Geis of the Gargoyle (33 page)

"We illusions are not as limited in imagination or performance as are you non-illusion folk," Hanna said.
 
"This is of course an illusion copy of the screen."

The blanket around Gary opened a mouth.
 
"How can an illusion screen dry real clothing?"

"This is a pretty strong illusion," Desi said.
 
This made sense to Gary, who remembered how Iris' illusion lamp had made real light.

Iris shrugged and brought the clothing to the screen.
 
She held up Gary's limp shirt, stretching it out flat.

The sun screen brightened.
 
In fact it became so bright that it was difficult to look at it.
 
So Gary looked at the shirt instead.
 
Steam was rising from it.

Then Iris dropped it.
 
"Oh!" she cried.
 
"My hands are getting scorched!"

"Fortunately it's already dry," Hanna said, picking up the shirt.
 
"Come and put it on, Gary." She stood at the edge of the circle, holding the dry shirt up.
 
"And how can an illusion pick up a real object?" the blanket asked.

"We're pretty strong illusions, now, too," Desi said, picking up the undershorts.
 
She held them before the sun screen, which brightened again.

Gary walked to Hanna.
 
"Ooo," the blanket said.
 
"That magic is strong at the fringe! In fact, it's dangerous.
 
I tell you this in utterly sincere sanity."

"But the shirt is warm and dry," Hanna said, holding it out.
 
"Let me put it on you."

Gary stood before her, with the blanket sliding down somewhat, and she set the shirt on him, passing it over one arm and then the other.
 
Her hands were firm and gentle.

The shorts were dry.
 
Desi brought them over.
 
Hanna took them and helped put them on him.
 
"This is weird,"

the blanket said, floating away.
 
Finally the trousers were ready.
 
Gary insisted on putting them on himself.
 
They were warm and dry too.

Mentia reformed in her usual image.
 
"What is going on here?" she demanded.
 
"How can you two illusions be physical? A stronger illusion is merely a clearer, more detailed one, not a physical thing."

"Note that we are standing near the fringe of the circle," Desi said.
 
"The storm has intensified the magic, and it is now more powerful outside the circle than any normal person can handle.
 
So strong that it even lends the semblance of substance to some illusions."

That seemed to make sense.
 
But now Gary remembered how Hanna had massaged him in his room in the palace.
 
Her hands had felt quite solid then.
 
Also, the covers of his bed had been supported by her body when she was sleeping there in the morning.
 
She might have been on autopilot, but shouldn't her substance have faded then? The illusions were capable of some solidity even when they weren't at the fringe of a storm.

Mentia went to stand at the fringe of the circle.
 
She put an arm out into the madness beyond.
 
"It is stronger outside," she said soberly.
 
"But not nearly as strong as in the gargoyle's chamber."

"Nothing matches that strength," Hanna said.
 
"It, too, varies with the ambient magic, but it is always by far the strongest on the surface of Xanth.
 
It enables the gargoyle to purify highly enchanted water.
 
Thus we make a virtue of excess: the magic we don't want in the main circle helps provide the water that makes the circle safe."

Meanwhile Hiatus was gazing out at the city.
 
"It is really strange out there," he said.

The others looked.
 
Indeed it was strange.
 
All the buildings were now affected by the madness.
 
They had been compacted by the folding process, but were swaying and twisting in the winds of the storm.
 
Their colors were shifting constantly, and some were stretching and bobbing as if pulled or banged by a giant unseen hand.
 
Snow was flying in one section, mounding up on and around the structures, burying them in green, red, yellow, and plaid.
 
Ice was forming in another, coating the stones so thickly that they scintillated.
 
But elsewhere the swirling clouds seemed to be producing black and white sand, which outlined the sharp angles of the stones, making them stand out in stark relief.

The storm swept right up to the edge of the circle, but was unable to penetrate it.
 
The stone structures seemed to be the pedestals supporting an invisible dome that arched over land, pool, and island, marked by the sudden change in the aspect of the storm.
 
The rampaging winds formed themselves into a kind of funnel, broad at the top, narrow at the bottom-and the tip was right at the island.
 
Within the funnel was the color of madness, too compelling even to look at for more than an instant, while outside it was the calm of the protected area.

"This construction truly is a wonder," Iris murmured appreciatively.
 
"I never dreamed that such a city ever existed."

"Naturally not," Desi said.
 
"Hinge is excluded from the realm of dreams.
 
Dreams are mad enough already, without being fouled up by storms of madness."

