Zombie Lover (24 page)

"Rehearsing a role," the Gorgon agreed. "In a really bad dream."

Oh. "But what's bad about love?" Breanna asked.

"The sight of the Gorgon's face turns living folk to stone," Justin murmured.

"Love is wonderful," the Gorgon said. "But in this case, I shall bare my face and kiss the miscreant. So will my snakes. He will wake screaming."

"1 hope he deserves it," Breanna said, slightly shaken.

"Oh, he does, he does," the Gorgon said with satisfaction.

"Mother Gorgon, Breanna needs protection," Wira said.

"Don't be silly, child; no one will hurt her here."

Wira was clearly no child, but it was also clear that the Gorgon liked her. "She must travel with Ralph."

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PIFRS ANTHONY

"Ralph1" the Gorgon exclaimed indignantly "He's the one this dream is for' He is nasty, rude, scheming, selfish, stubborn, cruel, hateful, dirty, and generally reprehensible Why would anyone travel with him9'1

"Because he knows the way to the Isle of Women "

"Oh. that." The Gorgon sighed "Then she had better have the protection racket'' She reached into her ample bosom and pulled out a tiny toy tennis racket "Keep this on you at all times, child, especially when you sleep," she said, offering it to Breanna "It will protect you from all physical harm "

"Thank you," Breanna said, accepting it She looked for a pocket, but her slip had none She also realized, belatedly, that when she lost her clothing she had also lost her knife That made her feel naked in another way

"It you are going to travel, you had better dress the part," the Gorgon said She studied Breanna from under her veil "You are full fleshed, but I think one of Wira's dresses would fit you well enough "

"I will fetch one," Wira said immediately She hurned out

"Meanwhile you are surely hungry," the Gorgon continued "1 have some Gorgon-zola cheese " She lifted a plate from the table

"Thank you," Breanna said, taking a chunk She bit into it, and found it very good

"1 am serious about wearing that racket," the Gorgon said. "Ralph is the kind of jerk who doesn't pay much attention to the Adult Conspiracy "

Don t protest
  
Justm advised
   
Ask her what she means

It seemed apt
 
"What do you mean, Gorgon9"

"You look to be about fifteen, so I can't be too specific But some ilk aren't much concerned if a girl is underage He might try to summon the stork with you "

That was specific enough "I wouldn't like that," Breanna agreed "But you say this little racket will protect me9"

"It will, dear But only if it is on your body Make sure not to lose it "

Good advice1 "I will make sure," Breanna agreed

Wira returned with a nice blue dress Breanna put it on over her head, and it did ht well enough, though it bound here and there It had zipper pockets, so she put the little racket into one

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"You may be in doubt about the protection," the Gorgon said "Perhaps you should test it "

She was indeed in doubt
 
"Test it9"

"Try to hurt yourself"

So Breanna tried to bend one of her own fingers backward
  
It wouldn't bend
 
She tried punching the wall, not hard
 
It didn't hurt She punched harder
 
Still no effect
 
So she put all her force into it Her fist made a hole in the wall, but she felt no pain, and her hand was uninjured
  
"This is neat," she said appreciatively

"If you have to," Wira said, "you can strike someone else But you probably won't have to, because he will not be able to strike you Not with any effect "

"Thank you." Breanna repeated Now she truly appreciated the protection racket

"However, you could be abused slowly, so do not depend on it overmuch," the Gorgon said "It is an emergency measure "

"Abused slowly9" There was no answer / think she means seduction
  
Justm said

"Oh " Now she understood, and realized why the Gorgon would not say more She did not know that Breanna was already party to aspects of the Adult Conspiracy

"But you must be tired," the Gorgon said "I understand you traveled all night "

"Well, that's what I do My talent is to see in the dark, so I normally sleep by day "

"You may use my room," Wira said
  
"I don't need it by day "

Breanna was indeed tired "Thank you," she said once more, as Wira led her to another chamber

She lay down on Wira's nice bed and disappeared into sleep

In the late afternoon Justm's voice woke her You may want to clean up for dinner he suggested diplomatically

Not only that, she was ht to burst She headed for the bathroom Then she paused "Do you have to be with me all the time*"

/ believe I can return my consciousness to my tree-self for a while if you wish

"Without Mare Imbn's help9 And if you get there, could you return here9"

/ am not certain
  
he said uncertainly

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PIERS ANTHONY

She reconsidered. "Don't risk it, Justin. If you don't know how girls do it by now, it's time you learned. Stick around." She resumed her trip to the bathroom. It wasn't as if he were physically present, after all.

