The Murder Mystery

Adventures in the Metaverse 6

Preface

These are the tales of Eternal Voyager. They come to me from EV himself and I like to think these stories are largely true, but I have taken the liberty of amending them to adjust a certain self-congratulatory bias in the original versions.

There is little call for murder in the Metaverse, outside of war games. Yet occasionally it did arise. In the year 396 AR Eternal Voyager found himself investigating a murder: that of his own death.

1. Death

Dead again. EV sighed.

One of the most boring activities in the Metaverse was that of backing up. You had to spend nearly a day doing absolutely nothing other than stand in a tube. You couldn’t even receive or send messages. It was so boring and so much was happening out in the Metaverse that EV rarely bothered to back up. And when he did start the process, it quite often happened that after an hour or so he’d abandon the chamber in favour of play.

As a result of his slacking on the backup front, dying was a major source of irritation for Eternal. It could mean the loss of several months of experiences. Still, he was dead again and there was no point getting maudlin about it. Nor in berating himself for not backing up more often. Not unless he was prepared to undergo a significant change in character.

At least this time he was coming back to consciousness at a point just before he set out to go star surfing with Sol. If there was one situation that warranted taking the time to backup, it was the prospect of EV hurtling through lethal waves of plasma, with only the protection afforded by Sol's slipstream to keep him alive. With any luck, so to speak, he'd crashed and burned in the outer layers of a star and only lost the experiences of a day or to.

In a moment, he would check in with Sol, but first things first. Nothing was more gauche than appearing in the Metaverse without sophisticated personalised avatars. On leaving his sterile backup point in the body of a noob male avatar and after scrambling a few times - just in case - EV teleported to a random location chosen from a list of sims that had seen no traffic in over a year. It was a skateboard park.

There had been a craze for rollerblading and skateboarding back in the eighth century BV and sim designers had expended a great deal of energy building three-dimensional courses with all sorts of ingenious curves to test even the most proficient of boarders. Now, though, all that creativity was dead labour embodied in miles of abandoned concrete. A ghost town of half-pipes and rails: perfect for the avatar who needed a quiet moment to restore all his favourite bodies, clothing, and scripts.

It would be tempting fate to adopt his star surfing avatar, so, partly influenced by his environment, EV decided upon a tough human male with hand painted skin tones that Ricochet Sunlight had made for him personally, back before Ricochet's designs had become famous and much sought after.

Gone was the generic noobie and in its place was an athletic, shaven-headed punk. Whether partying or fighting, the high dexterity of the avatar made it very versatile. It was the avatar of someone who worked out and on his sinewy arms he had two tattoos, which showed his allegiance to the punk band No Phuture and the morally dubious gang, Bandersnatch.

Having chosen his avatar with such care, picking out items of clothing was easy: sneakers, socks, shorts, torn jeans, No Phuture t-shirt (tight enough fit to show off his muscles), and hoody. His colour scheme was essentially based around dark shades of grey, except the navy blue badge on the ankle of his sneakers and a matching trim on his hoody. Excellent.

Confidence and enthusiasm bubbled up inside his chest. He was ready once more to rejoin the fast-flowing cultural river that was the Metaverse and already anticipating the approving comments of his friends for his new look. Digging out an old skateboard from his inventory, Eternal pushed himself along a funnel and began to pick up speed as he sent out his first post-mortem message.

Eternal: Hey Sol, mate. I'm recently dead. Last thing I knew is I was going star surfing with you. I don't suppose that's what killed me?

Sol: Hi EV,  I don't think so. It's been a long time since you wiped. You're a pretty good surfer these days. Here, come over.

A tag appeared and EV took it.

‘Dude, a skateboard. How long is it since you last backed up?’

‘Hah, not that long.’

Accompanied by a fast rattle as his wheels ran over Sol's decking, EV skated to a halt by the outdoor bar of Sol's pad, kicked up the board and tossed it in the large miscellaneous folder of his inventory. As was generally the case, the weather in Sol's sim was set to hot and sunny. Wearing baggy shorts and a shirt with a pattern of palm leaves on it, Sol passed EV a large fruity cocktail.

‘A stiff one, mate. The first of your new life. Cheers.’

The chime of their glasses clinking together rang out, and EV felt a great swell of affection for his friend. It was good to be alive. And having recently died, he felt a liberating detachment from the various projects and plans that he was working on. Everything he was involved in would, in fact, be weeks out of date now. Best to start from scratch. None of the activities he was planning to join were particularly inspiring and it was a pleasure to experience the creative freedom of a new beginning.

‘Mind if we sit over here?’ EV gestured to a table and two wooden chairs located in the shade. His punk avatar wasn't comfortable in such a strong sun: he was sweating and the world was bleached white by the bright light.

‘Sure,’ picking up his drink in one hand, Sol pointed to an old jukebox with the other. ‘What music would you like?’

‘Oh anything. Well, nothing too demanding.’

With a steady rock beat in the background, a pleasant breeze coming in from the sea, and a mule of a drink in his hand, EV felt utterly content. There was just one tiny little piece of grit in the oyster shell of his existence.

‘I wonder how I died?’

‘Yeah. Did you enter a war sim maybe?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Let's check the forums.’

Turning the surface of their table into a screen, Sol drew a line across it with a finger and tapped to indicate EV's half. They both began searching.

‘Here's one,’ said Sol straight away. ‘Six days ago, a cast of some dudette called Marsha Primore. Oh man.’

It only took a few moments of watching the cast for EV to feel that he had been stripped of all warmth and exposed to a freezing northern wind. For the cast was a purported reconstruction of EV's encounter with the red dragon in Epic. Only, his gnome avatar's features had been exaggerated for comic effect and worse, the cast showed him lying fear-stricken under the dragon's claws, screaming:

‘I'll do whatever you want, just don't kill me! I'll change the sim for you. I'll translate you into the Metaverse. I'll give you all the treasure you ever wanted. Here!’

Diamonds and gold began to rain upon the dragon.

At the end of the clip was a banner: Vote For Proposition 3931.

Proposition 3931, EV quickly discovered, was that the whole Epicsim be made non-malleable. No one would have scripting rights there. And since the majority of Epicplayers were purists, there was no question the proposition would pass. In fact, EV would be happy to vote for it.

‘Sensible proposition,’ commented Sol, ‘but a bit harsh to advocate for it by dissing on you.’

‘A bit.’

‘You did hack the sim though, right?’

‘Yeah. I made a rock into sulphur and I drew a big nose on one of the moons for about an hour.’

This made Sol chuckle. ‘Well then, you are fair game for this kind of thing. Don't let it bother you.’

‘I find that it does though.’ EV took a large, intense, mouthful of his drink. After his coughing subsided, he continued, ‘you know how I enjoy popular acclaim.’

‘Really?’

‘Well, it was very life affirming to be famous for killing the generals of Bow and Sword. For a few months back there, my humble gnome avatar was the talk of the Metaverse. But gradually and persistently, the sweetness of that achievement has been undermined by this kind of thing.’ EV gestured to the tabletop. ‘Now, I wish I'd never done it.’

‘Right.’ Sol took a swig of his drink and blinked rapidly several times. ‘It's like, if I adjusted the corona of a sun while making a surfing cast. That would be damn shameful.’

‘Hang on a moment there old buddy. It's not quite like that. I wasn't faking anything. And in any case, it was an unusual situation, the dragon had learned about the Metaverse and was already behaving in a way that changed the usual nature of the sim. Plus, I've been quite up front to all concerned about how I won over the dragon. At the time, most people thought my actions were ingenious and deserving of praise. Not now though.’

‘Gotcha. But this isn't helping us trace your recent past. Let's get back to work.’

‘Got another of these?’ EV waved his drink around, empty but for soggy mint leaves and fruit pieces.

With a click of his fingers, Sol restored both their cocktails to their original, gloriously colourful condition and they clinked glasses again. Taking a long appreciative swallow, EV waited for the dizziness to pass before returning to the forums of the Metaverse.

‘Here I am,’ although a somewhat shaky finger had slowed down his use of the screen, EV had located an interesting news cast.

‘Eight days ago.’ Sol flicked the cast to resize it to the full tabletop for them both to watch.

The images were of a group of avatars preparing for departure from a sand-swept city.

‘This is my last cast before we cross the sim's boundary,’ came a voice that EV recognised instantly.

‘That's Stormrider,’ he whispered to Sol.

‘So I just want to say farewell to all those of you who have been following these casts. Thank you very much for your feedback and valuable contributions. All going well, you'll be able to access recordings of the expedition in about three weeks. Hey, you, be careful there, that equipment is delicate!’

The point of view of the cast wobbled, presumably because Stormy had set off towards a heavily laden camel that had shrugged off its harness and had escaped its position in the line. Many of the other riders were turning to see what was happening and suddenly there he was.

‘Pause.’

Somewhat to one side, riding a beautiful grey mare, EV looked very handsome in a hardy and grizzled kind of manner. His avatar had deep brown weather worn skin; his cheeks were unshaven, speaking (ironically) of his being a man of action, too busy to waste time on appearance. A sea-green patterned poncho looked well used, as though he had spent many a night rolled up in it. Across his back were two straps forming a cross, one holding a rifle and the other a bandoleer of large calibre bullets.

‘What do you think?’ EV licked the last of his drink from his upper lip, surprised that his glass was empty already.

Before answering, Sol filled the drinks up again, and once more they tapped glasses. ‘It looks fun, whatever it is. I wish I'd been in on it.’

