Part 33 (2/2)
”That's a relief.” Edsel said.
A puzzle pattern appeared, on the screen, evidently for the amus.e.m.e.nt of the children.
Grey turned to Ivy. ”Why don't you and the children return for us this time tomorrow?”
”We will,” she agreed, kissing him. She turned to the Companions. ”Do you wish to remain here or return with us?”
Breanna hesitated. ”I think we'd better stay here. Just in case.”
”May we use the boat, then?”
”Sure, if Para wants to go,” Breanna said. ”He has more than returned the favor we did him.”
Ivy departed with the children. Now two new figures appeared. ”I am Tristan Troll,” the tall ugly one said. ”Pewter's mouse.”
The other was a tiny woman who resembled Ivy, as an elfin princess. ”And I am Robota,” she said. ”Pewter's golem.”
Pia looked down at her. ”You look alive.”
The small figure fuzed. and reformed in full human size, looking more than ever like Ivy. ”It is mostly illusion. I am a creature made for a purpose, given the abilities I need to fulfill that purpose. For example, I have been programmed to speak three Mundane dialects. English. French, and Italian.”
”You speak English very well,” Pia said, evidently startled.
Robota laughed. ”I am not speaking it here. You are not speaking it here.”
”But of course I am,” Pia said. ”It's the only language I know.”
”When you enter Xanth,” Grey said, ”You speak the human dialect of Xanth. All people do, whatever their original languages. It happens automatically. It is part of the magic of Xanth ”
”It's true,” Breanna said. ”It happened to all the members of the Black Wave when we came to Xanth. When you try to talk across the magic boundary, it's like gibberish.”
Edsel was as surprised as Pia. ”We were never aware of any change.”
”There is no need to be,” Grey said. ”But when Robota and I pa.s.s through Mundania, we will not be intelligible, and will need to handle the local dialects.”
”I will translate for you,” Robota said. ”And speak for you. using your voice.”
”Fortunately we won't be there long,” Grey said.
”Why go there at all?” Edsel asked ”I thought you were to travel back in time.”
Grey smiled. ”That is the most convenient way it is done. The interface between Xanth and Mundania is temporal as well as s.p.a.cial. We shall leave in our present time, and re-enter in the time of the Storm King. Robota is attuned to the key times.”
”This is weird,” Pia said.
BUT FEASIBLE, the screen printed.
”Like the Adult Conspiracy,” Breanna muttered.
”So what do we observers do?” Edsel asked.
”You will be made comfortable here,” Tristan said. ”Pewter will provide for any special needs you have. Simply tell me, and it will be arranged.”
”My credulity is straining,” Pia said. ”I think I'd like to go home.”
Tristan didn't blink. ”Describe your home.”
Justin smiled. ”You will like this ”
”Well, it's a garden variety house,” Pia said. ”We each have an office, so I can do the accounts and he can do the programming without getting in each other's way. We have colored carpeting on the floors, and pictures on the walls.” She continued to describe their house in greater detail, evidently feeling nostalgia.
Edsel noticed what she did not: as she spoke, the house was forming around them. She hadn't clarified that their two offices were in different rooms, so here they were side by side, alcoves in the same room, but otherwise correctly appointed. There were pictures of flowers and lakes by her desk, and pictures of his Lemon motorcycle by his desk, plus a s.e.xy pinup calendar.
Pia finally noticed. ”Yes, that's it, in a way.” she said. ”But it's all illusion, of course ”
”No. this is temporary reality,” Tristan said. ”This is my master's power.”
”And it's some power,” Breanna said.
”Reality? Of course not,” Pia said. She walked to her desk and slapped at the chair, probably expecting her hand to pa.s.s through without resistance. Instead it struck the chair.
She stared. Then she touched the desk, more carefully. Then she lifted a picture from the wall. ”It's real!”
”For sure. I told you.”
Edsel walked to his section. His things were real too. He tried to modify it, using his magic talent, but nothing happened.
”Ordinary magic can not overrule Magician caliber magic.” Tristan said. ”Com-Pewter is supreme in this cave, except for Magician Grey, of course. But if you wish anything changed-”
”No, this is just fine.” Pia said. ”It really is pretty much like home.”
”Then perhaps we should begin,” Grey said.
”If the two of you will touch the two of them, the connection will be established,” Tristan said to Edsel and Pia.
”Wait!” Pia cried, alarmed. ”Do we lose our souls or something?”
”I a.s.sure you, this is not the case.” Tristan said. ”This is merely a link between you, so that the two observers will always know what the subjects are experiencing.”
”And do they also know what we're doing?” Pia asked sharply.
”No. This is one way only. My master has been as yet unable to develop the magic required for two way temporal communication.”
”That a relief,” Pia said. Edsel agreed, though he didn't say so. They went to stand before Grey and Robota. Edsel extended his hand to Grey, and Pia extended hers to Robota. When Edsel's fingers touched Grey's he felt an electric tingle. That was all.
”That's it?” Pia asked, sounding almost disappointed. ”Close your eyes and look,” Tristan said.
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