Jest Right by Piers Anthony

Author:Piers Anthony
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2020-09-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Stench Planet

Frank and Frankie decided to remain and have their honeymoon on Chocolate Island, so the others bid farewell to the happy couple and boarded the boat for the next excursion. “You do know where to find Sim Bird?” Dolph asked Che anxiously.

“Oh yes. He is now doing research in the less scure areas.”

“The what?”

“Or more obscure, if you prefer that phrasing.”

“This promises to be dull,” Noe complained.

Che’s smile became less scure. “That may depend on your perspective.”

“I know about perspective,” Noe said. “That’s when you’re zooming along on Fibot and looking at the passing scenery, and it’s supposed to stay in place, but the farther away it is, the more it tries to cheat and keep up. So you have distant mountains staying right even with you, when they wouldn’t dare if they were right next to you.”

“Well, nobody likes to be left behind,” Che said tolerantly. It was becoming clear to Jess that the centaur was no slouch at intellect, either. After all, he must have been smart enough to tutor the smartest of birds. But of course all centaurs were intelligent. “However, there are different types of perspective, and the mental type applies to the way a person views things. What is dull to one might be fascinating to another. What one likes very well another might hate.”

“Okay, I dare you,” Noe said. “Show me how research in obscure areas could ever be interesting to a child like me.”

Che’s smile played peek-a-boo with his face. He was teasing Noe, Jess saw, only she didn’t realize it. Yet.

“Sim is on one of the Worlds of Ida. We’ll be going there once we get clear of Chocolate Island and phase back into Xanth proper. I believe Santo has a certain talent for connecting distant worlds.”

“Sure he does,” Noe said. “I’m starting to get bored already.”

“The world Sim is now on, where we will join him, is called Stench.”

“Stench? Is that like a bad smell?”

“A very bad smell,” Che agreed. “This world is where they grow stink horns, among other things.”

“Stink horns! But when you accidentally step on one—”

“It makes a foul-smelling noise,” Che finished. “And a filthy brown odor.”

“Yes. Everyone knows that.” Then Noe paused. “We’re going there?”

“Indeed. Where you can step on all the stink horns you want to.”

“But they’re disgusting. I hate stink horns.”

“They give free ones to each visitor.”

“Yuck! I’m repelled.”

“But not bored. No one said you had to be thrilled.”

She gazed at him silently. He had skunked her, and now she knew it.

The Land of Xanth phased in ahead of them. The island was returning to reality for another brief visit. Win got her wind going and blew it at the sail, which flickered into a fiery star shape. They sailed off the island and into Xanth proper.

Che turned to Santo. “If I understand your talent correctly, it is borderline Magician caliber. You can make a hole of any size, ranging from pinhole through a sheet of paper, to fire-boat-sailing size to other planets. Am I correct?”

Obviously he was, Jess thought, and he knew it.

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