Dream a Little Dream by Piers Anthony Page B

turned them with his tongue.
    “This, I’m afraid, is all we know about the Fren. They are what’s left after a creature is disbelieved.”
    “You mean Forgotten?” Mich asked.
    “No, to be Forgotten is to no longer exist. To be disbelieved is worse. It is to be transformed into living cruelty and evil, the product of a shattered dream. They are still there, but they are warped and badly deformed.”
    “That sounds right for Fren,” Mich said. “What else can you tell us?”
    “Just that no one has ever been able to defeat them.” The worm king looked thoughtful for a moment. “At least, no one we know of.”
    “There is a first time for everything. We have the help of the Welties.”
    “Ah! Now, there is a fighting force! Even we have trouble when we fight with them. We have been at odds with them for many years,but we have become allies under the present situation. We try to be at peace with them. They have such lovely skins! It’s too bad that they must ask now for help. The Fren should have been destroyed long ago. Where will you meet them?”
    “At the Shattered-Glass Glade.”
    “Then you will definitely need our help to get there.” He turned to look at Nola. “Accept my apology, Lady Nola, and some of my warriors.” He nodded his head to her. “And one piece of advice; my source tells me that you spoke to a nymph and she told you to lie down in the river, is this so?”
    “Yes, it is. Her name was Violet.”
    “You must understand that nymphs are largely ignorant of what is real and what is legend. As well as this liability, Kafka has cursed them with stupidity. They forget significant details of their lives. Reility may have sent her to intercept you. He knows who is able to help you and he is trying to destroy all chances for our salvation. Both the lying in the river to reach the source and the winged hippocampus are legend. Legends may be true, but often require special interpretation, and are best not taken literally. So I do not say that the nymph was trying to deceive you, but you must be cautious. I’m sure you will come to know more of them and you must beware of this. They are good at giving messages, but bad with personal information.” Then he added, “Trust not the stupid. Do you trust me?”
    “Of course!” She wondered if she should, but what choice did she have? Obviously, he wasn’t stupid. Ugly, but not dim. She didn’t know this land, and he did. She looked at Spirit, then back at the king. “But how is it you know Esprit?”
    “He has been protecting our entrance tunnels from the hazards of the upper world for as long as I can remember. We have never done anything for him in return. We don’t know why he does it. Once he saved my son from being eaten by a giant crow. We normallydo not fear such a fate, but if one of us is consumed entire, it is very uncomfortable, and may result in awkwardness. So we are duly grateful.”
    Surely swallowing one of these things whole would nullify it, Nola thought. “And what about your son now?” she asked.
    The worm king looked a little sad. “If it wouldn’t be an imposition, Lady Nola, would you consent to break the spell on my son and change him back?”
    Nola shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry, I may indeed have the power, but I don’t know how.”
    The worm king lifted his head high and his eyes brightened. “I understand. Do not worry. You will find a way. I have faith in you.” He looked at his guard and blinked, then looked at Mich. “Get on his back. He will carry you through the rock to the surface. My warriors will be waiting for you.”
    “Wait, what about Nola and Snort?” Mich asked as he mounted the slimy worm’s back.
    For answer, Nola mounted Esprit, who jumped up to the top of the pedestal, then up through the aperture in the ceiling. Snort followed, spiraling doggedly upward.
    Mich dug into the worm’s back with his hands. It was disgusting, but it was the only way he could hold on, and the worm