Xone of Contention

  "My hands seem to have gone numb," he said.

  They must have touched her panties during the boost. This was multimedia magic! "Flex your fingers," she called. "They'll recover in a moment."

  She reached the base of the curve, and the tunnel debouched into another full sized passage below. "Okay, come on," she called.

  Justin scrambled into the tunnel and crawled down toward her. Soon he stood beside her. "This certainly seems to he an avenue," he agreed, looking around. "It must pass under the inner passage, going toward the center of the circles. That would seem to be where the answer to our question lies."

  "Yes Let's find it Then we can tell the others, and maybe finally get our night's rest."

  "That would he eminently satisfactory."

  The passage sloped downward, and at the base there was water. It wasn't illusion: it seemed to be ground water that had seeped in and flooded the floor. It wasn't deep; they sloshed through it and come out the other side.

  They came to a large chamber, whose ceiling was supported by a number of thick columns. The columns were square, rather than round. The chamber seemed to be curved: in fact it was like the two passages, circling around a huge central pillar. This was the true center of the establishment.

  "What’s this place?" Pia asked, impressed by its magnitude.

  "Why. I suspect these are square roots," Justin said. awed. "Cube roots, more accurately. And that this must be a tree."

  "A tree?"

  "A very large, very special tree. In fact, I believe this is the Coventree."

  "The what?"

  "It is largely isolated from the regular forests, but has remarkable properties. I know of it only by reputation, but believe the identification is secure. This would be its root system."

  Pia looked around with a new appreciation. "All these columns— roots."

  "And the center is the main root."

  "So it's a big tree. So what?"

  "The Coventree has the power of illusion. Were it human, it would perhaps rival the Sorceress Iris in that respect. That explains why we did not see it in the light of day; it's enormous upper girth was concealed by illusion. But because it is vegetable, it is not considered to be a Magician. Still, it is a plant well worthy of respect."

  "By other plants, maybe," she agreed cynically. "Other trees. But—" Then she made a connection "You were a tree for a long time. That's why you relate."

  "True. I have learned appreciation for the way of trees. Yet by what coincidental chance I should find myself here escapes me."

  Another bulb flashed over her head. "That spook who called us this way—it was you it really wanted!"

  "Me?"

  "Maybe it couldn't reach you directly, so it lured us instead, knowing you would follow. Because you understand trees. You relate."

  "Dear girl. I believe you are correct!"

  "Everything was illusion, including the copy of Breanna Except the path—and maybe the other plants cooperated to make that. To get us here—and you here. And now you're here."

  "But why would an important tree like this want my presence?"

  "Maybe you should ask it."

  "But I can't just ask a tree something. Trees don't speak. Not even this one "

  "That spook who lured us spoke." But Pia reconsidered. "It didn't say anything meaningful. Just about danger, and hurrying. Like a recording. No intelligence there."

  "Trees don't really understand human dialogue. I was a man before I was a tree, it took me some lime to learn the ways of trees, and I think it would take longer for a tree to learn the ways of people. So I doubt that the Coventree would be able to speak to me or anyone in intelligible terms. That is simply not its nature."

  "But you do understand its nature." she said warmly. "Better than any other human being. So it must want to talk to you."

  Justin considered, "I think more likely it simply wants my understanding. But of what?"

  "This is a puzzle," Pia said. "Edsel could figure it out better than I could. But maybe I can get it. This whole place—the castle, the tunnel rings, the pictures—they must all be part of it. Something to understand. To figure out. just as we figured the way to get in here."

  "But why would a tree set riddles?"

  "Because that's the only way it can communicate. You said it can't talk, it doesn't understand dialogue. But it must have some reason to tell you something. You just have to figure out what it is."

  Justin considered. "You must be correct. That is the way a tree would do it. But what message could there be in a phantom castle?"

