Xone Of Contention by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online

spring would be, but doubted she would care for it.
    They came to a metallic or ceramic or plastic contraption with a glassy screen.
    “Hi, Passion,” Breanna said brightly. “These are Edsel and Pia Mundane.”
    “Pia Putz,” Pia corrected her, using her maiden name. “And my business associate, Edsel.”
    Edsel glanced at her. but did not challenge her statement. She was choosing to be herself on this excursion, not someone's disenchanted wife.
    (. the screen printed.
    “And this is Com Passion.” Breanna continued. ”She is our interface connection to the O-Xone And her mouse, Terian."
    A lovely, sultry woman emerged from the shadow. She nodded, then faded back into obscurity.
    “Looks human to me,” Pia remarked.
    Terian stepped forward again. She shimmered, and suddenly was a brown mouse.
    “Eeeek!” Pia screamed, jumping back.
    “What's the matter with a mouse?” Breanna asked.
    “It might run up my leg!”
    The mouse became the woman, who retreated again. Pia realized that she had made a fool of herself. She hoped she wasn't flushing.
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    “We can't right now,” Breanna said. “We have to go out and see Xanth.”
    “In a day. Passion,” Breanna promised. “Thank you so much for helping.”
    W V W V That was evidently the machine's way of expressing appreciation.
    They stepped out into daylight. The sun was shining down on a thickly forested landscape. A pleasant path led away from the cave.
    “First thing to remember,” Breanna said. “When in doubt, stay on the path. It's enchanted, so that no harm can come to you on it, and it goes where you want to go.”
    “Suppose a person needs to — to do something private?” Pia asked. She wasn't sure how natural functions would be handled if they didn't take occasional breaks from the program. Her real-life body couldn't sit in front of a screen forever, no matter how realistic the effects.
    “There are places along the path,” Breanna said. “There's one now.” She indicated a side path. “Want to see?”
    “Yes.” Actually it was about time for her afternoon shot.
    “Okay.” Breanna led the way down the offshoot, while Justin and Edsel waited on the main path.
    Behind a barrier of bushes was an outhouse with a crescent moon painted on the door. Pia approached it and tried to open the door, but her hand passed right through the wood.
    “It's illusion,” Breanna explained. “Just walk through it.”
    Pia tried it. She passed through the wood and found herself in a surprisingly modern bathroom. How much of this was illusion?
    She felt the toilet seat. Sure enough, it was a mere board with a hole in it, under the illusion. Well, that would do.
    She took out her kit and pricked her finger, checking her blood level of sugar. Then she prepared a shot. She untucked her blouse and swabbed the fat of her hip. She always injected in the same place, and was almost immune to pain there. The shot took only a moment. Then she tucked herself back together, and put away the kit. She should be okay until morning, if she didn't overexert herself.
    Breanna didn't inquire; she surely thought Pia had been attending to different matters. They returned to the main path, where the men stood.
    A ghost loomed up before them. “Booo!” it cried.
    Pia stifled a scream and stepped back, but Breanna was unimpressed. “You're practicing your talent,” she said.
    “To make solid illusionary creatures,” Edsel agreed. “Justin reminded me. We need to get a handle on our talents, so we won't flounder when we need them.”
    The ghost hovered, now properly harmless.
    Pia concealed her annoyance at being frightened. “I thought a ghost wasn't solid.”
    “This one is,” Edsel said. “I can't make a real ghost, but this is a fake ghost. Go ahead, touch it.”
    Breanna reached out and caught hold of the ghost's substance. “Sheet,” she said.
    “Can you use such language in Xanth?” Edsel inquired innocently.
    Pia was