‘Do you like my style?’

‘Fantastic. There's nothing you could add to make your avatar look more like a veteran explorer about to set out into the unknown on a dangerous expedition.’

Happy with the compliment, giddy with the drinks, EV felt chirpy once more.

‘Well, actually,’ Sol leaned back, ‘what about a bandana around your head? A black one, darker even than your skin.’

‘Nice. But turquoise I think, below layers of dirt. To go with the poncho.’

‘Yeah.’

‘What was going on there? Where were they off to?’ EV extended a wobbly finger, but his control was erratic and folders of casts and forums cascaded across the screen.

‘Oops.’

‘Hang on mate.’ Sol took over, although he too had been affected by the drinks and was only slightly more adept at manipulating the images.

At last they found the discussion boards they needed.

‘Put it on audio, will you please Sol, I can't be bothered reading.’

‘My thoughts exactly.’

The rock music faded away and in its place came pleasant male and female voices reading through the forums on behalf of EV and Sol. What with the warm air, the soothing background sound of the waves, and the comfortable chair, EV soon began to loose concentration. It was tempting to rest his head on the table and evidently Sol was of the same mind for his friend slumped down, turning his head from side to side on the table until settled. Before EV too fell asleep, he got to grips with the gist of the discussions in the forums.

Led by Stormrider II, a band of hardy explorers was entering the Samarkand sim, one of the ultra strict no-scripting sims and one with absolutely vast swathes of unexplored territory. They were looking for something to do with slow waves. What fun, thought EV. And what a team: Stormy, Mellow, Willing Joke, Angel, Hammer, and Lady Sorrow.

Eight days. He was alive eight days ago when he entered the sim and somewhere in the lands of the desert city he had died.

In his dreams, Eternal rode hard towards a fence, gun in hand. But when his brave horse vaulted the wooden bars, there was nothing on the far side but a black crevasse.

‘Let's go find them.’

EV woke, rather muddle headed, to find Sol concentrating over the forums.

‘They've been gone eight days, not a word, not a sign from anyone who left. Other than the fact that you must have died, we know nothing.’ With his eyes glittering like diamonds, Sol was surprisingly animated. Given he had matched EV drink for drink, whatever powers Sol's avatar possessed, they had to include effective traits for managing hangovers. ‘I'm going to back up. See what you can find out about their planned route and I'll meet you at Tashkent.’

Yes. Find out. But first EV put his head back down and had a nap. There was something he wanted to tell Sol. Something about an avatar he had recognised in the cast they had just been watching. But it was gone.

2. A Lost Love

A day later, Eternal Voyager and Sol rode out of the border town of Tashkent on swift, intelligent, Arab mares. Both had adopted the local garb and were wrapped in white capes, well adapted to protect the body against the sprays of sand constantly thrown against them by gusts of hot wind. They rode steadily, although never faster than a trot, along a palm lined dirt road until they reached the small oasis of Wisan. Already, they were several hours into the Samarkand sim. Although EV hadn't noticed the transition at the time, he was now feeling uncomfortably hot. Both Sol and he had brought skins with water enough for three days for themselves and the horses could go for two with the water they carried. The question of hydration was one of the major limiting factors in exploring the sim.

At the oasis was a long, low-roofed wooden hostel with several tents pitched around it. Leaving the horses to drink, EV and Sol walked up towards the hostel. From a tent whose canvass was coloured in rather lurid stripes of purple and yellow came a disheveled-looking female human in combat shorts and a white blouse. It was her hair, thought EV, that made her seem unkempt: the long chestnut curls were matted and grimy.

On seeing the two friends, the woman blinked.

‘Eternal Voyager? That's one of your avatars right? You've come back for me!’ With these extraordinary words she ran over and wrapped her arms around him.

His initial reaction had been to recoil, but the embrace of this stranger was pleasant enough and without worrying too much about what he was doing, EV found himself kissing the woman for some time. At last she broke away and EV remembered where he was. While he had been enjoying himself, Sol had gone ahead into the hostel.

‘What's with the new avatar? Wait, does that mean you died? Oh poor EV.’ She reached up to stroke his stubble-covered cheek.

‘Yes, I died.’

‘How?’

‘How indeed?’

‘You mean you don't know. But I guess since messages are disabled in this sim you couldn't know. Wait again. Does that mean you don't have memories of the last two weeks. Do you even know who I am? Did you just let me make a complete fool of myself? What's my name?’

While she waited for his response, she drew away and stared at him aggressively, hands on hips. There was, however, a reassuring twinkle in her eye.

‘Sorry, I don't know. But if my former self had the good sense to form an attachment to you, I'm sure I'll be quickly up to speed.’

She held out a hand. ‘Zoe Gambit.’

‘Eternal … well. you know.’

She was smiling now and gave his hand an extra squeeze.

The interior of the hostel was cool. It took EV several moments to blink away the glare from outside and adjust his vision to see into the dark rooms. On his left, over in a bar area, Sol had taken a table by a window. To his right was a counter with a ‘reception’ sign, written in black paint by a slightly shaky hand. Behind the counter, a tall sombre-looking male avatar in a white linen suit gave EV a nod.

‘Bed?’

‘Please.’

‘Name?’

‘Eternal Voyager.’

‘The dormitories are that way,’ the man said, pointing to his right. ‘Just help yourself.’

That seemed to be that, so EV, with Zoe at his side, walked over sandy floorboards to Sol and dropped his bags in an empty chair.

‘Zoe Gambit, Sol.’

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and a trip to the bar by EV, the three of them settled down in chairs that although simple wooden affairs were quite a comfort in comparison with a long ride in the saddle.

‘To be honest Zoe, we don't know a lot. Just that Stormy believed he would find out something about slow waves by coming here.’ EV looked around the empty room. ‘I've no idea what though or where to look for them next.’

‘Well,’ she leaned in conspiratorially and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear to look at them. ‘It's a library, out in the wilds. That's what Stormrider said to me. He'd found a library of famous and rare books.’

‘A library? That's not the adventure I came looking for.’ Sol patted his holster. ‘Watch out, world. There's a librarian on the loose and he might be about to hush you for talking too loudly.’

Zoe gave a light laugh. ‘But anyway, Stormrider thought the library important, that it contained books that revealed profound and deep truths about the Metaverse.’

‘Profound and deep,’ echoed Sol, with a slight sigh.

‘What about you?’ asked EV. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘You should have been here two weeks ago, oh, you were. But anyway, it was packed. You couldn't get a bed. Casters. We were all trying to get the scoop on the expedition, to get interviews and so forth. Several of us wanted to go along, but Stormrider wouldn't take anyone else.’

‘You are a caster?’

‘You mean you don't follow me?’ She pretended to be aggrieved. ‘I have nearly fifty thousand people signed up receive my casts, but I guess you aren't among them.’

‘Sorry. But it's nothing personal, I haven't signed up to any casts at all,’ said EV.

‘Just surfing ones here,’ added Sol.

A block of sunlight that had been edging slowly across the table was now falling upon EV's eyes; he moved his chair slightly to stay in the shade. ‘So you are a caster who came here to broadcast the story for your followers?’ EV resumed his seat.

‘Exactly. And eight days ago there were maybe thirty of us on the same mission. Now there's just me.’ She looked around the bar with a frown. ‘While Stormrider was still here, most of the casters stuck around too, conducting interviews with expedition members. But once he'd been gone a couple of days, they probably got bored and left. I might have too, except that you and I had become an item by then.’

Sol raised an eyebrow. ‘You two didn't know each other before his last backup?’

‘No.’ EV shook his head.

‘Man, bad luck. There's nothing like the buzz of first love, and you've gone and lost it by getting yourself killed out there.’

‘If I play my cards right, I might get to enjoy the experience again.’ EV winked at Zoe, who gave him an ambiguous smile in response.

Sol looked out of the window, towards their horses then back to Zoe. ‘Do you know which way Stormy went?’

‘Yes, I followed them from a distance for a couple of days. But then I had to turn back. Those badlands are dangerous. And it's not wild animals or bands of slavers who pose the greatest threat to a lone rider. There are ghosts out there, spirits, looking to take a bite out of your soul while you sleep.’

Sol gave EV a glance, meaning, ‘that's more like it.’

‘I still don't understand a couple of things, if you don't mind me asking?’ EV no longer took it for granted that he and Zoe were going to become lovers and was a touch more formal than he had been.

‘Not at all, but let me get another round in.’

‘Well?’ said Sol, when she was out of earshot.

‘What? Do I fancy her? Sure. Do I believe her about the expedition? Why not?’

‘A library? All this fuss over a library? Come on.’

‘Your problem is that you are an uncultured philistine, if you had any sense of the importance of books, you would easily comprehend that no greater treasure could be found than a library of rare books.’

This drew a merry snort from Sol. ‘What's the last book you read?’

‘I read!’ EV replied aggrieved. ‘It was Luna Synthesis: 101 Seductions.’

‘Oh I read that. About three years ago, right?’

‘Two.’

‘Still. Don't give me that culture line. You're as cultured as an orc.’

Before EV could decided which of a whole variety of incidents from Sol's past he would use to shame his friend into acknowledging EV as a model of sophistication and erudition, Zoe was back with the drinks: gin and tonic all round.

‘You had some questions for me?’

‘I still don't understand,’ said EV, turning his glass around and around, ‘why all the secrecy. Why didn't Stormy just bring you along? You and everyone else who wanted to make casts about the expedition or just join in for the fun of it.’