  "That's just to mark the place, so we couldn't miss it. I thought that was obvious all along. But the pictures—it didn't want us to get beyond them until we had truly figured them out. I think the pictures are the message." She remembered how their Companions software, back in Mundania, wouldn't let folk see the Pia guide without clothing until they had demonstrated mastery over the subject matter. This could be similar, in vegetable fashion.

  "But they are, taken as a whole, revolting. That rising water—perhaps mobile animals like it, but it is not good for trees "

  "Rising water." she echoed. "Justin—that could be it."

  "It can't be it. No tree would want its roots flooded out."

  "The tunnel here—it's flooded at the low point It surely wasn't that way when it was built. The water's rising here too, just as it is in the pictures. And that's not good."

  Justin stared at her. "This is it." he agreed. amazed. "The water is rising, and drowning out the trees. And nobody cares but the trees."

  "And the leprechauns, who must have helped with the excavation of this gallery."

  "Yes, of course. And with the crafting of the pictures."

  Something shifted inside her, and the chamber seemed to change color. "Do you know. Justin. all my life I've been a selfish brat, and it's never made me happy. Now, suddenly, I see a way to do something unselfish. I want to save those trees."

  "But no one can—"

  "We know what's happening. The snows in the mountains are melting, and flowing to the valley, and it's flooding, and drowning out the trees. They can't stop it, because they're immobile. The leprechauns probably can't go to the cold mountains. But maybe we can. That's why Coventree wanted to bring you here. So you would understand, because you of all people relate to trees, and do something. Before it's too late. And I want to help you. Maybe it will be the one truly decent thing I do in my life."

  "But you're Mundane. You have to return to Mundania."

  "Yes. So I guess we'd better hurry, and get this done before I leave Xanth."

  "I suppose if you insist." he said dubiously. "But this problem may have no ready resolution. The forces of nature may be intractable."

  "There must be a way to handle it, or the Coventree wouldn't have asked for help. We just have to figure out how. Now let's go tell the others."

  "But they may not agree."

  "Yes they will."

  "How can you be certain of that?"

  "Because Edsel will do it if I ask him to, and with the two of us in it, you two Companions have to tag along to make sure we don't get in trouble we can't handle."

  "You seem truly determined."

  "I truly am. This is my one chance "

  He nodded. "In that case, I feel free to say that I am very much in accord. The thought of trees suffering unnecessarily is intolerable to me, and I wish to do all that I can to alleviate their distress.”

  "Why didn't you say so before?"

  "Because it was not my province to direct your tour of Xanth, only to facilitate it. A mission like this is well beyond the parameters of my assignment."

  "Let me see if I have it straight," she said. "You couldn't ask it, but you can support it."

  "Exactly."

  "You're so archaically ethical that you couldn't even hint at what you wanted."

  "True."

  "I think it's a pleasure to know, you Justin. Maybe the decade will come when I'll be able
to be like that. But right now I'm simply not up to it. I have to go for what I want."

  "I would not presume to criticize your policy."

  "I can see what Breanna likes in you."

  He smiled abashedly "Then you are able to perceive this more clearly than I can. She is such a wonderful girl, but I am ordinary. There are times when it is all I can do to avoid—" He hesitated. "Touching her."

  Pia considered. He evidently didn't realize that she and Edsel knew about this. He hadn't touched Breanna, technically; she had held his hands "I think she's more touchable than you think."

  "But she is too young!"

  Pia, flush with the joy of her decision to do something truly decent for a change, realized that there was a bit more she could do. "Justin, things have changed in the last century, in Xanth as well as Mundania. Okay, so maybe the Adult Conspiracy stops you from going all the way Yet. But there is an in-between stage, and you should pass through it before the Conspiracy ends. So you're not caught flat fooled, as it were, when the time comes. I mean, you don't climb a mountain in one giant step, do you1? You do it in easy stages."

  "I suppose that could be the case. I confess that Breanna surprised me phenomenally the other night. However—"

  "So now it's our turn to surprise her. She'll appreciate it Believe me. she will "

  "Surprise her?"

