Castle Kidnapped by John Dechancie Read Free Book Online
Authors: John Dechancie
to imagine how we'd go about it."
âOsmirik is the logical one to ask for help in that area,â Linda said. âThere has to be something like a spell to locate someone or something."
âHmm.â Sheila knitted her brow. âMaybe. Anybody seen Osmirik lately?"
âHas anyone ever seen him outside the library?â DuQuesne said. âFellow always has his nose in a book."
âWant to go up with me?â Sheila asked Linda.
âSure,â Linda said. âRight now."
âFinish your coffee. There's really noââ Sheila broke off as a group of people entered the dining hall, among them Osmirik, the castle scribe and librarian. The other three were Thaxton, Dalton, and a young man no one had ever seen before.
âHey, is that the new fall-in?â Linda asked.
âLooks like,â Sheila said.
âGreetings,â Dalton said. âMeet our new caddy."
Jeremy waved, then caught sight of Snowclaw.
âHi, I'm Sheila Jankowski."
âUh ... hi. Jeremy Hochstader."
âNice to meet you, Jeremy."
After Sheila had made introductions all around, Jeremy took a seat, still mesmerized by the sight of Snowclaw.
Linda said, âCoffee?"
âHuh? Oh, sure. Thanks."
âSnowy is one of our dearest friends,â Sheila said. âNew people always get a little shaken up the first time they see him."
Jeremy looked away quickly. âDoesn't bother me,â he said. âI've seen all kinds of things since I got here."
âWhen was that?â Sheila asked pointedly.
âI dunno, it's hard to keep track of time in here. Two days, maybe three."
âThree days. That's when the portal wandered, all right. Where are you from?"
âNew York. Queens."
Sheila did not pry further, as it was considered impolite.
âWe found him wandering around the golf course,â Dalton said. âMore or less took him under our wing. Made an excellent caddy.â He winked at Jeremy.
âWe were just talking about you, Osmirik,â Linda said.
âIn a kindly way, I trust,â the librarian said as he loaded his plate with flapjacks and sausages. Of late he had acquired a taste for what, to him, were some rather strange foods.
âWe were tossing around the possibility of locating Gene by using a spell. Anything like that in the books?"
Osmirik seated himself. âMy dear, there are spells for every purpose imaginable."
âThen we could do it?"
âPerhaps.â Osmirik took a sip of coffee. âAnd perhaps not."
Linda shrugged. âWell, that covers the whole spectrum of possible outcomes."
Sheila said, âCould we find him if he's off through some portal or another?"
Osmirik thought it over. âIt is quite likely...â He chewed thoughtfully.
Sheila nodded expectantly, smiling.
Osmirik swallowed. â...that this is a possibility."
Sheila slumped a little. âWell, are you willing to help us?"
âOf course, it is you who must undertake the effectuation of any such spell. As you know, I myself am not an adept thaumaturgist."
âThaumaâyeah, we know. But you'll help us with the research?"
âIt would be my pleasure, Sheila."
âGood. When can we start?"
âMight I break my fast before we begin?"
âOh, sure. I'm sorry. It's just that we're a little worried about Gene."
âAnd I share your concern. Before we start, however, I might warn you that such a project could be weeks in the making."
âWeeks?"
âIf not months. Were he in the castle, âtwould be a simple matter. But locating him among a hundred thousand worlds?â Osmirik shook his head woefully. âA staggering task, and one not to be undertaken lightly."
âBut he's on Earth, we know that,â Linda said. âSo forget about the hundred thousand worlds."
âAh, Earth magic.â Osmirik let out a long sigh. âThat, I'm afraid, is a different story altogether."
âRight,â Linda said.
âOsmirik is the logical one to ask for help in that area,â Linda said. âThere has to be something like a spell to locate someone or something."
âHmm.â Sheila knitted her brow. âMaybe. Anybody seen Osmirik lately?"
âHas anyone ever seen him outside the library?â DuQuesne said. âFellow always has his nose in a book."
âWant to go up with me?â Sheila asked Linda.
âSure,â Linda said. âRight now."
âFinish your coffee. There's really noââ Sheila broke off as a group of people entered the dining hall, among them Osmirik, the castle scribe and librarian. The other three were Thaxton, Dalton, and a young man no one had ever seen before.
âHey, is that the new fall-in?â Linda asked.
âLooks like,â Sheila said.
âGreetings,â Dalton said. âMeet our new caddy."
Jeremy waved, then caught sight of Snowclaw.
âHi, I'm Sheila Jankowski."
âUh ... hi. Jeremy Hochstader."
âNice to meet you, Jeremy."
After Sheila had made introductions all around, Jeremy took a seat, still mesmerized by the sight of Snowclaw.
Linda said, âCoffee?"
âHuh? Oh, sure. Thanks."
âSnowy is one of our dearest friends,â Sheila said. âNew people always get a little shaken up the first time they see him."
Jeremy looked away quickly. âDoesn't bother me,â he said. âI've seen all kinds of things since I got here."
âWhen was that?â Sheila asked pointedly.
âI dunno, it's hard to keep track of time in here. Two days, maybe three."
âThree days. That's when the portal wandered, all right. Where are you from?"
âNew York. Queens."
Sheila did not pry further, as it was considered impolite.
âWe found him wandering around the golf course,â Dalton said. âMore or less took him under our wing. Made an excellent caddy.â He winked at Jeremy.
âWe were just talking about you, Osmirik,â Linda said.
âIn a kindly way, I trust,â the librarian said as he loaded his plate with flapjacks and sausages. Of late he had acquired a taste for what, to him, were some rather strange foods.
âWe were tossing around the possibility of locating Gene by using a spell. Anything like that in the books?"
Osmirik seated himself. âMy dear, there are spells for every purpose imaginable."
âThen we could do it?"
âPerhaps.â Osmirik took a sip of coffee. âAnd perhaps not."
Linda shrugged. âWell, that covers the whole spectrum of possible outcomes."
Sheila said, âCould we find him if he's off through some portal or another?"
Osmirik thought it over. âIt is quite likely...â He chewed thoughtfully.
Sheila nodded expectantly, smiling.
Osmirik swallowed. â...that this is a possibility."
Sheila slumped a little. âWell, are you willing to help us?"
âOf course, it is you who must undertake the effectuation of any such spell. As you know, I myself am not an adept thaumaturgist."
âThaumaâyeah, we know. But you'll help us with the research?"
âIt would be my pleasure, Sheila."
âGood. When can we start?"
âMight I break my fast before we begin?"
âOh, sure. I'm sorry. It's just that we're a little worried about Gene."
âAnd I share your concern. Before we start, however, I might warn you that such a project could be weeks in the making."
âWeeks?"
âIf not months. Were he in the castle, âtwould be a simple matter. But locating him among a hundred thousand worlds?â Osmirik shook his head woefully. âA staggering task, and one not to be undertaken lightly."
âBut he's on Earth, we know that,â Linda said. âSo forget about the hundred thousand worlds."
âAh, Earth magic.â Osmirik let out a long sigh. âThat, I'm afraid, is a different story altogether."
âRight,â Linda said.
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