The Stranger - Max Frei [235]
I slowly got up from the visitor’s chair and headed for the desk.
“I’d rather just wait here, Sir Fulumaro.”
I began rummaging silently through the desk drawer, until I produced an invisible bottle with some remains of Elixir of Kaxar.
“What are you doing, miss?” There was distinct note of panic in Melifaro’s voice.
I was probably taking a risk. This peace-loving fellow was as dangerous as anyone in our charming company. If he had taken me for some Mutinous Magician newly returned to Echo, the matter might have ended in a skirmish. But praise be the Magicians, the lovely red-haired Lady Marilyn was above suspicion.
I opened the bottle and took a tiny swallow. There was no need to do this—even without the Elixir I was able to turn the world upside down now. But Lady Marilyn and I wanted a little nip of something.
“What do you think you’re doing, Ms. Box?!” It was pitiful to look at Melifaro. “That’s Sir Juffin Hully’s desk. You can’t dig around in there!”
“I can,” I replied calmly. “We inhabitants of County Vook love snooping around in other people’s desks. Sometimes you can even find a bit of fresh horse dung. So, put that in your pipe and smoke it, Melifaro.”
Melifaro’s face fell. I seemed to have gone slightly overboard. I didn’t even want revenge anymore.
“Oh, come on, old friend,” I said softly. “Haven’t you ever been to a carnival?”
Melifaro, who was made of pretty stern stuff, took what was coming to him. He laughed nervously. I thought back on the conversation we had just had—and then it was no holds barred.
Sir Juffin Hully found us sitting on the floor locked in an embrace, tears of laughter streaming down our faces. We wheezed weakly, since we were already hoarse from laughing so hard.
“Max you were such a romantic boy,” the chief remarked acidly. “You were even too shy to go to the Quarter of Trysts. And what do I see here? All it took was for you to acquire a bust and to spend twenty-four hours in the company of Lady Sotofa—and you fall into the arms of a complete stranger.”
“Sir Juffin,” Melifaro moaned. “If you leave him like he is, I swear I’m going to marry him!”
“I won’t marry you, sir. You deceived me,” I said coquettishly. “Oh, Juffin, you should have heard him.”
Melifaro and I started howling with laughter again.
“What exactly has been going on here?” asked Juffin.
“Nothing I wouldn’t tell my mama,” I said. Now Sir Juffin joined in our laughter.
Fifteen minutes later, Melifaro and I had come to our senses and even found it possible to relate to Juffin the circumstances of our “acquaintance” with one another.
I had to hand it to Melifaro—he didn’t hesitate to recount his own idiocy in the most lurid colors.
“Well, Lady Marilyn, you’ve made some progress,” the chief said. “And who was so shocked by the prospect of turning into a woman two days ago?”
“I didn’t realize I’d be such a beauty. By the way, someone invited me out to dinner. You haven’t reconsidered, sir?” I said, winking at Melifaro.
“With a beauty like you, I’d go to the end of the world! Where will we go after dinner—your place or mine?”
“My place, naturally. My papa happens to be home. General Boboota, if you recall. He’ll tell you all about his military exploits. Sir Juffin, am I free this evening, or do we have a new lady colleague? Does the Mantle of Death look becoming on me, boys?” My new persona behaved much more frivolously than the old one.
“I don’t think a walk through the city would hurt you, Lady Marilyn. And you, Sir Melifaro, don’t lose your head over this flirt. The day after tomorrow she abandons you and sets off on her honeymoon with Sir Lonli-Lokli.”
Melifaro whistled under his breath, beginning to get the picture.
“So this is serious, gentlemen? And I thought—”
“That Max and I had lost our minds from boredom? Take your