With Strings Attached, or the Big Pink Job by D. Aviva Rothschild

Author:D. Aviva Rothschild [Rothschild, D. Aviva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B005SMV8AG
Publisher: D. Aviva Rothschild
Published: 2011-10-04T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23 -- Small Change

+HEY, GOOD JOB GUYS,+ the deep voice congratulated them in the vast whiteness. +ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO.+

The female shape nodded and gave the impression that it was smiling. However, the squeaky-voiced shape stood a little apart from the other two, slouching in an exaggerated show of indifference, or perhaps disdain.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” said the four, their elation at retrieving the first piece tempered by their narrow escape and their sudden startling transition into the whiteness not five seconds after Paul had set down the first Vasyn piece.

“Is gettin' the other pieces gonna be that crazy?” demanded John.

~THE PYAR GODS WILL DO THEIR BEST TO PUT THEM IN PLACES THAT WILL CAUSE YOU MAXIMUM TROUBLE,~ Squeaky said loftily.

“When are we going after the next piece?” asked Paul.

+WHENEVER THE— + There was a hiss from Squeaky, and the deep voice started over. +SORRY, WHENEVER WE FIND IT.+

The four wondered at this slip, but they couldn't think of anything to accuse the shapes of. Instead, George held out his left hand for display and said, “What happened to me ring? Why couldn't I change?”

“WHAT—SHIT.” Ringo had forgotten about his noisy mental voice. He tried to whisper “WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME?” but sounded like a shouting whisperer, so he gave up and continued in his “normal” tone of thought, “DID I REALLY TELEPORT OR DID YOU SAVE ME?”

The enormous faceless shape of Squeaky seemed to gaze down at the four with stern disapproval. ~THESE ARE NOT THINGS WE CAN TELL YOU. YOU MUST FIND OUT FOR YOURSELVES.~

George bristled. “Rubbish! How're we supposed to find this bloody thing for you if our magic goes haywire for no reason?”

~IT IS AGAINST THE RULES.~

“WHAT RULES?” the four demanded, being mostly drowned out by Ringo.

[WHAT RULES?]

The four looked at the female shape, but she wasn't parroting them; she sounded just as puzzled and angry as they were. [WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, JEFT?] she demanded of Squeaky.

Squeaky gave her a contemptuous glance—it was amazing how much detail those faceless shapes could convey—and turned his shoulder to her. ~WE ARE OUT OF TIME. WHEN WE FIND THE NEXT PIECE IS WHEN YOU WILL NEXT SEE US— ~

[GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT KEYBOARD!]

Although the shapes didn't move, the sound of a slap reverberated through the white space, and as if from a mile away there was a yelp of pain. The shape of Squeaky shrank a little. Satisfied, the female shape said [GEORGE, AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL THE RING HAS A SMALL FLAW IN IT. IT'LL STICK PERHAPS ONE TIME OUT OF A HUNDRED, BUT IT'LL ALWAYS WORK EVENTUALLY.]

Not pleased, George looked at his outlined hand. The ring, also an outline, was just barely visible on his finger. “How long does it stick for?”

[THAT WE DON'T KNOW. I'D ASSUME HOWEVER LONG IT STUCK THAT FIRST TIME.]

George threw up his hands. “That's just bloody spectacular! Can't you fix it or get me another one or something?”

+IT'S NOT THAT BAD,+ the deep voice said cheerfully. The four got the impression that he was enjoying Squeaky's discomfort.

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