The Stranger's Magic: The Labyrinths of Echo: Book Three by Max Frei Read Free Book Online

peculiar notions about magic,” said Shurf. “What rituals? Either a man has the power to hold liquids in a bottomless vessel or he does not. Rituals are for
scaring novices with—well, to instill a certain mood in them, rather.”
    “But I am a novice. No need to scare me, but a ‘certain mood’ is just the thing for me.”
    “No,” said Shurf. “You can already do away with rituals.” He produced his famous bottomless cup from somewhere in the folds of his snow-white looxi and handed it over to
me. “What are you going to drink from it?”
    “Well, how about this kamra?” I said. Then I poured the contents of my cup into Lonli-Lokli’s holey cup and drained the now almost cold beverage in one gulp.
    “Are you feeling anything?” my friend said, surprised. “You see, kamra is not exactly the drink that helps achieve the best effect.”
    “Really? I think that I’m about to lift off. Seriously! Like any second now.”
    “It does not in truth matter what you think. The power assists one to fly in actuality, not simply to enjoy the illusion of flying. I hope I will have an opportunity to explain certain
aspects of the ways of the Order of the Holey Cup to you, if you wish. But I already know that you will: curiosity has always been one of your strengths. We should go now. It is getting late, and
as you know, I live in the New City. I even intend to ask you to give me a ride: unlike the drivers of the Ministry of Perfect Public Order, you drive very fast. It would take me at least an hour
if I chose to use one of the official amobilers.”
    “Jeepers! Of course I’ll give you a lift. I’ll get you home in less than a dozen minutes.”
    “I should be very grateful to you for this. My wife prefers to spend evenings in my company whenever possible. Frankly, I am quite surprised: I am not sure I am a very good
interlocutor.”
    “Well, I’m not surprised at all. It’s safe around you, Shurf. While you’re around, one doesn’t have to worry that this wonderful World might come to an
end.”
    “A most peculiar thought,” said Lonli-Lokli, frowning. “Well, in any case, it is time to go.”

    We paid our bill to the cute “monster” in makeup still dozing off at the bar and went outside. The dim orange light from the streetlights was doing a poor job of dispersing the
darkness. The moon that night refused to take part in illuminating the streets: the sky was covered in clouds so thick they seemed to have been made by some pedant like Sir Shurf Lonli-Lokli. I
could easily imagine Shurf, in all seriousness, distributing thick, dense patches of autumnal clouds across the sky. Just the job for him.
    I sat behind the lever of the amobiler. Shurf sat next to me, and I took off as fast as I could. Kamra may not be the right beverage for drinking out of a holey cup, but I enjoyed the strange
lightness that was pouring into me like champagne pouring into a glass: it might start overflowing any moment.
    “Look, Shurf, I have another question for you,” I said. Frankly, I didn’t think the question I had in mind was that important. I just wanted to chat a little more. “About
our mutual dreams . . . I don’t quite follow how you manage to sense the presence of that hypothetical stranger. You told me yourself that you never got to see him. Then, at the same time,
you’re sure he’s there, and you’re almost sure you don’t know him. So it appears that something’s going on between you two. Does he talk to you, or what?”
    “I am not sure that he talks to me,” said Lonli-Lokli. His voice lacked the usual confidence. “But anything is possible. You know, Max, for some reason it is hard for me to
focus when I try to remember what happens in these dreams. I remember the barren beaches, I remember my conviction that someone else is there, and I remember the threat emanating from that someone.
When it comes to remembering what happens between him and me, I draw a complete blank. I am truly