The Dungeon Volume #4. The Lake of Fire by Robin W. Bailey

The Dungeon Volume #4. The Lake of Fire by Robin W. Bailey

Author:Robin W. Bailey [Bailey, Robin W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Amazon: B000S9KXXW
Publisher: Bantam Books
Published: 1989-12-15T00:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER THIRTEEN

At the Palace of the Morning Star

Clive opened his eyes, immediately aware of the warmth of Annabelle’s hand in his and of the softness of the bed upon which he lay. He rolled his head to the side to look at his granddaughter. She had a nice profile, such a lovely face.

With a start he sprang up. Whatever was he thinking of? It was a bed they were on, after all, and she was a lady, and he was a gentleman. It was no proper place to conduct business, or at least, to linger after business had been conducted.

“It’s a nice blush yer wearin’, guv, but don’t be embarrassed.” Horace Hamilton Smythe looked up at him from the floor and grinned as he still played the cockney. Clive had nearly stepped on him. “You did the right thing by her, sure.”

All the company minus Neville sat on the floor around the bed, hands still enjoined.

“Is the senhorita all right?” Tomàs asked as he released the hands of Sidi Bombay and Finnbogg. He stood up slowly. It was plain he’d cramped his leg.

“I hope so,” Clive answered, turning his attention back to Annabelle. Her eyes were still closed, though, and she hadn’t stirred.

Awaken soon she will, friend beings, Shriek said to all of them as awareness returned to her six eyes. She released the hands of Chang Guafe and Smythe, and she, too, stood, rising to her full seven feet of height. She laid a hand gently on Clive’s shoulder. Find her I could not when before tried I. But a secret path unconsciously left she for you alone, Being Clive. This brave attempt had not you made, lost she would be still, perhaps forever.

“Observation,” Chang Guafe said in a cool metallic voice. “You are a hero.”

“Allons enfants de la patrie … !” Finnbogg began to sing at the top of his lungs the French national anthem, and Clive decided at once he was going to have to chide Neville for the choice of songs he’d taught the alien canine at their first meeting. Before he could say anything directly to Finnbogg, however, Tomàs leaned over and clapped a hand around Finnbogg’s mouth. Finnbogg’s eyes rolled toward the Portuguese and they regarded each other for an instant. Then both smiled, and Finnbogg shut up.

“Oh, I’ve had such a curious dream!”

Everyone looked toward the bed at the sound of Anna-belle’s voice as she rose up on her elbows and looked at them all with an expression that beamed with joy. Sidi and Finnbogg and Chang Guafe scrambled to their feet and bent near the bed. Annabelle blinked at them for a moment, then her eyes twinkled.

“Why, it’s the scarecrow, the lion, and the tin man!” she exclaimed, sitting up quickly and crossing her legs in the bed. “But that’s another story.” She reached out and patted Finnbogg on the head, and his ears pricked up. “Besides, you might be Toto,” she said to him alone.

“I don’t know about the other story,” Horace Hamilton Smythe said, moving closer to the bed.



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