‘I'm not sure either, but he definitely only wanted to travel with people he knew and trusted.’

‘Hammer?’ muttered Sol.

‘And, about you and me. What was Angel doing at this time? Didn't she mind?’

‘Angel. You don't know? You and Angel had broken up, just before this. You told me that it was too hard, carrying over a hundred years of memories that she didn't share. You couldn't start all over again but she couldn't catch up.’

‘Broke up?’ EV caught Sol's eye.

‘First I've heard of it mate. But then I wouldn't know, I haven't spoken to you since our last surfing trip.’ He adjusted the red bandana on his head. ‘It's possible. You were struggling with the lost years issue.’

The thought that he and Angel had broken up hurt. It felt like a cloud covering the sun, like a cold shiver descending through his body, like a weight upon his shoulders.

‘Even if you did break up,’ Sol was studying the scars on the wooden table, rather than meeting EV's eyes, ‘that just means you'll have the fun of getting together again at some point.’

‘Is that it?’ asked Zoe abruptly. ‘Questions done? Are we going to go after them?’

‘I guess so,’ said Sol. ‘We need to rest the horses and refill our water skins. So shall we make it dawn?’

‘Dawn it is.’ Zoe swigged back the last of her drink with an appreciative sigh and stood up. As she moved to leave, her hand lingered on EV's shoulder.

‘Right.’ EV looked into his glass. ‘Dawn. Badlands.’

3. Into the Desert

Three riders under a bruised purple sky, heavy with dust. Even at a walking pace, the horses were finding the trail hard going, snorting frequently and shaking their heads in vain efforts to find dust free air.

‘Let's dismount,’ suggested Sol.

‘Good idea,’ EV swung himself off his horse. Without bothering to answer, Zoe did likewise. To remove your mask was to invite gritty sand in to the soft folds of your neck, the corners of your eyes, and in to your mouth. So you only spoke if absolutely necessary.

For a while they plodded on without talking, each in a world of their own. For EV, it was a lonely world. Despite his wish that it were not true, the idea that he and Angel would break up was plausible. It was very difficult to convert a love for a person to a love for that same person when they were transformed by returning to how they had been two hundred years into the past.

The fact that the journey was so demanding was something of a relief. Unless you concentrated on where you put your feet, you slid a little with each step as your weight settled in the yielding sand. It was better, EV learned, to tread on the clumps of brown desert grass than the bare sand. Without the challenge of finding every footstep it would have been a very monotonous journey. No messaging allowed in this sim; no rummaging through his inventory and rearranging his shirts in chromatic order; no tweaking of his various avatars. Just plod and plod. Potentially, there was quite a good view of distant pink mountains against a lilac sky, but the brightness of the sun, even through a pair of very fashionable insect-style shades, caused EV's eyes to water whenever he looked up for any length of time.

At last, at the end of a spur, Zoe stopped walking and looked down in to the valley below while EV and Sol drew up beside her. It could be that a river was down there, certainly there must be water, because a thick line of green – tall grasses, papyrus, sedge and wildflowers – ran across their path.

‘The last I saw of Stormrider's expedition was when they were over there, heading east,’ she pointed to their right, where the valley twisted and turned out of view between several low hills.

‘Good, that looks easier going.’ Sol urged his horse down the slope and EV followed.

In some ways, it was easier walking on the low ground than across the dusty hill tops. The air was fresher and they could remove their masks and talk once more. But the ground was marshy and worse, both avatars and horses were soon the targets for clouds of mosquitoes.

‘Whatever Stormrider wanted,’ grumbled Sol, ‘he must have wanted very badly.’

‘No wonder so much of this sim is unexplored,’ Eternal called back to Zoe. She didn't answer, and he looked over his shoulder to see that Zoe had placed her mask back over her face as a ward against the wicked attentions of the buzzing creatures. Whoever had created these eager stinging flies was a cruel sadist. Beating the dust off his bandana, EV then arranged the cloth so that only his eyes were uncovered.

Again, they had to travel in silence and did so until about mid day, when Sol suggested a break. A nearby hillside offered some shade: it held blocks of sandstone that stood out from the soil and dust of the slope like the lines of a frown.

‘Sorry you came?’ EV asked Sol as his friend carefully poured water into a basin for his horse to drink from.

‘I'd rather be in my bar, drinking a cool mint Julip and listening to beach bands.  But no, I'm not sorry. I want to know what Stormrider was up to. I want to know how you died,’ he dropped his voice, ‘I want to know is Zoe for real. Plus, I reckon there's some danger up ahead, somewhere.’

‘I'm not going back to those mosquitoes,’ Zoe came over, wiping the sweat and grime from her face with a red handkerchief. ‘How about we keep going on up to the top here and look for some landmark Stormrider might have been aiming for?’

‘Sounds wise,’ answered EV, 'but let's just mull it over a bit more. If we make a mistake out here, we'll die of thirst. Or at the hands of those ghosts you mentioned.’

‘Yeah.’ Sol sniffed. ‘At least there's water down below. Of some sort.’

‘I'm not saying strike out away from the valley. At least not without very good reason. I just can't stand being bitten any more.’

‘All right. You can lead.’ Eternal stood up and patted his horse’s neck. ‘Off we go again.’

The crest of their slope was not a particularly high point compared to the hills all around and there was no sign of a feature that might indicate artificial construction of any sort, let alone a library. So they continued along, parallel to the valley, as best they could. It was a lot slower progress, especially navigating shale, and EV decided that bites or no bites, he would for a return to the valley floor tomorrow. But since the sun was descending rapidly, there was no point going downwards now.

‘How about there for a camp?’ Zoe pointed to a cluster of rocks that looked like they would provide good shelter from the dust-filled wind. She turned, waiting for EV and Sol to respond.

‘Sure,’ said Sol.

‘Good, fit as this avatar is, I'm at the limit of my endurance,’ EV added.

There was little by way of wood for a fire and a quick test showed that the brown desert grass was never going to hold a flame. So they ate cold strips of smoked tofu accompanied by apples. The meal was sufficient enough that when the sun set and they sat among the stones, EV felt rather cheerful. A soft yellow light from Sol's oil lantern made their world seem intimate and small. When Zoe sat beside him, leg touching leg, shoulder touching shoulder, that felt right too.

They talked about the stars and how strange were the constellations of this sim. They speculated on the sim's original creator and his or her purpose in making it so demanding. And they wondered too, at what kind of information had led to Stormrider mounting his expedition.

As tiredness stole upon them and their conversation experienced greater and greater gaps between speakers, Sol suggested they turn in.

‘I'll take the first watch, if you like?’ offered Zoe.

‘It's all right, I'm not tired. I'll do it.’ Memories of Angel had returned to EV once more and he needed to meditate upon them, to sooth them like an oyster turning a grain of sand into pearl.

‘Wake me in a couple of hours then.’ Zoe patted his arm and leaning over, soft hair swaying to touch his face, gave him a kiss on the cheek.

‘'nite Mate,’ said Sol.

4. Doppleganger

Eternal took his rifle and sat slightly to the side of their camp, in one of the shadows cast by the tall rocks and for a while he dwelt in his memories. His attention was brought back to the desert only when one of the horses shifted and gave a snort. It came as a fright to realise that he was being studied and had perhaps been watched for some time.

A shadowy humanoid figure was squatting on a nearby rock. It whispered to him, ‘what is your name?’

‘Eternal Voyager, what's yours?’

The creature did not answer, but it spoke the words ‘Eternal Voyager’ to itself, as though tasting them.

A ghost? Thought EV to himself and tightened his finger on the trigger of the rifle. Bullets might not hurt the undead, but the shot would at least wake his friends.

‘You seek knowledge?’ whispered the ghost.

‘I do.’

‘Feed me and I will give you knowledge.’

‘Feed you, how?’

‘Let me drink some blood from your arm.’

‘Right-O.’ EV shifted a little, as though moving the weight of his rifle so that he could offer his arm. He was hoping the ghost or the vampyre would come forward and give him a clearer view for a shot. But it did not move. Only the clouds moved and when they covered the moon, the shadowman was nearly invisible.

‘You are lonely.’ Again, it was an assertion rather than a question.

‘I am.’

‘As am I.’

For a moment EV thought the creature would fall silent again, but it gave a sigh and continued. ‘I am as lonely as the north wind. And I have travelled as far as the wind. Across vast deserts and arid mountains.’

‘I don't suppose you saw my friends did you? A large group of riders would have passed this way about a week ago.’

The moon shone again and to EV's surprise, the creature looked more human that it had earlier. Something had changed, something to do with its hair perhaps? Did it even have hair earlier? Uneasy, EV aimed his rifle at the shadowman and began to increase the pressure of his finger on the trigger.

‘Are you going to attack me?’ EV asked.

‘This is a land of the dead as well as the living. And there are those too, who are neither. Ill formed. Without a name. But lonely. Needy.’

Just as EV decided to fire, the creature was gone, melting into the dark pools of night in an instant. The echo of the gunshot resounded across the rocks. To Sol's credit, he was on his feet, pistol drawn, before Zoe had even struggled from her sleeping bag.

While Eternal described the encounter, Zoe was gathering all her loose locks into a bunch and tying them back in a ponytail. She looked worried.

‘Did you give it your name?’

‘Yes. Was that wrong?’

‘It was a doppleganger. A kind of ghost. And now it wants to become you. It will stalk you for the rest of your life, learning about you: how you walk, how you eat, how you breathe. It will read your thoughts and learn how to speak like you, think like you. Then it will kill you and eat you and become you.’

