Merlin turned away, took another drink. He seemedto radiate a fierce energy when he turned again.

"And your oath? To right wrongs, to punish thewicked ..,?*'

"The longer I lived the more'difficult it became to determine what was a wrong and who was wicked. Makeit clear to me again and I may go back into business.""Galahad would never have addressed me so.""Galahad was young, naive, trusting. Speak not tome of my son."

"LauncelotI Launcelott" He placed a hand on hisarm. "Why all this bitterness for an old friend who hasdone nothing for a thousand years?"

"I wished to make my position clear immediately. Ifeared you might contemplate some irreversible actionwhich could alter the world balance of power fatally. Iwant you to know that I will not be party to it."

"Admit that you do not know what I might do, what Ican do."

"Freely. That is why I fear you. What do you intend todo?"

"Nothing, at first I wish merely to look about me, tosee for myself some of these changes of which you havespoken. Then I will consider which wrongs need righting,who needs punishment, and who to choose as my champions. I will show you these things, and then you can go backinto business, as you say."

Launcelot sighed.

"The burden of proof is on the moralist. Your judgment is no longer sufficient for me."

"Dear me," the other replied, "it is sad to have waitedthis long for an encounter of this sort, to find you havelost your faith in me. My powers are beginning to returnalready, Lance. Do you not feel magic in the air?"

"I feel something I have not felt in a long while."

"The sleep of ages was a restorative—an aid, actually.In a while. Lance, I am going to be stronger than I everwas before. And you doubt that I will be able to turnback the clock?"

"I doubt you can do it in a fashion to benefit anybody.Look, Merlin. I'm sorry. I do not like it that things havecome to this either. But I have lived too long, seen toomuch, know too much of how the world works now totrust any one man's opinion concerning its salvation. Let itgo. You are a mysterious, revered legend. I do not knowwhat you really are. But forgo exercising your powers inany sort of crusade. Do something else this time around.Become a physician and fight pain. Take up painting. Be aprofessor of history, an antiquarian. Hell, be a social criticand point out what evils you see for people to correctthemselves."

"Do you really believe I could be satisfied with any ofthose things?"

"Men find satisfaction in many things. It depends onthe man, not on the things. I'm just saying that youshould avoid using your powers in any attempt to effectsocial changes as we once did, by violence."

"Whatever changes have been wrought, time's greatestirony lies in its having transformed you into a pacifist."

"You are wrong."

"Admit it! You have finally come to fear the clashof arms! An appraiser! What kind of knight are you?"

"One who finds himself in the wrong time and thewrong place. Merlin."

The sorcerer shrugged and turned away.

"Let it be, then. It is good that you have chosen totell me all these things immediately. Thank you tor that,anyway. A moment"Merlin walked to the rear of the cave, returned inmoments attired in fresh garments. The effect was startling. His entire appearance was more kempt and cleanly.His hair and beard now appeared gray rather thanwhite. His step was sure and steady. He held a staff inhis right hand but did not lean upon it.

"Come walk with me," he said.

"It is a bad night."

"It is not the same night you left without. It is noteven the same place."

As he passed the suit of yellow armor, he snappedhis fingers near its visor. With a single creak, the figuremoved and turned to follow him.

"Who is that?"- Merlin smiled.

"No one," he replied, and he reached back and raisedthe visor. The helmet was empty. "It is enchanted, animated by a spirit," he said. "A trifle clumsy, though,which is why I did not trust it to administer my draughtA perfect servant, however, unlike some. Incrediblystrong and swift. Even in your prime you could not havebeaten it. I fear nothing when it walks with me. Come,there is something I would have you see."

"Very well."

Launcelot followed Merlin and the hollow knightfrom the cave. The rain had stopped, and it was verystill. They stood on an incredibly moonlit plain wheremists drifted and grasses sparkled. Shadowy shapes stoodin the distance.

"Excuse me," Launcelot said. "I left my walking stickinside."

He turned and re-entered the cave.

"Yes, fetch it, old man," Merlin replied. "Your strengthis already on the wane."

When Launceiot returned, he leaned upon the stickand squinted across the plain.

"This way," Merlin said, "to where your questions willbe answered. I will try not to move too quickly and tire you.

"Tire me?"

The sorcerer chuckled and began walking across theplain. Launcelot followed.

"Do you not feel a trifle weary?" he asked."Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Do you know what isthe matter with me?"

"Of course. I have withdrawn the enchantment whichhas protected you all these years. What you feel noware the first tentative touches of your true age. It willtake some time to catch up with you, against your body'snatural resistance, but it is beginning its advance."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because I believed you when you said you were nota pacifist. And you spoke with sufficient vehemence forme to realize that you might even oppose me. I couldnot permit that, for I knew that your old strength wasstill there for you to call upon. Even a sorcerer mightfear that, so I did what had to be done. By my power wasit maintained; without it, it now drains away. It wouldhave been good for us to work together once again,but I saw that that could not be."

Launcelot stumbled, caught himself, limped on. Thehollow knight walked at Merlin's right hand.

"You say that your ends are noble," Launcelot said,"but I do not believe you. Perhaps in the old days theywere. But more than the times have changed. You aredifferent. Do you not feel it yourself?"

Merlin drew a deep breath and exhaled vapor.

"Perhaps it is my heritage," he said. Then, "I jest.Of course, I have changed. Everyone does. You yourselfare a perfect example. What you consider a turn forthe worse in me is but the tip of an irreducible conflictwhich has grown up between us in the course of ourchanges. I still hold with the true ideals of Camelot."

Launcelot's shoulders were bent forward now and hisbreathing had deepened. The shapes loomed larger beforethem.

"Why, I know this place," he gasped. "Yet, I do notknow it. Stonehenge does not stand so today. Even in Arthur's time it lacked this perfection. How did we get here?What has happened?"

He paused to rest, and Merlin halted to accommodatehim.

"This night we have walked between the worlds," thesorcerer said. "This is a piece of the land of Faerie andthat is the true Stonehenge, a holy place. I have stretchedthe bounds of the worlds to bring it here. Were I unkindI could send you back with it and strand you there for-ever. But it is better that you know a sort of peace. Come!"

Launcelot staggered along behind him, heading for thegreat circle of stones. The faintest of breezes came out ofthe west, stirring the mists.

"What do you mean—know a sort of peace?""The complete restoration of my powers and their increase will require a sacrifice in this place.""Then you planned this for me all along!""No. It was not to have been you. Lance. Anyonewould have served, though you will serve superbly well.It need not have been so, had you elected to assist me.You could still change your mind."

"Would you want someone who did that at your side?""You have a point there.""Then why ask—save as a petty cruelty?""It is just that, for you have annoyed me."Launcelot halted again when they came to the circle'speriphery. He regarded the massive stands of stone.