Simply the Quest by Maz Evans

Author:Maz Evans [Evans, Maz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chicken House
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

19. Devil in the Detail

Charon pulled up outside the imposing bronze wall of Tartarus in the Ship of Death. Elliot hesitated as Thanatos headed for the mighty gates. He knew that Tartarus was where the most evil souls spent eternity. It didn’t look like a fun day out. He’d felt the same creepy sensation when Mum took him to Little Motbury’s short-lived amusement park, Clownland.

‘You’re quite safe,’ said Thanatos.

‘Good to know,’ said Elliot uncertainly. ‘Charon, if I don’t come back, get a message to the Gods.’

‘Will do,’ said Charon, producing a clipboard. ‘If I could just take a few details . . .’

‘Sorry?’ said Elliot.

‘Oh – new business venture,’ he said. ‘Courier service, DeadEx. What is the content of your package?’

‘Er . . . “Thanatos is trying to kill me. Please save my life.”’

‘Righto,’ said Charon. ‘Would you like our premium same-day delivery or economy in three to four business days? It’ll save you a fortune.’

‘I’ll pay the extra,’ said Elliot.

‘And would you like the item gift wrapped?’

‘Why not,’ said Elliot.

‘Great,’ chortled Charon, ticking his form. ‘See you later. Or not!’

‘Thanks,’ said Elliot, following Thanatos to the security desk, where a ferocious dog was watching security screens with two of its heads and playing a computer game with the third.

‘Hello again, Cerberus,’ said Thanatos.

‘Damn it!’ yelled the dog. ‘I’m all out of angry hamsters . . . All right, mate – how you travelling?’

‘Well, thank you,’ said Thanatos. ‘I’ve brought young Elliot with me – this is Cerberus, the finest security guard any world has ever known.’

‘Hiya, pal,’ said Cerberus’s left head. Elliot smiled weakly in response.

‘How are you?’ asked Thanatos.

‘Totally skint, mate.’ Cerberus shook his middle head. ‘The wife’s expecting again.’

‘More pups?’ asked Thanatos.

‘More shoes,’ groaned Cerberus. ‘The woman must have more feet than a mutant millipede . . .’

Thanatos laughed cordially. ‘Do you mind if we pop in?’

‘No worries – help yourself,’ said the hound, returning to his game. ‘Ah – hamster-wheel power at last – result!’

The almighty gates to the fiery prison creaked open and the anguished screams of the inmates coloured the stagnant Underworld air. Elliot peered inside. On balance, he preferred Clownland.

‘It’s not so bad,’ said Thanatos reassuringly. ‘Quite toasty really. Come.’

Elliot stepped tentatively through the gates into the scorching wasteland. A tortured scream made him jump. Perhaps prison wasn’t his worst possible future.

‘So this is where you go if you’re really bad?’ he asked.

‘Allegedly,’ said Thanatos.

‘What have they done wrong?’

‘Ah – now that’s a matter of perspective,’ said Thanatos. ‘Wrong is a highly subjective construct.’

‘You what?’ asked Elliot.

Thanatos laughed.

‘Let’s say Man A kills Man B,’ Thanatos began. ‘You’d probably say Man A was wrong.’

‘He is wrong.’

‘OK. What if Man B had stolen from Man A?’

‘Still wrong,’ said Elliot.

‘What if Man B was trying to set fire to Man A’s house?’

‘Man A and Man B are both wrong,’ said Elliot.

Thanatos stopped and looked deep into Elliot’s eyes.

‘What if Man A’s children were inside the house?’ he asked. ‘What if the only way Man A could protect them was to kill Man B? Still wrong?’

Elliot paused.

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