Part 16 (1/2)
They moved on, and came to a third exhibit. This was of a lowlands scene, with rolling hills and valleys. It was largely forested, with many odd trees.
”What are those?” she asked, pointing to several grossly fat-trunked growths.
”Beerbarrel trees. Their trunks contain beer They are rather popular in some circles ”
”You mean people get drunk in Xanth?” she asked, surprised.
”Some do. I confess I do not understand what they see in such activity.”
”You never drink?”
”I drink water, of course. Or one of the myriad flavors of soda from Lake Tsoda Pop. Or milk, or boot rear, or similar. But I would not care for an intoxicant.”
”Me neither.” she said. Actually she had had her flings, back when she had really been sixteen. But it had complicated her diabetes, and she had learned better. ”That goes double for boys, I won't go near one who's drinking, because he's sure to get ideas.”
”Ideas? Of what nature?”
”Of a s.e.xual nature.”
”Oh.” He seemed embarra.s.sed. Lovely man.
Then she saw a small figure half hidden behind one of the fat trees. ”Oh look!” she exclaimed, delighted.
”It seems to be a little man, or an elf, or fairy.” He peered more closely. ”No, I think none of these. I don't believe I recognize the type.”
”It's a leprechaun,” Pia said.
”Really? I have never seen one before.”
”Maybe they are confined to this particular forest in Xanth. Their range is very limited in Mundania, too. To Ireland, I think.”
”Ire Land? Are they bad tempered?”
”No. just very shy ”
They walked on to the next exhibit. This scene was the same as the prior one, except that there were some ponds in the low sections. Pia looked at Justin. ”Does this mean anything to you?”
”The exhibit is very nicely done, but apart from that I see no special significance. Perhaps this is after a heavy rainfall.”
They moved on to the next exhibit in the gallery. This was the same scene, but with several of the ponds linking into a lake. It was an attractive view, but some trees were being overtaken by the water; the bases of their trunks were covered. The leprechaun was back, and looking worried. ”I guess I'm not one to make judgments,” Pia said. ”But maybe this is too much of a good thing. I mean, ponds and lakes are fine, but this was regular land.”
”I agree. It is painful for me to see trees suffer.” The next scene showed a still larger lake, and several of the trees were dead. ”If this is meant to be uplifting,” Justin said, ”it is not so, for me.”
”Let's move on.”
They did so-and came to the steps to the surface. ”We have completed a circuit!” Justin said, amazed. ”I was so taken with the exhibits that I didn't realize.”
”Me neither. So it's one big loop. Six illusion pictures of two scenes. And that's it.”
”I fear I still do not understand the rationale.”
Pia agreed. ”Maybe I'm too bleeping suspicious, but I can't believe that this is all there is. Do you think it's a test, or something?”
”A test?” he asked blankly.
”To find out just how smart we are. See if we have the wit to figure out the real situation ”
”I suppose that could be the case. I confess feel rather unintelligent at this stage.”
Pia realized that Edsel probably could have figured it out. He was good at puzzles. She wanted to prove that she could figure out something on her own, before appealing to him for help. ”There must be something we're missing. We have to prove we're smart enough to figure it out.”
”This may indeed be a challenge. But my mind is not apt at such riddles.”
”Let's see: we made a loop and saw six exhibits. They're in a big circle. Could there be something inside that circle?”
”That seems to be a fair possibility. But I saw no access to it.”
”Right. No tunnels going anywhere. Just those illusion pictures.” Then she had a bright idea-and was amazed to see a light bulb form and flash, about two feet before and above her face.
”You have a bright notion,” Justin said.
”Yes.” she said, recovering from her surprise ”These pictures are illusion, right? So they're not solid. There could be something behind them.”
”Behind them? I should think merely the wall.”
”How do we know? There could be another pa.s.sage. We wouldn't see it, because it would be covered by the illusion.”
”Why I believe you are correct. It is certainly possible.”
”So let's go look.” She forged on toward the first of the exhibits.
Justin followed. ”Actually, there could be other pa.s.sages from this one, covered by illusion. But your notion is certainly viable.”
They reached the snowy mountain view. Pia reached into it. The snow wasn't cold; there was no sensation, and no tingle of danger. She lifted a foot and stepped into it. As her head entered the illusion, she became blind; there was nothing but fog in view.
She backed out, and the pa.s.sage reappeared. ”I'm not Breanna. I can't seen in the dark. That scares me. I mean, suppose there's a pit and a pendulum?”
”A pendulum?”
”Never mind. What I mean is that there could be something dangerous in there. Maybe not inimical, but not good to go into blind, like a drop-off. Because folk aren't expected to walk through the illusions. Anyway, it makes me distinctly nervous.”
”A sobering prospect,” Justin agreed. ”It may be unfortunate we lack a rope, so that we could protect ourselves from a possible fall.”
”Yes.” Pia remained unwilling to give up on it, but what else was there to do? Then a second bulb flashed ”Clothing!”
”I beg your pardon?”
”We could knot our clothes together to make a rope. Maybe not a long one, but maybe enough. I saw that trick in a movie once.”
”A what?”