Christopher Stasheff - Wizard in Rhyme 03 by The Witch Doctor

Author:The Witch Doctor
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

I wasn’t entirely sure where the cave in the dungeon wall had come from-I could have sworn it hadn’t been there when we had come down-but I wasn’t about to object. If the rats knew where it was, it had to be real-at least, assuming the rats themselves were real; which made me begin to wonder about the Rat Raiser.

While I was wondering, we were going downhill; I couldn’t help but think of Hellmouth in the old mystery plays, and wonder if this was its throat. It was certainly dark enough-and growing warmer; and the aromas rising were anything but life-giving. Trickles of water glittered in the torchlight here and there, becoming broader as we descended deeper.

Time to start the active part. I took a deep breath-and regretted it-and began to recite:

“Where Alph, the sacred river ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.

Turn, to where there’s naught but rest!

Turn, to find the spider’s nest!

Through all the worlds his web he spins, Catching prey by hidden sins!

Turn, to pierce his secret ring!

Turn, to find the Spider King!”

We moved down, our pool of torchlight coming with us, until water glistened below, black water, and the Rat Raiser whispered, “We have come into the sewers. Carefully, now, children-the water is deep, and the way is narrow.”

He turned to the left, following his pets. I saw a spark off to the side and frowned, glancing at it; then I glanced again. There were two sparks, a pair, and, as I watched, another pair appeared, and another.

“We are regarded,” Gilbert said, indicating a bank of little jeweleyes glowing at the edge of our torchlight.

Angelique gave a strangled gasp, but the Rat Raiser crooned,

“Gently, children, gently. ‘Tis only the small ones who dwell hereand, no matter what you think of them, they will not hurt you while I am here.”

It was a gentle reminder of who held the power at the moment, and I didn’t trust it. I thought up a protecting verse and held it ready on my tongue. I also glanced at Angelique, to make sure she was okay-then glanced again.

She was solid!

Apparently, her incorporeality was right in phase with whatever nonexistent realm of nonreality we were in.

My lord, that woman was beautiful! None of the bruises or wounds showed on her ghost-only a hollowness of the cheek, a darkness around the eye, that spoke of the harrowing experience she had been through.

Even that enhanced her beauty, rather than diminished it-or was I so much the captive of my own binding spell, so much in love with her, that nothing could lessen her beauty in my eyes?

I shook off the notion with a shudder and turned away. Women were for enjoying, nothing more-and since you couldn’t just enjoy them without hurting their hearts, I was determined not to notice them.

Never mind that Angelique already knew my true feelings for her-that didn’t mean I had to let them show. I resolutely turned my back and followed the Rat Raiser into

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