yelled.
"We mean you no harm.  Please come down. We need to talk to you -
urgently."

"Who are you?  What do you want with me?"

"We're Dark Cloaks.  Please come back with us to
the graveyard and I'll explain everything to you."

Olligh shook his head. "I don't think so.  You'll
stick me in your cells with those brain-dead corpses."

The man turned to speak with his colleagues but Olligh
couldn't hear what they were saying.  Eventually he shrugged and returned his
gaze to Olligh.

"You shouldn't have seen those cells and I
apologise profusely for not protecting you better."

"Protecting me?  I need protecting from you, not
the other way round."

"Those cells are for Walkers that have lost control
of their minds.  It happens more regularly than you may realise.  Please, at
least come with us and listen to what we've got to say."

Olligh gripped the banister tightly.  He was in two
minds as to what to do but, having experienced only a slight improvement to his
memory, he was anxious to learn more - no matter who the source may be.

"Very well.  I'll meet you outside but, first, I
have a few things remaining to do here.  Would you give me a moment to
myself?"

The bearded man nodded and the Dark Cloaks left the
building.  Bakkus shut the door behind them and gazed up the stairs, a sombre
expression on his face.  Olligh smiled wryly.

* * * *

After a short while in the house, Olligh joined the Dark Cloaks
outside. Although he'd prepared for the worst, he was surprised to find they
kept their word and stood by his side without incident. A drop of rain touched
his cheek.  Looking up, the sky was grey and overcast but he didn't really care. 
Finally, it seemed as though he was going to get some overdue answers.  

 "We need to walk quickly," explained the
bearded man. "There's a chance that the cosmos will whisk you away before
we reach the church and we don't want to lose you again."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Olligh replied.

 "I know you've got many questions, but please
wait until we reach the church.  We've little time for delays."

"Very well."

"Have you got everything you need and finished
inside the house?"

"Oh, yes." Olligh smiled. "I'm finished
with the house and eager to go."

* * * *

Inside the house, Bakkus was sitting against the padded wall in the
cell.  He tried to move his arms and legs but they were tied too tightly
together with rope.  Cuddled up next to him was the gaunt looking woman.   
Bakkus tried to shrug her off from his shoulder but his attempts were futile. 
"Get away from me, you disgusting creature!"

"Y-you n-not nice!"

"No, I'm not nice!  I'm nasty and I'm going to
throttle you all when I get these ropes off me."

"Y-you n-need some food.  That'll h-help."

The woman motioned to someone outside the cell and
Bakkus gaped in horror as one of the residents approached the cell door; he
held a spoonful of small tablets.  The woman smiled and snuggled up next to his
shoulder again.

"Open wide, S-s-stinky face!"

Back at the
graveyard church, Olligh was escorted into a small room. The door was slammed
shut and the bearded man stood before him, slowly shaking his head from left to
right.

“You look pathetic and worn, Mage Selthnik.  There was
once a time when people would gaze at you in awe, fascinated by your knowledge
of manipulating the energies of the cosmos.”

Olligh frowned.  “Well, times change, don’t they?  As
for not looking my best, if you were flung into the body of a festering corpse
I’m sure you wouldn’t look too ravishing either.”

“You haven’t exactly been flung anywhere. You’re the
same person you’ve always been, although obviously suffering from a slight
period of decay.”

“Dare I ask who you are and why you've brought me
here?”

The man tugged at his beard.  His eyes flickered with
amusement. “Although you won’t remember me, we’ve certainly met before.  You
can blame your lack of memory on the potion we've devised."

"Ah, so you're the creator of that vile
potion?"

 "Yes, although it wasn’t actually intended for you
so we’re thankful you didn’t finish it.   I’m High Warden Denlik, founder of
the Dark Cloaks.”

“Dark Cloaks? What's all this talk about Dark Cloaks? 
Isn't there supposed to be a priest on duty at this church?"

“Sister Warren, a priestess of Lynact the moon god, no
longer watches over the cemetery.  Over recent years there’s been a lot of
change and, in particular, over the maintenance of these church grounds.  As
for the Dark Cloaks, we're merely followers of Chektri, the god of death."

Olligh wasn't sure what to believe any more.  He
vaguely recalled Sister Warren's name but he couldn't picture her face.

"So, you’ve now muscled in here?"

