escape from the zonbies. So she quickly ate some hasty pudding she found, and set her "ace toward the darkest east.
"There is an enhanted path leading to Magician Humfrey's castle," Mare Imbri aid. "But the zombies seem to be able to walk those paths, so thd's not safe for you. However, I know of another path that is privaUy enchanted, that should do about as well.
"What's a privae enchantment?"
"One that's noiqfficially sanctioned by King Dor. This one was set up by Com Pasion, and—"
"Is this a dragoi or tangle tree?"
' 'Oh, no, nothir<> like that. Com Passion won't hurt you. In fact Forrest Faun and I are her friends; we visit her sometimes to play-dreams vs. realitie. But you won't have to enter her cave; just keep on going toward tie castle. You should be there by dawn.
"Okay." Breana started walking.
Imbri trotted almg beside her. "It's right this way, beyond the
Jackpot there.
Breanna saw a nan sitting on a big glowing pot. She paused. "I know the centaursire open about natural functions, and maybe some other folk are too,but I'd prefer to wait until he gets off the pot."
Imbri made a laghing neigh. "He's not having a function! He's
ZOMBIE LOVER 57
giving away money. Everyone who passes him has to take some, to get on the path.
Sure enough, as they approached Jack reached down under himself, into the depth of the pot, and pulled out a handful of grubby coins. Imbri took one in her mouth, and Breanna took another in her hand.
"But what's the point?" she asked as they stepped onto the path.
"Jackpots just like to give away lots of money." Imbri still held the coin; she wasn't speaking with her mouth, but with a dreamlet.
"I can see that. I mean, what's the money for? No one buys anything in Xanth, does she?"
Imbri considered. "Well, you might encounter a slot machine some time. They eat coins.''
Breanna nodded, and put the soiled coin in her purse. She didn't like dirty money, but perhaps it would be useful sometime.
Imbri's ears perked up. "Oops, I'm being summoned. I have to go see about a daydream; I still do a few of them for my friends.
"You did some good ones for me, I think," Breanna agreed. "Thanks for everything." She waved as the mare faded out.
The path was clear enough, and Breanna walked swiftly along it. Soon she came to a sign marking an offshoot: COM PASSION. That was the maker of the path, who evidently lived in a cave. But it wasn't necessary to go into the cave, so she walked on by.
But then she saw a ragged shape ahead. It was a zombie! They had found her again.
Breanna hardly took time to think. She turned about and ran back along the path. But soon she saw another zombie coming from the other direction. She was trapped between them.
She turned at the sign and ran into the cave. At least it wasn't supposed to be dangerous, and maybe it would provide a place to hide from the zombies. It was dark, but of course that was no problem for her. She saw several jars of currant jelly, and realized that there must be something electrical nearby.
She saw a box of some sort on a pedestal of some sort. A screen on the box lighted. Words appeared: cffle//, aw.
What was this? There didn't seem to be any danger, but she didn't feel exactly at ease either. This cave was spooky. But with the zombies outside, she would have to bear with it. That meant dealing with this Com Passion character. "I'm looking for—"
52 PIERS ANTHOM
f/ea/ the screen printed U/r/aM f//xa me a
Breanna suffered a flash of lealization that illuminated the cave tor half a split second This was Com Passion herself A screen machine And she expected a little gift It would be best to oblige her But what did she ha\e) Only one thing she could spare
"It's \ery small, and somewhat dirty/1 she said apologetically She fished out the com
f7jfy fdffjfd £t>u
"There is an enhanted path leading to Magician Humfrey's castle," Mare Imbri aid. "But the zombies seem to be able to walk those paths, so thd's not safe for you. However, I know of another path that is privaUy enchanted, that should do about as well.
"What's a privae enchantment?"
"One that's noiqfficially sanctioned by King Dor. This one was set up by Com Pasion, and—"
"Is this a dragoi or tangle tree?"
' 'Oh, no, nothir<> like that. Com Passion won't hurt you. In fact Forrest Faun and I are her friends; we visit her sometimes to play-dreams vs. realitie. But you won't have to enter her cave; just keep on going toward tie castle. You should be there by dawn.
"Okay." Breana started walking.
Imbri trotted almg beside her. "It's right this way, beyond the
Jackpot there.
Breanna saw a nan sitting on a big glowing pot. She paused. "I know the centaursire open about natural functions, and maybe some other folk are too,but I'd prefer to wait until he gets off the pot."
Imbri made a laghing neigh. "He's not having a function! He's
ZOMBIE LOVER 57
giving away money. Everyone who passes him has to take some, to get on the path.
Sure enough, as they approached Jack reached down under himself, into the depth of the pot, and pulled out a handful of grubby coins. Imbri took one in her mouth, and Breanna took another in her hand.
"But what's the point?" she asked as they stepped onto the path.
"Jackpots just like to give away lots of money." Imbri still held the coin; she wasn't speaking with her mouth, but with a dreamlet.
"I can see that. I mean, what's the money for? No one buys anything in Xanth, does she?"
Imbri considered. "Well, you might encounter a slot machine some time. They eat coins.''
Breanna nodded, and put the soiled coin in her purse. She didn't like dirty money, but perhaps it would be useful sometime.
Imbri's ears perked up. "Oops, I'm being summoned. I have to go see about a daydream; I still do a few of them for my friends.
"You did some good ones for me, I think," Breanna agreed. "Thanks for everything." She waved as the mare faded out.
The path was clear enough, and Breanna walked swiftly along it. Soon she came to a sign marking an offshoot: COM PASSION. That was the maker of the path, who evidently lived in a cave. But it wasn't necessary to go into the cave, so she walked on by.
But then she saw a ragged shape ahead. It was a zombie! They had found her again.
Breanna hardly took time to think. She turned about and ran back along the path. But soon she saw another zombie coming from the other direction. She was trapped between them.
She turned at the sign and ran into the cave. At least it wasn't supposed to be dangerous, and maybe it would provide a place to hide from the zombies. It was dark, but of course that was no problem for her. She saw several jars of currant jelly, and realized that there must be something electrical nearby.
She saw a box of some sort on a pedestal of some sort. A screen on the box lighted. Words appeared: cffle//, aw.
What was this? There didn't seem to be any danger, but she didn't feel exactly at ease either. This cave was spooky. But with the zombies outside, she would have to bear with it. That meant dealing with this Com Passion character. "I'm looking for—"
52 PIERS ANTHOM
f/ea/ the screen printed U/r/aM f//xa me a
Breanna suffered a flash of lealization that illuminated the cave tor half a split second This was Com Passion herself A screen machine And she expected a little gift It would be best to oblige her But what did she ha\e) Only one thing she could spare
"It's \ery small, and somewhat dirty/1 she said apologetically She fished out the com
f7jfy fdffjfd £t>u
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