  Pia considered, then changed the subject for a moment. "Okay. Let's go tell the others." She paused. "But don't tell them this "

  "Don't—?"

  "This." She put her arms around him. hauled his face down, and kissed him soundly on the mouth.

  He stood hallway stunned "I, ah—"

  "And when you do that to her," she continued, not yet breaking the embrace, "do this too."

  "I'm afraid I don't understand."

  She caught his right hand and cupped it in her left hand. She carried it around behind her. "This." She squeezed his hand, making his fingers gently pinch her left buttock.

  He did not quite freak out, but it was a close call. She put his limp hand back by his side and stepped away from him. Then she led him back toward the entrance. They had work to do.

  Chapter 6

  MODEMODE

  In the morning Nimby and Chlorine struggled with new Mundane clothing, and helped each other look presentable. They went downstairs just as their Companions arrived to guide them through breakfast.

  "Now we need to show you how to ride the Lemon," Dug said. "But first, maybe we'd better tackle the Modemode."

  "The what?" Chlorine asked.

  “The GigaGrid. It goes by various names and nicknames. It covers the world, but you need a modem to access it, so we call it the modem mode, or Mode M Mode, or Modemode. Three syllables. We met you there in the O-zone of the magic mesh address of the Mundane Mega Mesh, or mmm, of the Grid. I realize it's confusing at first, but it does make sense in its fashion, once you get the hang of it."

  "Zone—mesh—grid—mode." Chlorine said, working it out. "All steps of a stairway "

  "Yes," Dug said. "Mdmd://mmm.inm.o-one.breanna That's where we found you. Now we need to be sure you know the way back, because if you should ever be in trouble, that's your escape route. You can reach it from any modem, not just this one. So you can travel anywhere in Mundania, and switch back when you have to; no need to do it from this site. But the mesh is fun in its own right, and you might as well enjoy it. So we figure to take you in for the check-in, then give you a small tour of the Modemode."

  They went in. Chlorine sat in Pia's seat, and Nimby in Edsel's, with Kim and Dug standing behind them for guidance. Chlorine followed the labyrinth, picking out the letters on the keyboard, invoking the modem spell, which was associated with something called a browser and a provider, then M D M D : // and on. She had to give Pia's identity, and Pia's password, "insulin," before being granted admission. When she got to the magic mesh, there she was in the familiar hall, and there was Nimby with her.

  Breanna wasn't in her Leaf, but they left their check-in message. Probably she hadn't made it in yet, because there were fewer mesh connections in Xanth. and Breanna might have forgotten about the Ear. But Nimby and Chlorine had done their part. The message would respond automatically when the others checked in; the magic of the O-Xone would see to that.

  Kim made Chlorine go back to the screen and keyboard in the house, then to the magic mesh again, making sure she knew the route. Dug did the same with Nimby. Then they went exploring elsewhere in the mesh. "The browser enables you to go places." Kim explained "We use Exscrape and Mundania Inline."

  "Inline?"

  "You have to wait in line often. Sometimes you can't get in at all, but they still charge you plenty. Let's go to a babble box."

  "A what?"

  "It's a place where people can meet and talk on the Grid. Friendships are made there, romances flourish, and fights occur. It's a lot of fun."

  "In fact, many people are ensnared in it." Dug added. "Typing their lives away. They can't leave; babbling has become their lives."

  Chlorine wasn't sure about Mundane fun or living, but went along. After all, anyone who put eye to gourd peephole in Xanth was similarly caught, until someone else broke the connection. Folk simply had to learn to be careful.

  "I know what you're thinking," Dug said. "And you're right: there's even a Through the Gourd Home Leaf"

  Kim guided her to "lumber on" to a GigaGrid Alternating Babble, or GAB. where the gabbing occurred. They went to GABfest and merged.

  She had to assume a persona, and decided on "Poison." because of her magic talent of poisoning water. The interaction was in the form of words on the screen. Kim had to reach in and type for her, because she could not do it fast enough.

