Yon Ill Wind by Piers Anthony Page B

in.  So did Jim, after checking to make sure all was in order.  Nimby had told him that bad creatures would frighten the children; instead it seemed to be Mary who was frightened, perhaps with good reason.
    He started the motor and moved onto the access road.
    There was no troll booth here, fortunately.  They were able to proceed without delay.
    The children peered out the windows at the monstrous bird.  “That's a roc,” Sean said, awed.  “Fantasy's biggest bird.  I never thought I'd see one.”
    Tweeter chirped.  Jim glanced at Nimby, who wrote a note.  He says that isn't all.
     “What's that?” Karen cried.
    “A dragon,” Sean said.  He wasn't joking; his tone was serious.
    Now a huge and grotesque shape loomed in the sky before the vehicle.  It was, indeed, a dragon.  Karen screamed.
    Jim looked at Nimby.  “This road is protected?”
    Nimby hesitated, and nodded.
    “But there's a 'but,' “ Jim said.  “Let's have the qualifier.”
    The note came.  The winged monsters can not attack anything on the enchanted path directly.  But they can pretend to.  Do not be swayed.
    “And children can be frightened,” Jim said.  Nimby nodded.
    “Yuck!” David cried.  Karen screamed again.  And this time Mary made a stifled exclamation of alarm.
    Jim looked from one window to the next, all around, craning his neck, but didn't see anything.  “This is an enchanted road,” he reminded them.  “Nothing can hurt us while we're on it.”
    “Physically,” Mary responded tightly.
    “What did you see?”
    “It was a harpy,” Chlorine said.  “They are very ugly and nasty.”
    “A human-headed bird?” Jim asked.  “What's so bad about one more fantastic—”
    Then a filthy thing appeared before the windshield.  It looked like a thoroughly soiled vulture, with the head and breasts of an old woman.  “Ghaaa!” the dirty bird screeched before veering up over the vehicle.  Her legs had glistening discolored talons.  Jim, fearing a collision, and revolted by the sight, almost veered onto the shoulder of the road.  Now he understood what had been bothering the others.
    “Can this house move faster?” Chlorine asked.
    “Yes.  But with these crosswinds I haven't wanted to push it.”
     “I think you had better,” the woman said, concerned.
    “The harpies may not be able to touch us directly, but if they think to lay any eggs on us—“
    “Messy,” Sean remarked.
    “Not exactly.  Their eggs explode.  They might do damage.”
    Explosive eggs?  Jim decided to accelerate, regardless of the wind.
    There was an angry screech outside, as the harpies realized that their target was escaping.  “They're coming after us, Dad!” David exclaimed.  “And the dragons too.”
    Jim goosed the gas.  As if to join in the fray, the wind increased, becoming more gusty.  The vehicle swerved slightly, as Jim fought to keep it steady.  He didn't like this kind of driving.  Neither did the others; the kids were now uncomfortably silent.
    But now they slowly forged ahead of the winged monsters.  Jim was even able to ease up on the gas a bit.  He appreciated Nimby's warning about the children being frightened.  If they hadn't paused at the rest stop, they might have stayed safely ahead of the dirty birds.  But that stop had been necessary.  All the same, he hoped not to stop again if he could avoid it.
    Nimby wrote another note.  Jim took it and propped it before him so he could read it without taking his eyes off the road.  Soon you will come to the Gap Chasm, where you will have to stop for the ferry.  It is protected, but perhaps not comfortable for you.
    “What's this gap chasm?” Jim asked between his clenched teeth.
    “Oh, that's a big chasm that crosses Xanth,” Chlorine answered.  “It once had a forget spell on it, so no one ever remembered it was there, but that started disintegrating during the Time of No Magic, and now most folk do remember it.  It's said to be very