Demons of the Dancing Gods by Jack L. Chalker Read Free Book Online Page B

as much feared as prized. If they
    wanted, they could overload a man's emotional centers so much
    that they could turn him into a virtual love slave, sapping all
    self-control and free will. At the same time, that strength or
    power taken from someone was in a way vampiric; the one
    from whom it was taken lost it, perhaps for good.
    There was danger outside, too, even for such as these. Their
    power was strong only against or with males; with women they
    had, at best, a localized and temporary effect. The emotional
    projection still worked, but little else, and that meant that women,
    particularly those skilled in magic, could harm them.
    Marge began to see at least part of Ruddy gore's thinking,
    JACK L. CHALKER
    33
    particularly when she considered only the sorcerer's interests.
    And why consider more, for that matter? After all, Joe and she
    had both been very close to death back home and, no matter
    how much they might resent the sorcerer's machinations concerning
    them, it was, at least so far, much better than the
    alternative.
    As a team, they had what Ruddygore would be interested
    Page 26
    Chalker, Jack L - Demons of the Dancing Gods
    in most. As a passive shield, she could protect against much
    of the magic of this world they were likely to encounter; Joe
    could certainly handle the rest of the problems. What concerned
    her was just how much of what was truly her would survive
    in that partnership.
    She was still full of questions, though. "If you all look
    identical, then how do you tell each other apart?" she wanted
    know.
    They laughed at the question. "It's easy. You just know,
    that's all," one answered.
    You just know, that's all...
    The basic schism between human and fairy.
    "But come," Aislee—at least Marge thought it was Aislee
    —said to her. "We can solve this a lot easier by making
    you totally one of us." They all got up, and the Kauri added,
    "Uh, you are sure you're Kauri, aren't you?"
    Marge frowned. "As far as I know. At least, that's what
    the sorcerer told me, and he should know. You should, too,
    if you can read me as you say."
    "Oh, yeah, we can tell you believe it, but not whether it's
    so. There's only one way to find out; and if your wizard slipped
    up, it will be real trouble."
    "How do we—do it?"
    "The last mortal part of you has to be taken off, of course.
    Come on—this should be interesting."
    Marge didn't like the tone or the implication here, realizing
    that to these creatures she was a game, a diversion, a bit of
    fun and no more.
    The crowd of Kauri was still out there, but now they sensed
    that the big moment had come and lapsed into near-total silence.
    They were the spectators in the coliseum now, waiting to see
    the show.
    Aislee and the others led her up the gentle cone to the very
    34
    DEMONS OF THE DANCING GODS
    JACK L. CHALKER
    35
    rim of the crater. The heat and smoke coming from the mass
    bubbling not far below were secondary to the tremendous,
    blinding magical radiation at this point.
    "Well," one of the Kauri prompted, "go ahead. Jump in."
    She felt doubt and panic flood into her. "You mean—jump
    in thereT'
    "That's the only way to do it."
    Page 27
    Chalker, Jack L - Demons of the Dancing Gods
    She swallowed hard, and her mind swirled with tremendous
    doubts. What if they were testing her? What if they were trying
    to get rid of her? What if this were some grisly practical joke
    of bored fairies?
    Behind her, she could hear the crowd shouting, "Jump!
    Jump! Go on! Jump!" It sounded like some ghoulish cheerleader
    squad for a virgin sacrificial ceremony and—uh-oh. She'd
    forgotten that she was biologically virgin now. Virgin plus
    volcano equals sacrifice...
    "Jump in, jump in! Rah! Rah! Rah!"
    She just stood there, petrified with fright, knowing she could
    not move a step in any direction, not even to run.
    "Oh, the hell with it. This is getting boring," one of the
    Kauri next to her muttered. The next thing Marge knew, she
    felt a violent shove and she was