Castle Kidnapped

Fifteen Castle

“He’s back?” Linda said in astonishment. “When?”

“Only moments ago, it would seem,” Osmirik said. “He also is of the opinion that something is awry in the castle.”

“Well, it’s more than an opinion. Something happened at Trent’s house, and we don’t know what.”

Jeremy stopped typing and looked up. Osmirik rose from his chair.

“What is amiss?” Osmirik asked.

“Well, as planned, Sheila and Snowclaw went through to visit Prince Trent. Everything went fine at first. Then all of a sudden the portal disappeared and stayed lost for at least half an hour. When it came back again, it was locked back at Halfway. No sign of Sheila or Snowclaw. Right away we phoned Trent’s place — no answer.”

“I see,” Osmirik said, nodding solemnly. “Something is indeed awry.”

Linda sank into a chair. “Hi, Jeremy,” she said bleakly.

“Hi,” Jeremy said.

“What are you guys doing?”

Osmirik answered, “Apparently nothing to remedy the situation.” He sat down heavily.

“Now we have Sheila and Snowclaw to search for,” Linda said. “And we can’t even be sure they’re still on Earth.”

There was silence for a long moment, which Linda finally broke.

“Did Lord Incarnadine want to see me?”

“I am afraid he did not say,” Osmirik said. “He was preoccupied with matters of even greater moment. Apparently there is some general cosmological disturbance of which these disappearances may be but symptoms.”

“Cosmological?”

“He was not entirely specific, but he did speak of an imbalance of energy between the universes. It seems that an ethereal flux has evidenced itself, a leakage of interdimensional ectoplasm which —” Osmirik noticed Linda’s blank stare, and added apologetically, “It is difficult for me to put it in layman’s terms.”

Linda shook her head. “I’m sure I wouldn’t understand it in any terms.”

“You underestimate yourself. Nevertheless, the upshot of the matter is that the castle may be in some danger, and we with it.”

Linda grunted. “More problems, as if we didn’t have enough.” She glanced at the screen of Jeremy’s computer. “Any luck with this gadget?”

“We have made a beginning,” Osmirik said. “But only a beginning. In so doing, however, we have discovered another adept.”

Linda’s eyebrows rose. “Jeremy? Really? That was quick.”

“Doubtless because his talent is considerable.”

“Gee, folks,” Jeremy said, “it was nothin’.”

“It’s no joke,” Linda told him. “We need all the help we can get. What can you do?”

“It’s not much,” Jeremy said. “It’s just that I’m running this computer with magic juice.”

“Great. But what good does that do?”

“Beats the crap out of me, but it’s a lot of fun.”

“His skill might help us to make some headway in our spellcasting endeavors,” Osmirik said. “The science of adapting these machines to thaumaturgic applications is in its infancy.”

Jeremy said, “Incarnadine sounds like he knows his computers. Even said he built one.”

Osmirik nodded. “If His Majesty says it, then it is true. I was speaking of the science as it is practiced by mere mortals such as your humble servant.” Osmirik bowed his head, laying a hand against his breast.

“Oh. Well, why don’t you ask Incarnadine to help out?”

“It is not my place to do so. I am a servant of His Majesty, not the reverse.”

“Uh-huh. Yeah, well, you know best.”

“I’m going to Jamin and request an audience,” Linda said. “I simply have to talk to Incarnadine. Did you tell him about Gene?”

“Of course, Linda,” Osmirik said.

“Sorry. I suppose he does have bigger problems on his mind.”

“He should be informed about this latest disappearance. But don’t see Jamin.”

Linda gave Osmirik a puzzled frown. “Why not?”

“I would rather not say at this time. When next I see His Majesty — and he will be back here very shortly to pick up some books he requested — I will intercede in your behalf.”

“Thanks. God, I wish I knew what happened to Sheila and Snowy. Trent —” Linda fretfully drummed her fingers against the tabletop. “You don’t think …?”

Osmirik waited.

Linda dismissed it with a wave of her hand. “Oh, it’s silly. What would Trent have against Sheila? Unless —”

Suddenly the floor began to shake, and a sound like thunder filled the library. Shelves rocked back and forth, and overhead, the huge wooden chandeliers began gently to sway.

“Quick,” Osmirik shouted, “under the table!”

They all dove for cover.

There came clattering sounds from all over the room as objects fell. Then shelves began collapsing. The floor rocked violently and furniture slid about as if animated. The disturbance lasted for a good minute.

Sounds of crashing peaked, then subsided. The floor finally settled down, the thunder fading.

At length, an uneasy silence fell.

The three came out from under the table, whey-faced but unharmed.

Osmirik made a quick inspection tour of the main floor. Damage was surprisingly limited, despite what the ruckus had sounded like. Only about thirty shelves in all had collapsed, out of the hundreds and hundreds. Even so, the mess was terrible. Books lay scattered everywhere. He returned to the study area.

“That was bad,” Linda said. “I mean, the castle gets shaky now and then, but that was real bad.”

“Earthquake?” Jeremy asked, worried.

“No, some kind of instability. You think, Ozzie?”

“I am afraid so. Perhaps caused by the disturbance His Majesty spoke of. If so, it may be of greater proportions than he suspects.”

“Things keep going from bad to worse around here,” Linda fretted. “I’m going to see what I can do back at Halfway. Maybe Trent and Sheila went out to lunch and just forgot to tell us. Jeremy, you better come with me.”

“Right,” Jeremy said, snapping the computer’s carrying case shut. He sure as hell didn’t want to stay here. But there was a problem.

As far as he could see, there was no place to run to.