the breast. She had finally begun to calm down.
âWhy didnât you just tell her you were with me?â she asked.
âI donât think chickens respect committed relationships.â
Sally was impressed. âIs that what we have? Now that Cindy will no longer be interested in you?â
Adam brushed her off. An elf was walking toward the metal cage, and he had a couple of bags in his hand. Adam pointed him out.
âThis is our chance to escape,â he said.
Sally shook with fear. âDonât be ridiculous. That elf is coming for dinner.â
âCan we stay here forever?â Adam asked. âWe have to get out of this cage. Once back in the castle we might have room to maneuver.â
âOnce weâre in the castle theyâll eat us,â Sally cried. âPlease, Adam, we canât let him catch us. Iâm claustrophobic. I canât be stuffed in a bag. Iâm attached to my head. I canât stand the thought of having it separated from my shoulders.â
But Adam had made up his mind. âI would rather diethan be hit on by fat chickens for the rest of my life.â He took a step toward the elf as the servant of the wizard began to open the cage. âCome with me, Sally. It will be all right.â
âI hope they donât fry me.â Sally moaned. âI canât stand fried chicken.â
13
P an had somehow bluffed his way back into the castle. But this time when he was brought before Klandor in the huge hallâwith Watch and Cindy beside himâthe wizard appeared more frightening than before. The mood inside the castle was grim. Once upon a time these dwarf and elf guards had served Pan. Few of them disliked Pan. They had gone over to Klandorâs side for business reasons. It was nothing personal. The wizard had the power now, that was all that mattered.
No doubt that was the reason Klandor had allowed Pan to go free. The wizard hadnât wanted to push Panâs once-loyal subjects too far, and possibly set off an uprising.In fact, the elves and dwarfs that had been sent to escort Pan to the interdimensional portal had let him go free a mile from the castle. They hadnât wanted to rub salt in their ex-masterâs obvious wounds. But Klandor had laid down the law with Pan only a few hours before, in front of everyone, and now Pan had chosen to violate it. Klandor could not let him go again without losing face. For that reason the first words out of the wizardâs mouth were scary indeed.
âDo you have any last words, Pan?â he asked.
Pan had regained a measure of strength. âYes. My friends want to play a game with you.â
The reply momentarily stunned Klandor, but he recovered quickly. âWhat kind of game?â he asked.
âThey want to gamble with you,â Pan explained. âToss the coin, as we tossed the coin.â
Klandor laughed softly, deadly. âWhat do they have to wager that I could possibly want?â
âThese,â Watch said, pulling his pocket calculator and Sallyâs Bic lighter from his pocket. âThis calculator is actually a miniature computer. It can perform every type of mathematical calculation imaginable. It can also store data related to oneâs personal calendar. You can write yourself reminder notes. Although the keyboard is tiny, you can even write a love letter or a whole term paper using this instrument.â
Klandor tried to act disinterested, although it was obvious he was intrigued. âWhatâs the warranty on it?â
âTwo years, parts and labor,â Watch said.
âWhatâs its power source?â Klandor asked.
âTwo triple-A batteries.â
The wizard snorted. âWhere am I going to get batteries in this dimension? The calculator will just run down and then be useless to me.â
âThatâs true,â Watch admitted. âBut it has fresh Âlithium batteries in it right now. If you use the