Part 19 (1/2)
”What an ant warren,” the zombie remarked, impressed.
”Yes, there are many by-paths,” Becka agreed. ”I love exploring them, though I am pretty well familiar with the castle by now. Sometimes I play a game, to see how many ways I can get from here to there without crossing any of the other routes. I don't suppose you folk will be staying the night?”
”Why should we stay even a minute, pee-hair?” Garnishee demanded.
Sim would have bitten his tongue, if he had teeth. The harpy never lost a chance to fas.h.i.+on an insult from innocuous material. The girl's hair was yellow, but not that shade.
”Just for nuisance value, buzzard-claw,” Becka retorted.
”Flattery will get you nowhere,” Garnishee screeched, obviously flattered.
”Let's explore options,” Sim squawked. ”As I recall, the Forbidden Chamber contains the Random Factor, who does unpredictable things to any folk opening that door.”
”Such as exchanging their souls,” Becka agreed. ”And he doesn't seem to do the same thing twice, so the victims are stuck with whatever it is. It was really weird when he switched Princess Melody's soul for the Dastard's. She became worse than he was.”
”That sounds nice,” the zombie screeched, walking around.
”I wonder,” Sim squawked. ”You had a good view of the proceedings, as I remember.”
”Yes. I was the castle, at the time. The princesses had transformed me into the castle. I was aware of every part of it.”
”So you would know if there were any other chamber, perhaps containing a counter to the Factor.”
”There isn't.”
”What, then, is left?”
”I don't know. All I do know is that if you open that forbidden door, the Factor does something random that will probably mess you up. It's not safe to risk it unless you know exactly what you're doing.”
”Factor,” Sim repeated. ”That can be taken as a mathematical term.”
”Oh? How is that?”
For the first time, Sim appreciated the math lessons Che had forced on him. ”A factor is one of two or more numbers or algebraic expressions that are multiplied together to produce a given result. For example, the number 12 may have factors 2 and 6, or 3 and 4, or 2 and 2 and 3. Factoring is the effort to discover what numbers can be multiplied together to make the given number.”
”Can all numbers be factored?” Becka asked.
”Not evenly, no. Numbers that can't be factored are called prime numbers. Such as 7-it can be divided only by itself and 1. Some primes are very large, and it is not at all easy to discover whether they can be factored, but until that possibility is eliminated, they can't be verified as primes.”
”Say,” she said. ”Suppose you asked the Random Factor to factor a prime number? Would he do it?”
”Well, he couldn't factor a prime number, as I said.”
”But would he try?”
Sim looked at her. ”He would be very frustrated, if he didn't know it was prime. In fact, he might be out of commission for a while.”
”And could you get the Ring of Air while he was distracted?”
Sim considered. The more he considered, the more promising it seemed. ”I believe this is worth a try,” he squawked. ”Thank you.”
”Just trying to help,” she said, pleased.
”What do you think, Garnishee?” he asked. ”Should we gamble on opening that door and feeding the Factor a riddle?”
There was no answer.
”Where is she?” Becka asked.
”She was here not long ago. Until we started talking about the Factor.”
”You don't suppose she-?”
”I hope not!” he squawked. ”That could be mischief!”
”Zombies are somewhat literal-minded.”
”We had better check!”
They ran for the depths of the castle. Becka led the way, knowing it best. They sped through halls and almost tumbled down stairs. They came to the nethermost region just as the zombie harpy was reaching for the doork.n.o.b.
”No!” Sim squawked, half spreading his wings in an effort to intercept her. Becka was right beside him.
But Garnishee opened the door before they could stop her. They collided with her, and all three fetched up in a heap before the open doorway.
There was the dread Random Factor, looking like a giant golem. He gestured toward them.
Then they were in a doorless chamber with sheer walls and a decorated floor. There was nothing else.
”That was fun,” Becka said, climbing out of the pile.
”A terrific experience,” Sim squawked, drawing his left foot out of the zombie's mouth.
”A real joy,” Garnishee agreed, untwisting a tangled arm.
”I could do it a million times,” Becka said.
”And die a thousand deaths of mortification,” Sim agreed, shaking out his wing-feathers.
”For a billion years,” the zombie said.
Becka glanced at the door, which was now closed. ”Let's get out of here before our friend does us another favor.”
”The Factor is very accommodating of individual needs,” Sim squawked.
”Especially considering how well we are acquainted,” Garnishee said.
There was something odd about their dialogue, but Sim couldn't quite place it. He looked around. ”There is no obvious exit. This chamber is like a prison.”
”Or like a playpen,” Becka agreed.