[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
oft as they sleep.
The three passed sign and cobblestone path without so much as a pause, and
continued northward along Wamble Way. With the sun halfway up the sky they
arrived at the crossing with Munkins Road.
Beside the intersection stood a massive iron post: almost a foot in diameter
and eight feet tall.
Madouc surveyed the post with disfavor. Taken all with all, the situation is
not to my liking.
But it seems that I must carry out my part in the charade, misgivings or not.
Why else are you here? growled Sir Pom-Pom.
Madouc deigned no reply. I will now work the glamour upon myself! She
tweaked her left ear with the fingers of her right hand, then looked toward
her companions. Has the spell taken effect?
Noticeably, said Travante. You have become a maiden of fascinating appeal.
Sir Pom-Pom asked: How can you bind yourself to the post when we lack both
chain and rope?
We will do without the binding, said Madouc decisively. Should there be a
question, I will make an excuse.
Travante uttered a caution: Keep your magic stone ready at hand, and take
care not to drop it!
That is good advice, said Madouc. Go now and take yourselves well out of
sight.
Sir Pom-Pom became difficult and wanted to hide nearby in the bushes, that he
might see what went on, but Madouc would not listen. Leave at once! Do not
show yourselves until I call! Furthermore, do not be peeking and peering,
inasmuch as you might be seen!
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/Vance,%20Jack%20-%20Elder%20Isles%203%20-%20Madouc
.txt (172 of 256) [1/17/03 8:02:29 PM]
file:///F|/rah/Jack%20Vance/Vance,%20Jack%20-%20Elder%20Isles%203%20-%20Madouc
.txt
Sir Pom-Pom demanded in sour tones: What will you be doing that requires such
privacy?
That is none of your affair!
I am not so sure of that, especially were I to earn the royal boon. Sir
Pom-Pom showed a sly grin. Even more especially since you control the
glamour.
The boon will not include me; rest easy on that score! Now go, or I will
touch you with the pebble and send you off in a stupor!
Sir Pom-Pom and Travante went off to the west along Mumkins Road and around a
bend. They discovered a little glade a few yards from the road and seated
themselves on a log where they could not be seen by passersby.
Madouc stood alone at the crossroads. She looked in all directions and
listened carefully. Nothing could be seen or heard. She went to Idilra Post
and gingerly seated herself at its base.
Time went by: long minutes and hours. The sun reached its zenith, then slid
past into the west.
There were neither comings nor goings, save only for the furtive appearance of
Sir Pom-Pom, who came peering around the bend in Munkins Road that he might
discover what, if anything, had taken place. Madouc sent him back the way he
had come with a sharp rebuke.
Another hour passed. From the east came the faint sound of someone whistling.
The tune was sprightly, yet somehow tentative as if the whistler were not
completely confident or assured.
Madouc rose to her feet and waited. The whistling grew louder. Along Munkins
Road came a young man, stocky and stalwart, with a broad placid face and a
thatch of chestnut hair. His garments and soiled buckskins identified him as a
peasant well acquainted with both pasture and barn.
Arriving in the crossroads he halted and surveyed Madouc with frank curiosity.
Page 180
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
At last he spoke:
Maiden, are you pent here against your will? I see no chain!
It is a magic chain, and I may not win free until three persons undertake my
release, and this by an unconventional method.
Indeed so? And what awful crime could have been committed by so lovely a
creature?
I am guilty of three faults: frivolity, vanity and foolishness. The peasant
spoke in puzzlement:
Why should they bring so stern a penalty?
That is the way of the world, said Madouc. A certain proud person wished to
become over-
amiable, but I derided him and pointed out his lack of appeal. He ordained my
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
