Chimaera's Copper by Piers Anthony & Robert E. Margroff

Author:Piers Anthony & Robert E. Margroff [Anthony, Piers & Margroff, Robert E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General, Science Fiction, Fantasy fiction; American
ISBN: 9780812509151
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 1991-05-15T03:37:14+00:00

Kian had no difficulty in persuading his father. "We'll just hop over and make certain we remember this setting. If we're wrong, we'll hop right back. Bloorg can almost certainly set the control right if I misremember." Kelvin had been standing before the control when Bloorg discussed it, so they hadn't seen the actual settings he had indicated to Kelvin.

"I think it was just before this mark." His father pointed at the & mark.

"I think, Father, that it was just one of the five intervening clicks short." He set it on the % mark.

"You want to try it that way?"

"Yes." Kian was so eager to reach Lonny that he was sure it was right.

"All right. Just be prepared to step out and then back if it's not the right world. That's what we should have done last time." John wasn't worried, because he knew they could check several settings if they had to, until they got the right one. Just so long as they didn't smell any spice!

"Yes, Father." Together they stepped into the closet.

They did not see the same display they had a moment ago when Kelvin exited, but then they were in a slightly more familiar chamber with a soft bluish curtain of light at its far end and a large glowing EXIT sign.

"Come on, Father!" Kian said eagerly, starting across the smooth floor.

"Wait, Kian! You agreed we'd go right back."

"We will. I just want to step outside and make certain!"

There was no stopping him! Talk about your anxious bridgegrooms! John started after him—and noticed something.

"There was dust on the floor before. We left our footprints in it. This chamber is clean! Either this is a different chamber, or someone's been here." John wasn't easy with either explanation; both meant trouble.

But Kian was already ducking through the shimmering curtain. He was as unconcerned as though it were sunshine. Not for the first time John had to marvel at how quickly they all adjusted to the unfamiliar and utterly strange. Still, the boy needed to learn proper caution.

"It's here, Father! The ledge, the ladder, and the tree! This has to be right!"

But John had doubts. "Come back inside!"

"All right. Just let me get a breath of—"

John waited for him to finish. When he did not, he grew alarmed. Fearful now, yet determined, he crossed to the glowing curtain and stepped through.

Outside. Fresh air. Beautiful day. High on a cliffside. He looked back. The illusion of a solid rock wall just behind was perfect. If this was technology, and he felt it was, the scientists responsible deserved congratulations.

But where was Kian? He advanced to the edge of the cliff. The ladder was there, made of something unfamiliar on Earth, a woven metallic substance he suspected would never age.

"Kian? Kian?" He was really worried now.

There was no answer. Had the lad climbed down into the tree below? Then why wasn't the ladder over the edge of the cliff and dangling down into the branches?

Fear prickled at him, raising the hairs on the back of his neck.

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