and the
Good Magician wasn't here, she would just have to extri-
cate herself from the foul-up that Magician Murphy's curse
had made. Imagine: getting sent to a Murphy instead of
Humfrey! She would have to find her way back to Xanth
with the Heaven Cent, so that Electra could recharge it
and they could try again, this time without the curse. But
how could she do that?
She knew the answer: Dolph had learned of a secret
way into Xanth that bypassed the usual barrier. It went
through the gourd. It was in Centaur Isle, or the Mundane
equivalent. She just had to get there and go through.
But how could she get through Mundania, when she
couldn't even speak its language? For now she knew that
the moment she left the vicinity of the local Com-Pewter,
the gibberish would resume. She had no Mundane money,
which she knew was necessary, because here things did
not grow on trees. Well, she had the cent—but she cer-
tainly wasn't going to use that for money!
She would have to have help. That meant Grey—if he
would do it. Well, she would just have to ask him.
She stood, adjusting her blouse and skirt. This Mun-
dane clothing wasn't as good as Xanth clothing; it chafed
and wore. But it had to do. She was just lucky that Agenda
had been about her own size!
She went to the door and out and across, and knocked
on Grey's door. In a moment he answered.
"Grey, I need to ask you—" she began.
"Xbju—xfsfjoup hjccfsjti bhbjo!" he exclaimed, turn-
ing away.
Oh. He must have turned off the Pewter device again.
He would have to turn it on again before they could con-
verse.
Even as she realized that, she had a notion. "Wait!"
she said, catching his arm. For there was a point she
wanted to make while Pewter wasn't watching.
He paused. "Xibu?"
She smiled, turning him gently around to face her
squarely. Then she leaned forward and kissed him, not
hard.
She drew back. He stood as if stunned. "Zpv'sf opu
nbe bu nf?" he asked, amazed.
"It's all right. Grey," she said, smiling. Then she in-
dicated Pewter.
Dazedly, he walked to the machine and touched the but-
ton that turned him on. In a moment the screen came to
life.
IF YOU PERSIST IN THIS FOOLISHNESS—the screen
printed.
"Well, you aggravated me," Grey retorted. "But now
I need to talk to Ivy."
OF COURSE.
Grey made as if to return to her room, but Ivy held up
a hand in negation. "It's all right if Pewter listens," she
said. "I'll need to talk to him in a moment anyway."
NATURALLY, the screen said smugly.
She faced Grey. "I believe I am in Mundania," she
said. "I need to return to Xanth. Will you help me?"
"But-"
"But you don't believe in Xanth," she said. "But would
you believe if I showed you Xanth?"
"You see, I think I know how to get there. But I need
help. If you will come with me, and talk to people when
I can't—"
40
Man from Mundania
Man from Mundania
41
"Oh, of course," he agreed.
She faced the screen. "Com-Pewter, you knew I was
coming, didn't you?"
YES.
"And you know where I'm from."
YES.
"Will you tell Grey where I'm from?"
YES.
"Uh, you have to tell it," Grey said. "It takes things
literally."
"Tell him," she said.
PRINCESS IVY IS FROM XANTH.
Grey stared. "You say that? But how can a machine
believe in fantasy?"
WHEN IT IS TRUE.
"You see, we could have asked him all along," Ivy
said. "Pewter, why am I here?"
GREY NEEDS YOU MOST.
"But what about Good Magician Humfrey?"
I KNOW NOTHING OF HIM.
So it was the curse! She hadn't been sent to Humfrey,
but to the Mundane most in need of her company. Yet a
mystery remained. "Pewter, why are you here?" she
asked.
TO FACILITATE YOUR ENCOUNTER.
"But you don't care anything about me!" she protested.
IRRELEVANT STATEMENT.
So Pewter wasn't telling. She wasn't surprised.