‘Not if we kill it first.’ Sol was staring out into the night.

‘Well said, mate.’

Sol turned to Zoe. ‘How do we kill it?’

‘I don't know.’

‘Do bullets work?’

‘I don't know.’

‘Silver bullets?’

She didn't answer.

‘Let's load our guns with silver bullets. In case.’ And even as he spoke, Sol broke open his revolver to change the ammunition in it.

It was hard to get back to sleep, so they sat near the comforting light of the lantern, listening to the soft whispers of the desert until the sky had brightened sufficiently for them to pack up their gear and ready the horses.

The next five days would have been hard enough, leading the horses up and down dusty scree-covered hills. But the journey was made worse by the fact their drinking water was now a disgusting tepid liquid drawn from the swampy ground. And worse still by their night-time visitors.

In his dreams, EV was a beetle under a microscope; a fish in a small bowl; a lone performer on the dance floor; and a prisoner testifying in the dock. When it was his turn to keep watch, he knew the doppleganger would come. And it always did, whispering to him tales of loneliness and need. For the first two nights EV had tried shooting at the ghost, but it always anticipated him and collapsed into the dark a moment before he pulled the trigger. Then they had tried ambushing it, with Sol and Zoe concealed behind rocks and ready to fire. But although both of them reported that they had heard the doppleganger speak – in EV's voice – neither of them could distinguish it from the shadows.

On the fourth night, Sol encountered a doppleganger on his shift. One that did little other than groan and ask his name. It too dissolved at the first gunshot, only to return several times the same night.

Stumbling as he walked, EV was suffering from dehydration, splitting headaches, exhaustion, and waking nightmares. These latter included the very horrible recurring scene in which he looked up to see an identical version of his avatar chewing, bloody mouthed, on his dismembered limbs. Yet he rallied quickly enough when from ahead of him, at the top of the next rise, Sol was shouting.

‘Here! At last, we've found something!’

Encouraging his horse, EV hurried up to see, hopeful that this frightful and painful journey was at an end. Nor was he disappointed when he came to Sol's side. The valley they had been keeping parallel to now swung abruptly away from them and became a deep-sided canyon with cracked yellow stone walls. But out of this stone someone had created a monumental structure: a huge doorway built into the side of the cliff.

5. A Prince of the Efreeti

On each side of a black opening was a massive ridged column, which appeared to support a great slab, though this was simply artistry, as the roof of the doorway needed no such support, being a part of the cliff wall. Around the outside of the columns were three rows of sculptures, reliefs of what seemed to be dancing figures. EV set off down the slope, sending up clouds of dust.

‘Careful.’ Zoe was close behind.

When they drew up in front of the gaping entrance, EV could better appreciate the enormous scale of the construction. It towered above them, twenty times their height. Each of the relief figures decorating the entrance was human sized and they might indeed have been depictions of humans, but their features were worn away, so that EV could not be certain of this. What was clear enough was that the figures were shown as participating in a range of vigorous activities: dancing, fighting, copulating. The scenes were disturbing. Despite the erosion, there remained in the carvings something of the emotions of the characters, something expressed by the position of their heads, bodies, and limbs. And what they seemed to be saying was that regardless of ecstasy, triumph, and climax, they were suffering.

‘What do you think?’ EV asked the others.

‘I think you died in there,’ answered Sol.

EV nodded, glumly. ‘Me too.’

‘It's interesting though,’ added Zoe more cheerfully. ‘I had no idea this place existed. I wonder what brought Stormrider to it?’

After lighting the lantern, Sol led the way forward, the crisp impact of his horse's hooves clattering on the stone stairs, then, as he entered the dark corridor, echoing on the smooth flagged surface beneath them.

There was a lot to take in, including his own fears concerning impending doom and a loss of all he had learned this past week. But then again, death was stalking him in the desert. Perhaps his doppleganger would be deterred from entering this gloomy cavernous corridor. Evidently Sol and Zoe did not feel like talking either and accompanied only by the loud footfalls of the horses the three of them went some four hundred metres into the cliff, to where the entrance corridor ended.

Only now did EV realise that the roof had gradually been inclined towards the ground, so it was just twice his height at this point. Left and right, two further corridors led away at right angles. And both of them glowed with an orange light from burning torches held in braziers.

‘Well,’ said Sol, ‘I think someone is home. Which way?’

EV shrugged. ‘Take your pick.’

Sol went right and still in single file they went after him. Another hundred metres and the corridor turned, once more heading deeper into the cliffs. It was a tremendous work of scripting and EV began to wonder if there was a party theme he could develop, based on this experience. Something with a claustrophobic quality. But how to make that a pleasure? Perhaps through the fact that intimacy was intensified in underground chambers.

Eternal was even more impressed by the large hall they now entered, a hall which was dominated at one end by a huge statue of a goddess with eight arms. In two of the arms she held bowls that were alight with lively flames. The room would be perfect terrain for his Epic gnome avatar, because it was full of lively flickering shadows.

While they were standing still, looking around at the decorations on the roof and along the tops of pillars, slow, patient footsteps became audible. Someone was walking towards them from deeper in the building. Ahead of him, EV could see Sol reaching down for his holster and his friend was just in the act of slipping the safety cord off his revolver when a slow wave hit EV.

He could hardly move, it was like the air had turned to glue. Nor, although he could formulate the sentences easily enough in his mind, could he work his mouth to speak. This was a bad one, lasting nearly two minutes before it passed. All of a sudden, rushing like speeded up film, Sol and Zoe moved around him and emitted indecipherable high pitched squeals from their speeded-up voices.

A demon was in the room.

‘Welcome.’ It was a tall, well-muscled male with red skin, a neat black beard, long dark hair, and two small horns coming from his head. He was dressed in green silk pantaloons and a richly decorated mauve waistcoat.

‘Thank you,’ responded Sol politely, ‘where are we?’

The demon flicked a purple tongue across its dark lips. ‘You know it is very odd that I am left undisturbed for several centuries and then along comes a group of humans, soon followed by three more. Three more, who do not even know where they are.’

‘That's because we came to see what has happened to our friends,’ said EV, ‘rather than seek you.’

‘You must be tired and hungry after your journey. Come with me to the dining hall and we can eat and talk.’

‘Good idea,’ Sol sounded genuinely enthusiastic. But EV had yet to meet a demon with anything other than evil intent and Zoe seemed to feel similar trepidation, for she shared a warning look with Eternal. Yet what were they to do? Did bullets affect demons? EV doubted it.

‘Are our friends alive?’ Eternal asked the demon, a note of challenge in his voice.

The demon looked affronted. ‘Of course. You can join them later, after you have refreshed yourselves.’ He clicked his fingers and three amber-skinned young men appeared and bowed as one. ‘Look after the horses.’

Although reluctant to pass the reins to the servant, who now came forward with a deferential expression, EV could not think of a reason to refuse.

‘Where will the horses be kept?’

‘In the stables.’ The demon's yellow eyes narrowed slightly, as though he were angry at EV's challenging manner. But then he smiled a charming smile. ‘If you ever wish to visit your mounts during your stay here, just ask a servant to show you to the stables. Now, to the breakfast room.’

‘Breakfast!’Sol rubbed his hands together. ‘Lead on!’

The further into the complex they journeyed the more sumptuous were the furnishings. Intricately designed tapestries hung on the walls; the floor was carpeted with depictions of fantastical tales; silk hangings covered open doorways; and the scents of jasmine, lavender and honeysuckle came from burning incense. But it was oppressive all the same. The fact that they were deep underground and that the light came from candles, lanterns and torches rather than the sun created a somewhat hellish atmosphere. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the diabolic nature of their host.

At last they were seated on cushions around an ebony inlaid table, which could spin to allow them to present a variety of dishes to each other. There were fancifully decorated china bowls holding fruits: nectarines; pomegranates; peaches; pears; figs; and oranges. There were flatbreads and risen breads in golden baskets; walnuts and hazelnuts in silver trays; delicate ivory cups with steaming coffee and large sparkling glasses filled with ice and sherbert. It was the cold drink that Sol seized eagerly.

‘Ahhh. Now that's better.’

At the urging of their host, who did not eat or drink, they explained the reason for their journey, with Sol doing most of the talking. It seemed to EV that they should be more guarded and assume that – deep down – the demon was hostile. But Sol was in great form now that he was back in a comfortable environment and there was no amount of coughing or significant looks that could restrain him.

‘So, this is Eternal Voyager again?’ The demon scrutinised EV attentively. ‘How fascinating that you can return from death. There is, however, no resemblance and I'm inclined to disbelieve you.’

‘You met me?’

‘I met Eternal Voyager, along with the rest of his party.’

‘Because I died, I have no memory of that. But can you tell me what happened to him – me?’

‘He was found dead in his room the morning after Professor Stormrider arrived here.’

‘What killed me?’

‘I don't know. No one claimed to know anything about it and the body disappeared before I got to see it.’

‘If you could be more precise about the times,’ Sol muttered between mouthfuls of bread, ‘that would help us, since an avatar evaporates about eight hours after death.’

‘Having been alerted by my servants, I called to Mr Voyager's room an hour after dawn. By which time his body was gone.’

‘You should try this bread, it's delicious, it's got raisins and coconut in it.’ Sol waved a piece in the air, then caught EV's eye. ‘Right, so, you were killed around midnight.’

‘You haven't introduced yourself.’ It was clear from her hostile tone that Zoe, like EV, did not trust the demon.

