Air Apparent by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online

me help,” the Gorgon said. She worked with the shirt and bra, tugging loose the tatters. But she had to use a small knife to get the hideously stretched panties off. Meanwhile Wira found her hind feet and pried off the shoes. That was more comfortable.
    Now Debra stood suitably bare. She wasn’t concerned about her hindquarters; she had always admired horses. But her front—how could she parade in plain sight with these monstrous bare mammaries?
    “Could—please, could I have a mirror?” she asked.
    The Gorgon produced one. Debra took it and held it up before her.
    Her head, arms, and torso down to the waist looked exactly like her, and suddenly the enormous breasts seemed to be in proportion. She was a centaur; that was the way they were. That also alleviated her concern about exposure; centaurs had no sensitivity about their bodies. Her face was identical, and her hair was the same, except that it had filled out in back to form a mane.
    Actually, she was a good-looking woman, up front. And a handsome mare, behind. This would do.
    “You will want to be cautious about your first flight,” the Gorgon said. “You don’t want to crash.”
    Then Debra noticed the wings that sprouted from the forepart of her barrel-shaped torso. They were folded but enormous, like great white feathered quilts half covering her back. They were white and beautiful. “Oh, yes,” she sighed.
    “Let me explain,” the Gorgon continued. “Winged centaurs don’t fly by the sheer power of their wings. They flick themselves with their magic tails to make themselves light. Then the wings can handle the reduced weight. The effect gradually fades as time passes, but can be renewed as required, on land or in flight. It’s a convenient system. But at first it can be awkward.”
    Debra discovered she could switch her tail. “Like this?” she asked, flicking it toward her own back.
    “Don’t do it yet!” the Gorgon said.
    Too late. The tip of the tail connected solidly. And Debra’s rear section floated into the air. It hauled the rest of her up until it came against the ceiling. She was left suspended from her own hindquarters.
    “I see your point,” she gasped. “Now what?”
    “Flick your fore section, lightly,” the Gorgon said. “Until it matches your rear, restoring your balance. Then wait for the lightening to fade.”
    “Lightning!” Debra exclaimed, alarmed. “Is there a thunderstorm?”
    “Lightening,” the Gorgon said, accenting the center syllable. “Making yourself light. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.”
    “I’m hanging,” Debra agreed ruefully.
    “While we wait for you to come to ground,” the Gorgon said, “there are one or two other things to know. Never flick yourself too hard outside; you’ll float to the moon. Never flick anyone else hard. Caution is the watchword, until you have an expert touch.”
    “I’m learning,” Debra agreed. “I never had voluntary magic before.”
    “And you will need this,” the Gorgon said, bringing out a large bow and quiver of arrows.
    Debra was aghast. “I can’t use that thing! I never shot an arrow in my life!”
    “All centaurs, male and female, are expert archers,” the Gorgon said. “They can fetch their bows from their backs in an instant, loose an arrow, and it will score. Other creatures know that, and are wary.”
    “But I hardly know which end of the arrow to notch!”
    “Nock.”
    “Whatever. It’s ludicrous to expect me to hit the ground from ten feet.”
    “Then perhaps you will have to bluff. That should be effective.”
    “I can’t bluff! This is disaster.”
    “The form may bring some ability,” Wira said. “Just as it brings the lightening magic.”
    “Oh, I hope so! Because I’m starting from zero, or a minus quantity.”
    “It might help to discuss it with another human-to-centaur convert,” the Gorgon said. “Like Cynthia Centaur. But you can’t, because this mission has to be secret. If the murderer learns what