"None," she said. "Not even a legend. He must be after my time."
"A near-contemporary, I would have thought, judging by his dress."
"He said himself he'd taken on someone else's appearance. Someone he'd admired."
"Ah, yes. Another prophet, do you think?"
"From the 19th century? Who was there? Karl Marx? Nietzsche? Wagner? Maybe he looks a bit like Wagner. No. Someone like that, though. English? It's just not my period, Doctor Volospion. And religion was never my strong subject. The Middle Ages were my own favourite, because people lived such simpler lives, then. I could get quite nostalgic about the Middle Ages, even now. That's probably why I originally started doing history. When I was a little girl you couldn't get me away from all those stories of brave knights and fair ladies. I guess I was like a lot of kids, but I just hung on to that interest until I went to the university, where I got more interested in the politics, well, that was Betty, really, who was the political nut, you know. But she really had some strong ideas about politics — good ideas. She —"
"But you do not recognize Mr Bloom?"
"You couldn't fail to, could you, once you'd seen him? No. Doctor Volospion, can't you send me home on my own? If I had a power ring, even a little one, I could…"
She had hinted to him before that if she were equipped with a power ring or two she would be less of a nuisance to him. Few time travellers, however, were given the rings which tapped the energy of the old cities, certainly not when, like Miss Ming, they were comparative newcomers to the End of Time. As Doctor Volospion had explained to her before, there was a certain discipline of mind — or at least a habit of mind — which had to be learned before they could be used. Also they were not one of the artefacts which could be reproduced at will. There was a relatively limited number of them. Miss Ming had never been quite convinced by Doctor Volospion's arguments against her having her own power ring, but there was little she could do save hope that one day he would relent.
"Regretfully…" He gestured. "Not yet, Miss Ming." It was not clear to which of her suggestions he was referring. She allowed her disappointment to show on her plump face.
"Hm," said Mr Bloom from above, "it is evident that the entire planet will have to be consumed so that, from the ashes, a purer place may prosper."
"Mr Bloom!" cried Abu Thaleb. "I would remind you, sir, that while you are a most honoured guest to our world, you will inconvenience a great many people if you burn them up."
Bloom blinked as he looked down at Abu Thaleb. "Oh, they will not die. I shall resurrect them."
"They are perfectly capable of resurrecting one another, Mr Bloom. That is not my point. You see many of us have embarked on schemes — oh, menageries, collections, creations of various kinds — and if you were to destroy them they would be seriously disappointed. It would be the height of bad manners, don't you think?"
"You have already heard my opinion of manners."
"But —"
"It is for your own good," Bloom told him.
"Aha! The authentic voice of the prophet!" cried Doctor Volospion. "Sir, you must be my guest!"
"You begin to irritate me, Doctor Volospion," piped Emmanuel Bloom, "with your constant references to me as a guest. I am not a guest. I am the rightful inheritor of this world, controller of the destinies of all who dwell in it, sole Saviour of your souls."
"Quite," apologized Doctor Volospion. "I should imagine, however, that your spaceship, however grandly furnished and with whatever fine amenities, palls on you as a domicile after so many centuries. Perhaps if you would allow me to put my own humble house at your disposal until a suitable palace — or temple, perhaps — can be built for you, I should be greatly flattered."
"Your feeble attempts at guile begin to irritate me, Doctor Volospion. I am Emmanuel Bloom."
"So you have told us…"
"I am Emmanuel Bloom and I can see into every soul."
"Naturally. I merely…"
"And this priestly fawning only makes me despair of you still further. If you would defy me, defy me with some dignity."
"Mr Bloom, I am simply attempting to make you welcome. Your ideas, your language, your attitudes, they are all decidedly unfashionable now. It was my intention to offer you a dwelling from which you may observe the Age at the End of Time, and make plans for its specific salvation — at your leisure."
"My plans are simple enough. They can apply to any age. I shall destroy everything. Then I shall create it afresh. Your identity will not only be preserved, it will be fully alive, perhaps for the first time since you were born."
"Most of us," Abu Thaleb wished to point out, "were not actually born at all, Mr Bloom…"
"That is immaterial. You exist now. I shall help you find yourselves."
"Most of us are content…"
"You think you are content. Are you never restless? Do you never wake from slumber recalling a dream of something lost, something finer than anything you have ever experienced before?"
"As a matter of fact I have not slept for many a long year. The fashion died, with most people, even before I became interested in elephants."
"Do not seek to confuse the issue, Abu Thaleb."
"Mr Bloom, I am confused. I have no wish to have my precious pachyderms destroyed by you. My enthusiasm is at its height. I am sure the same can be said for at least half the population, small though it is, of this planet."
"I cannot heed you," said Emmanuel Bloom, feeling in the pockets of his velvet suit. "You will be grateful when it is done."
"At least you might canvas the opinion of a few more people, Mr Bloom." Abu Thaleb begged. "I mean to say, for all I know most people might think the idea a splendid one! It would make a dramatic change, at least…"
"And besides," said Doctor Volospion, "we certainly have the means to resist you, Mr Bloom, should you begin seriously to discommode us."
Emmanuel Bloom began to stride up the ramp of his spaceship. "I am weary of all this. Woman, do you come with me now?"
Miss Ming maintained silence.
"Please reconsider, Mr Bloom," Doctor Volospion said spiritedly, "as my guest you would share the roof with many great philosophers and prophets, with messiahs and reformers of every description."
"It sounds," piped Mr Bloom, "like Hell."
"And there are things you should see. Souvenirs of a million faiths. Miraculous artefacts of every kind."
Emmanuel Bloom seemed mildly interested. "Eh?"
"Magical swords, relics, supernatural stones — my collection is justly famous."
Emmanuel Bloom continued on his way.
"You would, as well as enjoying this fabulous company, be sharing the same roof as Miss Ming, who is another guest of mine," said Doctor Volospion.
"Miss Ming comes with me. Now."
"Oh, no I don't," exclaimed Miss Ming.
"What?" Emmanuel Bloom paused again.
"Miss Ming stays with me," said Doctor Volospion. "If you wish to visit her, you may visit her at my dwelling."
"Oh, don't bother with him!" said Mavis Ming.
"You will come to me, in time, Mavis Ming," said Emmanuel Bloom.
"That's the funniest thing I've ever heard," she told him. She said to Doctor Volospion: "It's a bit insensitive of you, isn't it, Doctor Volospion, to use me as bait? Why do you want him so badly?"
Doctor Volospion ignored the question.
"You would be very comfortable at Castle Volospion," he told Mr Bloom. "Everything you could desire — food, wine, luxurious furniture, women, boys, any animal of your taste…"