Fang, the Gnome by Michael G. Coney

Author:Michael G. Coney [Coney, Michael G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780575129443
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2013-04-28T18:30:00+00:00

The Umbra approaches

“I could have told them it would be a fiasco,” said Ned the following morning. He hacked a crust from a loaf and set it before Fang, who sat on the table. “I suppose gnomes do eat bread.”

“Yes, thanks.” Fang was too polite to explain that this was much coarser than gnomish potato bread, and would probably give him indigestion. With difficulty, he tore a piece off and began to chew.

“And milk? You drink milk?” Ned passed Fang a thimbleful.

Fang would rather have had beer. His sleep had been interrupted by terrifying dreams in which huge armored knights had galloped around him, threatening to crush him. The violence of Tristan’s encounter with Sir Mador still seemed to echo through his head.

“And now Tristan’s talking about journeying to Ireland to raise an army,” Ned continued. “Well, he doesn’t fool me. His real purpose is to see that girl again—Iseult.”

“Iseult?”

“She’s the daughter of Marhaus the Irishman, and Tristan has the hots for her. And I can’t say I blame him,” admitted Ned, “because she’s a pretty piece of horseflesh. But what I do object to,” and Ned’s tone became unctuous, “is that he should deceive us all with this story about raising an army. Well, if he comes back with more than half a dozen men plus the girl, then I’m a Frenchman!”

“I like Tristan, when he’s not swinging that sword of his.”

“You’re just a gnome, and gnomes are not familiar with the finer points of human behavior. Hurry up and finish your breakfast, Fang, and we’ll start our quest for the unicorn.”

Fang sipped unhappily at his milk. His night of stamping hooves had been relieved by periods of wakefulness when he worried about the Sharan. He was uncomfortably aware that he’d underestimated Ned. The leather purse was a perfect prison. The drawstring was far too stiff for a gnome to force open, particularly when his hands were imprisoned inside the purse. Ned popped Fang into the bag whenever he needed to take his eyes off him. For all his pretense of friendship, Ned was taking no chances.

He was a devious character. And Fang was unaccustomed to dealing with such people. There were no devious characters in gnomedom. The Miggot was probably as devious as a gnome could get, but at least the Miggot was honest.

Fang was beginning to suspect that Ned was untrustworthy. When they found the Sharan, Ned would have no further use for him. He would dispose of him immediately, allowing Fang no chance to spirit the Sharan away. And when Ned found that the Sharan could not, after all, produce life-forms to order, he would hand the Sharan over to the villagers.

And the Sharan would be roasted on a spit over a large open fire, and her fat would sizzle in the flames. So there was only one thing for it. Fang would have to escape from Ned at the very first opportunity, Sharan or no Sharan. But how could this be accomplished? He began to consider the possibilities.

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