ButForrest was no angel, so he needed something else. Still, maybe hecould talk to LA and learn something, as he had with the other two. He looked in. LA was just sitting there, completely at ease. "I gatherthat there is a way for me to eliminate my fear, and that you know ofit, but won't tell me," he said. LA nodded. "You seem reasonably smart, for a faun." "Not everyone considers me so," Forrest said. "I met a damsel and adragon, and I think the damsel liked me, but thought I was a bit dull." "Beauty is often in the eye of the beholder." "She was extremely beautiful, so I must have been dull in contrast."Forrest considered how to proceed. "Do you have a magic talent?" "Why yes. I can change one kind of wood to another kind of wood.Unfortunately there is no wood here, so I can't show you." Something nagged at Forrest's mind, but he couldn't place it. So hetalked some more, hoping to learn something useful. "You came to askthe Good Magician a Question, and he gave you his Answer, and now youare serving your years's Service for him?" "Exactly." "If it is not too personal, what was your Question?" "It's not personal at all. It wasn't a Question, it was a request. Iasked that a significant village be named after me. He told me that onealready was, but that it was in Mundania. I suppose that's better thannothing." "And for this you are glad to serve for a year?" "It does seem inadequate. But that's what I get for wanting somethingstupid. I am learning a whole lot during this Service, and will departhere a much wiser creature. If I had known how it would be, I wouldhave dispensed with the Question, and simply come for the Service." That surprised Forrest. "Is it the same with Dot, and thepsychologist?" "Certainly. And for the mer-dragon too. And maybe for you, if youmanage to get through." "The damsel said he would not require a Service of me." Now LA was surprised. "I find that hard to believe. He always requiresa Service. It's his way of discouraging folk who aren't serious, justas is this business of three Challenges. Why should you be anexception?" "I have no idea. Maybe it's not true." "Who was this damsel?" "She called herself Chlorine. She said her talent was poisoning water.She rode a funny looking dragon." "Ah, the dragon ass. I have heard of him. They are an odd couple.Well, maybe they know what they are doing. I have heard that goodthings tend to happen when they are around, as if they somehow reversethe normal perversity of fate." Reverse perversity? Then, for no reason, Forrest got a notion. Reversewood! Could that reverse the fright spell on the chamber? Of course hed'Idn't have any reverse wood, but if LA cared to cooperate, he couldget some. "Will you do me a favor?" he asked the lost angel. "Within reason. What do you want?" "I would like you to change some wood for me." "I'd be glad to. But I don't have any wood." "But I do." Forrest removed one of his sandals. "Will you change thissandalwood to reverse wood?" LA smiled. "You are a clever one! Very well: bring it here." Forrest started to walk into the chamber-and was immediately beaten backby utter fear. Oh, no-he couldn't do what he wanted, because of thething he wanted to eliminate. But then he found a way. "I will toss it to you." He threw the sandal. LA caught it and held it. "Are you sure you wantme to do this? There may be consequences." "I'll risk them. Change it to reverse wood." "Very well. Done." The sandal looked the same, but when Forrest tried to enter the room, hehad no trouble. In fact he was drawn into it, delighting in itsambiance. Not only did he feel no fear, he felt absolutely fearless. "Thank you," he said to the lost angel. "That worked perfectly." "Did it?" "Sure. My fear is gone. I'm having absolutely no trouble with thischamber. In fact I could stay here forever." "That's nice." But LA seemed oddly subdued. "Well, I must move on into the castle proper. But I'll need my sandal.Please change it back to sandalwood now." "I can't do that." "But you changed it before. Why can't you do it again?" "Because the reverse wood reverses my talent. Now I can't changeanything." Forrest paused. The angel had warned him that there might beconsequences. He hadn't paid enough attention. "Maybe I can use it anyway," he said. "Let me put it on." "Are you sure you want to do that?" "I don't have any magical talent. I'm a faun. So it can't reverse it.If I take it away from you, your own talent should revert to normal, soyou'll be okay. And who knows-maybe I'll find some future use forreverse wood. So, yes, this seems the best way." LA gave him the sandal, and he put it on. But he felt suddenly quiteodd. His hair seemed longer than usual, and his body felt different.His feet felt oddest of all. What was the matter? He looked down, and saw his legs and feet. He stared. They were human!They had five toes, and were fleshy, with solid heels. Then he traced the lines of his legs upward. They were human, with farmore flesh than his goat legs ever had had, and got really fleshy nearthe tops. And above that"Oh, my," he breathed, appalled. "I'm anymph!" "It seems that the reverse wood reversed your nature," LA said. "You are now a fine looking female." "But I don't want to be a nymph!" he (she) protested. "Then take off the sandal." That made sense. He tore off the sandal, threw it across the room, andfelt his body reverting to normal. He was himself again. "I guess I'll have to do without the sandal," he said. "I'll use myspare pair." He removed the other sandal, put it in his knapsack, drewout the other pair, and put them on. "You may still have a problem," LA remarked. "Not if I stay well clear of that reverse wood. I'll just step on intothe main castle, leaving it behind." He paused. "Unless it makes thingstoo difficult for you." "Have no concern about me. I'm here for the duration, regardless.
