Part 3 (1/2)

The other navy bean nodded. ”Surely so.”

”Then I think we must go to see the zombies,” the chick pea said with imperfect enthusiasm.

”This is recommended,” the sunflower agreed. ”And I think this is a suitable mission for Sim to support.”

”Saving a world?” Che asked.

”It is best for him to begin small.”

A world was small, to the Simurgh, who knew the entire universe. If Sim could not save a world, he would hardly be fit to tackle the universe. Still, this seemed like a formidable enterprise. He firmed his beak; he would make his best effort.

Then the illusion faded, and they were back on the mountaintop.

Roxanne spread her wings and lifted into the air. She came to hover just above them, her talons descending. There was no downdraft; she could prevent it from happening when she chose, as part of the enhanced powers of flight she had been granted for her task of caring for Sim. She was a good nanny, and he felt closer to her on a personal basis than to the Simurgh. She had time for him. Which was of course the point: Roxanne did not have to run the universe.

They got into the enclosure, and the roc flew rapidly away from the beryl mountains of Qaf. In just a few wingbeats she was gliding down toward Castle Zombie. It was a decrepit structure, overgrown by sickly moss, with a moat filled with rotting goo. Sim was not particularly partial to this site, but he kept his beak shut, knowing that this visit was necessary.

Roxanne set them down on a high slimy ledge, then went to seek a more pleasant resting spot for herself. This was not selfish on her part; it was uncertain that the tottering castle could sustain her weight. She would return the moment Sim squawked. In fact, she would bash down a wall to reach him, if she had to. But she would not have to; the fact was that no one in the Land of Xanth would offer Sim any trouble. That did not make him feel great; it was just the way things were.

A rickety door squeaked open and a zombie emerged. ”Whash?” it asked. A bit of its lip fell off as it spoke.

”We have come to see the proprietors,” Che said.

”Thish whay.” It turned and led the way into the castle.

Inside was a platform, with a zombie maid in attendance. ”Take theze creaturez to Zombie Mashter,” the zombie man said. Then, to the group: ”Donth ashk her to tawk.”

”She can't talk?” Cynthia asked.

”Muzzn't.”

”Mustn't talk?” Che asked. But the guard had already gone back outside.

The maid nodded and turned toward the far exit.

Cynthia got a look on her face. Sim tried to caution her, but she brushed aside his squawk. ”Let's introduce ourselves,” she said to the maid. ”I am Cynthia Centaur. You are?”

”Anna Gram,” the maid said.

”That's interesting. I know a game with that name.”

The zombie maid resumed progress toward the door, not responding. ”I think she's not supposed to talk,” Sim squawked.

”Nonsense,” Cynthia said. ”She spoke her name perfectly well. I do not accept the notion of servants being forbidden to speak. They are people too.” She returned to address Anna. ”This is your station? Where you work? This platform?”

”Sklatform,” Anna agreed, slurring slightly in the zombie manner.

Then Cynthia turned about and walked stiff-legged back out the entrance.

Che and Sim stared after her. ”She looked angry,” Che said. ”What brought that on?”

Anna bowed her head. ”Zorry,” she said.

”Oh, I'm sure it's not your fault,” Che said. ”Though I've never known her to be temperamental. This is quite unlike her.”

Then a light flashed over Sim's beak. ”Anagrams!” he squawked. ”Her talent!”

Anna nodded abjectly.

”I don't understand,” Che said, seeming quite displeased. He was supposed to be the one who always understood.

”Anagrams,” Sim squawked. ”Rearranging the letters of words or sentences to form other words. Her talent is to make that literal, only her zombie p.r.o.nunciation messes it up. She tried to say 'platform' but slurred it. 'Sklatform.' That became 'stalk from.' She spoke to Cynthia, so it affected her.”

”You're right!” Che agreed. ”That's why she's not supposed to talk. There's no telling what will happen. Apparently her name is immune, and when she speaks briefly enough, there's no anagram to be made. Cynthia forced the issue, and paid a consequence.”

”Zorry,” Anna repeated.

”Not your fault,” Che said. ”We won't require you to talk anymore. I'll get Cynthia, and you can lead us silently downstairs.”

In a moment Cynthia was back, and Che explained. ”Sim figured it out.”

”Bright bird,” she agreed tightly.

They followed Anna down several sagging flights of steps. Sim was afraid that the stairs could not support the weight of the two centaurs, but they turned out to be stronger than they looked. Indeed, the castle was stronger than it looked, Sim remembered from lessons. Its seeming oldness was largely magical, and had been from the day it was constructed.

They were met on the ground floor by a comely old woman. ”Why, h.e.l.lo, Che and Cynthia,” she said warmly. ”And Sim, the most beautiful bird in Xanth. But whatever brings you here?”

”We are glad to see you, Millie,” Che said. ”We have need of the Six Rings of Xanth. We understand that only the zombies know where they are.”

Millie the Ghost, as she was still called though her ghostly days were long gone, paused. ”This must be something Jonathan knows about.”

”We hope so,” Cynthia said.

”Let me fetch him. Come into my parlor.” She brought them into the section of the castle that she maintained zombie-free. It was completely clean, and there was no smell of rot. It was a relief.

While she was away, they consulted. ”Do you think he will know?” Cynthia asked. ”If we never heard of the Rings or the Foop, maybe he hasn't, either.”

”He must have,” Che said, but he did not seem completely certain.

”The Good Magician would not have given Cynthia this mission if it wasn't possible to accomplish,” Sim squawked.

”But he didn't want to give it to me.”

Then Millie returned with the Zombie Master. ”You are looking for the Rings of Xanth?” he asked. ”Why?”

”The Good Magician says the Demon Earth needs to be rescued, and the Simurgh says we need the Swell Foop, and to find it we need the Six Rings, and only the zombies know where they are.”

”This is true. Even I do not know, but there are zombies who do.” He glanced at Sim. ”This is an extremely ambitious project. Your mother supports this?”

”Yes,” Sim squawked. ”She wants me to start small. To practice for the big one later.”