Part 40 (2/2)
”Pay no attention to the sycophant.” Breanna said ”It flatters every-body with equal insincerity.”
”We are approaching Mount Etamin,” Justin said.
Pia was relieved - until she saw the dragon circling the peak. In a moment the dragon spied them, and swooped down.
Breanna seemed unalarmed. She stood carefully in the boat ”Hi, Draco!” she called. ”It's us - Justin and Breanna. And friends. Coming to see Nada Naga.”
The dragon waggled with wings and veered off. Pia was not entirely rea.s.sured. ”What would have happened if we had not been friends'”
”He'd have toasted us.” Breanna said, shrugging. ”But I wouldn't have let us come here if I hadn't known it was safe.”
”Draco is an honorable dragon.” Justin said. ”He has a very nice collection of gemstones in his nest. I believe he is the only dragon to possess some black beryls.”
Para ran up to a tunnel and into the mountain. Soon it opened into a lighted cave. A huge snake loomed, forming the head of a human being. ”Who are you, and what is your business here?”
”Breanna of the Black Wave, Justin Tree, Edsel and Pia of Mundania, and Para Boat.” Breanna said. ”We need to see Princess Nada Naga about her daughter. DeMonica.”
The naga guard rolled his eves. ”Has that demon child gotten into more mischief?”
”Not exactly. She has something we need. A locket ”
”Wait here.” The human face disappeared, and the serpent slithered through a hole in the wall.
Soon two other snakes returned The big one formed a lovely human head with a small golden crown ”h.e.l.lo, Breanna,” the princess said.
”h.e.l.lo, Nada.” Breanna said ”Edsel and Pia are Mundanes, here on an exchange program. They need to borrow the magic locket Ted and Monica found.”
The small snake formed into DeMonica. ”It got boring. We left it in the Fanta Sea.”
Oh. no, Pia thought. They were going to have to search for it.
”Can you show us where?”
”Sure. I think.”
Breanna hesitated. ”Is it safe for Mundanes in the Fanta Sea?”
”It is it they are careful,” the Princess said ”Why don't you take Monica along, and bring her back here when you find it?”
”Thank you.” Breanna said. ”Hop in, Monica.”
The child performed a huge hop and landed in Pia's lap. ”Hi, Pia,” she said cutely, and kissed her on the cheek.
Pia hugged her. This sort of thing was getting easier with such cute children. ”Hi, Monica. How did you get so sweet?”
”I gave my sour to Ted. For today.”
The others laughed. The boat turned around and set off. Monica remained on Pia's lap. Pia loved it; there was just something about the child. Pia had never wanted to have children, but after meeting this one, and Ivy's three, she was changing her mind.
”Now just what is this Fanta Sea?” Edsel asked. ”I mean, I know that wild dreams appear there, but what kind of dreams are they?”
”All kinds.” Breanna said uneasily. ”The truth is, I don't much like the Fanta Sea. But if that's where we have to go, then that's where we have to go.”
”Good dreams or bad dreams?” Pia asked. If Breanna didn't like that region, chances were that Pia wouldn't like it either.
”All kinds,” Justin said. ”It is a place where actual dreams escape from the realm of the gourd. Normally they are disciplined, organized by the gourd crews and carried by the night mares to sleepers who deserve them. But at the sea they are undisciplined, and can do what they want. Even the good dreams may not be welcome, when they have no outside controls.”
”Good dreams unwelcome?” Edsel asked. ”I'd love to he swamped by good dreams.”
But both Justin and Breanna looked dubious. Only the child agreed ”Yes. Fun.”
”I'd like some clarification,” Pia said nervously. Xanth was a land where face values could be very literal, hut still needed to be handled with caution. Why should a child enjoy something that adults were wary of?
”It is somewhat awkward to explain,” Justin said.
”We're here,” Monica said. ”Go straight ahead, quack-foot.”
Pia looked ahead. It seemed to be an ordinary lake, with brush around the edges and reeds growing in patches. Para ran into it and started swimming.
Breanna looked to the side. There on the bank was a cemetery memorial stone. She shuddered.
”That's a dream?” Pia asked.
”For sure. That's serious.”
”It's a grave stone.”
The girl nodded. Then Pia smelled a pun. Grave stone-serious rock. ”Are you pulling my leg?”
”Not this time. Honest. That stone reminds me of my dead mom.”
”Your mother's dead?”
”No. But I used to dream she was, and I knew because I saw that stone. It scares me to pieces.”
Pia saw that the stone was moving along beside the boat, paralleling their progress. ”Can you get rid of it?”
”I used to be able to wake up. But now it's out here in my waking state.”
”There is a way,” Justin said. ”It is possible to make the dream spooks cancel each other out. What is necessary is to lead one into another, so that they collide. This requires some maneuvering, but is feasible.”
”What happens if one catches you first?” Edsel asked.
”Dreams can't cancel people, because then there would be nothing to see them.” Justin said ”They are mere phantasms.”
”But they sure can scare you.” Breanna said. ”That's what they do. That's their magic. They make you feel whatever they want you to feel, and you can't escape it.”
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