myth.conceptions-第1部分

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　〃Life　is　a　series　of　rude　awakenings。〃
　…R。　V。　WINKLE
　
　Of　all　the　various　unpleasant　ways　to　be　aroused　from　a　sound　sleep；　one　of　the　worst　is　the　noise　of　a　dragon　and　a　unicorn　playing　tag。
　I　pried　one　eye　open　and　blearily　tried　to　focus　on　the　room。　A　chair　toppled　noisily　to　the　floor；　convincing　me　the　blurred　images　my　mind　was　receiving　were　due　at　least　in　part　to　the　irregular　vibrations　ing　from　the　floor　and　walls。　One　without　my　vast　storehouse　of　knowledge　（hard　won　and　painfully　endured）　might　be　inclined　to　blame　the　pandemonium　on　an　earthquake：　I　didn't。　The　logic　behind　this　conclusion　was　simple。　Earthquakes　were　extremely　unmon　in　this　area。　A　dragon　and　a　unicorn　playing　tag　wasn't。
　It　was　starting　out　as　an　ordinary　day　。　。　。　that　is；　ordinary　if　you're　a　junior　magician　apprenticed　to　a　demon。
　If　I　had　been　able　to　predict　the　future　with　any　degree　of　accuracy　and　thus　foresee　the　events　to　e；　I　probably　would　have　stayed　in　bed。　I　mean；　fighting　has　never　been　my　forte；　and　the　idea　of　taking　on　a　whole　army　。　。　。　but　I'm　getting　ahead　of　myself。
　The　thud　that　aroused　me　shook　the　building；　acpanied　by　the　crash　of　various　dirty　dishes　shattering　on　the　floor。　The　second　thud　was　even　more　spectacular。
　I　considered　doing　something。　I　considered　going　back　to　sleep。　Then　I　remembered　my　mentor's　condition　when　he　had　gone　to　bed　the　night　before。
　That　woke　me　up　fast。　The　only　thing　nastier　than　a　demon　from　Perv　is　a　demon　from　Perv　with　a　hangover。
　I　was　on　my　feet　and　headed　for　the　door　in　a　flash。　（My　agility　was　a　tribute　more　to　my　fear　rather　than　to　any　inborn　talent。）　Wrenching　the　door　open；　I　thrust　my　head　outside　and　surveyed　the　terrain。　The　grounds　outside　the　inn　seemed　normal。　The　weeds　were　totally　out　of　hand；　more　than　chest　high　in　places。　Something　would　have　to　be　done　about　them　someday；　but　my　mentor　didn't　seem　to　mind　their　riotous　growth；　and　since　I　was　the　logical　candidate　to　cut　them　if　I　raised　the　point；　I　decided　once　again　to　keep　silent　on　the　subject。
　Instead；　I　studied　the　various　flattened　patches　and　newly　torn　paths　in　the　overgrowth；　trying　to　determine　the　location　or　at　least　the　direction　of　my　quarries'　movement。　I　had　almost　convinced　myself　that　the　silence　was　at　least　semipermanent　and　it　would　be　all　right　to　go　back　to　sleep；　when　the　ground　began　to　tremble　again。　I　sighed　and　shakily　drew　myself　up　to　my　full　height；　what　there　was　of　it；　and　prepared　to　meet　the　onslaught。
　The　unicorn　was　the　first　to　e　into　view；　great　clumps　of　dirt　flying　from　beneath　his　hooves　as　he　ducked　around　the　corner　of　the　inn　on　my　right。
　〃Buttercup！〃　I　shouted　in　my　most　authoritative　tone。
　A　split　second　later　I　had　to　jump　back　into　the　shelter　of　the　doorway　to　avoid　being　trampled　by　the　speeding　beast。　Though　a　bit　miffed　at　his　disobedience；　I　didn't　really　blame　him。　He　had　a　dragon　chasing　him；　and　dragons　are　not　notoriously　agile　when　it　es　to　quick　stops。
　As　if　acting　on　a　cue　from　my　thoughts；　the　dragon　burst　into　view。　To　be　accurate；　he　didn't　really　burst；　he　thudded；　shaking　the　inn　as　he　rebounded　off　the　corner。　As　I　said；　dragons　are　not　notoriously　agile。
　〃Gleep！〃　I　shouted。　〃Stop　it　this　instant！〃
　He　responded　by　taking　an　affectionate　swipe　at　me　with　his　tail　as　he　bounded　past。　Fortunately　for　me；　the　gesture　went　wide　of　its　mark；　hitting　the　inn　with　another　jarring　thud　instead。
