"At the moment my thoughts run shallow," said Sarsem. "However, this much is clear: whoever most anxiously wants to restore the old Perciplex to its place will be he who retrieves it from the past."

Rhialto sighed. "Poor Sarsem is by almost any standard feebleminded; still in this case he has deftly stripped the issue to its naked essentials. If I must go, I must."

The three returned to Boumergarth. Rhialto made careful preparations, packing in his wallet the glossolary, proliferant coins, a catalogue of simple spells, and Osherl enclosed in a walnut shell.

Ildefonse extended his unqualified assurances. "It is, after all, a simple and pleasant adventure," he told Rhialto. "You will find yourself in the Land of Shir-Shan, which at this time is considered the center of the universe. The Grand Gazetteer lists only six magicians currently active, the nearest far to the north, in the present Land of Cutz. A flying creature known as the 'dyvolt' rules the skies; it resembles a pelgrane with a long nasal horn and uses the common language. You should recognize three rules of genteel conduct: the sash is tied to the left; only acrobats, actors and sausage-makers wear yellow; grapes are eaten with a knife and fork."

Rhialto drew back in annoyance. "I do not plan so much as a single meal in Shir-Shan. Perhaps, after all, it would be better if you went."

"Impossible! You are the man for the job! You need only step back, secure the Perciplex, then return to the present. So then, Rhialto! Are you ready?"

"Not quite! How, in fact, do I return to the present?"

"A good question!" Ildefonse turned to Sarsem. "What, exactly, is the procedure?"

"That is out of my province," said Sarsem. "I can project Rhialto any number of aeons into the past, but thereafter he must make his own arrangements."

"Rhialto, do not be impatient!" said Ildefonse. "Sarsem, answer! How then does Rhialto make his return?"

"I suppose that he must rely upon Osherl."

"Good enough!" said Ildefonse. "Osherl can be trusted in this regard, or I am much mistaken."

So went the preparations. Rhialto made himself ready, not neglecting to change his yellow sash tied on the right for a black sash of good quality tied on the left. Osherl disposed himself within the walnut shell, and the two were reverted into the past.

10

Rhialto stood in warm sunlight of a complicated colour: a peach-pink orange suffused with rose and white-rose. He found himself in a valley surrounded by sharp peaks rising a mile into the air. That peak which he would later know as Fader's Waft stood highest of all, with the summit hidden in a tuft of white cloud.

The prospect was at once grand and serene. The valley seemed empty of habitation, although Rhialto noted plantations of melon and blue vines heavy with purple grapes along the valley and up the mountain-side.

To Rhialto's satisfaction, the landmarks cited by Sarsem, an outcrop of glistening black stone flanked by three cypress saplings, were plainly visible, although 'sapling' seemed an inexact description of the gnarled and massive trees in question. Still, Rhialto confidently set off toward the site of the cave.