Part 43 (1/2)

”How was it? Did you have a nice visit?”

How could she tell her mother all of what had happened? That she had gone to another galaxy, and tried to seduce her friend's fiance, and agreed to host an impossibly powerful foreign Demoness. Mother would never understand. ”It was great, mother. I had all kinds of adventures. And-” She hesitated. Was Putre really here? ”Excuse me. I have to-” She hurried on through the house.

”Of course, dear.”

But it wasn't the bathroom she was going to. She went on out the back. There was nothing there. Had she been deceived? ”Oh, Putre,” she murmured sadly.

Something nuzzled her elbow. There was the black horse. She had invoked him by speaking his name. ”Oh, Putre!” she cried, clasping his neck tearfully.

Then she stood back a bit. ”Can you still talk?”

Putre shook his head. No speech balloon appeared. He had become Mundane.

”I love you anyway!” she said, hugging him again. For an instant she thought she saw a little heart float over his head, but that was surely imagination.

Then she turned back toward the house. How was she going to explain this to her folks? The truth would never do.

She heard the phone ringing. That would be David, calling from Florida; she just knew it. She had things to tell him, especially now that Demoness Fornax was gone. She hurried inside.

EPILOGUE.