#31 Air Apparent by Piers Anthony

Author:Piers Anthony [ANTHONY, PIERS]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Xanth (Imaginary place), Fantasy - General, Fiction - Fantasy, General, Fantasy, Fiction, Fantasy fiction, Anthony; Piers - Prose & Criticism, Science Fiction, Epic, Humorous fiction, Fantasy - Epic, Space Opera, Quests (Expeditions), American Science Fiction And Fantasy
ISBN: 9780765343130
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Published: 2008-09-30T05:00:00+00:00

They expected Hugo in the morning, arriving by air, but the first to arrive was a pair of clouds, borne by a favorable wind. They coalesced and formed into the solid forms of Happy Bottom and Fray.

"I saw you coming," the Gorgon said. "I have a hurricane watch." She showed the watch on her wrist: a circle with an arrow pointing toward Happy.

"I haven’t been a hurricane in years," Happy said. "Now I’m just a dull married cloud, a misty spot low-pressure zone dependent on the wind instead of making it."

"But you still have the potential to rev up to hurricane status," the Gorgon said.

"If I ever have to. But that takes a lot of energy. The glory of hurricanes tends to be brief and seasonal."

"What brings you here?"

"We were going to check Castle Maidragon," Fray said brightly. "In case Daddy is there. But the wind took us here instead."

"We hope you don’t mind," Happy Bottom said.

"We don’t mind," Wira said. "We have learned that Hugo was there at Castle Maidragon, not Fracto. He’s on his way home now."

"That reminds me," Happy said. "Gwenny Goblin figured out that Fracto and Factor are an anagram. So they might conveniently have switched places. But if it was Hugo who switched, that’s not a good clue."

"Fracto and Factor," Debra said. "That can’t be mere coincidence."

"I wonder," the Gorgon said. "Maybe you should look at the body. As clouds you must have seen many folk; you might recognize it."

"We can do that," Happy said. "As long as we’re here."

"I’d like to see it too," Debra said.

"Welcome," Wira said. "We never can know what will be revealed."

They went down to the cellar, a trip Debra never could have managed in her centaur form. There in a dusky corner was the body. She helped the Gorgon and Wira drag it out into the light.

Happy screamed. "That’s my husband!"

"Daddy!" Fray cried almost simultaneously.

The Gorgon looked at Debra, amazed. The look bounced off Debra’s own amazement. This was Fracto?

"Cumulo Fracto Nimbus," Happy said. "In condensed form, as we are now."

"Nimbus," Debra repeated. "That’s the boy’s name."

"Did we get the wrong Nimbus?" Wira asked. "Was it supposed to be the cloud on the air plain?"

"Was the Book of Answers wrong?" Debra asked.

"Unlikely," the Gorgon said. "The confusion is more likely ours."

"Unless both Nimbuses relate," Wira said.

"Like Fracto and Factor," Debra said. "We just had to understand the devious hints."

"Who cares?" Happy Bottom said. "We must wake him and take him home."

"Why didn’t he wake before?" Wira asked. "We thought he was dead."

"He’s locked into sleep," Happy said. "It must be a stasis spell. Do you have an antidote?"

The Gorgon smiled under her veil. "The very best. Sleep-stasis spells are normally broken by the kiss of one who loves the sleeper best."

"That’s easy!" Happy dropped down and slopped a wet and windy kiss on the body’s face.

Fracto stirred. His eyes opened. "Happy! What kept you?"

"I’ll explain later, dear. Let’s revert to form first."

"Gladly!" He started to vaporize.

Happy looked around. "Thank you so much!" Then she vaporized too.

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