Moonchild

Chapter5 OF THE THING IN THE GARDEN; AND OF THE WAY OF THE TAO "OH, little Brother!" said the old mystic sadly. "How long will it take you to work through this wretched business?" "I have omnipotence at my command, and eternity at my disposal," smiled the boy, using Eliphaz Levi's well-known formula. "I ought to explain," said Simple Simon, turning to Lisa. "This boy is a desperate magician confined within the circle of this forest. His plan is Action; he is all for Magick; give him a Wand and a host of Demons to control, and he is happy. For my part, I prefer the Way of the Tao, and to do everything by doing nothing. I know it sounds difficult; one day I will explain. But the practical result is that I lead a placid and contented life, and nothing ever happens; he, on the contrary, makes trouble everywhere, excites the wrath of Turks, and worse, if I am right; he thereby brings about a situation where perfectly competent ladies' maids have epileptic fits, mediums endeavour to procure blood from bewitching damozels — and now there's a Thing in the Garden." His voice had a wail of comic disgust. "However, this is Cyril's funeral, not mine. He called me in; I must say I approve of his general plan, on the whole, and I dare say much of the opposition is unavoidable. In any case he is the [64] magician; Principal Boy in a Pantomime. I merely hold the sponge; and we have to use his formula throughout, not mine. If it ends in disaster," he added as a cheerful afterthought, "perhaps it will teach him a lesson! A Chinese God, indeed! He would be better as a Chinese coolie, smoking opium at the feet of Chwangtze!" "He tells me that I stand in my own way, that I love struggle and adventure, and that this is weakness and not strength." "This girl is in danger: quite unnecessary danger." "I am going to ask my master to show you his method; you will see plenty