　So　much　for　my　most　authoritative　tone。　If　our　two　faithful　charges　were　any　more　obedient；　I'd　be　lucky　to　escape　with　my　life。　Still　I　had　to　stop　them。　Whoever　came　up　with　the　immortal　quote　about　waking　sleeping　dragons　had　obviously　never　had　to　contend　with　a　sleeping　demon。
　I　studied　the　two　of　them　chasing　each　other　through　the　weeds　for　a　few　moments；　then　decided　to　handle　this　the　easy　way。　Closing　my　eyes；　I　envisioned　both　of　them；　the　dragon　and　the　unicorn。　Then　I　superimposed　the　image　of　the　dragon　over　that　of　the　unicorn；　fleshed　it　out　with　a　few　strokes　of　my　mental　paintbrush；　then　opened　my　eyes。
　To　my　eyes；　the　scene　was　the　same；　a　dragon　and　a　unicorn　confronting　each　other　in　a　field　of　weeds。　But；　of　course；　I　had　cast　the　spell；　so　naturally　I　wouldn't　be　taken　in。　Its　true　effect　could　be　read　in　Gleep's　reaction。
　He　cocked　his　head　and　peered　at　Buttercup；　first　from　this　angle；　then　that；　stretching　his　long　serpentine　neck　to　its　limits。　Then　he　swiveled　his　head　until　he　was　looking　backward　and　repeated　the　process；　scanning　the　surrounding　weeds。　Then　he　looked　at　Buttercup　again。
　To　his　eyes；　his　playmate　had　suddenly　disappeared；　to　be　replaced　by　another　dragon。　It　was　all　very　confusing；　and　he　wanted　his　playmate　back。
　In　my　pet's　defense；　when　I　…speak　of　his　lack　of　agility；　both　physically　and　mentally；　I　don't　mean　to　imply　he　is　either　clumsy　or　stupid。　He's　young；　which　also　accounts　for　his　mere　ten…foot　length　and　half…formed　wings。　I　fully　expect　that　when　he　matures…in　another　four　or　five　hundred　years…he　will　be　very　deft　and　wise；　which　is　more　than　I　can　say　for　myself。　In　the　unlikely　event　I　should　live　that　long；　all　I'll　be　is　old。
　〃Gleep？〃
　The　dragon　was　looking　at　me　now。　Having　stretched　his　limited　mental　abilities　to　their　utmost；　he　turned　to　me　to　correct　the　situation　or　at　least　provide　an　explanation。　As　the　perpetrator　of　the　situation　causing　his　distress；　I　felt　horribly　guilty。　For　a　moment；　I　wavered　on　the　brink　of　restoring　Buttercup's　normal　appearance。
　〃If　you're　quite　sure　you're　making　enough　noise　。　。　。　。〃
　I　winced　at　the　deep；　sarcastic　tones　booming　close　behind　me。　All　my　efforts　were　for　naught。　Aahz　was　awake。
　I　assumed　my　best　hangdog　attitude　and　turned　to　face　him。
　Needless　to　say；　he　looked　terrible。
　If；　perchance；　you　think　a　demon　covered　with　green　scales　already　looks　terrible；　you've　never　encountered　one　with　a　hangover。　The　normal　gold　flecks　in　his　yellow　eyes　were　now　copper；　accented　by　a　throbbing　network　of　orange　veins。　His　lips　were　drawn　back　in　a　painful　grimace　which　exposed　even　more　of　his　pointed　teeth　than　his　frightening；　reassuring　smile。　Looming　there；　his　fists　clenched　on　his　hips；　he　presented　a　picture　terrifying　enough　to　make　a　spider…bear　faint。
　I　wasn't　frightened；　however。　I　had　been　with　Aahz　for　over　a　year　now；　and　knew　his　bark　was　worse　than　his　bite。　Then　again；　he　had　never　bitten　me。
　〃Gee；　Aahz；〃　I　said；　digging　a　small　hole　with　my　toe。　〃You're　always　telling　me　if　I　can't　sleep　through　anything；　I'm　not　really　tired。〃
　He　ignored　the　barb；　as　he　so　frequently　does　when　I　catch　him　on　his　own　quotes。　Instead　he　squinted　over　my　shoulder　at　the　scene　outside。
　〃Kid；〃　he　said。　〃Tell　me　you're　practicing。　Tell　me　you　haven't　really　scrounged　up　another　stupid　dragon　to　make　our　lives　miserable。〃