‘No, but I will do so now. I am Oedifax, a prince of the Efreeti.’

‘And what are you doing here?’

‘Do I need a reason to live at my home?’

‘So far out in the desert?’

‘All Efreeti must live in seclusion or otherwise petitioners seeking to have us grant their wishes would beat constantly at our door. That is why I am a little dismayed to see you. One group of visitors after three hundred years of isolation is relatively diverting. But I dread the prospect that now humans will keep coming in droves.’

‘Don't worry mate. Back out in the Metaverse we can grant our own wishes. Nobody is going to trek through that desert and get eaten by mosquitoes to come here. Even if they knew where to come, which they don't.’

Prince Oedifax did not look as though he were reassured by Sol's words, but he did nod graciously enough.

‘Can I see my room, where I died?’

‘Certainly. Follow me.’

They stood up, in Sol's case with a certain reluctance; he paused to snatch up a bowl of walnuts. Glancing at EV, then the remaining food, Sol poured the nuts into a jacket pocket and returned the bowl to the table.

6. The Murder Scene

Again they walked through scented and richly decorated corridors, to a long mirrored hall whose lanterns shone in the glass like orange stars. Every ten metres a pair of columns flanked polished oak doors.

‘This is my guest wing. All my visitors are housed here.’

‘So, it would be easy for any of them to go to EV's room,’ observed Sol.

‘Indeed.’ The demon opened a door and his yellow eyes fastened on Eternal. ‘This was yours. You may have it again if you like.’

The bedroom beyond was surprisingly large, considering that, like the rest of the palace, it was hollowed out of a cliff. At the centre of the long rectangular chamber was a small fountain, whose cascading waters created a gentle, relaxing music. Against the far wall, the bed was partially screened from the rest of the world by thin veils of silk. Elsewhere, cushions lay on colourful rugs; a bookshelf contained scrolls and leather-bound volumes; and rows of embroidered jackets, shirts and trousers hanging from cords strung along a wall.

‘Thanks.’ EV stepped inside and dropped his bags, then propped his rifle up against the bookcase.

‘Why not bathe and change? And then I'll bring you to your fellows.’

‘I'll stay here too.’ Zoe came in and also threw down her bags and her gun. Her initiative surprised EV, but pleased him. There was something creepy about being alone in a room where he had died, where in all likelihood someone had murdered him. He was glad of the company.

Sol stepped forward also. ‘Me too.’

Prince Oedifax raised one eyebrow. ‘I have many more guest rooms.’

‘I just think it best we stick together for now. Until we find out who killed EV.’

‘As you wish. I shall return in an hour.’

The demon bowed and backed away, allowing EV to close the door.

‘I'm going to wash,’ said Sol. ‘And if any of those clothes fit me, I'm getting out of this filthy gear.’

‘Same here.’ EV looked at Zoe. ‘After I've searched for secret doors.’ She nodded and the two of them set about tapping on walls and looking under rugs.

An hour later and their host gave a polite knock at the door. All three of them were quite transformed by the diaphanous, colourful clothes they now wore and this external display of flamboyant dress had created in EV's heart a matching enthusiasm: he felt happy.

‘Are you ready to meet those for whom you have travelled so far?’

‘Yep.’ Sol led the way and as a brocade velvet cloak flapped behind his friend, EV appreciated for the first time that Sol's avatar had an elegance that was usually hidden by his surfer clothes.

‘Here we are.’ Prince Oedifx had led them to a hall lined with potted palm trees. A pair of large double doors filled the far wall. Two servants standing patiently outside the doors bowed to their master and each taking hold of a large golden handle, pushed the doors inwards.

Now EV could see a great room with a dome shaped roof. It was well lit by many hanging lanterns and reflections from gold-leaf furnishings. In the middle of the room, under a massive construction of glass and lead was a plant that EV recognised from his visit to Stormrider. It was the mass of swaying fronds that Stormy had claimed help measure slow waves. Around the walls of the chamber were bookshelves, with thousands of volumes in expensive bindings. Presumably this was the library that Stormrider had come to consult.

As he entered the room, EV could see that Stormrider himself was there, writing at a desk. Hammer and Willing Joke were over at the far wall playing chess: the pieces beautifully carved ivory. Mellow was reading, lying back on sumptuous cushions. Lord Grimwald was also stretched out, on a richly carved divan, with Lady Sorrow in his arms. A memory snapped into Eternal's mind, a memory of watching a cast of the expedition. He had recognised one of the servants packing equipment on to a camel. Now EV understood why he had felt something was out of place. The servant was the vampyre lord.

As the people in the room looked up to see who was at the door, EV had an opportunity to witness their reaction. And it was extremely interesting. Both Hammer and Willing Joke scowled. Lady Sorrow sprang to her feet, interposing herself between Eternal and Lord Grimwald, who looked anxious. Too busy noting the extraordinary response from these avatars, Eternal did not get to witness Mellow's immediate reaction, but she was the first to speak, putting down her book with a happy smile.

‘Sol! Eternal! How on earth did you get here?’

This brought Stormrider's attention up from his work and the look of genuine pleasure that came to his friend's face warmed EV. But where was Angel?

‘Is there any need for me to make the introductions?’ asked Prince Oedifax.

‘You all know Zoe?’ EV gestured to his companion.

Stormrider's face clouded over. ‘A very persistent caster. If I'd have wanted journalists along, I would have brought one.’

‘Instead you brought a vampyre,’ Eternal replied, equally tetchily.

‘Oh really?’ The Efreeti prince stepped further into the library, looking at the other avatars more carefully. ‘This one?’ He was pointing over Lady Sorrow's shoulder to Lord Grimwald. EV nodded.

‘Well...’ Prince Oedifax drew himself up and stared at Lord Grimwaldwith a cold yellow stare. ‘Don't you dare feed on any of my servants.’

At that moment Angel came into the room and no sooner had she seen him than she leapt to embrace Eternal. A joyous flare went off in his heart as they hugged each other tight. This was just the reception he had dreamed of and it banished all fears that they might actually have broken up. Eventually, they parted - still holding hands - and EV had a chance to really look at her. Angel had gone for the practical explorer look, with tall boots; cream linen trousers with several outside pockets; a thick brown leather belt, which held a scabbarded knife of quite impressive size; an olive cotton shirt, again with several pockets; and worn on top of that a zip-up brown leather jacket. Angel's lustrous dark brown hair was pulled back and kept from her eyes by a white hairband. And her eyes. They glittered like emeralds with her delight at seeing him.

‘How did you find us?’Stormrider echoed Mellow's question.

‘I brought them.’ Zoe settled cross-legged on a cushion. ‘I'd followed your expedition long enough to get an idea of the course you were taking. Then it was just a matter of hoping you didn't change direction before you arrived at your destination.’

‘We should have,’ muttered Stormrider. ‘But never mind. At least you've brought Eternal and Sol with you.’

‘So, I've a couple of questions.’ With his hands on his hips, dressed in cape and silken vestments, Sol looked like he was attending a fancy-dress party as a superhero. Of sorts. His manner, however, was not a humorous one. ‘Who killed EV? And what are you all doing here?’

7. The Cast of Suspects

Seemingly fascinated by this exchange, Prince Oedifax was grinning, arms folded. No one was in a hurry to answer Sol, who turned his attention to Stormrider.

‘Well, what we are doing here is research, very important research. As to who killed EV, I haven't the faintest idea. Angel found his body late one night. I believe he was stabbed to death?’ Stormrider paused, and Angel nodded. ‘Our Effreeti host here claims to know nothing about it, which leads me to the uncomfortable conclusion that one of us killed him. But I've no idea who or why.’

‘Yes,’ mused Sol, walking slowly around the room. ‘Someone here.’ He paused in front of Lord Grimwald. ‘You've a lot of reason to be angry at EV, he destroyed your world and all your power, did you kill him?’

‘No. Of course not. Even if I want revenge, what satisfaction would there be in simply sending him to his last backup point?’

‘Hmmm. And what about you Angel? You and EV have recently broken up. And you have that handy looking knife there. And you were in his room that night. Did you kill him?’

‘What makes you think we've broken up? EV and I love each other, we have a unique love the whole age of the repopulated Metaverse.’

‘Zoe said you'd parted.’

‘That's a lie. She must have made it up to seduce poor EV so that he'd bring her along.’

Both Sol and EV turned to look at Zoe and EV's head was spinning. What Angel had just said made a lot of sense.

Angry, Zoe stood up. ‘You're the liar. Why would EV have spent the night with me if he was still with you? Why did he tell me you'd broken up with him?’

‘He didn't.’ Angel's expression was defiant.

‘Call it EV,’ said Sol.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Who do you believe?’

‘Angel.’ His centuries-old lover gave him a smile that reminded him of all the joys they had shared together. Zoe, on the other hand was frowning. When EV caught her eye, she met his apologetic gaze with a grimace and shook her head.

‘Moving on.’ Sol went over to the table with the chess set. ‘You've had your issues with EV, Hammer. Still holding a grudge?’

‘Nope. I have learned to respect him.’

‘Willing?’

‘We are old friends and battle hardened comrades.’

‘You didn't like that trick he pulled in Epic though, did you? Maybe you resent the fact that he eliminated the General of Bow and the General of Sword?’

‘He cheated to do that. But what good would it do to brood on that matter, and what would it achieve to kill him here?’

