Free Stork Naked by Piers Anthony Page B

elixir,” Pyra said. “All others have been besotted by it.”
    “We must be your first centaur visitors,” Che said.
    “As a matter of fact, you are. That surely explains it.”
    Surprise kept silent.
    They reached the outer bank. Pyra carefully jumped off so as not to touch any wet skin, and stood well clear as the two centaurs shook themselves off.
    Surprise looked around. “Where are the children?”
    They checked the area with increasing misgiving. Azalea, Stymy, the three children, and the peeve were inexplicably gone.
    “They wouldn't have gone voluntarily,” Surprise said. “They knew they were supposed to stay here.”
    “I wonder,” Che said. “First Azalea's sister Lotus disappeared in this area. Now Azalea herself and the children have done so. Another remarkable coincidence.”
    “And we don't trust coincidences,” Surprise said grimly. “I think we need to use the Mask already.”
    “Of course,” Pyra agreed. She drew out the stick and unfolded it into the frame. “I shall focus on the recent past of this area. We'll surely run it down.”
    They watched anxiously as the picture formed.

Xanth 30 - Stork Naked
    4

Xanth 30 - Stork Naked
    Punderground
    Azalea kept a careful eye on the children, especially the smallest one, the waif. She wanted to be the best possible babysitter, not just to uphold her part of the bargain but to prove that she was on the very verge of social maturity, fit to join the Adult Conspiracy. Fit to take care of children of her own, soon. Once she learned how to order them from the storks.
    “I don't suppose you would care to enlighten me about—” she said to Stymy Stork.
    “Certainly not. You have to be at least sixteen, preferably seventeen or eighteen, maybe even older.”
    The little obnoxious green bird flew across to perch on the stork's head. “For shame, you prying twit,” it admonished her, using the stork's voice.
    She wasn't really surprised. Storks were bound to enforce the cruel code. “If you don't mind telling me, then, how is it that you got stuck with this group, instead of delivering babies?”
    “I followed the rules. That turned out to be a mistake. Now I am required to—” He paused, his birdly eye glancing past her.
    “Well, now,” the pet peeve said enthusiastically. That was a sign of trouble; she had already learned that it never did anyone any verbal favors.
    Someone must be in trouble. Again. These children were distressingly naughty, obviously possessing demon parentage. She turned to look. And stared.
    A portion of the flower garden was rising, carrying the flowers with it. The three demon children were watching, interested. Was this dangerous?
    Azalea did what came naturally: she asked the flowers. “What is this?”
    “It's the door to the Punderground,” they chorused. She was the only one who could hear them, but there was no doubt of their dialogue.
    “Is it safe for children?”
    “We don't know,” the flowers replied. “But we don't think so. Folk who go down never came back up.”
    Azalea hurried toward the forming mound. “Children! Get away from there! It's not safe.” Unfortunately they were slow to obey, interested in the phenomenon.
    A door opened in the mound, shedding hapless flowers. A goblin garbed in a clown suit appeared. “Welcome, children! Come into my parlor.”
    “Who are you?” Azalea demanded as she arrived on the scene.
    “I am the Hobgoblin of Little Minds,” he answered grandly. “I am very consistent. And lo, here are several little minds to usher into my realm.” He smiled at the children, who smiled back.
    “Oh no you don't Hobgoblin! These are my charges. They're not going anywhere.”
    The goblin gazed at her with a certain muted contempt. “You are still technically a child yourself, nymph. You can come too. As can the birds. The Punderground welcomes all little minds.”
    “Not at all,” she protested. “Ted, Monica, Woe—get away from him.”
    “Today we have fresh hot