The Stranger - Max Frei [57]
Idiot! I forgot to put on that scrap of cloth! I thought in panic. Praise to the Magicians, I suddenly woke up. Lowering my feet down off the table—
Heavens above! So I did fall asleep on the living room table and not in the comfortable bed upstairs, surrounded by eight volumes of the Encyclopedia of the World. What nonsense! No, it wasn’t just nonsense. It looked like a fairly solid storyline for your average B horror movie.
I went upstairs. My knees were trembling. More than anything I was afraid of finding another Max sleeping in my bed. Go figure which one of us was the real one. The bed was empty. With shaking hands I reached for the bottle of Elixir of Kaxar that I’d had the foresight to leave at the head of the bed. I took a gulp, then another. I felt a great deal better. I collapsed onto the bed. Even if I didn’t get any sleep, I could rest a bit, at the very least. But I had to get in touch with Juffin. Luckily, I had something to report to him, as well.
I’m awake, Juffin. Things are pretty bad.
Well, if you’re awake then all is not lost. Come to the Glutton, I’ll treat you to breakfast. In fact, I have some news for you as well.
I’ll be there in an hour. Over and out.
“Over what?”
Over and out. It means: that’s all, this thought-exchange is over.
Over and out, Juffin repeated with delight.
The Glutton is a truly magical place. Those walls could make anyone feel right at home. I was describing my adventures and starting to relax. That was more than I could say for Juffin, who looked like someone paying a scheduled visit to the dentist’s office.
“So you say that you woke up on the table. That means things are more serious than I thought. I think you should move back to my place for a while. But I am going to spend the night in your bed. Maybe I’ll dream of some horrible thing as well.”
“I have a better idea. How about I sleep at home, and you hold my hand like a kindly nurse?”
“I had a similar idea to begin with, but—”
“But what, Juffin? It’s already happening to me, and the plot is unfolding; but if you stay there, you’ll have to start watching from the first episode, then the second. We’ll lose two days that way.”
“That may be, but I don’t like the way this whole thing is affecting you. I’m afraid you’re still too vulnerable when you’re asleep.”
“Well, that depends on how you look at it. Because I did remember that it was a dream. And I woke up, even though I forgot to put on that scrap you gave me.”
“Oh, but that was very unwise, Max! You can’t neglect things like that. By the way, that ‘little scrap,’ as you call it, is merely the personal kerchief of the Grand Magician of the Order of the Secret Grass.”
“Isn’t he one of those guys whose dried flesh you partake of daily to strengthen your powers?”
Juffin gave a quick laugh and then scowled again.
“I think you got a little carried away with the Kaxar, Max. Your joie de vivre is beginning to frighten me.”
“It scares me, too. So, do you agree to sing me a lullaby?”
“I suppose I could try, though I suspect that the presence of a person awake, especially one as notable as me, might hinder events as they develop.”
“At least I’ll get some sleep. What if we both go to sleep?”
“Yes, I suppose we could try that. Although,” Juffin grew more animated, “who says I have to be in the same room? I can watch you without even leaving my office. It’s settled, then. I think that’s what we should do. But first I’ll spend a night at your house, to be on the safe side.”
“The house is at your disposal. But I only have three bathing pools, remember? Not even that will dissuade you?”
“What lengths wouldn’t one go to for the peaceful well-being of the Unified Kingdom . . . and for