The Flying Sorcerers

When he heard the news, Shoogar was neither pleased nor angered, merely curious. “So, now he wants to build a flying machine. Before, he would not tell me how to do such a thing — that was why I fought him — now he wants to.” He shook his head. “I don’t like it, Lant. I don’t like it:

“But Shoogar, don’t you see what it means? You win after all — you fought him because he wouldn’t show you how to fly — you didn’t kill him, but you put him into a position where he has to show you how, or he can’t go home.”

Shoogar remained unexcited. “So what? Why should I help him build a flying machine? He will leave in it and I will still have no flying spell.”

“But he won’t be taking it with him,” I said. “Only to the north country.”

“He lives in the north country? I thought he lived on the other side of the sky.”

“No — he has to go to the north country to get to the other side of the sky.”

“Lant, you’re talking in circles again. The north country is not the other side of the sky — it’s not even anywhere near it. I ought to know; Dorthi and I trained there.”

“The north country is not his destination,” I explained. “But he has to go there to call down his mother-egg.”

“Mother-egg? You mean he has another one?”

“Apparently so — at least that’s what he says.”

“pfah!” said Shoogar. He didn’t believe it.

“He showed me a spell device — it’s attached to his belt. It’s a calling thing, but he can’t use it here because his mother-egg isn’t in this sky, it’s in the northern sky. So he has to go to the north country to use it. For that he needs a flying machine.”

“H’m,” said Shoogar. “And what happens to the machine afterward?”

“After what?”

“After he leaves in it”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess he will leave it in the north country — after all, once he calls down his mother-egg, he won’t need it any more.”

“H’m,” said Shoogar again.

“You could probably have it for the taking,” I suggested.

“Pfah! You’re not thinking, Lant. If I wanted it, I would have to go north to get it. Or go there with Purple in order to bring it back. No, I don’t like the idea.”

“But if he builds a flying machine, obviously he will need help. You and Wilville and Orbur can help him — and if you can build one flying machine for him, you should certainly be able to build another for yourself.”

“H’m,” said Shoogar for a third time. His eyes lit up as he considered the possibilities. In fact, his whole face took on that same peculiar expression that I had seen on Purple’s when he had been thinking of flying machines.

“Then it is decided?” I asked.

He fingered the lenses on the string around his neck. To co-operate with him on the flying machine means first securing an oath of peace, doesn’t it?”

I nodded.

“And that means giving up my trophy, doesn’t it?”

I nodded again.

“Um,” he said. He continued to finger the lenses.

“But a flying machine, Shoogar!” I suggested softly. “Think of it! A flying machine!”

“Umm,” he said. He was thinking of it.

“And there will be no other magician in this region either, after Purple leaves,” I whispered. “Certainly not one who could compare with you. You will be without equal — you can be the magician of both the upper and lower villages.”

“Ummm,” said Shoogar.

“And think about this,” I added slowly. “You will be able to accomplish all of this without a duel!”

“No, Lant — then I cannot do it.”

“Huh?!!”

“Not without a duel — if I am truly to earn my position here, then I must demonstrate that I am a better magician than Purple. I must best him in a duel.”

“Erk,” I said. I had talked myself out of a peaceful solution. “Uh, well, uh —”

He shook his head firmly. “I’m sorry, Lant, but you know how things are — a duel between two magicians in the same region is not only necessary, but proper.”

“Uh, but, Shoogar,” I said quickly, “you have already bested him in a duel.”

“No, I haven’t. I’ve only inconvenienced him by destroying his black egg. The duel is still to be fought.”

“But you said you wouldn’t duel him right away —”

“No, I didn’t. I only said I wouldn’t duel him without talking it over with you first. I’m talking it over with you now.”

I felt like I was drowning. “But the flying machine —”

“The duel,” he insisted.

“But — but —” I stammered helplessly, but it was hopeless. When Shoogar made up his mind, he was a solid lump of stubbornness. “All right. Shoogar, I know when I am defeated. If you must, you must. I will go and warn the villagers.”

“You do that, Lant — but tell them not to be too alarmed.

“Why?” I asked bitterly. “Are you planning to minimize the side effects again?”

“No,” he said. “But there is no reason that the duel must be held today. We might build a flying machine first.”

My heart leapt. “Then you’ll do it! You’ll co-operate with Purple?”

“Of course not. I am merely going to let him show me how to build a flying machine — if he can,” Shoogar said.

I relaxed.

“After he finishes,” he added, “then I’ll kill him.