Part 37 (1/2)
The Siren heard them and turned, ceasing her playing and singing. She had hair like flowing suns.h.i.+ne, and a tail like flowing water. Her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s were spectacular.
”She can summon me anytime,” Edsel breathed.
”Well, you're an idiot male.” Pia retorted. She pursed her lips. ”But she does have formidable architecture.”
”The Siren is seventeen years old at this stage,” Justin remarked. ”She has a teenaged figure.”
”That's the best kind,” Breanna said.
”Indubitably.”
”You must be the Siren,” Grey said.
”Why so I am, handsome man,” the mermaid said, inhaling. ”Are you going to stay a while?”
”I, ah. already have company,” he said, indicating Robota, who remained on his shoulder.
”I'm sure the golem girl can share you. What can she offer that I can't?”
”Legs,” Robota said, flexing hers.
”Really?” The siren drew her tail from the water, and it split and became a fine bare pair of legs. She stood, setting her dulcimer on the stool.
”We came only to talk,” Grey said quickly. ”You seem to have been causing some mischief in the neighborhood.”
”But all I do is divert myself by singing and playing my dulcimer,” the siren protested. ”It gets so lonely.”
”Couldn't you go elsewhere to divert yourself?”
”No. Our parents left me and my sister the Gorgon here, making us promise never to leave the lake. So I remain, hoping for company. But it never remains.”
”Gorgon?” Robota asked.
”That's her name. She's lovely, like me, and has almost as sweet a disposition. But we got tired of each other's company-I mean, we're both female-so she went to another island nearby. The trouble is, though I play fair and let men go on to meet her too, she never sends them back. It's generating some stress between us.”
”You don't know why?” Grey asked.
”Well. I never thought she was selfish, but I'm beginning to wonder.”
”They are truly innocent,” Justin explained. ”When they reached the age of-of-”
”Stork interest,” Breanna supplied.
”Um, just so. At that stage their magic talents also matured, and they could no longer be safely kept at home. So they were deposited on the islands of the lake, to fend for themselves. Which, unfortunately, they were more than capable of doing, despite their innocence.”
”So then you lure more men, with your music,” Grey said. ”And the same thing happens.”
She pouted prettily. ”Yes. I would like to marry and settle down, but I have to let them meet my sister, because we are supposed to share evenly, and then I lose them.”
”Well, I may not be an authority, because I'm from Mundania.” Grey said carefully. ”But I think there are better ways to meet men. Perhaps I can persuade your sister to send one back to you.”
She clapped her hands. ”That would be wonderful! I have so much to give, if only there was someone to take.”
”She's not tooling.” Edsel commented. ”That bare figure-”
”We know.” Pia snapped. She tended to get snappish when encountering women with fuller bosoms than hers.
Grey and Robota followed the one way path on to the Gorgon's island. ”What are they up to?” Pia asked. ”That creature's dangerous.”
”I believe he wants to persuade the Gorgon not to turn every man to stone.” Tristan said. ”But this is chancy, because the Gorgon significantly affects Xanth history, especially after she encounters Magician Humfrey, and this must not be changed.”
”Grey knows that.” Breanna said. ”He lives at the Good Magician's castle. He knows the Gorgon personally.”
”Then she'll recognize him!” Breanna protested.
”No. dear,” Justin said. ”She does not know him at this time. Later she may remember him, but that's much closer to the present, and shouldn't have much effect. Still, I confess I am not at ease about this encounter.”
”Ssst!” Pia said. ”The golem's on it.”
”Is this wise?” Robota asked as they walked. ”The Gorgon will marry the Good Magician, after he makes her deadly face invisible.”
”I won't interfere with that, of course,” he said. ”I merely want to unstone some of the men from the Magic Dust Village, so they can return there to work and comfort their women.”
”The Siren's song will just lure them away again.”
”True. But at least they will have some time with their families, making things better without changing history significantly.”
”I think you're risking paradox.” Robota said.
”No I think it will be all right.”
”In fact, I think you have been foolishly smitten by the lovely innocence of the Siren, and want to see the Gorgon in her teenage youth.”
”What makes you think that?”
”I am objective as only a machine can be, and female besides. Turn aside. Grey.”
”I think she's right.” Pia said. ”He is after all a man. There's only so much bare female flesh they can handle before their foolish minds overload.”
The others looked at Edsel. ”I fear she's right too.” he said. ”That siren is one luscious creature, and she has made it plain she wants a man to love. Grey has lost his objectivity.”
”Do we have to send in help?” Tristan asked nervously.
”Not yet.” Edsel decided. ”It hasn't happened yet. Maybe he'll come to his senses before he does something really stupid.”
But Grey demurred, forging onward. He seemed to be beyond reason. Edsel winced, watching it. Men were foolish about women This was the danger they hadn't antic.i.p.ated.