Zombie Lover by Piers Anthony Read Free Book Online
Authors: Piers Anthony
bounced back and forth between the three men "It's not fair," Dolph said "She's not a slave She should at least be invited "
"Maybe there's a mistake," Dor said "We can ask the Good Magician "
"No, please don't bother him," Jenny said "Really, 1 don't mind helping I'm sure it will be a very nice wedding "
Another glance bounced around between them Then the desk spoke "It had better be "
Dolph still wasn't satisfied "Jenny, I don't need to be an usher for somebody I don't even know I'll join you for your birthday instead We've been friends for a long time " He stroked Sammy, which was proof of what he said because the cat did not accept the touch of just anybody
The girl was plainly touched She blinked back a tear "That's very nice of you, Dolph It's true that you and Electra have been very kind to me But it's not right to go against something the Good Magician has set up There is surely excellent reason for you to be Head Usher Sammy and I will be just fine "
"She's right, son," Dor said "And you don't have to choose one or the other The wedding won't take all day "
"It's at three in the afternoon," Jenny said
"Then let's have your birthday in the morning," Dolph said "I know Electra will want to be there too And Che Centaur, of course, and Gwenny Goblin " They were Jenny's closest friends, though Gwendolyn was now Queen of Goblin Mountain, making the goblins behave Che was tutor for Sim, the Simurgh's chick, who would some millennium inherit the position of Wisest Bird in the Universe
ZOMBIF LOVER 39
If Che came, so might Sim, and that would go far toward making the occasion significant Every winged monster in Xanth was pledged to protect Che, and every living thing was pledged to help Sim and his guardian nanny Roxanne Roc Che Centaur was destined to change the history of Xanth, by influencing Sim, and no one could be sure what events they attended might thus become truly significant
"So will Irene and I, ' Dor said, sharing his son's disquiet about the way the girl was being snubbed He didn't care who else attended, he would be there regardless
"And Chameleon and I," Bink said
Jenny had to blink back several more tears She removed her glasses and dabbed at her eyes with a hankie "Thank you That would be nice But I had better get back to work on these invitations, so as to finish them in time "
They needed to leave before Jenny's tears overflowed and fell on the invitations 'Next week," Dor said firmly, guiding his son and young father to the door
"It still bothers me," Dolph muttered as they walked down the hall "How complicated would it have been to add her name to the hst> The Good Magician couldn't have lorgotten her, because he's making her do the handwriting chore ''
"He's a century old," Bink reminded them "And not known tor manners Maybe he figured that doing the invitations was enough of a privilege for her "
Dolph snorted
Dor remembered something "Didn't Jenny get a gene-tic to fix her eyes so she wouldn't need those spectacles9"
Dolph smiled "Yes But she has worn those spectacles so long that she forgets to take them olf''
They walked on out of the front gate There in the moat was Souffle Serpent Dor glanced at him m surprise "I thought you were on duty at the Good Magician's castle," he remarked
The moat monster hissed The surface of the water translated "Who do you think brought the old gnome's package to Jenny Elf7"
"Well, when you return," Dolph said hotly, "tell him we don't like the way he snubbed Jenny Elf, after— '
"Don't do that, ' Dor said quickly "I m sure it was just an oversight
40 PIERS ANTHOM
Souffle hissed again "His Designated Wife made the guest list and assignments MareAnn Except tor Jenny to do the invitations That was Clio the Muse of History who decided that "
"MareAnn was Humfrey's first love, who couldn't marry him until last, let
"Maybe there's a mistake," Dor said "We can ask the Good Magician "
"No, please don't bother him," Jenny said "Really, 1 don't mind helping I'm sure it will be a very nice wedding "
Another glance bounced around between them Then the desk spoke "It had better be "
Dolph still wasn't satisfied "Jenny, I don't need to be an usher for somebody I don't even know I'll join you for your birthday instead We've been friends for a long time " He stroked Sammy, which was proof of what he said because the cat did not accept the touch of just anybody
The girl was plainly touched She blinked back a tear "That's very nice of you, Dolph It's true that you and Electra have been very kind to me But it's not right to go against something the Good Magician has set up There is surely excellent reason for you to be Head Usher Sammy and I will be just fine "
"She's right, son," Dor said "And you don't have to choose one or the other The wedding won't take all day "
"It's at three in the afternoon," Jenny said
"Then let's have your birthday in the morning," Dolph said "I know Electra will want to be there too And Che Centaur, of course, and Gwenny Goblin " They were Jenny's closest friends, though Gwendolyn was now Queen of Goblin Mountain, making the goblins behave Che was tutor for Sim, the Simurgh's chick, who would some millennium inherit the position of Wisest Bird in the Universe
ZOMBIF LOVER 39
If Che came, so might Sim, and that would go far toward making the occasion significant Every winged monster in Xanth was pledged to protect Che, and every living thing was pledged to help Sim and his guardian nanny Roxanne Roc Che Centaur was destined to change the history of Xanth, by influencing Sim, and no one could be sure what events they attended might thus become truly significant
"So will Irene and I, ' Dor said, sharing his son's disquiet about the way the girl was being snubbed He didn't care who else attended, he would be there regardless
"And Chameleon and I," Bink said
Jenny had to blink back several more tears She removed her glasses and dabbed at her eyes with a hankie "Thank you That would be nice But I had better get back to work on these invitations, so as to finish them in time "
They needed to leave before Jenny's tears overflowed and fell on the invitations 'Next week," Dor said firmly, guiding his son and young father to the door
"It still bothers me," Dolph muttered as they walked down the hall "How complicated would it have been to add her name to the hst> The Good Magician couldn't have lorgotten her, because he's making her do the handwriting chore ''
"He's a century old," Bink reminded them "And not known tor manners Maybe he figured that doing the invitations was enough of a privilege for her "
Dolph snorted
Dor remembered something "Didn't Jenny get a gene-tic to fix her eyes so she wouldn't need those spectacles9"
Dolph smiled "Yes But she has worn those spectacles so long that she forgets to take them olf''
They walked on out of the front gate There in the moat was Souffle Serpent Dor glanced at him m surprise "I thought you were on duty at the Good Magician's castle," he remarked
The moat monster hissed The surface of the water translated "Who do you think brought the old gnome's package to Jenny Elf7"
"Well, when you return," Dolph said hotly, "tell him we don't like the way he snubbed Jenny Elf, after— '
"Don't do that, ' Dor said quickly "I m sure it was just an oversight
40 PIERS ANTHOM
Souffle hissed again "His Designated Wife made the guest list and assignments MareAnn Except tor Jenny to do the invitations That was Clio the Muse of History who decided that "
"MareAnn was Humfrey's first love, who couldn't marry him until last, let
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