Free The River of Dancing Gods by Jack L. Chalker

existence.
     
    44 THE RIVER OF DANCING GODS but in their case it is a defensive one, triggered by startlement, apprehension, or fear. In the case of the Imir, they can turn it on and off at will—a very handy thing for warriors..
     
    "I can see that," Marge agreed.
     
    "Well, Poquah, what do you think of our two new recruits?.
     
    the sorcerer asked.
     
    Poquah looked over at the two of them, those red eyes surveying first Joe, then Marge. "Interesting choices," he said at last. "But as a pilot project, they may do. I am surprised at the presence of the woman, but it adds symmetry to the entire affair..
     
    Ruddy gore smiled. "The Imir are not known for tact and diplomacy," he told them. "They tell you exactly what they think..
     
    "Diplomacy and tact are basic dishonesties developed by races who can not fight," the Imir responded casually. "They are unnecessary to the Imir..
     
    Ruddy gore sighed and got up. "Very well, then. Let me get a change of clothes, and we'll see to making a proper hero and heroine out of the two of you..
     
    CHAPTER 4 HOW TO MAKE A GOOD APPEARANCE All persons brought from other universes must be physically acclimated to this one and bound to the Laws and the Rules.
     
    —XX, 210, 116(a) Page 37 Chalker, Jack L - The River of the Dancing Gods WHAT RUDDYGORE CALLED HIS LABORATORY WAS A STRANGE cross between a real lab and something out of the Middle Ages.
     
    There were compartments, basins, beakers, and flasks very much like those in a school chemistry lab, and there was even a source of natural gas with small Bunsen burner-type nozzles on flexible hoses. There was drainage in the basins, too, although water was strictly a hand-pump affair from several lo- JACK L. CHALKER 45 cations. Other parts of the place, though, were what Joe called "strictly voodoo..
     
    There were open areas with all sorts of mystic and cabalistic designs on the floors; long candelabras and incense burners in the shape of odd and demonic idols stood about. Here, too, were braziers and all the other paraphernalia one would expect of an ancient court magician or high priest. There was even an area with an unpleasant-looking altar set into one wall.
     
    Even in the modem part, with its hundreds of little drawers and compartments, things were less than usual. Bat's blood, a jar of eyes of newts, and other things even less pleasant revealed themselves when Joe opened a few compartments out of curiosity.
     
    A drawer full of live spiders, quickly slammed shut again, ended his meddling in a hurry.
     
    Ruddygore entered from the rear, near the altar, looking quite different from how he had looked earlier, resplendent now in flowing robes of sparkling gold and wearing a skullcap of the same material.
     
    He smiled and nodded to them, then went over to one of the clear areas near the altar and glanced down in disgust.
     
    "Damn. Have to get a mop first and wait for the floor to dry.
     
    Damned adepts with their love spells....
     
    Still grumbling, he got a fairly ordinary-looking mop out of the base of an exotic offering stand, pumped out some water from one of the well basins, soaked the mop, and quickly erased the designs on the center of the floor. Replacing it all, he wiped his hands on a towel and came over to them.
     
    "I'll have to wait for the whole thing to dry," he said. "I need to sketch out a few new designs down there." He sighed.
     
    "Well, we can use the time a bit to discuss your future..
     
    "That interests me a lot," Joe told him, and Marge nodded.
     
    "Well, let me start with you, Joe. Did you ever imagine yourself off in some other time and some other place as the hero of a big epic? You seem fond of show business, by your remarks. Ever imagine yourself as one of those big, strong heroes?.
     
    Joe thought a moment. "Not really. Not from movies or TV, anyway..
     
    "Not even when you were a kid?.
     
    He thought a moment more. "Yeah. I guess so. I'm more than half native American, you know,