Part 19 (1/2)

It's a start, Newel said. But let's face it, they'll run out before long. I a.s.sume there are more where those came from?

Lots more, Seth a.s.sured him. This is just a test run. If I remember right, you said something about batteries being worth their weight in gold.

Newel and Doren shared a glance. We think we may have figured out something you'd like more, Newel said.

Follow us, Doren said.

Seth walked with the satyrs over to a little white shed not far from the net. Newel opened the door and ducked inside. He came out holding a bottle. What do you say?

Newel asked. A bottle of fine wine for those eight batteries.

Potent stuff, Doren confided. It'll put hair on your chest in no time. Good luck getting something like that from your grandparents.

Seth looked back and forth at the two satyrs. Are you serious? I'm twelve years old! Do you think I'm an alcoholic or something?199 We figured something like this might be tough for youto get, Newel said with a wink.

Good wine, Doren said. Primo.

That might be true, but I'm just a kid. What am I going to do with a bottle of wine?

Newel and Doren shared a nervous glance. Well done, Seth, Newel said awkwardly, ruffling his hair. You...

pa.s.sed our test. Your parents would be very proud.

Newel elbowed Doren. Yeah, um, sometimes we test people, Doren said. And play jokes.

Newel went back into the shed. He returned holding a blue frog with yellow markings. Seriously, here is what we really had in mind, Seth.

A frog? Seth asked.

Not just any frog, Doren said. Show him.

Newel tickled the frog's belly. Its air sac swelled up to the size of a cantaloupe, and the frog let out a tremendous belching sound. Seth laughed in surprised delight. The satyrs laughed with him. Newel tickled the frog again and the thunderous belching sound repeated. Doren was wiping away mirthful tears.

So what do you say? Newel asked.

Eight lousy batteries for one incredible frog, Doren said. I'd take it.

Seth folded his arms. The frog is pretty cool, but I'm not five years old. If it's between gold and a burping frog, I'll take the gold.

The satyrs frowned, clearly disappointed. Newel nodded200 at Doren, who slipped into the shed and returned holding abar of gold. He handed it to Seth.

Seth turned the bar over and over in his hands. It was about the size of a bar of hotel soap. An N was embossed on one side. Otherwise it was a plain, golden rectangle, a little heavier than it looked. Probably enough gold to be worth a lot of money.

This is more like it, Seth said happily, placing the gold inside his emergency kit. What does the 'N' stand for?

Newel scratched his head. Nothing.

Right, Doren said hastily. Stands for 'nothing.'

Nothing? Seth said dubiously. Why would somebody write an 'N' for 'nothing'? Why not just leave it blank?

Newel, Doren tried. It stands for Newel.

Used to be my favorite belt buckle, Newel added wistfully.

You wore pants? Seth asked.

Long story, Newel explained. Let's not dwell on the past. Fact is, there are more-um-belt buckles where that came from, all pure gold. You bring us more batteries, we'll keep trading with you.

Works for me, Seth said.

This could be the beginning of a spectacular partners.h.i.+p, Newel said.

Doren raised a cautionary hand, halting the conversation.

You hear that?

The three of them paused, listening. Something's corning, Newel said, eyebrows knitting together. No matter how the satyrs behaved, they usually had an air about them that201 everything they said was tongue-in-cheek. That air wasgone.

They kept listening. Seth heard nothing. Are you guys fooling with me? he asked.

Newel shook his head, holding up a finger. I can't place it. You?

Doren was sniffing the air. Can't be.

You better scram, Seth, Newel said. Get back to the yard.

With the gold, right? Seth suspected they might be trying to trick him out of his reward.

Of course, but you better hur- Too late, Doren warned.

A creature the size of a pony burst out of the bushes onto the tennis court. Seth recognized it immediately. Olloch?

Olloch the Glutton? Newel asked Seth.

I thought it smelled like a demon, Doren groaned.

Yeah, Seth said. He bit me.

Grotesquely toadlike, Olloch reared back and opened his mouth. It looked like the demon had swallowed a squid, so many flailing tongues emerged. Sitting upright, Olloch was nearly as tall as Seth. After a triumphant roar, the demon lowered his head and charged, advancing in a jerky, scrambling crawl.

Newel grabbed Seth's hand and hauled him away from the demon. Run! Newel yelled.

For television! Doren cried, brandis.h.i.+ng his tennis racket and holding his ground. Olloch pounced at the satyr, but Doren lunged aside, swatting away a pair of tongues with202 the racket. Several more tongues lashed out, wrenching theracket from Doren's grasp. The tongues pulled the racket into a gaping mouth, and moments later expelled it with the strings missing and a crack in the frame.

Seth had reached the bushes at the edge of the court when Olloch, ignoring Doren, took a huge leap toward him and then charged with frightening speed. Seth knew he wouldn't make it back to the path, let alone to the yard. His mind raced, trying to think if there was anything useful in his emergency kit.

Tongues writhing, the demon sprang. For batteries!

Newel cried, intercepting the glutton in midair and wrapping both arms around its middle.