[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
"Life here must be rather close for you."
Arrowsmith nodded. "Yeah. In the others places where I lived I could leave during the winter."
Wess nodded. "And what will you do when spring arrives? Will you stay on?"
"I don't know. I doubt it. I have an urge to get on my bike and go tour the country. Never been on
another planet before. But I would like very much to come back here someday, if nobody
minded." Arrowsmith suddenly thought about running out of gas in the middle of a plain
somewhere, and having to abandon Harley to the elements. It was true the bike got great
mileage, he'd built him that way. But even Harley's mileage wasn't good enough to go forever.
Likewise the batteries were bound to go any day on the CD player, and that would be the end of
that toy. Well, if the CD player died, so be it, but he'd push Harley a thousand miles if he had to,
just so the bike could be a decoration in his bedroom somewhere.
"Pry him from my cold, dead, gripping hands," muttered Arrowsmith, then grinned.
Wess had his eyes closed and did not seem to hear the comment. He drew on his pipe. "I quite
like this music, reminds me of something I just can't recall. Very pretty." He was silent for a time
longer. "Well, if you plan on going to look around, the two places I recommend are Two-
Fifty-Mile-House and White Palace. The latter for its unsurpassed beauty, and the former
because it has the finest candy-makers on Dargoth. Good chocolate, bad wine. The worst wine.
Infamous loves the stuff. Frankly I'd rather drink horse urine."
Arrowsmith laughed. "I'll remember that."
Wess smiled. "Just be careful, the roads can be dangerous, and I don't think Infamous would like
anything to happen to you."
"Yeah, well, anything on the road that wants to rob me or eat me is gonna have to catch me first,
and I don't think Harley will let that happen."
"Just as long as Harley brings you back here one day, that's fine."
"Oh I'll be back," said Arrowsmith, placing the last of the clean dishes on the counter. He rinsed
a cloth with the soapy water, then wrung it out to wipe the table. "I like this place, it feels more
like home than anywhere I've ever been. You people are almost like family to me, which is kind
of a strange thing to say, I suppose, I haven't really known you that long. But I also want to see
some of the country."
A Strange Place in Time - 96
"Well, take this advice from me. There is a land far to the south called Silverwood. You'll know
it when you reach it, because everything you see will be dead. Even if it is still moving."
Arrowsmith looked over his shoulder at Wess. "Oh come on, you can't scare me with that stuff."
"I am serious, Arrowsmith. Very serious. It is a dead, cursed land. Once it was a beautiful
kingdom, ruled by Elves. Now it is dead. The queen of that land, Takeshta, made it so, by using
some form of alchemy. Rumor has it she even managed to survive hundreds of years beyond her
normal life by turning herself into a lich. Stay out of Silverwood."
"Okay, I'll stay out of Silverwood. I still don't believe you, but if the country is dead and polluted
then I won't go there."
The kitchen door flew open suddenly, and Infamous came bouncing in. He was clutching a
wriggling bag, and had a wicked smile on his face. "Wanna see what I caught?" he said, an evil
glint in his eyes.
Wess took his pipe out of his mouth and turned to face Infamous. "You didn't catch one of those
poor little Gnomes, did you?"
"Of course not!" said Infamous, placing the bag gently on the table and opening it. "I caught
three of them."
From out of the sack crawled three dazed and disheveled little figures, none of them more than a
foot tall, all clad in white and dark green. They got to their feet unsteadily, then looked around
the kitchen, their eyes all finally coming to rest on Arrowsmith. From their perspective, he must
have been the size of a mountain. Finally one of the Gnomes spoke.
"So this is why you kidnapped us? To feed us to a half-Ogre?" he bellowed in his little voice. He
thrust his bearded chin out at Arrowsmith.
"Uh...no," said Arrowsmith, completely uncertain as to what to do.
"I'm going to catch some more," said Infamous happily, and left with his bag once again before
anyone could stop him. As the Gnomes shouted at one another unhappily about the whole
situation, Wess just shook his head and began refilling his pipe.
"Are you quite certain you want to come back one day, John Arrowsmith?"
As Arrowsmith stared down at the unhappy Gnomes, he said, "I'm wondering."
A Strange Place in Time - 97
Chapter Nine
Blackbird made his way down the hall, yawning, his robe clutched tightly around his small body.
He was shivering, and wanted nothing more than to climb into a hot bath. He reached the bathing
chamber, opened the door, then stopped.
The tub was empty, and the room was cold.
He sighed. This happened occasionally, when some bit of debris clogged the in-flow. Shivering,
he made his way to the kitchen and pulled on his boots. Arrowsmith, Infamous and the
Moonhound watched the tiny mage grapple with his footwear.
And just where are you going? asked the Moonhound.
Pipe into the tub is clogged, he said, pulling on his cloak. He reached for the door handle.
No you don t! said the Moonhound. She caught him and passed him to Arrowsmith. Tiny
wizards stay indoors!
I can unplug a drain!
Yes you can. But not in late winter in a snowfall. Arrowsmith, guard him.
He saluted her. Jawoll, mein Kommandant!
Now, see here& began Blackbird. The Moonhound caught him and set him in Arrowsmith s
lap.
Guard! she said firmly to Arrowsmith. Infamous, come with me.
Infamous shrugged. He rose to get his cape, then followed her out the door. Arrowsmith turned
his head to look at the very small, frail man seated on his knee.
We could do a ventriloquist act.
I could turn you into a smoking grease spot on the floor.
Grouchy little thing, aren t you?
Blackbird raised his hands and pointed his fingers at Arrowsmith. There came a very faint, blue
crackle of light. Grease spot.
Arrowsmith watched the light. Okay, no teasing the wizard.
A Strange Place in Time - 98
***
The Moonhound walked to the back of the bathing chamber, and stopped. The little runoff
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]