that person. But if a subsequent Wave wiped them out anyway-' He shrugged. 'There could be considerable change, all nullified a generation or two later. In which case there would be no paradox relating to our own time. I would say that the original Castle Roogna engagement was real, and that you changed that reality. You rewrote the script. But you changed only the details of that particular episode, not the overall course of history. Does it matter?'
'I guess not,' Dor said.
'About that page I was reading,' Humfrey said. 'It seems you have been concerned about manhood. Did it occur to you that you might be more of a man in the declining of the maid's offer than in the acceptance of it?'
'No,' Dor admitted.
'There is somewhat more to manhood than sex.'
As if on cue, the gorgon entered the room, in a splendidly sexy dress but still without a face. 'That's male propaganda,' she said from the vacuum. 'There is certainly more to womanhood than sex, but a man is a simpler organism.'
'Oooo, what you said!' Grundy exclaimed, rubbing his tiny forefingers together in a condemning gesture.
'I said organism,' she said. 'You authenticate my case.'
'Get out of here, both of you,' Humfrey snapped. 'The Magician and I are trying to hold a meaningful dialogue.'
'Thought you'd never ask,' Grundy said. He hopped to the gorgon's shoulder, peering into the nothingness framed by her snake-ringlets. A snakelet hissed at him, 'Same to you, slinky,' he snapped at it, and the snake retreated. He peered down into the awesome crevice of her bodice. 'Come on, honey; let's go down to the kitchen for a snack.'
When they were alone, Humfrey flipped a few pages of the history tome idly. 'I was surprised to learn that the Zombie Master's castle was on this very site,' he remarked. 'Were he alive today, I would gladly share this castle with him. He was a remarkably fine Magician, and a fine man, too.'
'Yes,' Dor agreed. 'He was the real key to King Roogna's success. He deserved so much better than the tragedy he suffered.' He felt another surge of remorse.
Humfrey sighed, 'What has been, has been.'
'Uh, have you given the gorgon your Answer yet?'
'Not yet. Her year is not yet complete.'
'You are the most mercenary creature I know!' Dor said admiringly. 'Every time I think I've seen the ultimate, you come up with a worse wrinkle. Are you going to marry her?'
'What do you think?'
Dor visualized the gorgon's body with historical perspective. 'She's a knockout. If she wants you, you're sunk. She doesn't need a face to turn a man to stone. In a manner of speaking.'
The Good Magician nodded. 'You have learned a new manner of speaking! The key concept is 'she wants.' Do you really think she does?'
'Why else did she come here?' Dor demanded, perplexed.
'Her original motive was based largely on ignorance. How do you think she might feel once she knows me well?'
'Uh-' Dor searched for something diplomatic to say. The Good Magician had his points, but was no easy man to approach, or to get along with.
'Therefore the kindest thing to do is to give her sufficient opportunity to know me-well enough,' the Magician concluded.
'The year!' Dor exclaimed. 'That wait for her Answer! Not for you-for her! So she can change her mind, if-'
'Precisely.' Humfrey looked sad. 'It has been a most enticing dream, however, even for an old gnome.'
Dor nodded, realizing that the Good Magician had not been proof against the attractions of the gorgon any more than the lonely Zombie Master had been proof against Millie. The two Magicians were similar in their fashion-and a similar tragedy loomed.
'Now we must conclude your case,' Humfrey said briskly, refusing to dwell further on the inevitable. 'You owe me no further service, of course; the history book has provided it all, and I consider the investment well worthwhile. I have now fathomed many long-standing riddles, such as the origin of the forget spell on the Gap. So I may send you on your way, your account quit.'
'Thank you,' Dor said. 'I have brought back your magic carpet.'
'Oh, yes. But I shall not leave you stranded. I believe I have a conjuration spell stashed away somewhere; have the gorgon locate it for you as you leave. It will take you home in a flash.'
'Thank you.' It was a relief not to have to contemplate another trek through the jungle. 'Now I must go give the restorative elixir to Jonathan.'
The Good Magician frowned at him. 'You have had an especially difficult decision there, Dor. I believe you have acted correctly. When you become King, the discipline of emotion and action you have learned in the course of this quest will serve you in excellent stead. It may be more of an asset to you than your magic talent. King Trent's hiatus in Mundania matured him similarly. It seems there are qualities that cannot be inculcated well in a secure, familiar environment. You are already more of a man than most people ever get to be.'
'Uh, thanks,' Dor mumbled. He had yet to master the art of graciously receiving compliments. But the Magician had already returned to reading his tome. Dor moved toward the door. Just as he left the room,
