Part 14 (2/2)
”We knew nothing,” Harmony agreed.
”We just quit there and appeared here,” Rhythm concluded.
”It was actually a short flight,” Karia said. ”Before we proceed further, I must ask you never to use my name in my presence.”
”Oh, we know,” Melody said.
”That was funny when you started floating away while Mom was talking,” Harmony added.
”She noticed, but saw Cube was handling it,” Rhythm concluded.
”I'm glad you understand,” Karia said. ”It is a matter of safety. It would be awkward if it happened while I was flying.”
”Now the dragon,” Cube said. ”Where is he?”
The Princesses got together, and soon Rhythm pointed. ”That direction,” Melody said.
”Not far,” Harmony added.
”But it's odd,” Rhythm finished.
Cube exchanged a glance with the centaur. What would strike the Princesses as odd? ”We'll see,” she said.
The Princesses returned to the pouch. Cube remounted, and Karia took off.
Not far in the indicated direction they saw a pretty collection of tents. They were arranged in the form of a large tome. ”Ugh!” Karia exclaimed.
Cube realized that there must be a pun in evidence. She marshaled her thoughts and managed to come up with it. ”A book fair,” she said. ”A pretty book.”
”Exactly,” the centaur agreed crossly.
”It is on the line they pointed,” Cube said.
”No dragons there.”
”We should check anyway. They said it wasn't far.”
Karia sighed agreement and glided down to a landing beside the big book. It turned out to be made of piles of books, each with a brilliant cover. People were walking along, examining particular editions. They were evidently available for those who wanted them.
”These are interesting,” Cube said. ”I wish I had time to read some of them.”
”I understand. A book can be a portal to another world. Xanth gets so dull at times.”
”But no dragon here.”
”He must be farther along.”
Cube picked up a book. It was t.i.tled Phaze. ”That's a funny word.”
”Nice picture, though. I feel as if I could almost step into that scene.”
”We can't afford the distraction.” Cube looked again at the cover, which showed a handsome young man and two lovely young women standing before a green plain. It looked extraordinarily realistic. Then with regret she set it down.
They walked to the edge of the book fair and took off. The jungle closed in. There were no further things of interest.
They reached the great Gap Chasm. The depth of it yawned at them, followed by a small burp.
”I don't think the dragon is here,” Karia said, landing. ”There's a dragon in the Gap, but that's Stanley Steamer, not Drek. The Princesses would have said if he were beyond the Gap.”
”We must have missed him,” Cube agreed. She dismounted so she could stretch her legs. She spied a pretty little flower, and smelled it.
”Cube! Cube!”
Cube looked dazedly around. ”Oh, h.e.l.lo Ka--centaur. What are we doing here?”
”I think you smelled an, ugh, dazey.”
”A what?”
”It is a flower whose smell puts you into a daze.”
”Oh. I'm sorry.”
”Certainly it's not what we're looking for.”
Cube agreed, embarra.s.sed. She had forgotten that they weren't on an enchanted path; innocent things could be dangerous.
They turned around and flew back along the line. There was nothing until they arrived back at the book fair.
”I wonder,” Karia said. ”Where would a person hide, if he truly did not want to be found?”
”Somewhere n.o.body would look.”
”How about a book?”
”A dragon wouldn't fit in a book, unless he were ensorceled.”
”I wonder. We all fit in your pouch.”
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