"(ebook) Anthony Piers - Xanth 23 - Xone Of Contention" - читать интересную книгу автора (Anthony Piers)

"1 know. My friend Dug went to Xanth and met Kim there, and they

ha\e a happy marriage."

Breanna's eyes widened. "You know Dug and Kim Mundane9" "Sure. I'm in business with them. I was the one who first put Dug

onto Xanth. The Xanth game. I mean; I didn't know he'd actually cross

over.''

"Yeah, he was in the Companions game. I wish I could have been

a Companion "

"Oh? Why weren't you?"

"I was too young then, only nine. Anyway, the Black Wave had just come into Xanth then; we didn't know our way around. Sherlock went with Dug and found a good place by Ogre Chobee for us to settle in. So I guess I can't complain. But it sure sounds like tun."

"It sure does." he agreed. "Well, if I'm ever in Xanth, you can be my Companion and show me around." He felt a trace ot guilt as he

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spoke, because he was flirting with this cute girl, and as a married man he shouldn't.

"1 can.' That's great!"

"Only I can't get into Xanth," he said with regret. "Dug and Kim go there only when invited. There was some kind of trial. Something about a big bird, I think."

"Roxanne Roc," Breanna agreed. "She won. She's just about the most important bird in Xanth now, except for the Simurgh. That's another great moment of history I missed. Bleep. I'd sure like to be in on a Great Moment. Well, I did get to go to Jenny's wedding." Then her picture paused, orienting on him with wild surmise. "SayЧmaybe we can do each other some good. Maybe you can visit Xanth, and I can be your Companion and show you around, and maybe that will be a great adventure and accomplish something nice, like patching up your marriage."

Edsel realized that Breanna was a creature of dreams. But her enthusiasm was contagious. "I'd like that. But I don't see how."

"I just got this wonderful wild notion. Here we are talking in the Interface If we could stretch it a little farther, and exchange places, then maybe you'd be in Xanth and I'd be in Mundama. I wouldn't mind visiting it. though T sure wouldn't want to stay." Then she reconsidered. "Well, maybe not you and me changing places, exactly. Maybe I could switch with your wile, and you could switch with my boyfriend Justin."

"Justin?"

"Justin Tree. He used to be a treeЧwell, he was a man first, then a tree, then we met. and now we're betrothed but we can't marry because I'm too young. We can't even smooch much, because I'm not supposed to know the Adult Conspiracy. I hate that! I mean, what's the point in making him convert early to a young manЧhe took some youth elixirЧ if we can't do anything? It's driving me crazy."

"I think 1 know the feeling," Edsel said, though he hardly understood all of what she was saying.

"So maybe if Justin and I could switch with you folk, and get into Mundama for a while, where there's not much enforcement of the Conspiracy, we could at least go from necking to petting. And you folk could do whatever you wanted, in Xanth, and >our marriage wouldn't be in trouble, because marriages never are."

This was surely sheer foolishness, but it was wickedly tempting. "I'd do it. if there were a way "

18 PIFRS ANTHONI

"I'm thinking there could be a way. With the right connection. If nobody objected." She cocked her head "Do you think sixteen is too young?1'

He knew what was on her mind. ''I was sixteen when I got together with Pia, and she was fifteen. A girl can be pretty mature at fifteen, and moreso thereafter."