Free The Dastard by Piers Anthony Page B

thing.” Ann put a hand on her shirt and ripped it open. The balloon over her head showed the rest of her clothing being ripped off, and his too.
    Suddenly Ann was standing without moving. The Dastard was also standing frozen, holding nothing. The speech balloon hovered, disconnected.
    Amazed, Becka. stared at it. What was happening? This was so strange that she couldn't make any sense at all of it. But inside the bubble a picture was forming, so she focused on that.
    It showed the Dastard floating through some kind of limbo where nothing was quite real. Ghostly scenery passed across the background; he was evidently moving through Xanth. He was traveling back in time to unhappen something! She was seeing an unhappening happening, for the first time, maybe because it was a big enough one to require extra effort. The Dastard was looking for something, and nothing could happen until he found it.
    He found it: the place and time where Ann Arky blundered into the Land of Xanth. There was a path that forked, and one fork seemed to pass through a spot in the interface so a person could get through. So the Dastard simply hauled some prickly bushes across to close off the path, so that it wouldn't be used. Then he slid back toward the present.
    And Ann Arky faded out, along with her balloon. She was gone. She had, Becka realized, never entered Xanth.
    “You saw?” the Dastard asked.
    “Yes. You unhappened her entry into Xanth.”
    “I had to. She was weird.”
    Becka had to agree, but also had to argue. “I thought you liked her bosom.”
    “Yes. But the longer I talked with her, the less credible she became. She was no princess.”
    “It was weird the way she started coming on to you.”
    “It certainly was. I couldn't understand her, so I had to get rid of her. I'm glad that's done.”
    “But you could have--have summoned the stork with her, if you had waited just a little longer.”
    “I wanted to. But I never get too deeply involved in what I don't understand. It's dangerous. So I had to stop her before I lost all control.”
    He didn't like to lose control. That made sense. Ann Arky's disorganization could have dragged him down. The man might have no conscience, but he did have discipline. “So I guess your nexus wasn't right, this time.”
    He nodded. “That's the first time something like that's happened. I'd suspect she was an impostor, but she really was a stray from Mundania.” He shrugged. “Well, let's move on.”
    They started to walk back down the path. Then Becka felt an awful chill. Something was closing in on her--something utterly horrible. But she could neither figure it out nor fight it. It was like breathing foul air: The alternative was to suffocate.
    You'll get used to it, child.
    What was that? It seemed like a voice in her head. But how could that be? Becka wasn't given to hallucinations.
    Meanwhile, her body walked on beside the Dastard, just as if nothing was happening. She didn't know what was happening, but she wished he would unhappen it. This was gruesome.
    Here is the word, child. I am the Sea Hag. I have taken over your body.
    The Sea Hag! But that couldn't be. She was locked in the Brain Coral's pool.
    I escaped. Now give me all your memories.
    Becka fought desperately to free herself from the loathsome embrace of the Sorceress.
    If you fight me, I will hurt you.
    Becka still fought. Nothing could be worse than being Possessed by the Sea Hag, who took pretty girls and soon rendered them into worn hags. She'd rather die!
    Then terrible pain flooded through her body. Every muscle, every bone was on fire. She tried to escape by turning dragon, but it was no good; the pain continued.
    She found herself lying on the ground in her natural form. “What's the matter?” the Dastard asked irritably. “Can't you even walk a little way without collapsing?”
    If only he knew! But her mouth curved into lying words. “Just a stumble, my pet. I'll be all right.”
    Her body got up and turned full