Part 27 (1/2)
”As long as it hurts people, it's okay with me,” said Ares.
”Now listen up,” Michael said. ”There are a few points you need to know about weather making.”
Chapter 3.
A woman's voice cried, ”Found it!” and there followed a click. Moments later came the sounds of a fence falling.
Oliver rose to his feet to explore the limits of his confines.
There were no limits. So he began walking.
He wasn't sure where he was going, but since he had a Moronia spell he figured it would all come out all right. The spell pulled and tugged at him, and there was no doubt as to what direction he was intended to walk. He became aware that he was covering great distances. The spell began tugging him to the left, and he followed it.
Soon he was on a beach. He continued walking, and after a while he saw a great cave. There was something forbidding about that cave, and he thought to give it a wide berth, but then he saw a rustic sign nailed up above its entrance: RINGHOLDERS WELCOME. So he went in.
A giant sat on a stool just inside the doorway. ”Have you got the ring?” the giant asked.
”Sure do,” Oliver said, and showed it.
The giant studied it carefully. ”Good, you're the one.”
The giant got up and rolled a boulder toward the entrance of the cave.
”What did you do that for?” Oliver asked.
”Orders,” said the giant, sitting down again on his stool.
”So what happens now?” Oliver asked.
”Believe me, you don't want to know.”
”But I do want to know. Tell me!”
”I eat you,” the giant said.
”You're not serious!”
”I am perfectly serious. Did you ever know a giant to kid around?”
Oliver said, ”I've never done you any harm.”
”It's got nothing to do with that.”
”What has it to do with, then?”
”Sorry, buddy, but I've got the work order right here. Eat the guy with the ring. That's what it says.”
”What guy with what ring?” Oliver asked.
”It doesn't say. Just 'the guy with the ring.' ”