Part 41 (1/2)
”So we have nothing to fear but fear itself,” Edsel said.
”Or other emotions,” Justin agreed.
”I'm too young to be scared by; grownup things.” DeMonica said proudly.
Meanwhile Pia was watching the grave stone ”That thing is moving closer.”
”I know it,” Breanna said tightly ”I'm afraid that if it catches me, my mother really will die.” She was not joking, her face was distraught.
”I believe I see another,” Justin said. ”But I don't recognize it.”
Pia looked. It was a tropical tree, seemingly growing out of the water. ”It's just a palm tree,” she said. ”No threat to me.”
Edsel looked. ”Oh, no,” he breathed. ”It's mine.”
”What's its threat?” Pia asked.
”It's a joke my brother Bentley played on me when we were kids. He told me about it, and I thought it was real. It's a Na Palm tree.”
”I don't believe I am conversant with that variety,” Justin said.
”That's because it didn't exist in Xanth, until this moment.” Edsel said ”It's my bad dream. It has barrel-like fruits that explode on contact, setting fire to anyone near.”
”Oh, a variety of pineapple tree.”
”Maybe so. But it terrifies me.” Indeed, Pia had never seen Edsel so scared.
”Tree go bang,” Monica said, intrigued.
Pia saw that the tree was coming closer. It did have deadly-looking fruits. She remembered the description of napalm: it soaked its victims, and burned their skin off, and wouldn't stop. It was one of the most horrible weapons in existence. She didn't want to experience it even in a dream.
”You said we can make them collide.” Pia said. ”Let's do it.”
”Only their subjects can lead them,” Justin said.
”But neither Breanna nor Edsel look capable of doing much,” Pia pointed out.
”Yes. that is the inherent irony of the situation. However, we can guide them.” He spoke directly to Breanna. ”Call that stone to you. dear.”
”I just want to get away from it!” the girl shrieked.
”I love you. Trust me.”
Breanna looked almost white with fear. But Justin look her hand, and she fought for control. She looked at the gravestone. ”C-come,” she whispered.
The stone moved toward her, much faster.
”Me?” Pia asked Justin.
”If you would. We must have both orient on us.”
Pia leaned toward Edsel. ”You heard him, Ed. Call it to you.”
Edsel stared at her with dilated eyes ”The thing will destroy me!”
”No it won't, ” she said firmly, though she had some private doubt. ”Summon it.”
”I can't!”
”Yes you can. I'll help you.” She kissed him on the mouth. ”Do, it Ed.” She hated using her power over him this way, but she had to motivate him to do what he had to do.
He stared at her, his emotions of fear and love warring on his face. She smiled at him. Then he turned, slowly, and gazed at the tree. ”Come, you horror, come,” he whispered.
The tree responded with alacrity. Suddenly it was bearing down on them.
”Hold on. everyone,” Justin called. ”Para-now!”
The boat had evidently been waiting for this directive. He leaped forward so suddenly that Pia fell backward off her seat.
And behind them, the rus.h.i.+ng gravestone crashed into the charging tree There was a ball of fire, followed by dissipating smoke. The two dream monsters were gone.
”But there will be more,” Breanna said, recovering ”For all of us.”
”Monica, find that locket.” Justin said urgently to the child.
”That way,” Monica said, pointing to a nearby tiny island.
The boat veered. But another shape appeared, and it wasn't the locket.
”Oh, no.” Justin breathed.
”What is it, dear?” Breanna asked.
”It's a morph.”
”Morph,” Edsel said. ”As in morphine, a pain killer, or morphing, changing form?”
”Both,” Justin said with impending dread.
”But those are two different things.” Pia protested. ”One's a shot, the other's a movie and ad gimmick.”
”Both.” Justin repeated weakly. ”It's an injection that causes folk to change shape involuntarily. I've seen it attack animals and ruin their lives. They get addicted to change, but can't handle the new forms. It's going to get me. and make me change back into a tree, or worse, right when I want so much to remain as I am.”
”Now I feel your pain,” Breanna said. ”I don't want you to change.”
”Changing forms is fun.” Monica said innocently.
”But it's only an emotional thing, isn't it?” Pia asked ”Not really physical?”
”An emotional tree could not embrace Breanna.” Justin said, his eves locked on the approaching hypodermic shape.