Chalmers, with a look of baffled and apprehensive resignation, began to make a list of the properties needed. A small red salamander was discovered under a stone. Most of the other things they had already, but a snapdragon plant was called for, and there was none in sight. «Conjure one up,» said Shea, coolly. The harassed psychologist looked annoyed. But, with the aid of a roadside weed, he produced a snapdragon plant the size of a tree. The Dolon snorted.
Chalmers laid out his properties, lit a fire with flint and steel, and began an incantation:
«By Fafnir and Hydra,
Apophis and Yang:
With the length of Nidhöggr,
Tiбmat’s sharp fang,
The shape of the lizard,
The strength of the bear,
Thou, scaled like the serpent.
Emerge from your lair!
Steed of Triptolemus.
Beowulf’s bane.
Symbol of Uther.
And bringer of rain —»
Shea prudently hitched the animals’ reins around a tree. If the dragon turned out to be winged and hungry — He wished that his damned reckless impulsiveness had not made him force Chalmers’ hand. If the Dolon’s counterspell didn’t work — The oyster-coloured smoke of the fire thickened and darkened. Chalmers bit off his chant in mid-stanza and scrambled back. A reptilian head a yard long was poking towards them out of the smoke.
The head had a scaly neck behind it. Then came a foreleg and another. The dragon seemed to be crawling from nothingness through an orifice somewhere in the smoke, ballooning our as it came. There it was, complete to stinger-tipped tail, gazing at them with yellow cat’s eyes.
Shea breathed, not daring to attract its attention by a movement: «If it starts for us, Doc, you get on Gustavus and I’ll let go the reins.»
Dolon’s face was twisting as though he had swallowed too big a mouthful. The dragon lurched a few steps, not towards them but off at right angles, opened its terrible mouth, gave a whistling «beeep!» and began to crop the grass contentedly.
«God bless my soul!» said Chalmers.
«He’d better,» replied Shea, «Look!»
* * *
A second draconian head was pushed through the smoke. This one was squirted out in a few seconds. It looked at the three men, then wandered over to a clump of bright-coloured flowers, sniffed, and began to eat them. Now a third and a fourth head were already in sight. As fast as the dragons were extruded, more followed them. The field down to the very confines of the trees was crowded with them, new arrivals butting the others to make room or scratching their sides on trees. Shea was counting: «Thirty-three, thirty-four — We better untie the animals and move or we’ll get stepped on. Thirty-six, thirty-seven —»
«Dear me,» remarked Chalmers, fingering his chin, as they backed among the trees. «I rather feared this. The same thing happened with the mice.»
«Fifty-two, fifty-three —» Shea continued. «My God, the country will be overrun with them!»
Dragons had overflowed the field and were lurching through the trees with their ungainly gait, munching everything green in sight, and mooing at each other with the same plaintive beeping sound. «Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred. Oh, boy!»
The fire suddenly died, and the cascade of vegetarian dragons ceased. «My God!» said Shea in an awe-struck voice. «One hundred reptilian Ferdinands!»
Dolon’s voice was that of a man shaken to the core. «Forsooth, you do things not by halves. Though I mind me I once succeeded with a bushel measure full of pearls.» Dolon snapped his fingers. «By Ahriman’s toe nails, are you not those who even now bested the Blatant Beast?»
«That’s us,» said Shea. «How did you hear about it?»
«The Beast passed me a few hours ago, and warned me of a prow company. He said he demanded a trifle of poesy, as is his custom, and you gave him a lay full of such — ah — spice that even he durst not repeat it for shame. The like had never before happened to him, and he seemed much downcast thereby. But was there not another of you? The Beast mentioned three.»
Chalmers cleared his throat, but Shea quickly answered: «No; he’s got us mixed up with another bunch.»
«’Tis a thing conceivable; the Beast is in sooth of the lower orders, and cannot count beyond two.» Dolon shook a finger and said with a slight leer: «Now about these dragons: Tell me, fellow magicians, was’t not by error you got eaters of grass? Eh? No secrets in the trade!»
«Ahem. No use taking unnecessary risks,» said Chalmers, still looking a trifle wall-eyed.
«Doubtless,» remarked Dolon with a glance that Shea just barely saw, «you can exorcise them as rapidly.»
«We could,» said Shea, before his companion had a chance to answer. «For the dragon-disappearing spell, though, we need an aneroid comptometer, and we lost ours. Do you have one with you?»
«An. ah, certes, an ameroid combompeter. Nay, I fear me not so. Last spring came a black frost that killed all the plants on which ameroid combompeters grow.» He spread his hands regretfully. «However, meseems these dragons will in the long run be a benefit, making rare good sport and food for our friends and servants, the Losels. And now, Sir Magicians whom I have not seen, explain your purpose in Loselwood.»
Chalmers spoke. «Uh. we’re looking for a lady named Florimel, and were advised we might find her here. Do you know the young person?»
Dolon chuckled. «The real Florimel or the false?»
«The real or — The one who was at Satyrane’s tournament recently.»
«That would be the false one, made by the Witch of Riphira. A fair piece of work — though I will say I care nor much for these witches. Duessa is the only one who has any standing in the Chapter — And that brings me to remark, magical sirs, are you members of one of the outland Chapters? My memory is practically infallible, and I do not recall having seen you at our meetings.»
Chalmers stammered: «We. uh. that is. can you tell me a little more about this Florimel? The. uh. false one.»
Dolon waved his hand. «A mere witch’s thing — a creature made of snow, or no special value. You must let me show you the really fine chess player I made sometime, or the imps I conjured up to handle my torture work. Really an achievement. Busyrane, our archmagician, doubtless called this false Florimel in for inspection.» He accented the last word and snickered. «But you haven’t answered my question, magical sirs.»
Shea spoke up boldly. «The point is, we’d like to join up with you.»
«You mean you have been working independently and we know it not?» Dolon narrowed his eyes suspiciously. «Aye; Busyrane opened the Chapter but a twelvemonth ago and you may well have slipped his attention. I trust you have not refused his invitation. Our archimage is not soft or slow with unlicensed magicians He has a spell that turns ’em into spiders. Witty, is he not, eh?»
«Good gracious!» said Chalmers. «But how does one acquire a licence?»
«That falls somewhat upon the applicant. Our charter calls for a round twenty-one master magicians, the magic number. Naturally, you behold in me one of the leading masters, whether by ability or seniority. There is also a class of journeymen, who handle the ordinary work, and one of apprentices. Perhaps you have talent enough to be elected to mastership. There are three or four places unfilled, I believe. The next meeting comes in five days, and with my backing your election would be certain.»
SIX
Dolon, in the form of a handsome stallion, trotted in front. Shea leaned back in his saddle, and, watching the stallion’s ears carefully, murmured: «Doing all right, aren’t we, Doc?»
«I suppose so, but I admit to being somewhat apprehensive as to what will happen if both the Companions and the Chapter of Magicians learn we’ve been cooperating with the other party. This. ah. playing both ends against the middle may get us in trouble.»