Piers Anthony - Yon Ill Wind: A Xanth Novel (Xanth Novels)

Chlorine went to find the adult members of the family. Jim Baldwin was just returning from his final load of gems. She intercepted him. Excuse me, please- She realized that she didn't know how he preferred to be addressed. Mundane Father

He smiled. Call me Jim.

That made it easier. Jim, I have learned that there is more danger. Not just for the imps, but for all Xanth. David asked Nimby. Nimby didn't volunteer it, because it wasn't to us personally. But

We were able to help the imps, but helping all Xanth is surely beyond our power, he said. We need to use the accommodation spell now and join the imps in their safe cave until the storm passes.

The imps are afraid that there will not be much left, after it passes, she said.

I'd better talk with Nimby. The way the wind is rising, we can't delay about a decision.

I know where he is. She led him back to David, Midrange, and Nimby.

Nimby, what's this about danger for all Xanth, and how does it concern us? Jim asked.

Nimby had already written a note. He gave it to Jim.

'The storm is unique because it is foreign,' Jim read. 'It will continue to grow in strength, and the magic dust it spreads will devastate all of Xanth if not stopped. Those who live underground, or take cover there, will survive, but those who remain on the ground, in the water, or in the air will suffer grievously. Most of the vegetation will be blown away. What remains will be a paltry remnant. But it is possible for this party to ameliorate it, if we take immediate and effective action, at some risk to ourselves.'

Some risk? Chlorine said. But I'm supposed to get you safely out of Xanth.

We negated that when we turned back from the border, Jim remarked wryly.

The other members of the family had assembled during the reading. Dad, we have to take that action, Sean said.

Yeah, Karen agreed.

He looked at Mary. Yes, she said grimly.

But that probably means danger, he said. Nimby surely isn't fooling about 'some risk.' And we're already tired.

And all the other folk of Xanth face possible extinction, Mary said.

He faced Nimby. What can we do?

Nimby was already writing another note. Jim read it. He looked at Chlorine. It seems we shall have to split up, he said.

But I must see you safely out of Xanth! Chlorine repeated. That's my mission. I can't leave you until then.

Nimby believes that you will not be able to accomplish that mission until Xanth itself is secured, Jim said. So it seems we shall have to take the risk. You must go with Nimby to fetch the windbreaker; we must go to Castle Roogna to get help in enlisting Fracto Cumulo Nimbus in the cause of saving Xanth.

Wow! David exclaimed.

Chlorine was amazed. She looked at Nimby. He nodded. Well, it will be your fault if I fail to complete the Good Magician's service, she said. I certainly hope you know as much as you think you do.

Nimby nodded again. He was so sure he knew, when obviously he couldn't know everything. That was about the only aggravating thing about him.

Then he wrote another note. It said: I know what is going on in Xanth, not what will happen. I know that Fracto and the windbreaker can save Xanth, but not whether they will. I know the best way to achieve these things, but not whether they will be achieved. I do not mean to be aggravating.

And how could she be mad at him? He was making her beautiful, smart, and healthy, and helping her have the greatest adventure of her life. I'm sorry for what I thought, she said, for of course, he had made her nice, too. She knew she wouldn't much care about his feelings in her natural state, but she was glad to be the way he had made her. She felt so much better about herself this way, and not just because of the way others saw her. She owed Nimby everything.

Then so let it be, Jim said. Chlorine suspected that he, too, was beginning to enjoy this adventure, which was surely quite different from his ordinary life in dread Mundania. We shall drive to- He glanced at the note Nimby had given him. Castle Roogna. We should be able to make it by morning.

Mary took his arm. You have driven enough, dear, she said. I will drive there, while you get some necessary rest.

Karen stared at her. Mom! You can drive the RV?

Stop teasing me, you little bleep, Mary said with a third of a smile. Unlike the others, she actually said the word bleep; it wasn't a Conspiracy expurgation.

But how will we find our way there, without Chlorine and Nimby to tell us? David asked.

Good point, Jim said.

Quieta had joined the group. We really appreciate the way you helped us complete our task in time, at the expense of your own freedom to leave Xanth, she said. We have not known how to repay you, but now perhaps we can. We shall provide a guide.

But then that person won't be safe in the sanctuary cave, Mary protested.

She will be safe at Castle Roogna, perhaps, especially if you succeed in saving Xanth. Here is my daughter Trenita. A younger imp woman stepped forward. She looked to be in her mid-thirties.

Then we are constrained to accept your kind offer, Jim said. Now I think the madness is closing in; you must close your cave, and we must be on our way.

So they bid a second parting to the imps, who Chlorine suspected were just as glad not to have to entertain the family in the sanctuary cave, and went their ways. The Baldwin family piled into their traveling house and moved off, Mary at the wheel, with Trenita Imp lifted into the seat next to Karen. Chlorine and Nimby saw them off. It looked as if the vehicle were stretching and twisting like a giant caterpillar, but she knew that was just the effect of the madness.

Then she turned to her companion. So how do we find this windbreaker? she asked.

He wrote a note: It is one of the possessions of Sending. We must obtain it from the ambitious program.

Sending! The one we just messed up to rescue the Mundane pets? We're doomed.

Not if we approach him properly. Sending is rational.

So how do we approach him?

We must bring him a suitable gift, and answer his twenty questions.

Twenty questions? I may be smart, now, thanks to you, but I'm not sure I could answer that many without a stumble. What happens if we miss one?

We become two of Sending's artifacts.

Nuh-uh, Nimby! I already have an assignment, and after that I'll have to go home and become dull again. I can't get locked into slavery for some cold machine.

But I can answer the questions.

Oh. If you're sure. How do we get there? It was a long fast ride in the Mundane moving house, and I don't think we could walk that far tonight, even without the interference of the madness, not to mention the wind. For the wind was rising again, blowing her skirt up and about, and trying to tangle her hair enough to form a pack of snarls. Now that Sean wasn't here to goggle at her legs, she found this inconvenient.

Nimby led the way to the side of the road. But if we go beyond the enchanted limit, monsters can get us, she said. But she knew Nimby was aware of that, and wouldn't lead her into danger.

There was a big puff of cotton caught in a tree. No, it was cloudstuff, she realized. Maybe some of the cloud that made the Gap Chasm ferry had detached and drifted here. Naturally Nimby knew where it was. So she helped him wrestle it out of the snags of the branches and twigs.