As though unconvinced, Sol rubbed his chin thoughtfully, saying nothing. After letting the moment lie heavy upon them all, he resumed his walk around the room. It was a terrific performance and it struck EV that he had always viewed Sol in too narrow a light, as the surfer friend and party animal. From now on, whenever Eternal needed an actor, Sol would be first on his list. Hopefully, though, he would not need a murder investigator again after this.

‘Lady Sorrow. I don't suppose Lord Grimwaldhas converted you to a vampyre?’

By way of response, Sorrow took out a mirror and turned it slowly to show everyone her reflection.

When Sol came to Mellow, he surprised her and the whole room by suddenly pulling her to him and kissing her. When they broke, he was smiling.

‘Mellow, you didn't kill EV.’

‘No.’

‘And that leaves Stormrider. What possible reason could you have for killing an old friend and one of your team?’

‘None.’

‘So it seems.’

Sol looked across at EV. ‘Want to know what I think?’

‘Sure.’

‘I think you have misjudged Angel. The way I see it, she did break up with you. But then she realised it was a terrible mistake and one that was easy to rectify.  She just had to kill you to send you back to a state in which the two of you were still an item.’

Zoe struck her fist into her palm. ‘Now you have it.’

‘Rubbish,’ muttered Angel.

‘You were bickering a lot though,’ said Willing with a shrug. ‘And EV was spending time with Zoe.’

Angel wasn't rattled, ‘we have other lovers now and again,’ she spoke calmly, ‘but that doesn't affect our relationship.’

There was another silence, awkward now, and EV sent Angel a reassuring look. It was very frustrating that one could not send private messages in this sim.

The tension was broken by Prince Oedifax breaking into enthusiastic applause.

‘Well, this is most entertaining. I do not usually welcome human company. But I must admit to being fascinated by your little drama. Intriguing. Odd, too, that a slain person can return to the scene of his murder. I do hope we are going to witness violent revenge for your death?’ The demon's smile was directed to Eternal Voyager.

‘Do you grant wishes?’

Immediately, the smile turned to a ferocious scowl. ‘I am obliged to grant wishes to humans who request them of me.’ Before EV could say a word, Prince Oedifax flung up a hand as if to ward away the possibility of his voicing a wish. ‘Understand this, however. I have considerable license in how I interpret the wish and if I am hostile to the wish, it always ends badly for the human concerned.’

‘For example?’ asked Stormrider.

‘The woman who wished she could fly, now sports a pair of enormous bat wings.’

Stormrider nodded, ‘gotcha.’

‘If I were to wish that I knew who had killed me,’ EV spoke politely, all the while looking intently at the demon, ‘would you be hostile to granting that?’

‘Yes I would. Firstly, I'm sure that you are perfectly able to find that knowledge yourself. Secondly, it would be poor entertainment for me. And thirdly, I hate this geas that obliges me to use my power for the wishes of others and have resolved never to assist any human unless by doing so my own cause is served.’

‘Go ahead and make the wish,’ Sol urged. ‘Whatever harm this guy inflicts upon you, say you die again, there will be a bunch of witnesses who will be able to tell you what happened.’

‘Oh yes?’ Prince Oedifax looked coldly at Sol from narrowed yellow eyes. ‘What if Mr Voyager gains the knowledge he wants but a curse at the same time, such that he can never communicate that knowledge to anyone. Or that, worse, his communications always mislead the recipient.’

‘Oh no. I wouldn't make a wish if our host was so antipathetic to it.’Eternal hurriedly interrupted. ‘Irrespective of curses, it is in the worst possible taste to impose an obligation upon somebody else.’

‘All right,’ said Sol. ‘Let's go back to what we are all doing here. Stormrider, can you explain your mission?’

‘Well,’ Stormy looked uncomfortable. ‘Consulting the library mostly.’

‘Yes, but about what?’

‘Slow waves.’

‘Go on,’ said Sol, but EV's heart sank a little. It was never a good idea to ask Stormrider to talk about his work.

‘I've discovered a lot about them.’ Suddenly, Stormrider was animated and he stood up, turning a flip chart to face Sol. Inadvertently letting out a groan – not a flip chart – EV took a seat next to Angel, where at least he had the comfort of her hand upon his shoulder. After drawing a word in dots, Stormrider looked up, apart from Hammer and Willing, who continued to play their game of chess, everyone was watching.

8. Slow Waves

‘You all know that our Metaverse has a material foundation in what you might call the physical universe. We represent a higher organisation of matter, rather like the meaning of the word 'Metaverse' represents a high level of existence than that of the dots out of which the word is made. This physical universe exists in the form of billions upon billions of individual universes: each time a sub-atomic particle moves a new universe is formed. All of these universes are expanding and contracting according to their individual big-bang, big-crunch cycles. Now, normally, the proportion of universes experiencing a big-crunch or big-bang is infinitesimally small. But it does sometimes happen that a whole cluster of them go through that singularity at the same time.

‘That, my friends, is what a slow wave is. When a significant part of the physical universe that you happen to be formed from at a particular moment is unavailable until the cluster of singularities is over, you grind to a halt while the rest of the Metaverse moves on, creating the freezing and fast-forward sensation you all know.

‘Being caught in a slow wave can be an unpleasant experience but it is not normally of greater significance. Recently, however, they seem to have been getting worse and I think I know why. According to some of the texts in this library, there exists a magical being in this sim who has the power to trigger slow waves. This creates a very dangerous feedback loop in which actions in our Metaverse oblige vast clusters of physical universes to arrive coincidently at a big-crunch, big-bang moment. I need not labour the point that this could be catastrophic. Indeed, should it happen to sufficiently large a proportion of the physical universe, our own Metaverse could fall apart!’

Stormrider looked up as if expecting a strong reaction, but EV, whose mind had wandered back to Angel's behaviour, wasn't sure whether to clap or display shock. That last sentence about the Metaverse falling apart was probably bad. But hadn't the earlier stuff been all about how clever Stormrider had been in discovering the causes of slow waves? No one else in the room offered a guide to what should be the appropriate reaction. Hammer and Willing were engrossed in their chess game; with whispered exchanges, Mellow and Sol were catching up with each other; Angel looked as distant as EV felt; while Lady Sorrow and Lord Grimwald were skulking in a corner of the room.

Evidently, only Zoe and Prince Oedifax had been attentive to Stormrider and both looked fascinated.

‘What a story!’ Zoe exclaimed, ‘I'll get thousands of new followers with this.’

Stormrider frowned. ‘Which is exactly why I did not want any casters along. We mustn't cause a panic or go public with this until we've identified the magic being and eliminated the danger.’

‘Eliminated?’ The demon licked his lips.

‘Yes. One way or another.’

‘You mean kill him?’

‘Well, we could shut down the whole sim. But that seems a waste of some tremendously creative scripting.’

‘Erm, Stormrider?’

‘Yes EV?’

‘Don't you think it's likely that Prince Oedifax here is the magical being that you are talking about? And that he might be hostile to what you are saying?’

‘Not at all...’Stormrider began, and then halted, perhaps affected by the sinister expression on the demon's face. ‘I mean, the sim is vast. What makes you say that?’

‘The fact that the information you've been working with is in his library. That and the powerful slow wave I experienced just before meeting him.’

For a very long time no one said or did anything. In fact, they didn't even blink. At last a horrible realisation struck EV: he was in a slow wave and a huge one. When it broke, after near two minutes, there was a blur of motion, the details of which Eternal's brain was able to reconstruct. Prince Oedifax had drawn a scimitar, walked to a position behind Stormrider and decapitated the techie. Time resumed its normal flow, as indicated by the rolling head, still with a surprised expression on its white face.

‘Run!’ EV grabbed Angel's hand and was pulling her towards the door when the next slow wave hit. What was it like to be killed during a slow wave? You would have no idea that for everyone outside the wave you were already dead. You would carry on thinking, talking, and attempting to move right up to the resynchronisation of time frames. This was a potentially interesting scenario, one that probably had some value as a thought experiment for some philosophical investigation of death. But just as he began to explore this idea further, Eternal found he could move again. Pleased to discover that his head was still attached to his body, EV and Angel crashed through the room's double doors. From the hall outside, he risked a glance over his shoulder.

Both Mellow and Sol were dead. A determined looking Willing had a revolver in hand. There was no sign of the demon.

‘Come on!’ Now Angel was tugging him.

She was right, you couldn't hope to win a fight in these circumstances. They fled through long corridors and empty rooms to a section of the complex that was without torchlight. There, in the darkness, EV halted, Angel beside him.

‘How do you kill a demon?’ he whispered.

‘Magic weapons. Or spells.’

‘I don't have any in this sim. Do you?’

‘Nope. But they must exist. Whoever wrote the sim has included a fantastical element.’

‘Of a particular sort.’

‘Yes, the myths and magic of a desert people.’Angel gave his hand a squeeze. ‘It is very well done, isn't it? Just perfect if you are in the humour for an adventure.’

‘Oh, absolutely. But if I got the gist of what Stormrider was saying, it's rather more serious than being simply a game. Prince Oedifax could wreck the whole Metaverse with his slow waves and if we all die, our discoveries about this will all be lost. Plus, I want to live and get out of the sim with the knowledge of who killed me.’

‘You don't think it was me, do you?’

‘No.’

They sat for a while, side by side in the dark, then EV reached out to put an arm around Angel. Accidentally, his fingers brushed her cheek; it was damp.

‘What's the matter Angel?’

‘Oh, EV. I'm sorry. We did break up. And I did regret it. So when you died I thought it a wonderful chance to start again. I've been lying to you, but I didn't kill you.’

