Free The Secret of Spring by Piers Anthony, Jo Anne Taeusch Page B

challenge.
    Once, Zygote had invoked a counterspell , thinking the code broken, only to have a vicious wasp fly through the tower window and attack with supernatural fury. Fortunately for him, he had been wearing a protective amulet, rendering the stings painless and impotent.
    Another time, he almost had one seal broken when it suddenly burst into flame, destroying the entire document. He made a note to be far more careful in the future, or the valuable information he sought would disappear into smoke before his eyes.
    If it wasn't so annoying, he could almost admire the late Gabriel's efforts to protect his secrets so zealously; it was hard to properly appreciate such steps when one was dodging balls of fire, hosts of ghosts, and tar and feathers. Gabriel had been a cunning old devil despite his angelic namesake. In fact, Zygote was sorry that the ornery cuss had rebuffed his offer of friendship and cooperation. He was truly sorry that the man had died rather than yield. Because he really did respect what Gabriel had done.
    Zygote had fallen upon news of Gabriel's work by a stroke of sheer luck. When attending the last New Landers Magicians and Medical Doctors conference, Gabriel had been so secretive about his projects, he had inadvertently piqued Zygote's interest. If it was that good, it had to be profitable. He had tried to worm his way into the good doctor's graces, but to no avail.
    While rabbit's feet and four leaf clovers were all well and good, a well concealed microphone in Gabriel's lab had yielded a far better harvest than expected. It was in that way he had detected that the doctor's daughter, Spring , was somehow connected with the vital information he sought.
    Unfortunately, Gabriel discovered the technical device, and that tipped his hand. He managed to spirit her off the planet before Zygote had a chance at her. He regretted not using a magical device instead, a spy spider, for instance. But no, that fool Elton had installed the microphone without his instructions, and it was too dangerous to go back.
    Too bad Gabriel was no longer around to lend assistance, but that heavy-handed female he hired had gotten carried away with her duties. Then Elton had finished the job. He was young, and the young always grew impatient. Now he was attempting to make up for his blunder by tracking down Gabriel's elusive daughter to return her for interrogation.
    Zygote had made it clear he would brook no violence in her case. If the key to the information was as he had surmised from pieces of broken codes, it might be the most pleasant interrogation he had ever conducted.
    Zygote ceased his reverie and bent once more to the task of removing the troublesome spells, cursing anew as a three-headed snake slithered across the floor toward him. He took off all three heads with one quick slice of his enchanted sword. Preparation. That was the key to a magician's long life. Smiling, he replaced the sword in its scabbard as the snake puffed into smoke and disappeared.
    His smile was replaced by an expression of surprise as he felt a sprinkle of wetness. A sudden storm brewing? He glanced to the window but no rain was blowing in. The sun was shining as brightly as it always did unless he decreed otherwise with a rain spell.
    He looked upward, then brought out a kerchief and wiped some sticky residue from his eyelid. He held the cloth beneath his nose and sniffed. Really-Gabriel had pressed the boundaries of good taste this time. Zygote pulled an umbrella from beneath the table and sighed as he opened it above his head. There was nothing to do but wait out the shower of bird dung.

9
     
    Discovery
     
    Spring paced the floor of her small room awaiting Iolanthe's return. She had another letter to send and knew the lightship had landed. There wouldn't be another one for three months, so timing was critical. It went on alternate cycles of coming every other week for three months, then skipping three.
    She had been lucky to have timed her