Thereafter, she found a basin and pitcher with water, and a sponge, so she stripped and washed up. It was good to get clean, after her wearing night and morning.

"You still here?" she inquired as she found a towel and dried off.

"Yes," Justin said. "But if you prefer me to depart—"

"No, it's too risky, and by now you've seen it all." She was struck by another thought. "Did you have a girlfriend, when you were in manform?"

"/ regret I did not I was not—handsome "

"Handsome is as handsome does," she said, repeating an ancient outworn adage.

"/ did not accomplish much, either That's one reason I found I was satisfied to be a tree "

"I think that's sort of sad, no offense. You should have had some decent human experience, before you lost your chance." She found a mirror on the wall, and checked herself in it.

"It might have been nice, had a gtr! like you been interested," he said. "As it was, I did not have much to regret leaving "

She held her pose a moment longer, knowing that he could see her clearly in the mirror, because he saw through her eyes. "You would really have liked a girl like me?"

"Oh, indeed, were she but of age "

"I am of age, by my definition," she said hotly.

"/ apologize I forgot Yes, I would have liked a girl like you very much "

She had been thinking of color and form rather than age, but concluded that he had answered those too. She was pleased. She wrapped the towel around herself and returned to the bedroom.

Another dress had been laid out for her. together with appropriate underclothing. The Good Magician's folk were good hosts. She got dressed, and found that this outfit fit her perfectly. Someone must have judged her measurements by the fit of the slip and other dress, and made alterations.

She touched up her hair, then went to the door. Wira was there. "If you care to join us for dinner, you are welcome."

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"I'm famished." The cheese had been good, but hardly enough to sustain her.

There were the Good Magician, the Gorgon, Wira, and a nondescript man who turned out to be Hugo, the son of Humfrey and the Gorgon. His talent was summoning fruit, but it didn't work well, so that much of the fruit was spoiled. So their fruit was from elsewhere, fortunately.

Dinner was formal, with elegant plates, goblets, and dishes. Breanna suddenly realized that she wasn't up to this. She had never been at a formal dinner before. She didn't know the etiquette. She was sure to mess up.

"How do I get out of this?" she asked Justin desperately. "I'm hungry as all get out, but I'm a dunce at this sort of thing."

"As it happens, I am familiar with the protocol," Justin said. "It was one of those useless things I learned If you care for guidance—"

"Yes!" There was a great answer.

And so he guided her through it, telling her which piece of tableware to use when and how, and to sip rather than gulp, and tear bread in half before buttering, and all the rest, and she behaved perfectly. She discovered a certain grace in the procedure, and by the end of the meal she was actually enjoying it. The food was very good too.

They had recovered her knapsack, and stocked it with extra food. Breanna was not used to such kindness, and didn't know what to say. But Justin stepped in with advice, and she was able to thank them all graciously.

At dusk Ralph arrived. He was a slovenly-looking man in rumpled clothing and a sneer. "So where's this nymph I have to guide?" he demanded.

Breanna opened her mouth, but Justin intercepted her retort before it got out. "Don't get into a war of words with this dragon dung," he advised. "You will only be dragged down to his level"

So she stifled it, and merely said "Here I am."

He looked at her contemptuously. "A black brat."

Already she was getting to dislike him. But all she said was "Let's go-"

They left the castle together. Breanna touched the pocket to feel the outline of the racket, making double sure it was there.

"So what's this nonsense about traveling in the night?" Ralph demanded A/ith a sneer in his tone. "Afraid to be seen by day?"

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PIERS ANTHONY

She opened her mouth, but again Justin got to it first. "Don't let him engage you in argument He's just trying to make you react, so you will be in his power."

He was right, "Trust a man to know the ways of a man," she said silently to Justin, but with a mental picture of a smile so he would know it wasn't serious.

"You are young, but you are pretty," he said seriously. "They were wise to give you the racket. This is not the kind of adventure we want to experience "

"For sure."

"You too stupid to answer?" Ralph demanded.

"I just happen to prefer night for traveling," she said aloud.

"So you can disappear in the darkness?"

He was trying to needle her about her dark skin. "Yes."

"You must be good at that."

"Yes." If she had had a cherry bomb, she would have stuffed it into his smirk.

They walked on for a while. Ralph had a magic lantern so he could see his way. Breanna of course did not need it, but she did not see fit to inform the man of that.

Unfortunately, he soon thought of it for himself. "So what's your talent?"