‘I see.’

‘Do you forgive me?’

‘Of course. You and I are wonderful together. I know it's difficult now that our memories are so mismatched, but all the same, it took a great deal of pleasure from my existence to think that we were no longer a couple and if we do have problems, well, we should work at creating new shared experiences.’

‘Thanks EV, you're a star.’

Suddenly, despite the fact they were lost in the depths of a powerful demon's palace and facing imminent death, they were kissing. And the rush of happiness EV felt at the connection was delicious.

‘We both have to live. To remember this moment,’ Angel whispered in his ear, before embracing him once more.

When at last they broke apart, still holding hands, Eternal's thoughts returned to their predicament.

‘I suppose there's a chance of finding a magic weapon in this palace,’ he said, optimistically.

Angel was equally enthused. ‘A good chance, I'd have thought.’

‘There are many such weapons here.’ The voice was his own, but it came from further along the corridor. Beside him, Angel shifted her weight.

‘Is that you, ghost? Did you follow me all the way into this palace?’

‘Well, I'd prefer you call me Eternal Voyager. I'm fully formed now. I even have your joix de vive and your sense of humour. And your desire to throw parties for your friends. I just need to drain you of blood. Please.’

9. The Revelation

‘One step closer and you get the contents of this revolver.’ There was an audible click, as Angel drew back the hammer of a gun.

‘I've a proposition I'd like you to consider EV. May I put it do you?’EV’s doppelganger sounded quite charming and Eternal warmed to him.

‘Certainly.’

‘Thank you. Now I have grown aware of your knowledge of the Metaverse and understand my situation properly, it seems to me that I could live perfectly happily as you within the sim, while you return to the Metaverse and live perfectly happily outside the sim. In other words, if I drink your blood and you die, it is not the end of your existence.’

‘Yes. I suppose so. But I don't want to die, there's so much I need to remember of these experiences.’

‘I think that you are doomed to die here soon anyway. But I could help you defeat the demon.’

‘Go on.’

‘In return for your blood, I'll lead us to one of the demon's treasure rooms where we can equip ourselves with weapons.’

‘Don't agree EV,’ Angel whispered, ‘we can find those rooms ourselves.’

Aloud, EV said, ‘what about the slow waves? Unless we have a response to those, it does us no good to have a magic weapon in our hands.’

‘I'm not affected by the prince's slow waves. I exist within his time frame.’

‘Right on! This sounds good.’

‘No!’ Angel stood up. ‘I want EV to remember this day.’

‘I'm sorry,’ said the doppelganger, ‘I love you too Angel and understand your feelings. But on this occasion, his romantic experiences will have to be sacrificed in return for my aid. As I said, they are experiences that will be lost anyway when the demon kills you.’

‘He's right Angel.’ EV stood up and gently brought her arm down, so that her gun was pointing at the ground and not at the area of darkness from where the doppelganger seemed to be speaking.

Angel let out a sigh. ‘Damn it. Come on then.’

As the doppelganger moved away, tapping the walls to give them sounds to orientate by, EV leaned closer to Angel and kissed her cheek. ‘Don't worry. We'll be together for decades, if not centuries. That's plenty of time to make new memories.’

‘I know. But this was a particularly magical one don't you think: our reconciliation made so sweetly, while hiding from terrible danger?’

‘True.’

Soon they were back to corridors lit by burning torches and EV could see his doppelganger clearly. It was a very impressive likeness. Although, while EV was wearing silken garments provided by the demon, his double was still in the grime-covered hoody and jeans that Eternal had worn on entering the sim. It was just as well that they had the doppelganger with them, for EV doubted that they would have found the sliding carvings that they were led through, nor the secret door that they now opened.

Beyond was a dark chamber, so EV took a torch from its wall bracket and held it high. Angel whistled appreciatively at the sight that was now revealed. Sumptuous carpets were stacked high upon one another; necklaces and earrings were laid out on velvet covered tables glittered with multi-coloured light; large heavy chests stood tidily against the walls of the room; while banners and weapons were mounted on the walls.

‘This will do me.’ The other EV took a two-handed polearm from its fastenings. The halberd had a wide and wickedly curved blade, beautifully embellished with silver symbols.

‘How about this?’ There was a rack of swords near him and EV drew a longsword from it's scabbard to show the doppelganger. It was no Acutus, but it was well balanced and there was something in the way the blade seemed to glow that suggested that living magic was flowing in the blade.

‘Good choice.’

‘And do you think these arrows will harm him?’ Angel held out a quiver filled with red-fletched darts.

‘Almost certainly.’

‘Well then.’ Having put the quiver across her back, Angel picked up a bow. ‘Lead on.’

Whistling A-Hunting We Will Go, the doppelganger led the way back to areas of the complex that showed signs of inhabitation. Some of the tapestries looked familiar to EV.

‘Wait. Listen.’ EV's double held up a hand.

Not far away were the sounds of voices and a deeper tone that could well be laughter. Creeping forward, Eternal peeked around a corner to see a large carpeted room, decorated with potted cacti and huge china vases. Standing in the centre was the demon, back to EV, facing Lord Grimwald and Lady Sorrow.

‘Hide behind that vase,’ whispered the doppelganger, pointing. ‘And Angel, take that one on the other side.’

While Eternal and Angel hid themselves, the doppelganger stood out in the open, seemingly unafraid.

‘Demon, I demand my wish from you!’ Lady Sorrow stepped forward with hardly a waver in her voice.

‘Oh. So at least one of you has some ingenuity. Very well, what is your wish?’

‘I wish … ‘ Evidently Lady Sorrow had not prepared for this moment and was improvising. ‘I wish that you were dead and all my friends that you just killed were alive again.’

‘That's two wishes. You only get one. Ask again.’

‘I wish that you were dead.’

A great series of infectious chuckles came from the demon. Despite the gravity of the situation, EV found himself smiling.

‘You could have made that more challenging. Don't you know what an Efreeti is?’

‘No?’

‘The blood of a murdered man or woman is very potent and from it a sufficiently powerful sorcerer can fashion an Efreeti. So your wish is already granted. Hundreds of years ago I was a goldsmith in Dasmis and a happy and prosperous one. Until my wife conspired with her lover to murder me. I was found, still bleeding, by a customer of mine, for whom I was engaged in crafting particularly intricately decorated knives. I had no idea of his profession or purpose, until he stood over my dying body and began to chant. Thus you see, you have wasted your wish and now must die.’

‘Wait!’ Lord Grimwaldstepped alongside Lady Sorrow. ‘I demand a wish.’

‘Apologies my vampyre friend. The geas that lies upon me is to grant wishes to humans. You do not qualify.’

A slow wave or two must have hit, for the next thing EV saw as he peered above the vase was the blurred rush of the demon towards Lord Grimwald and Lady Sorrow and their decapitated bodies on the floor.

‘Ahem.’ EV's double gave a polite cough and Prince Oedifax span around.

‘Oh, Mr Voyager, I suppose you want a wish now?’

‘No actually, just to cut you in half with this.’ The doppelganger raised his magic halberd high above his hair.

Again the Efreeti laughed his wicked but genuine laugh. A slow wave ripped through the room and not until it was over did EV catch up with what had happened. His double had held still, as if frozen, while the demon walked briskly to take up a position for another decapitation. Except that once the Efreeti was in range, the doppelganger had delivered a ferocious blow, clean through the demon's chest and out the other side. Now all that remained of Prince Oedifax was a pool of blood on the floor.

EV was about to get up and Angel had done so when Willing Joke stepped out of the shadows of a partly-open door, pistol in hand.

‘I don't know how you resisted that slow wave, but well done EV. Unfortunately, I have to shoot you and Angel too, alas.’ No sooner had he finished speaking than Willing shot the doppelganger in the heart. It crumpled to the floor.

‘Oh!’ cried Angel as EV shrank back behind his vase. ‘Why did you do that?’

She ran to check the body. ‘He's dead.’

‘Yes and he's waking up, knowing nothing about what happened here.’

‘What did happen here?’

‘Did you know that EV made a wish, in his earlier incarnation?’ Willing was walking slowly towards Angel, gun held ahead of him. If only he kept going, there would be a chance that EV could reach him with a lunge of the sword.

‘No. What did he wish for?’

‘I'm not sure exactly, but it must have been something along the lines of wanting to end the campaign to marginalise him for cheating at Epic, because he found out that Marsha Primore did not exist.’

‘Who is Marsha Primore?’ Angel must have been thinking along the same lines as EV, because she was taking small steps backwards, giving Willing room to advance. And he did so, he was almost level with the vase and Eternal shrank right back to the wall, clutching at the hilt of his sword.

‘She was an alter-ego that I created to lead the battle against EV.’

‘But why would you do that? You're one of his best friends.’

‘I used to be. But the acclaim he got for having killed the General of Bow and the General of Sword, really galled me. There's no way he would have gained the dragon as an ally without hacking the sim; the more I brooded on this fact, the angrier I became. I had to make it clear to the wider Metaverse that EV was a cheat, but if I did so in my own name, the issues would have been complicated by the fact that at the time I was partly complicit in his actions.’

‘And people would have said it was jealousy on your part. Everyone knows how much you value your reputation as the Metaverse's greatest warrior. It must rankle that EV’s gnome is so much higher in level than your ranger.’

‘That too.’

Willing's voice was close and the tip of his toe was just visible.