"How long do these storms last?" Hiatus asked.

"Not long," Hanna said.
 
"This one is already waning."

"I don't see it raining," Hiatus said.

"You are so clever," Desi said, making an illusory effort to look appreciative.
 
"The storm is diminishing."

"Oh."

"Soon we will be able to restore the city and return to more comfortable surroundings," Hanna said.

Something had been bothering Gary, and now it surfaced.
 
"All this is interesting," he said.
 
"But it is not accomplishing our purpose."

"What is your purpose?" Desi asked.

"We are looking for the philter."

Both illusions froze for a moment.
 
Then both came back to life.
 
"We thought you were interested in the history of Xanth," Hanna said.

"We are," Ins said.
 
"But that is a means to an end.
 
The end is the philter, which will free the gargoyles of their geis.
 
We understand that the philter is somewhere in this city."

Hanna exchanged a glance with Desi.
 
Both seemed disturbed.
 
Gary wondered again how illusions could have feelings.
 
He also noticed that though the two still alternated speech, they were now acting at the same time.
 
The heightened magic at the edge of the circle was enhancing them in several ways.

"We wouldn't know about that," Desi said.
 
"But maybe we can help you find out."

"How?" Gary asked eagerly.

Hanna met his gaze, her face serious.
 
"You know that Desi and I are illusions.
 
Our roles are limited.
 
We can show you only what we know.
 
If you want to know more, you must get seriously into your roles."

"What are you talking about?" Mentia asked from the circle's edge, very seriously.

"You have the roles, but you aren't truly into them," Desi said.
 
"You are not living them."

"The roles," Hiatus said.
 
"You mean like my being Hiat the Hedonist?"

"Yes," Hanna said.
 
"A sinister man who argues selfinterest but whose true loyalty is shrouded."

"And Iri the Irate," Iris said.
 
"The imperious Queen."

"Menti the Mentor," Surprise said.
 
"Loyal nanny for Supi the Super!"

"Governess, not nanny," Mentia said firmly.

"And Gar the Good," Gary said.
 
"Though I can't see that I fit any such role."

"They are the ones who made the Xanth Interface," Desi said.
 
"When you live their lives, perhaps you will have what you desire."

"Not so fast," Iris said.
 
"Exactly where did you two illusions come from? Why are you here showing us around and explaining things?"

"We are animations of the madness," Hanna said.
 
"Drawn from images of two who thought of you at the time we were formulated.
 
We know you have a job to do, and we are here to help you do it."

"What job?" Iris demanded.

"That we are unable to explain," Desi said.
 
"But it is surely important, or you would not have come here."

"We came here to find the philter," Gary repeated.

Both illusions shook their heads.
 
"You may have thought you did, but there must have been a deeper purpose," Hanna said.
 
"You must discover that purpose, and honor it."

Mentia was thoughtful.
 
"You were assigned a job by the Good Magician, Gary.
 
He always has some devious purpose in mind, and he almost never lets anyone else know about it.
 
Maybe we do indeed have a mission we have not realized."

It did make obscure sense.
 
"Then let's do what we have to do, to get it done," Gary said.

Both illusions smiled.
 
"Do it when you return to the palace," Desi suggested.
 
"You may find it a significant experience." She darted a look at Hiatus, and Gary almost thought he saw stork wings propelling the look along.
 
It was clear that she had not given up on Lord Hiat.

Then he glanced at Hanna, and definitely saw wings on her returning glance.
 
But he wasn't interested, because he had found a gargoyle.

The storm passed, and soon the ogres were out again, unfolding the buildings.
 
Nothing seemed to have come unhinged, and the city was returning to its former splendor.
 
At least they now knew the reason for its odd construction.

It was time to return.
 
Gary took a last, covert, longing look at the isle where Gayle Goyle was hidden.
 
He intended to see her again, when he could manage it.

11

INTERFACE

As they entered the palace, a rumble from Gar's human stomach reminded him that they hadn't eaten recently.
 
The storm had distracted them as they were about to go to breakfast.
 
"Let's go directly to the banquet hall," he suggested.

"Brilliant notion," Iri agreed without irony, which was unusual for her.
 
"I'm famished."

"Brunch will be served presently," Hanna said.
 
"Just take your seats." She and Desi bustled off into the kitchen.

The five of them sat around the huge table.
 
Iri glanced significantly after the two illusions and spoke in a low tone.
 
"Can we trust them?"

"No," Gar said, remembering Gayle Goyle's warning.