Up, up it flew, somehow visible despite the night. Up, impossibly high, right to the verge of the nocturnal dome, right toward the centaur constellation.
Bink knew no physical arrow could strike a star or pattern of stars. After all, the constellations were merely imaginary lines drawn between those stars. Yet-
Chester's arrow plunked into the flank of the constellation centaur. The creature leaped with pain. From his mouth issued two comets and a shooting star: a powerful exclamation!
'Yeah? Same to you, vacuumhead!' Chester retorted.
The constellation reached back and yanked at Chester's arrow. A nova exploded from his mouth as he contemplated the damage. Several dim stars pulsed there, suggestive of the wound. He grabbed a handful of soft down feathers from the swan and rubbed them against the injury. Now it was the defeathered swan who cussed a bright streak of shooting stars, but the bird did not dare attack the centaur.
The sky-centaur snatched the extensible tube called the telescope and put it to his eye. The magic of this tube enabled him to see much farther than otherwise. '^@!!' he exclaimed with really foul invective, looking for the originator of the objectionable arrow.
'Right here, hoofhead!' Chester bawled, and lofted another arrow into the sky. 'Come down and fight like a centaur!'
'I wouldn't-' Bink cautioned.
The constellation seemed to hear the challenge. He swung his telescope around and oriented on the bone-camp. A vile ringed planet shot from his mouth.
'That's right, dope!' Chester cried. 'Come prove you're worthy of the name!'
Worthy of the name 'dope'? Bink didn't like this at all, but was unable to stop it.
The constellation nocked another arrow. So did Chester. For a time the two faced each other, bows drawn, as it were, daring each other to shoot first. Then, almost together, their arrows leaped forth.
Both shots were uncomfortably accurate. Bink saw the two arrows cross midway in the heavens and home in on their targets as if magically guided. Neither centaur moved: this was evidently a point of honor in such duels. The one who jumped clear would show weakness of nerve, and few centaurs were weak in that department.
Both arrows missed-but not by much. Chester's shot almost grazed the constellation's forehead while the sky-centaur's arrow thunked into the ground beside Chester's left forehoof, which happened to be quite close to the Good Magician's head.
Humfrey woke with a start 'You equine menace!' he cried grumpily. 'Watch what you're doing!'
'I am watching,' Chester said. 'That's not my arrow. See, it has stardust on it'
Humfrey drew the arrow from the dirt 'Why, so it does.' He squinted up into the sky. 'But stardust is not supposed to be down here. What's going on?'
Now Crombie stirred. 'Squawk!'
'You're the Magician,' the golem said. 'You're supposed to know about things.'
'About stellar constellations coming to life? It's been a long time since I reviewed that particular magic.'
Humfrey stared up into the sky. 'However, it would be a worthwhile study. Crombie, where's the most convenient access to that realm?'
Crombie pointed. Now Bink saw a pattern of stars resembling steps coming down to the horizon. They looked increasingly solid, and they seemed closer as he looked, descending almost to the rim of bones. Maybe it was possible after all to ascend!
He looked up into the stars again. They were even more brilliant than before, and the lines between them were stronger. The stick figures had assumed shadings that made them quite realistic. He saw Chameleon again, beckoning him. 'I'm going up!'
'Squawk!' Crombie agreed. 'I'm always ready for a good fight, and that comet-mouthed centaur needs a lesson.'
Chester was already on his way to the steps, but at this he paused.
'Don't be a fool,' the Magician snapped, running after them. 'Crombie refers to the centaur in the sky, not you. You are loudmouthed, not comet-mouthed.'
'Um, of course,' Chester agreed without complete enthusiasm. He made a visible effort to shake off the annoyance. 'Charge!'
They charged for the steps.
'Are you fools crazy?' Grundy yelled. 'There's nothing up there for you!'
Chester glanced at him; Bink saw the change in the shape of the centaur's head outlined against the massed constellations. 'I didn't hear Crombie squawk.'
'He didn't squawk!' the golem yelled, 'I'm speaking for myself this time. Don't go into the sky! It's madness!'
'It's fascinating,' Humfrey said. 'Firsthand study of animated constellations! There may never be a better opportunity.'
'I have to teach that centaur a lesson,' Chester said.
Bink's eyes had returned to Chameleon. His need for her became as big as the sky. He continued forward.