Denlik nodded. "Yes, we watch over the dead and
maintain the graveyard. We also strive to educate others to accept and
understand that death is a wonderful part of life which should be cherished
rather than feared or ignored.”

Olligh glanced down at his rotten body.  “Oh, yes. 
It’s absolutely wonderful.  Everyone should try it and I’ll certainly join your
order and help spread the word.  Do you think I’ll convince people?”

 Denlik ignored his sarcasm. “Well, you aren’t
completely dead so it’s doubtful people would listen to you.  You’re a Walker
stuck in the middle. You’re basically an anomaly.”

“What do you mean an anomaly? Am I dead or alive?  I
can’t be stuck in the middle. There is no middle.”

“Well, the way I see it is that the cosmos is keeping
you in this animated state, allowing you to live amongst us.  I use the word
live in a most uncertain way.  It’s more of an undeath, if such a word exists.”

“Indeed, I know this, but I’m not just living here. 
I’ve been to other worlds, much different to this.  At first I thought I was
going insane but I now realise it happens to everyone afflicted with this
curse.”

“Death is not a curse, Mage Selthnik. Walkers have all
experienced death at some point which makes them special in their own unique way. 
Of all things in life, death is the most sacred and it must not be tampered
with.  Your tampering has caused much chaos.”

“Bah!  I merely revived dead rats.  I haven’t caused
any chaos.”

“I disagree. You’ve manipulated the energy of the
cosmos and intensified it to such a degree that this power has now been
corrupted and abused beyond our comprehension.”

Olligh shook his head. “This is nonsense.  My studies
into death were part of a greater project.  If you don’t study the consequences
of death then you can’t effectively fight disease and help prolong life. I
haven’t abused this power at all.”

“In which case, would you care to explain why your
wife now lives when she once died?”

Olligh lowered his head. “I… I don’t really know.  I
can’t recall.  Since drinking that potion my memory is a bit scattered to say
the least.”

“Then let me refresh your memory.  Because of you and
the tampering, the dead are now walking again and we know you’ve been digging
up people's corpses. Hardly rats, are they?”

“How dare you!” Olligh stood and folded his arms. “I
would never get involved in such loathsome acts.”

“Regardless, the past cannot be changed.  The dead are
suffering, just as you are and it impacts on others that they meet in this
world.  They need to be protected and allowed to continue their journey to the
afterlife.”

“If they’re anything like me then you’re going to find
it difficult protecting them.  I seem to spend a great deal of time in other
worlds avoiding the local hostilities.”

 “We’re trying our best. We’ve attuned a special
chamber here for those unfortunate souls trapped between worlds. They now
return to us safely without troubling the villagers outside the graveyard.”

Olligh picked at an itchy scab on his head. “What do
you mean trapped between worlds?”

“That’s where our studies have helped. You see, death
is merely a doorway to another life or another experience as we like to call
it.  But, this new experience may not necessarily be here and now.”

“I see.”

“The reason why you're drifting between worlds is
because the cosmos is confused.  It doesn’t know whether you’re living or dead
– it has difficulty focusing on you.”

Olligh gazed thoughtfully at Denlik. “So, this
explains why I’ve been moving between worlds.  These are doorways to another
life.”

“Yes, doorways which cannot be completely open or
closed.  You don’t belong to either.  Once the cosmos realises this, it sends
you back here where your trail began.  These are known as world triggers and
their frequency is rather erratic.  It's something I'm currently studying in
great detail."

Olligh nodded. "I see... Your explanation
reinforces a lot of my research.  Thankfully, at the moment I'm experiencing a
lot less of these world triggers. To begin with they were fairly rampant."

"Like the cosmos, the triggers are fairly chaotic
in nature although it's apparent that undue suffering or turmoil can initiate a
pull. The survival instinct is as much a part of us as it is the cosmos."

“I can certainly vouch for that.  There is another
thing I’m uncertain about. Why do I always travel to different worlds?
Shouldn’t I be whisked to the same place each time?"

“This we’re unsure about.  Upon death the cosmic link
should be between one world and another.  Why you’re able to visit different
worlds is beyond our knowledge."

"That’s most interesting."

 "It’s an anomaly, Mage Selthnik, and probably
something to do with the intensity of the cosmic power which resides deep
inside you.”