　〃I'm　practicing！〃　I　hastened　to　reassure　him。
　To　prove　the　point；　I　quickly　restored　Buttercup's　normal　appearance。
　〃Gleep！〃　said　Gleep　happily；　and　the　two　of　them　were　off　again。
　〃Really；　Aahz；〃　I　said　innocently　to　head　off　his　next　caustic　remark。　〃Where　would　I　find　another　dragon　in　this　dimension？〃
　〃If　there　was　one　to　be　found　here　on　Klah；　you'd　find　it；〃　he　snarled。　〃As　I　recall；　you　didn't　have　that　much　trouble　finding　this　one　the　first　time　I　turned　my　back　on　you；　Apprentices！　〃
　He　turned　and　retreated　out　of　the　sunlight　into　the　dim　interior　of　the　inn。
　〃If　I　recall；〃　I　mented；　following　him；　〃that　was　at　the　Bazaar　on　Deva。　I　couldn't　get　another　dragon　there　because　you　won't　teach　me　how　to　travel　through　the　dimensions。〃
　〃Get　off　my　case；　kid！〃　he　moaned。　〃We've　been　over　it　a　thousand　times。　Dimension　traveling　is　dangerous。　Look　at　me！　Stranded　without　my　powers　in　a　back…assward　dimension　like　Klah；　where　the　lifestyle　is　barbaric　and　the　food　is　disgusting。〃
　〃You　lost　your　powers　because　Garkin　laced　his　special　effects　cauldron　with　that　joke　powder　and　then　got　killed　before　he　could　give　you　the　antidote；〃　I　pointed　out。
　〃Watch　out　how　you　talk　about　your　old　teacher；〃　Aahz　warned。　〃The　old　slime…monger　was　inclined　to　get　carried　away　with　practical　jokes　once　in　a　while；　true。　But　he　was　a　master　magician　。　。　。　and　a　friend　of　mine。　If　he　wasn't；　I　wouldn't　have　saddled　myself　with　his　mouthy　apprentice；〃　he　finished；　giving　me　a　meaningful　look。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Aahz；〃　I　apologized。　〃It's　just　that　I…〃
　〃Look；　kid；〃　he　interrupted　wearily；　〃if　I　had　my　powers…which　I　don't…and　if　you　were　ready　to　learn　dimension　hopping…which　you　aren't…we　could　give　it　a　try。　Then；　if　you　miscalculated　and　dumped　us　into　the　wrong　dimension；　I　could　get　our　tails　out　before　anything　bad　happened。　As　things　stand；　trying　to　teach　you　dimension　hopping　would　be　more　dangerous　than　playing　Russian　roulette。〃
　〃What's　Russian？〃　I　asked。
　The　inn　shook　as　Gleep　missed　the　corner　turn　again。
　〃When　are　you　going　to　teach　your　stupid　dragon　to　play　on　the　other　side　of　the　road？〃　Aahz　snarled；　craning　his　neck　to　glare　out　a　window。
　〃I'm　working　on　it；　Aahz；〃　I　insisted　soothingly。　〃Remember；　it　took　me　almost　a　whole　year　to　housebreak　him。〃
　〃Don't　remind　me；〃　Aahz　grumbled。　〃If　I　had　my　way；　we'd。　。　。〃
　He　broke　off　suddenly　and　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。
　〃You'd　better　disguise　that　dragon；　kid；〃　he　announced　suddenly。　〃And　get　ready　to　do　your　‘dubious　character'　bit。　We're　about　to　have　a　visitor。〃
　I　didn't　contest　the　information。　We　had　established　long　ago　that　Aahz's　hearing　was　much　more　acute　than　mine。
　〃Right；　Aahz；〃　I　acknowledged　and　hurried　about　my　task。
　The　trouble　with　using　an　inn　for　a　base　of　operations；　however　abandoned　or　weather…beaten　it　might　be；　was　that　occasionally　people　would　stop　here　seeking　food　and　lodging。　Magik　was　still　outlawed　in　these　lands；　and　the　last　thing　we　wanted　was　witnesses。
　
　Chapter　Two
　〃First　impressions；　being　the　longest　lasting；　are　of　utmost　importance。〃
　…J。　CARTER
　
　Aahz　and　I　had　acquired　the　inn　under　rather　dubious　circumstances。　Specifically；　we　claimed　it　as　our　rightful　spoils　of　war　after　the　two　of　us　（with　the　assistance　of　a　couple　of　allies；　now　absent）　had　routed　Isstvan；　a　maniac　magician；　and　sent　him　pack