Stalking the Unicorn: A Fable of Tonight by Mike Resnick Read Free Book Online Page A

be worse. At least we know who we're looking for now—and we've still got most of the night ahead of us."
    "True,” said the elf. “But as you actively seek the Grundy, so he will actively defend himself.” He paused. “Still, you're risking your life for me, and I'm grateful."
    "You're overreacting,” said Mallory. “The Grundy doesn't even know I'm here."
    Suddenly there was a clap of thunder, and a flash of lightning momentarily illuminated the night sky.
    "Don't bet on it, John Justin Mallory!" said a hollow voice from a nearby courtyard.
    Mallory raced off in the direction of the voice, but found nothing except eerie shadows flickering on the stone gargoyles that stared down at him from a balcony overlooking the empty street.
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Chapter 3
    9:58 PM-10:22 PM
    They had proceeded for another block when Mallory noticed that his surroundings were getting brighter.
    "I must have gotten turned around,” he remarked to Mürgenstürm. “I could have sworn we were going back the way we had come."
    "We are, John Justin,” said the elf.
    Mallory shook his head. “The street was dark before. Now look at it. The streetlamps are starting to glow, and a number of the apartments are lit up."
    "They always were,” Mürgenstürm assured him.
    "Bullshit."
    "They were,” repeated the elf. “You simply couldn't see it before."
    "Why not?"
    Mürgenstürm scratched his head. “I suppose it's because you were an intruder who had wandered over from your Manhattan. Now, for better or worse, you're a participant."
    "That makes a difference?"
    "All the difference in the world."
    "Why?"
    "Excellent question."
    "You don't know,” said Mallory.
    "I have never pretended to be anything other than what I am: a devilishly handsome elf of normal intelligence and sexual needs—"
    "And severely diminished expectations of longevity,” interjected Mallory.
    "True,” agreed Mürgenstürm unhappily. “At any rate, I have never claimed to be a scholar or a clairvoyant, and I find it thoroughly ungracious of you to constantly belittle me for these shortcomings."
    Mallory was about to answer him, but at that moment they followed Felina around a corner and he realized that Mürgenstürm's Manhattan had come fully to life. It was still cold and raining, but the street was bustling with elves, gnomes, goblins, trolls, and even less human passersby, as well as an assortment of men and women. Sturdy multihued elephants and draft horses pulled an endless stream of carts and carriages, while odd little street vendors who were neither men nor elves were hawking everything from toys to mystical gemstones.
    A large man with scaly skin and strange, staring eyes stood in front of a clothing store, slowly turning the crank on a music box with long, webbed fingers, while a little blond boy on a leash walked up to Mallory with a cup in his hand and a hopeful smile on his face. Mallory tossed him a coin, which he caught in the cup, and, after bowing deeply, he cartwheeled up to a passing woman and did a little jig until she, too, had made a contribution.
    "I'm on retainer plus expenses, right?” said Mallory suddenly.
    "That's right, John Justin,” replied Mürgenstürm.
    "I just wanted to make sure you remembered."
    "Why?” asked the elf.
    "Because I'm soaked to the skin and freezing my ass off,” said Mallory, striding toward the front door of the clothing store. The organ grinder stepped out of his way, and Mallory noticed that he had a row of gills running up each side of his thick neck.
    "Don't overdo it, John Justin,” Mürgenstürm cautioned him. “My funds are quite limited."
    "Then pull some more out of the air."
    "That money's no good."
    "What?" said Mallory ominously.
    "Oh, it's perfectly good in your Manhattan,” the elf assured him. “But where would we be if anyone in my world who needed money could simply produce it out of empty air?"
    "Then give me some money that works here."
    Mürgenstürm begrudgingly counted