Piers Anthony - Xone of Contention

Chlorine rode behind Nimby on the Lemon cycle, enjoying it. He was quite competent now, and obeyed all the obscure signs and signals of the road. Dug and Kim drove their car behind, there to come to the rescue if there were any problem. Exactly as Justin and Breanna would be traveling with the real Edsel and Pia through Xanth, keeping wary eyes out for mischief. Indeed there was mischief to avoid, because the drivers of other cars all seemed to believe that the whole road belonged only to them, and that all others were illicit intruders. They honked their horns and nudged in too close at high speed and made hand signals that Chlorine discovered related to stork signaling in a negative manner. But Nimby, forewarned, ignored them and stayed out of their way. That seemed to satisfy them; they roared on by. Kim had said there was something called a speed limit, but Chlorine must have misunderstood, because no vehicle on the road was honoring any possible limit.

They were traveling north to the Apple-aching Mountains, where they could see the sights and camp for the night. Dug and Kim had camping equipment in their car. But the first night they would stay at a motel, so as to be able to find the best place in the mountains the next morning.

After several hours, Chlorine's thighs were getting tired of the unfamiliar bouncing. She knew how to ride a dragon, but this cycle had a different feel, and there was less leeway to fidget. She was glad when the mountains loomed, knowing the trip was nearing its end.

They pulled into the Mundane Motel, and saw about getting a set of rooms, which turned out to be nice enough. They would go out to a fleet fare place for a meal. But first Kim set up her notebook computer so Chlorine could check in. She had done so in the morning, but that had been early, and there might be a response now.

She navigated the Grid and Mesh, but then had a problem she couldn't get into the O-Xone. She got an Error Message.

NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

Let me see that, Kim said. She tried it, and got the same message. Must be a problem in the Mesh. These things happen. We can try again after eating.

They went to the eatery. It was shaped like a vehicle called a bus, but was larger. Signs all around proclaimed the wares. They got really weird long sandwiches called submersibles, stuffed with every kind of oddity. But they tasted good enough.

Back at the motel, they tried the Mesh again. They still could not get past the error message. Kim tried to query the Mesh Server, but couldn't get a coherent response. They don't believe in magic, she said, grimacing.

Nimby looked unsettled. Chlorine knew what was on his mind. He didn't like having his contact with Xanth cut off. He wasn't sure it was coincidence.

These things happen all the time, Dug said. Sometimes a server gets overloaded and is down for hours or days. There's no malice in it, just inadequacy for the demand. Or there can be a hardware or software glitch. Nobody likes it, but soon enough it is restored, and the Mesh proceeds as usual.

Nimby made a trace shake of his head. That was enough for Chlorine. Nimby has very little magic here in Mundania, but he's very smart, and he can tune in on much that is going on around him. That's why he can avoid bad drivers. He believes that this is not coincidental mischief.

Dug frowned. We need to get this straight. Kim and I can handle routine Mundane problems, but it there's something else, we'll have to be more careful. Just how sure is Nimby about this?

And just how much of what kind of magic does he have in Mundania? Kim added.

Chlorine had ascertained this soon after they arrived in Mundania, but hadn't thought it relevant. He has no direct power of magic here, but can do just a little thought projection, enough to let me know what he wants when he touches me, and can extend his awareness some distance out. He can judge whether a thing is natural or contrived. The interruption of the O-Xone interface is beyond his range of certainty, but is suspicious.

What makes it suspicious? Dug asked.

Each Demon is fiercely jealous of his territory, when it is part of a bet, and guards it rigorously, even if he doesn't care about the well fare of the creatures within it. If the Demon E(A/R)TH realizes that Nimby is here now, he will surely try to embarrass him in some way. The O-Xone interruption could be the first step in such an embarrassment.

Embarrassment? Kim asked. Like saying 'Ha-ha, I caught you!'?

No. Like trying to trap Nimby here, so he can't return to Xanth right away, and will lose the bet. That would mean that Edsel could not return to his body in Mundania, and probably that Pia and I could not exchange places either. Not until the contest is done.

Just what form would a confinement-to-Mundania contest take? Dug asked. I mean, it can hardly go on forever. There must be some limit.

Three days after the challenge is made. The demon E(A/R)TH would seek to hold Nimby that time, and Nimby would have to return to Xanth within that time, or lose.

What would that do to Nimby?

A Demon can't be physically hurt, but it would prevent him from defending his status among Demons, and that would be a penalty sacrificing what has taken him a thousand years to achieve. The Demon E(A/R)TH would assume his status and become the-the closest analogy would be the leader-of the Demons.

I thought I had this figured out, but maybe not, Dug said How far would the Demon E(A/R)TH go to accomplish this?

We're not sure. It depends on his judgment of the likelihood of success. If he tries to trap Nimby, and fails, he would lose significant status himself. More than if he just lets Nimby escape without challenge. So he is likely to mask his effort, making it seem like chance mishaps, so that if he fails, there will be no consequence to him. He will play it that way until he discovers a better opportunity to succeed. Then, if assured of success, he will do what he judges necessary to accomplish it. That could be severe.

Just how much power does he have? Kim asked. Can he do magic too?

No magic. He uses science. He can't make people do things, but can affect earth processes, such as the weather.

He can make thunder storms?

At least.

But a storm shouldn't stop Nimby from returning to Xanth, Dug said.

That depends on the storm.

Kim pursed her lips. You don't mean just rain. You mean like hurricanes.

If those are very big storms, yes. And shaking of the ground.

Earthquakes.

Yes. And similar effects. It could get awkward for local residents.

Such things kill local residents, Dug said.

I doubt the Demon E(A/R)TH would care. So it will be better if it doesn't come to that. And the best way to see that it doesn't, is to ensure that Nimby can return to Xanth at will, so that there is no point in trying to trap him here.

Got it, Dug said. So maybe this Xone interface problem isn't the Demon E(A/R)TH's work, but just in case it is, we need to explore our options. Are there other ways to return to Xanth?

Other than through the Grid and Mesh? I think so.

Nimby touched her hand. Information flowed from him. And there are other ways within the Grid, Chlorine amended. Those would be easier.