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And a poet is something I'll never be."
"You're the Oracle?" Tiana said disbelievingly. "Uh
sorry. You're just not what I expected, that's all."
"You are not what I expected either.
Fahadur, nymph, mermaid, and thief are neither
A big barbarian strong and manly
Unless a reasonable facsimile thereof is handy?"
Joe seemed ready to burst into tears at that; while Tiana calmed him. Marge
and Biy explained to the Oracle what had happened. He nodded with kind
understanding, although Macore muttered, "If he's so omniscient, why do we
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have to tell him this?"
The Oracle heard him, and tried to explain.
"The future is closed to an oracle, too.
I can no more see next year than you.
But when questions I'm asked by those who come, I have the power to answer
some.
This power's much higher than me, you see, I'm only the medium through which
you'll be
Hearing from a power even wizards can't know
A power, I'm sure, which comes not from below."
Macore considered it. "In other words, if someone asks you a question, he gets
an answer from Heaven itself?"
"Not an answer, no, I'm sorry.
Heaven talks not to me, don't worry.
I have a gift with which I'm able
To tap into the great cosmic babble
Where past and future all are one
And find the clues before I'm done.
148 VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS
Alas, such heavenly cosmic tines
Are far too great for human minds.
You'll get the truth now, don't fret!
Making sense of it you do not get."
"Hmmm... that explains a lot," Macore said aloud, although he added of nothing
to himself. "Well, okay, so through you we can tap the cosmic mind and get
rela-
tionships that apply to us. What about direct questions, though? Any ideas on
how we start with this? Do you need a trance or something?"
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"/ can give you no suggestions, But some have gotten answers to questions.
The power's an automatic thing with me.
We can start right now if the rest agree."
Marge stepped forward. "I think we ought to, and just get it over with. I know
the questions Ruddygore wanted posed, and I'm sure we'll add some. I guess,
for safety's sake, we'll have to get Captain Biy to pose them, though.
By a crazy twist of fate he's the only human being among us."
"Fairies get no good answers, it's true, But any mortal among you will do.
Fahadur, mermaid, human all three
Can get some decent results from me.
Please step outside before we begin.
It's something I need to start my discipline."
They went out onto the porch and saw that the tre-
mendous number of nymphs who'd greeted them at the dock, joined by countless
others, were all gathered there at the bottom of the great stair. The Oracle
smiled and then gestured, and the nymphs began to chant.
"Oracle! Oracle! You're the greatest!
With your verse you satiate us!
You're so wonderful, just divine.
Your wondrous talents always shine!
JACK L. CHALKER 149
Go, Oracle! Go, Oracle, Rah! Rah! Rah!
Go, baby! Go, baby! Cha! Cha! Cha!"
He turned sheepishly to his visitors.
"/ know it's false, not worth a cent, But all great artists need
encouragement."
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With that, they went back inside and the oracle took the usual lotus position
on the floor in front of the big fountain.
"All right, then," Macore said, feeling even more skep-
tical, "let's get this over and done with. I want to know if there is in fact
a dangerous evil now facing Earth from
Boquillas and Dacaro."
The Oracle closed his eyes, seemed to concentrate for a moment, then said,
"The Armageddon bell rings clear
Should the evil ones appear
To the millions and with one breath
Give to the west the kiss of death."
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