Aquitain was fallinginto Logicon ways. He tended to logically analyse everything he sawor heard, and became interested in the most trivial details. In astrange sort of unemotional way, he was overjoyed when he heardabout the Yith tomes. He couldn’t get at them quickly enough. Hedecided to skip his normal sleep break and have a peek at the Yithtomes. He had shed his newman clothes, slid into his body shell andwas about to close up, when in walked Quab.
‘Hello Aquitain! I’veconsidered your request to learn about shape changing to somecreature forms. Normally this would not be allowed, as you aren’t adruid. However, since you resolved the problem with the elementalsso peacefully and eliminated one of my problems, I havereconsidered.
‘I have checked therules and it is permissible for me to deputize non-druids to helpwhen carrying out important jobs if I am shorthanded. It has beenanticipated that the deputies may see druid lore that normally theywouldn’t, so they need to be sworn to secrecy and to not revealanything they see or hear. Are you prepared to assist me in someimportant druid business?’
‘When?’ askedAquitain.
‘Why now, of course!’said Quab.
Aquitain froze. Thiswas a dilemma of the greatest magnitude. He wanted to do boththings now, but one would have to wait but which one? His mindstopped, he couldn’t decide, but just stood there.
Quab waited for areply, but none came. Aquitain seemed to be paralysed.
The druid walked aroundhim then waved his hands in front of his eye lenses with noresponse. Finally he went over to the workbench, grabbed a hammerand belted Aquitain’s body shell a couple of times, and yelled.
‘Wake up, wake up. Ihaven’t got all day.’
Aquitain snapped out ofthe mental paralysis and said ‘Thanks Quab! You don’t need thehammer any more. I think I just had a fit of some kind.’
‘That has happened withme on a couple of occasions,’ Quab confided. ‘The first time I flewas an eagle, I was so scared that I froze and crashed. When Ifinally got airborne I was so scared of landing that I froze andcrashed again. It happens when your newman mind doesn’t trust whatyour body wants to do or vice versa. Be careful, it could bedangerous.’
Aquitain consideredwhat Quab had said, then recalled that Facit had warned him thatLogicons could be caught up mentally by dilemmas or situationswhere there were no rules. Maybe the dilemma of wanting to do boththings simultaneously had caused the problem. Quab was right. Whatif he froze up like that at some dangerous time? He would have tothink about this when he got the chance.
‘I’d greatly appreciatebecoming your deputy and rendering any assistance I can. I’ll putup a sign that I’m out and we can go,’ he said, trying to forgetthe problem for now.
After swearing Aquitainin as his deputy, they left for Quab’s druid sanctuary, which waslocated on the edge of the jungle to the north west of the town.They must have looked quite a sight together, a bushy bearded druidin a loose, roughly made robe, sandals and a palm leaf hat walkingand talking to a creaking metal box. Several passers-by broke outin wide smiles and looked away so as not to laugh; but some worefrowns.
Quab first showedAquitain around his sanctuary. It consisted of a large pentagonalblock of land surrounded by thorn bush with entry gaps in eachside. The rear backed onto a small stream. Near the front entranceto the sanctuary was a cottage with a small vegetable and spicegarden and between it and the stream was a Living-Altar to theLady.
This consisted of asemicircular area of trellis covered with vines bearing a profusionof colourful sweet scented flowers that cascaded down the sides.Under the trellis were log seats for those present at the service.To the front of the area was a tree with a half-table attached toit, with the two carved legs of the table facing toward the seats.At sunrise each morning, it was used to give praise to the Lady.The locals were encouraged to attend if they wished, but fewdid.
The cottage was asimple bamboo and palm leaf structure raised about two paces offthe ground topped by a palm leaf thatched roof with wide overhangs.A pair of hammocks swung on the veranda that went around theoutside. There was a doorway on each side and a few windows withshutters. The interior was divided into two areas. The largest wasa living area, which had cupboards and shelves cluttered withcountless bottles, packets and jars of seeds, and dried parts ofplants and animals. The smaller room was a small animal and birdrecovery area, which contained cages and various food stocks.Underneath the cottage, out of general sight, were cages for largeranimals.
The rest of the areawas covered with gardens and walkways, and there were countlessbirds and several animals roaming the grounds.
‘Come out of yourshell, enjoy the peace and serenity, walk around and view mysanctuary. Nothing will harm you here. This is the preserve of theLady,’ said Quab. ‘I’ll go and get some drinks.’
‘I’ll be naked Quab.What about visitors?’
Quab sang some magicalwords in a beautiful baritone voice and said, ‘I’ve closed thegates. You are now free to roam as you please. Druids have noconcern about nakedness; we wander the land in our natural state asdo all the animals. The Council has a rule that we wear clotheswhen in townships - elsewhere we do as we please.’
Aquitain slithered outof his shell and changed shape to his naked newman form.Immediately he felt the magic field. He looked where the entry gapsin the thorn bush had been and found them closed. Using his abilityto detect magic, he saw everything around him glowing deep purple.He looked around for the source of the magic and noted that it camefrom a clump of bushes at the centre of the sanctuary.
He strolled over andsaw that there was a large barrel shaped rock bearing magicsymbols, and partially covered by bushes. He closely examined themagic emanating from the rock and decided that it was some sort ofdruid magic designed to give a calming, soothing effect; but hiddenwithin it
