Castle Kidnapped

Twenty Castle

“Man, I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to this place,” Jeremy said, walking with Linda down a dim corridor. He had no idea where he was.

“Sure you will. It took me a couple of months before I got to know my way around. But when I did, everything was fine. The place feels like home now.”

In passing, Jeremy peered into a dark embrasure and got the vague sense that something big and sinister stood watching within. Of course, he got that feeling all the time around here. When would he stop jumping at every shadow? Back in the real world, it could always be said that there was really nothing to be afraid of. A dark place was just that, a dark place. Here, though … wow. There were spooks here. Real ones.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I think it’s gonna take me a long time.”

“Fiddlesticks. You’ll be a veteran in no time, with your talent — whatever it is.”

“Yeah, I wish I knew what it is, too.”

“Did you guys try running spells through your computer?”

“No, we never got that far. It sounded interesting, though. The funny thing is …” He heaved his shoulders.

Linda looked at him sideways. “Yeah?”

“Well, it’s weird. I just keep getting these strange feelings when I run programs. You know, just fooling around, like I usually do. Trying different things.”

“What kind of feelings?”

“I can’t put a name to them. I feel … good. No. Well, powerful. Like I can do anything. All sorts of new possibilities. It just feels good.” Jeremy scratched his head. “I can’t explain it.”

Linda pursed her lips and gave a knowing nod. Then she said, “Sounds like something’s brewing, all right.”

They had almost come to the wide arched entrance of the Queen’s dining room.

“Geez, how did you find your way back?” Jeremy asked.

“Just a sixth sense you get. Hungry? I don’t know what else there is to do, not until —”

“Lady Linda?”

A servant approached. It was a young page.

“Hi!” Linda said. “Are you new around here?”

“Yes, milady. Lord Incarnadine wishes to see you.”

“Boy, that was quick. Lead on.”

“This way, milady.”

“C’mon, Jeremy.”

The boy led them down a long hallway, then up a flight of stairs. When they reached the landing, there came a high, insistent beeping, as from some electronic device.

“What’s that?” Linda said.

“Huh?” Jeremy looked down. “Hey. It’s my computer.”

He knelt, cracked open the case, and flipped up the readout screen.

“Hey.”

“What does it say?” Linda asked.

“It reads ‘Extreme Danger.’“ Jeremy looked up. “What’s going on?”

“You’re asking me? It’s your gizmo.”

Bewildered, Jeremy shook his head. “It’s not supposed to do that. I had it shut off. And besides, there’s nothing running except the operating system, and that’s —” He closed the case. “This is getting too weird.”

Linda looked around. “Tell the truth, I’m getting a strange feeling, too.”

They both looked at the page.

“Where are you taking us?” Linda asked him.

The page appeared a trifle edgy. “To Lord Incarnadine, milady.”

“Where is he at the moment?”

“With the chamberlain, milady.”

“In Jamin’s quarters?”

“Yes, milady.”

“You look worried about something. Are you sure you’re not fibbing?”

“No, milady. I mean, yes, milady!”

Linda chewed her lip, then said, “I can’t believe you. Something’s wrong, and I want to know what it is.”

The page’s eyes darted about in desperation.

“Well?” Linda said. “I’m waiting.”

The page spun round and dashed away, vanishing into darkness, his footsteps echoing.

Jeremy whistled. “What got into him?”

Linda’s forehead creased into a worried frown. “I should have made him talk.”

“How?”

“Conjured a dozen monkeys to tickle him to death. Set nasty spiders and things all over him. No end of ways.” She sighed. “But he’s just a kid, and I couldn’t do it.”

“Should have,” Jeremy said. “He was lying through his teeth.”

“I know. Something’s up.” Linda fingered the handle of the dagger that hung from her belt. “Jamin. I wonder if he knows —?”

The floor began to heave, and they both dropped to ride out the disturbance. This time, however, the convulsions did not want to stop.

The walls became rubbery, shivering and quaking. The ceiling dropped, and the corridor changed dimensions. The stairway dematerialized, replaced by a vaulted chamber with no outlet. Partitions appeared out of nowhere, sliding down and rising back up again like backdrops in a theater.

Gradually the convulsive transformations ceased. Linda got up cautiously, then brushed off her tunic and the knees of her tights.

“That was bad. Worse than before.”

“Yeah,” Jeremy said in awe. His throat had gone completely dry. He coughed and swallowed hard. “What’s happening?”

“Whatever the problem is with the universes, it’s not getting any better.”

“What universes are we talking about?”

