The Chronicles of Corum by Michael Moorcock Read Free Book Online Page A

to pulse with pain as he tugged.
    Pholhinra had disappeared, but Corum was now absorbed in trying to free his hand. For some reason, he could not turn to see what it was that held him. Some kind of beast, perhaps, holding on to his hand with its jaws.
    Corum gave one last, huge tug and his wrist came free.
    He put up the hand to touch the blind eye, but still felt nothing.
    He looked at the hand.
    There was no hand. Just a wrist. Just a stump.
    Then he screamed again ...
    . . . and he opened his eyes and saw the Mabden holding the arm and bringing down white-hot swords on the stump to seal it.
    They had cut off his hand.
    And Glandyth was still laughing, holding Corum's severed hand up to show his men, with Corum's blood still dripping from the knife he had used.
    Now Corum saw the other plane distinctly, superimposed, as it were, over the scene before him. Summoning all the energy born of his fear and agony, he shifted himself into that plane.
    He saw the Mabden clearly, but their voices had become faint. He heard them cry out in astonishment and point at him. He saw Glandyth wheel, his eyes widening. He heard the Earl of Krae call out to his men to search the woods for Corum.
    The board was abandoned as Glandyth and his men lumbered off into the darkness seeking their Vadhagh captive.
    But their captive was still chained to the board, for it, like him, existed on several planes. And he still felt the pain they had caused him and he was still without his right eye and his left hand.
    He could stay away from further mutilation for a little while, but eventually his energy would give out completely and he would return to their plane and they would continue their work.
    He struggled in the chains, waving the stump of his left wrist in a futile attempt to free himself of those manacles still holding his other limbs.
    But he knew it was hopeless. He had only averted his doom for a short while. He would never be free—never be able to exercise his vengeance on the murderer of his kin.

The Seventh Chapter
 The Brown Man
    Corum sweated as he forced himself to remain in the other plane, and he watched nervously for the return of Glandyth and his men,
    It was then that he saw a shape move cautiously out of the forest and approach the board.
    At first Corum thought it was a Mabden warrior, without a helmet and dressed in a huge fur jerkin. Then he realized that this was some other creature.
    The creature moved cautiously toward the board, looked about the Mabden camp, and then crept closer. It lifted its head and stared directly at Corum.
    Corum was astonished. The beast could see him! Unlike the Mabden, unlike the other creatures of the plane, this one had second sight.
    Corum's agony was so intense that he was forced to screw up his eye at the pain. When he opened it again, the creature bad come right up to the board.
    It was a beast not unlike the Mabden in general shape, but it was wholly covered in its own fur. Its face was brown and seamed and apparently very ancient. Its features were flat. It had large eyes, round like a cat's, and gaping nostrils and a huge mouth filled with old, yellowed fangs.
    Yet there was a look of great sorrow on its face as it observed Corum. It gestured at him and grunted, pointing into the forest as if it wanted Corum to accompany it. Corum shook his head, indicating the manacles with a nod.
    The creature stroked the curly brown fur of its own neck thoughtfully, then it shuffled away again, back into the darkness of the forest.
    Corum watched it go, almost forgetful of his pain in his astonishment.
    Had the creature witnessed his torture? Was it trying to save him?
    Or perhaps this was an illusion, like the illusion of the city and his sister, induced by his agonies.
    He felt his energy weakening. A few more moments and he would be returning to the plane where the Mabden would be able to see him. And he knew that he would not find the strength again to leave the plane.
    Then the brown creature