Free The Road to Amber by Roger Zelazny Page A

the porch. DAVID pulls off a note attached to the bar and reads it.
DAVID
    “Happy Birthday, David. His name is Dorel. Treat him well and he will serve you well. —M.”
    DAVID hands the card to UNCLE MATT and tests the bicycle in the yard.
DAVID
    Dorel. He told me you’re called Dorel.
    (The frame vibrates)
    You’re special. Like the magic kit I asked for last year, with the Indian Rope Trick I can’t do. I’m not a good climber. And the Five-Minute Time Warp, I never found a use for that one either. But I keep it in my pocket. My name’s David. You’re beautiful and you’re fast and you’re easy to steer. I like you a lot. Never heard of a CandlePower brand bike before, though.
    He parks Dorel on the porch and goes in. UNCLE MATT is waiting for him. MATT has a beard and thick eyeglasses.
DAVID
    It’s great. I want to ride it a lot. I want to go show it to Betty!
UNCLE MATT
    She that Councilman Caisson’s daughter?
DAVID
    Yeah. I’m going riding now—
UNCLE MATT
    Wait! I just heard on the news that the night watchman at the mall was found dead this morning of a heart attack.
DAVID
    I know. I told Aunt Rose about it earlier.
UNCLE MATT
    Yes. How did you know?
DAVID
    I was over there with Morrie before the mall opened. He got us in, and I picked out the kind of bike I wanted.
UNCLE MATT
    How did he get you in?
DAVID
    Uh, I don’t really remember the details.
UNCLE MATT
    (scratching his chin)
    What’s he look like, anyway—your godfather?
DAVID
    (shrugging)
    Kind of thin. He has dark hair, I think. And a real nice voice. Makes you want to do whatever he says.
UNCLE MATT
    That’s all?
DAVID
    I guess so.
UNCLE MATT
    Damn! That’s no description, David. That could be lots of people.
DAVID
    I’m sorry.
UNCLE MATT
    (reaches out and squeezes DAVID’s shoulder)
    I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s just that the whole business is kind of…unusual. Not to speak ill of my own brother, but it’s no secret that your father was a heavy drinker. Especially there at the end. It’s why your mother left him. Probably what killed him, too.
    (DAVID nods)
    He told a bizarre story of the way he met your godfather. Sounded like something a paranoid Trotskyite drunk might come up with, and I didn’t believe a word of it. Still don’t.
DAVID
    I don’t remember the story. If I ever knew it.
UNCLE MATT
    Your father said he met Morrie at a crossroads, pursuant to a dream. He’d dreamed that a voice came to him out of a thundercloud limned with lightning and it said, “I am God. You have alienated everyone close to you and I pity you. I shall stand for your son in my own church and make him DAVID happy in life.” Your father said, “You give to the rich and leave the poor working stiffs to hunger. I do not want you for my son’s godfather.” And there was a clap of thunder and the cloud went away, and the earth split and a flame rose up out of the crack and a voice spoke from it, saying, “I am Satan. Have me. I will make him rich. I will see that he gets on well in the world.” Your father said, “You are the Prince of Bullshitters. I do not want you either, for I do not trust you.” And the fire flared, and Satan was gone, also. Later then, as he was halfway to wakefulness, a shadowy figure passed near and told him, “When you awaken walk outside. Stop at the first crossroads you come to. I will meet you there.” “Who are you?” your father asked. “I am he who makes everybody equal,” came the reply. And your father got up, dressed, went out into the darkness, and waited at the crossroads. There he met Morris Leathem and he invited him to be your godfather, for he said that one who had him for a friend would lack nothing. Do you know what that means, David?
DAVID
    Yeah. It’s a good thing that he went to the crossroads, or I wouldn’t have my bike.
UNCLE MATT
    Rose and I weren’t present at your christening. We’d had a disagreement with Sam earlier. So neither of us got to meet Morris.
DAVID
    I