“The universes of the castle. I’m not the one to ask about all that. I’ve never really understood it.” Linda thought for a moment. “Well, yes, I do understand it, but intuitively, I guess. Something’s wrong with the delicate balance between the universes. Since the castle is the focal point, it’s feeling the worst of the effects.”

“What do you mean by ‘focal point’?”

“That’s what’s even harder to explain, but I suppose I mean that since the castle’s connected to all these different universes, it’s like a hub, the center of a big wheel. It’s bound to be affected by what happens out on the rim.”

“Okay, I get it. Funny that this place would be the center of the universe.”

“Universes.”

“Whatever.”

Linda took a deep breath, then looked around. “But we have an even bigger problem.”

“Oh, God. What?”

“Didn’t you notice that everything is different, rearranged?”

“Yeah. So?”

“So. The stairs are gone. We have to find a different way downstairs. Let’s go.”

They went, but fifteen minutes later they had failed to locate another stairway. For the first time in a long time, Linda was lost in the castle.

“I don’t believe it,” she said. “I can’t get a fix on the Guest Wing.”

“The Guest Wing. Is that where the dining room is?”

“Right, and where all our sleeping rooms are. I’ve lost my sense of orientation. The castle must be undergoing drastic changes.”

“What are we gonna do?”

“I’ve been through this before. The castle was a much wilder place when I first got here. Don’t worry, I’ll get my bearings back.”

“But for now we’re lost, right?”

“Right. Take it easy. You really can’t get lost in the castle. You just keep walking, and …”

They kept walking, finding little but acres and acres of nondescript castle architecture.

Finally Linda sat on a stone bench and took off her boots, rubbed her feet.

“Damn it, I’m getting mad.”

Jeremy slumped to his haunches and leaned his back against the dark stone.

“We be lost now,” he said.

Linda gave him a sour look. “Thanks for clarifying the issue.”

Jeremy shrugged.

Linda looked him over. “How old are you?”

“Why?”

“Just asking.”

“Twenty-three.” Jeremy raised a hand. “I know what you’re gonna say. You’re gonna say I look fifteen.”

“Well, maybe seventeen. Nothing wrong with looking young. I wish I looked seventeen.”

“How old are you?”

“You’re not supposed to ask, but I just turned thirty. Over the hill.”

“I thought you looked pretty old.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“No, I didn’t mean you looked bad.”

Linda rolled her eyes. “Forget it.”

“Sorry.”

“You know, I think yours is a maturity problem, not so much looks. You act fifteen.”

“Hey, I apologized, okay?”

Linda put her boots back on. “Let’s get moving.”

“Where to? Why don’t we just stay put? We’re bound to run into someone.”

“Wrong. There are parts of the castle where nobody ever goes. You could wait forever and not see anyone.”

“But —”

“Don’t argue. If you want to stay here, fine.”

Jeremy sighed and cranked himself up. “No, I’m coming.”

An hour later, they were still lost. They had passed many a side chamber, some bare, others furnished. In one of the latter they stopped for a rest, and Linda magicked a picnic basket full of gourmet viands.

“Might as well have some fun,” she said, opening a tub of beluga caviar.

“What else is in here? What’s this stuff?”

“Read the label.”

“Pattee dee … what’s that?”

“Pâté de foie gras. Goose-liver paste.”

“Yuck! You got something to eat in here?”

“Such as? I can conjure anything.”

“Anything? A baloney sandwich is what I could go for.”

“What low taste. Mustard?”

“No, mayonnaise, lettuce, American cheese, and dill pickle. Uh, please.”

“There it is.”

“Huh? Wow.” Jeremy reached out for the plate that had appeared on the table. On it lay an attractive arrangement of sandwich wedges, pickle slices, and olives, all trussed up with toothpicks and nestled on a bed of leaf lettuce.

“How the heck do you do that?” Jeremy demanded.

“It’s a gift. It’s the castle, actually. Anything to drink?”

“Yeah! How about a thick, creamy —”

A tremendous clap of thunder sounded.

“Uh-oh.” Linda stood up and looked around fearfully.

A tremendous shock wave hit, knocking them both down. Then the floor tossed them about like salad. The walls and ceilings turned into something positively fluid. They ran like melted wax, gobs of stuff dripping down.

Still holding on to his computer, Jeremy slid up against a wall, then felt the peculiar sensation of being absorbed into it. The stone was hot and gooey, like a marshmallow left too long in a campfire. He struggled to get away.

“Linda!” he screamed. “What’s happening?”

Her answer had a peculiar effect on him. On the one hand, it was good news, because he didn’t like the castle. On the other, in a very literal sense he didn’t know where he’d be without it.

What Linda had shouted back was: “The castle’s disappearing!”