  She "signed" the guestbook, and it started.

  Poison? Someone called Fun Gus typed. LOL!

  "That means Laughing Out Loud." Kim said. "You'd better come back with some clever rejoinder."

  Well I do it only to water, Chlorine replied with Kim's help.

  You pee in water?

  “Oh, he's one of those" Kim said with disgust. "Change the subject."

  Chlorine did. What's your talent?

  I make things fun, Gus replied. How old are you?

  “Watch it." Kim warned. "He's a prowler."

  But Chlorine answered. Twenty two. That was Pia's age. Why do you want to know?

  How about a date?

  "Don't get too friendly with this predator." Kim said.

  I'm out of dates. Will you accept a pineapple?"

  LMFAO!

  "Never mind that that means," Kim said. "Dump him."

  "No. I want to know." She typed LMFAO?

  A picture appeared It showed one donkey mounting another, but the one below was laughing so hard that the other was falling off. "Oh. donkeys," Chlorine said. She had liked them ever since Nimby first appeared to her in the form of a dragon with a donkey head. "But I still don't understand what they're doing."

  "Never mind!" Kim said urgently. "Break off this dialogue." A new name appeared: Moon Shine. Hi, Poison. I make women look better in the full moon. Is this creep bothering you? Don't butt in, fertilizer face! Gus typed angrily.

  "’Fertilizer’ isn't exactly the word he typed." Kim said. "The babble box automatically translates any objectionable terms," No, this is interesting, Chlorine replied. How about going priv for modering? Gus inquired.

  "Don't do it!" Kim said.

  "What does it mean?"

  "Going private—that is to some other chamber where others aren't watching—for modem sex."

  "Modem what?"

  "Where you talk dirty to each other. Having pretend sex. The Grid is clogged with dirty old men of all ages who want to get their verbal or written hands on young Mesh. That's what you are."

  Chlorine considered. "But it's not real, is it? I mean it's just talk."

  "Talk can lead to desire for the real thing. That can put marriages in peril. I don't think Nimby would appreciate your doing that
with someone else."

  "I suppose not. How do I end this9"

  "I'll do it." Kim typed rapidly. No thanks. Go do it with your laughing donkey.

  That's telling him, Moon Shine said approvingly. You wouldn't like him IRL.

  "What's that?"

  "In real life," Kim said. "Now let's move on."

  Nice meeting you, Moon, Kim typed. Thanks for rescuing this newbie.

  "Newbie?"

  "New to the babble box. That's why Gus was hitting on you. None of the regs will touch him."

  "Regs?"

  "Regular folk of this region. But I don't think we will need to come here again. You've seen how it works."

  "I like it. You're right: it's fun."

  They exited the Mesh and the Grid, and were back in the house. Dug and Nimby came from the other room. "That was some dialogue you had!" Dug said "I recognized Kim's touch. She doesn't like Mesh moochers."

  "True," Kim said "If they want it so bad, let them pay through the nose for phone sex."

  "Through the—"

  "It's expensive." Kim said, frowning.

  "Now it's time for the Lemon," Dug said. "Nimby. I mean Ed, you seem to catch on quite rapidly. Do you think you can handle a two wheeled machine after I demonstrate it?"

  Nimby nodded

  They went to the garage where the machine lurked. It looked like half a car. Dug wheeled it out and bestrode it. "This is Edsel's Lemon motorcycle. Here is how you start it." he said He pushed with his toot, and the motor came alive "This is how it moves." He started it moving, and it carried him down the drive and onto the road beyond. He looped around and returned to the house.

  Then Dug had Nimby get behind him. and the two rode off, discussing the ways of the motorcycle "Ed and Pia ride all over on that thing." Kim said. "I don't feel easy on one of those monsters, but maybe you'll like it better."

  "It doesn't look worse than riding a dragon." Chlorine said.

  After a time, the motorcycle returned Sure enough, Nimby was now in front, and seemed to be handling it competently. "Your turn." Kim murmured.