‘You were probably right to stab Eternal.’ Angel said, matter-of-factly. ‘If he got back and exposed Marsha Primore as you, the whole sympathy of the Metaverse would swap back towards him.’

‘Exactly.’

‘But did you have to kill him again?’

‘Better safe than sorry.’

‘Well, I think that's a shame. But you don't have to kill me too. I'm happy that he's dead. It means he goes back to a state of mind before I broke up with him.’

Willing chuckled. ‘Yes, and that motive put you in the frame for the murder. But I'm afraid...’

Guessing that Willing's sentence could only end in a gunshot and the death of Angel, EV rolled out of his hiding place and slashed at Willing's feet. The fact that his avatar was strong and agile ensured the manoeuvre worked. That and the disbelieving expression on Willing's face that showed he was stunned for the vital moment.

With his legs shorn away at the shin, Willing collapse to the ground. And although he managed to get a shot off towards EV, the bullet went wide. By then, Eternal had completed his roll and was on his feet, moving quickly to stamp on Willing's wrist and prevent him raising the gun again.

‘Nice trick. How did you do that? Are you so immoral as to send two versions of yourself in to the sim?’ Willing sounded disgusted. One of the few taboos in the Metaverse was the one which deterred people from populating it with additional versions of themselves.

‘I'd explain. But it would be a waste of time as you won't remember any of this when you come out of your last backup.’

‘I know, but all the same. Satisfy my curiosity before you kill me.’

‘Sorry.’ EV stabbed Willing several times in the chest, the magic blade entering easily.

Angel came up beside him. ‘He's dead.’

‘I'm just making sure.’

‘There's a terribly dark side to you these days.’

‘Really? Do you think so? Do you like it?’

‘I suppose so. It's a little scary. But it makes you very sexy.’

‘Thanks Angel.’ EV wiped the sword clean and sheathed it. ‘Do you reckon you could find that treasure room again?’

‘Yes. Why?’

‘Let's loot it. Some of that gear might work in other sims. And even if it doesn't, once I'm safely backed up, I quite like the idea of exploring this one some more. It has an interesting mix of technology and fantasy. There's no harm in being rich and powerful here.’

‘Good idea.’

10. An Ending and an Ending

Three riders arrived at the Wisan oasis, with a string of heavily laden ponies in tow. After carefully supervising the stabling of the horses, Eternal joined Angel and Zoe in the rough hewn bar of the hostel. A jug of water stood on the table and Angel poured him a large drink.

‘Home tomorrow.’ EV took a seat. ‘I can't wait to get away from hunger and thirst. This kind of realism gets very wearing very quickly.’

‘I'm looking forward to having my whole inventory to choose clothes from.’ Angel looked well in her tight khaki jodhpurs, white blouse, and sandy jacket but EV knew what she meant. Only in a strict sim like this would one wear the same outfit for more than a few days.

‘What about you Zoe?’ Eternal asked, ‘what are you going to do to celebrate when you cross the zone line?’

‘I'm not going to cross it, this is as far as I go.’

EV nearly spilled his drink. ‘But Zoe, you've got one of the greatest stories ever cast on your hands, complete with motion clips and all. And you want to stay longer in the sim?’

‘It's not that,’ tears were in her eyes. ‘Haven't you guessed?’

‘Guessed what?’

‘I'm not Zoe, I'm her doppelganger.’

Simultaneously, EV and Angel lowered their glasses to the table and stared at Zoe.

‘I caught her out in the desert, when she was following Stormrider's expedition. And I ate her.’

Angel let out a low whistle.

‘Blood and thunder Zoe!’ It was impossible, EV found, not to think of her as Zoe Gambit.

‘Yeah. Well. Now you know.’

Angel frowned. ‘You can't cross the zone line?’

‘No.’

‘What are you going to do with the story?’

‘Here.’ Zoe pulled a dusty satchel onto the table. ‘I want you to give it to the real Zoe Gambit. I've written it all up in the notebook there and you have the cameras with the film in them.’

‘I'll miss you,’ said EV.

‘But you have Angel. And you've got millions of other people in the Metaverse. In the Samarkand sim, I'll be nearly as lonely as when I was a ghost.’

In the silence that followed, Eternal distinctly heard the tiny chime of one of Zoe's teardrops splashing into her glass.

‘I've an idea,’ his voice was filled with optimism, but it didn't draw her gaze up from the floor. ‘How about this. I leave the sim and back up. Then I return and you take me out to the desert, somewhere we can find another ghost, doppelganger. I let it eat me. Then I'll wake up at my backup point and you'll soon have another version of me to play with!’

‘You'd do that for me?’ Now Zoe was looking at him intently, hope in her eyes.

‘It's no trouble.’

Zoe turned to Angel. ‘And you don't mind?’

‘Why should I? I'll be with the real EV.’

‘That's wonderful. That's really wonderful.’ And, much to his delight, she leaned over and gave Eternal a kiss on the cheek.

It was nearly midnight in Sol's beach bar and both the bar itself and the decking outside were full of energy as the usual crowd of miscreants, slackers, and surfers partied under multi-coloured fairy lights. Upstairs in a private room, Sol, Mellow and EV were lying in hammocks, looking up at the stars.

‘What wouldn't I give for those memories,’ Sol mused.

‘Amazing story, EV. You didn't make that bit up about him kissing me when he saw me?’

Eternal turned, but couldn't quite see Mellow's expression, the edge of her hammock was in the way. He guessed that Mellow was smiling. ‘He sure did, a big long smooch, right in front of everyone.’

‘In a way Willing Joke was right,’ said Sol.

‘What do you mean?’ EV replied, curiously.

‘Well look at the forums since you exposed him as being the person posting as Marsha Primore. They've gone crazy with outrage.’

‘Yeah. I've some sympathy for Willing now though. Now I no longer feel so angry. It's hard to have popular opinion against you.’

‘That's kind of you EV,’ Mellow sat up to look across at him, ‘but I still feel nothing but contempt for him.’

‘Even though he has a point about me hacking the sim.’

‘Even so. First of all, it was only a small adjustment and secondly, until the vote is held to change the rules, it was allowed. Especially in the context of the General of Bow having talked to the dragon about the Metaverse.’

‘Well, thanks Mellow.’ EV looked at the stars and listened to the beat of the music below them. ‘You can imagine how astonished Willing was that I had discovered his secret.’

‘Did you tell him how you found out?’ asked Sol.

‘Would you have?’

There was a long pause.

‘Not me,’ said Willow, ‘I'd let him stew. The traitor.’

‘I'd have explained it to him,’ Sol announced. ‘There's no point creating a long lasting enmity out of this situation. Not unless you enjoy dueling.’

Having such good friends to talk to allowed EV to put into words a line of thought that had been running through his mind ever since returning from the Samarkand sim.

‘Deciding upon an answer to that question stirred up a whole range of emotions in me; I was surprised. A hundred years ago I wouldn't have harboured any bitterness and would have talked to Willing without hesitation. I'd have just gone on merrily to my next party. But ever since I had to struggle against Hammer, I've been changing. I can be angry now, bitter, vengeful, remorseless. Very interesting emotions, let me tell you. When I feel them, my teeth grind together hard and I want to mete out violence upon those who have caused such feelings.’

‘Woa, dude. Spare me.’

‘Go EV!’ chuckled Mellow.

‘So, fifty years ago, say, I'd have definitely held a grudge against Willing and let him suffer the frustration of not knowing how he came to die in the sim and what happened there that revealed his secret.

‘But then, especially after spending time in the White Mountain Temple, I learned that you can simultaneously have those raging feelings and stand above them. It's like going in a circle, no, really a spiral. I'm back where I was: more concerned about what I'm going to wear at the next party than I am to get revenge on Hammer, or Lord Grimwald, or Willing Joke. But I'm not so innocent. I still feel those emotions to the full, but I can stand a level above them and look down at them. Well, most of the time. Does that make any sense?’

‘Perfect sense,’ said Mellow.

‘Do you know why I love star surfing?’ asked Sol.

‘No?’

‘I love the beauty of it, of course. And I love the danger. But most of all, I love the fact that I have to give my complete being to the moment, to surviving on the cusp of wipe-out. And in those moments, I exist in at least two states simultaneously. If I were to allow myself too much self-reflection, too much memory of my history, my daydreams, or my plans, I'd wipe. But I'm not totally switched off either, it's not like dreaming. I'm alive and I know I'm alive. In fact, at some level, I feel more alive than ever.’

‘Nice,’ said Mellow. ‘But what EV's talking about is more cerebral.’

‘Yeah. I know. I'm just saying that I understand how he can be furious and detached at the same time.’

‘Beautifully put. That's exactly it: furious and detached at the same time.’

‘So,’ asked Mellow after another amiable lull, ‘what did you do?’

‘About Willing?’

‘Yes.’

‘I met him. And I asked him did he appreciate how dislikeable it was for me to experience his campaign against me. His answer was to repeat the line that I was a cheat. So I decided not to tell him how I found out about his scheme. And then …’

‘Go on,’ said Mellow, with interest. ‘How did your newly-discovered philosophy equip you to deal with him?’

‘Ahh,’muttered EV, somewhat ashamed. ‘Not very well really. I punched him in the face.’

Both Mellow and Sol chuckled for some time.

Stars glittered overhead. A hypnotic pattern of beats came from below, louder than the music of the nearby waves. The scent of lilac drifting in from the sea filled the air around him. Cheerful, lively voices sounded from the decking outside the venue. EV felt glad there was a Metaverse and that he was alive within it.