remain delightfully innocent.”
There seemed to be something Wenda wasn’t getting. That annoyed her, but she didn’t want to admit it, so she changed the subject. “Now we have to plan our trip from here to the Gap Chasm. I fear it is a long walk.”
“Too long a walk,” Ida agreed. “We are near the Ever Glades, in southern Xanth, which would take ever and ever to traverse. Even those of us who fly, whether by wings or by carpet, might find it tedious.”
“And the wilds can be dangerous,” Meryl agreed. “Here there be dragons.”
“But you’re a winged monster,” Wenda said. “Why should you fear flying dragons?”
“It is true that there is a camaraderie of winged monsters when there is a crisis or a convention,” Meryl said. “But at other times, it’s every monster for herself. A dragon would eat me as readily as you.”
“We shall have to plan our journey carefully,” Ida said. “I suggest that we use the trollway.”
“But trolls chase nymphs!” Wenda protested, affrighted.
“There are trolls and trolls,” Ida said. “Wild uncivilized trolls are dangerous, but the trolls who run the trollway are civilized. They don’t molest travelers, as long as the proper fares are paid.”
“What’s a proper fare?” Meryl asked with half a trace of suspicion.
“They will accept tokens. Fortunately I have a supply, having anticipated such a need. They will work for a bus too.”
“A buss?” Wenda asked. “I do not want to be bussed by a troll.”
“It is a transport vehicle,” Ida explained patiently.
Wenda realized that she had spent too long in the forest and castle. There were words in the outside landscape that she had not collected. “A bus,” she agreed.
The males returned from their washup, bird, spider, and prince clean and clothed as required. “We have a long march ahead,” Hilarion said.
“We will take a bus on the trollway,” Wenda said.
It was evident that none of them knew what she was talking about. That pleased her.
Then Jumper figured it out. “A bus is for humans. I’d better change.” He assumed manform, and Wenda gave him his clothing.
Ida knew the way. They bid farewell to the nice otterbees and set out along the appropriate path. Ida floated ahead on her carpet, keeping a pace suitable for the others.
Soon they came to a sort of station guarded by a troll in a box. Ida put her carpet away. Wenda hung back, preferring to let Ida handle it.
Ida approached a big sign that said STOP. PAY TROLL. “Here are six tokens,” she said. “We’re going to the Gap Chasm.”
“You can’t get there from here,” the troll said gruffly. He looked typically vicious, but his voice was comparatively cultured. “The section crossing the Gap is currently under construction.”
“But the trollway has been in existence for decades,” Ida protested. “It traverses the entire length and breadth of Xanth.”
“Deterioration of infrastructure,” the troll explained. “Necessary repairs. The prior administrator was neglectful, paying too much attention to short-term advantage. We don’t want valuable customers to fall into the Gap Chasm.”
Ida considered. “How far can we get?”
“The link to Lake Ogre Chobee remains clear. That connects to river transport north. You can get an exchange.”
“Then we’ll do that,” Ida agreed. She presented six metallic tokens. The troll accepted them, bit each one once, then hauled on a rope that lifted a barrier.
They entered the trollway section and stood by a vast, long, paved road. Wenda had had no idea that such a thing existed in Xanth. For that matter, she’d had no idea that trolls could be businesslike, instead of ravening monsters. It was true: individuals differed.
Soon the bus arrived. It was a lumbering metal boxlike vehicle with four black wheels and windows all around. It lumbered to a halt, emitted a naughty hiss of air, and opened its side door. A set of steps dropped down.
They stepped up into
There seemed to be something Wenda wasn’t getting. That annoyed her, but she didn’t want to admit it, so she changed the subject. “Now we have to plan our trip from here to the Gap Chasm. I fear it is a long walk.”
“Too long a walk,” Ida agreed. “We are near the Ever Glades, in southern Xanth, which would take ever and ever to traverse. Even those of us who fly, whether by wings or by carpet, might find it tedious.”
“And the wilds can be dangerous,” Meryl agreed. “Here there be dragons.”
“But you’re a winged monster,” Wenda said. “Why should you fear flying dragons?”
“It is true that there is a camaraderie of winged monsters when there is a crisis or a convention,” Meryl said. “But at other times, it’s every monster for herself. A dragon would eat me as readily as you.”
“We shall have to plan our journey carefully,” Ida said. “I suggest that we use the trollway.”
“But trolls chase nymphs!” Wenda protested, affrighted.
“There are trolls and trolls,” Ida said. “Wild uncivilized trolls are dangerous, but the trolls who run the trollway are civilized. They don’t molest travelers, as long as the proper fares are paid.”
“What’s a proper fare?” Meryl asked with half a trace of suspicion.
“They will accept tokens. Fortunately I have a supply, having anticipated such a need. They will work for a bus too.”
“A buss?” Wenda asked. “I do not want to be bussed by a troll.”
“It is a transport vehicle,” Ida explained patiently.
Wenda realized that she had spent too long in the forest and castle. There were words in the outside landscape that she had not collected. “A bus,” she agreed.
The males returned from their washup, bird, spider, and prince clean and clothed as required. “We have a long march ahead,” Hilarion said.
“We will take a bus on the trollway,” Wenda said.
It was evident that none of them knew what she was talking about. That pleased her.
Then Jumper figured it out. “A bus is for humans. I’d better change.” He assumed manform, and Wenda gave him his clothing.
Ida knew the way. They bid farewell to the nice otterbees and set out along the appropriate path. Ida floated ahead on her carpet, keeping a pace suitable for the others.
Soon they came to a sort of station guarded by a troll in a box. Ida put her carpet away. Wenda hung back, preferring to let Ida handle it.
Ida approached a big sign that said STOP. PAY TROLL. “Here are six tokens,” she said. “We’re going to the Gap Chasm.”
“You can’t get there from here,” the troll said gruffly. He looked typically vicious, but his voice was comparatively cultured. “The section crossing the Gap is currently under construction.”
“But the trollway has been in existence for decades,” Ida protested. “It traverses the entire length and breadth of Xanth.”
“Deterioration of infrastructure,” the troll explained. “Necessary repairs. The prior administrator was neglectful, paying too much attention to short-term advantage. We don’t want valuable customers to fall into the Gap Chasm.”
Ida considered. “How far can we get?”
“The link to Lake Ogre Chobee remains clear. That connects to river transport north. You can get an exchange.”
“Then we’ll do that,” Ida agreed. She presented six metallic tokens. The troll accepted them, bit each one once, then hauled on a rope that lifted a barrier.
They entered the trollway section and stood by a vast, long, paved road. Wenda had had no idea that such a thing existed in Xanth. For that matter, she’d had no idea that trolls could be businesslike, instead of ravening monsters. It was true: individuals differed.
Soon the bus arrived. It was a lumbering metal boxlike vehicle with four black wheels and windows all around. It lumbered to a halt, emitted a naughty hiss of air, and opened its side door. A set of steps dropped down.
They stepped up into
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