This Immortal by Roger Zelazny Page A

I thought. Swneday I'll stop believing that that's all they are.
    I had seen two colors in that flower, colors for which I have no words. . ..
    I walked back toward the camp. I passed through the camp and kept on going. I reached the other end of the warning perimeter, sat down on the ground, lit a cigarette. The night was cool, the night was dark.
    Two cigarettes later I heard a voice behind me, but I did not turn.
    " *In the Great House and in the House of Fire, on that Great Day when all the days and years are numbered, oh let my name be given back to me,'"
    it said.

96 ROGER ZELAZNY
    "Good for you," I said softly. "Appropriate quote. I recognize the Book of the Dead when I hear it taken in vain."
    "I wasn't taking it in vain, just-as you said-appropriately."
    "Good for you."
    "On that great day when all the days and years are numbered, if they do give you back your name, then what name will it be?"
    "They won't. I plan on being late. And what's in a name, anyhow?"
    "Depends on the name. So try 'Karaghiosis,'"
    "Try sitting down where I can see you. I don't like to have people standing behind me."
    "All right-there. So?"
    "So what?"
    "Sotry'Karaghiosis."*
    "Why should I?"
    "Because it means something. At least; it did once."
    "Karaghiosis was a figure in the old Greek shadow shows, son of like Punch in the European Punch and Judy plays. He was a slob and a buffoon."
    "He was Greek, and he was subtle."
    "Ha! He was half-coward, and he was greasy."
    "He was also half-hero. Cunning. Somewhat gross. Sense of humor. He'd tear down a pyramid.
    Also, he was strong, when he wanted to be."
    "Where is he now?"
    "I'd like to know."
    "Why ask me?"
    "Because that is the name Hasan called you on the night you fought the golem."
    "Oh ... I see. Well, it was just an expletive, a generic term, a synonym for fool, a nickname-like THIS IMMORTAL 97
    if I were to call you Red. -And now that I think of it, I wonder how you look to Myshtigo, anyhow?
    Vegans are blind to the color of your hair, you know?"
    "I don't really care how I look to Vegans. Wonder how you look, though. I understand that Myshtigo's file on you is quite thick. Says something about you being several centuries old."
    "Doubtless an exaggeration. But you seem to know a lot about it. How thick is your file on Myshtigo?"
    "Not very, not yet."
    "It seems that you hate him more than you hate everyone else. Is that true?"
    "Yes."
    "Why?"
    "He's a Vegan."
    "So?"
    "I hate Vegans, is all."
    "No, there's more."
    "True.-You're quite strong, you know?"
    "I know."
    "In fact, you*re the strongest human being I've ever seen. Strong enough to break the neck of a spiderbat, then fall into the bay at Piraeus and swim ashore and have breakfast."
    "Odd example you've chosen."
    "Not so, not really. Did you?"
    "Why?"
    "I want to know, need to know."
    "Sorry."
    "Sorry is not good enough. Talk more."
    "Said all."
    "No. We need Karaghiosis."
    "Who's'we?*"

98 ROGER ZELAZNY
    "The Radpol. Me."
    "Why, again?"
    "Hasan is half as old as Time. Karaghiosis is older. Hasan knew him, remembered, called you
    'Karaghiosis.' You are Karaghiosis, the killer, the s defender of Earth-and we need you now. Very ^
    badly. Armageddon has come-not with a bang, but a checkbook. The Vegan must die. There is no alternative. Help us stop him."
    "What do you want of me?" f
    "Let Hasan destroy him," f
    "No." I
    "Why not? What is he to you?" f
    "Nothing, really-In fact, I dislike him very much. j But what is he to you?" ir_
    "Our destroyer."
    "Then tell me why, and how, and perhaps 1*11
    give you a better answer."
    "I can't."
    "Why not?"
    "Because I don't know."
    "Then good night. That's all."
    "Wait! I really do not know-but the word has come down from Taler, from the Radpol liaison there: He must die. His book is not a book, his self is not a self, but many. I do not know what this means but our agents have never lied before. You've lived on Taler, you've lived on Bakab and a dozen other worlds. You are Karaghiosis. You know