Gene shook. “Thanks.”
Dalton and Thaxton left.
Linda asked, “Are you coming back for Thanksgiving?”
“It depends on what my folks have planned. I really don’t know if I can make it back here. I’ll try, though. Definitely be back for Christmas.”
“I planned on going to California for Christmas,” Linda said sadly.
“Looks like we’re not going to see each other till summer.”
“I’m going to miss you, swordsman.”
“Same here, sorceress.”
They exchanged smiles for a second, then Gene resumed pouring maple syrup.
“So Vaya is staying at Pitt?”
“Yeah,” Gene said, “for one more trimester, then she’s transferring to UCLA. They’ve already accepted her for the winter term.”
“She’s done wonderfully for someone who didn’t even know English a year ago.”
“Osmirik really accomplished miracles with her. But I think Incarnadine worked some magic, too. No one can learn English that good that fast.”
“I don’t know. Vaya’s a remarkable woman.”
“You’re telling me.”
“Got a scoop for us? Are you two going to get married?”
“Ask Vaya about that. According to her tribe’s customs, we’re already married. For life. Real serious stuff. Which is fine by me. Just dandy. We might make it Earth-legal, though. The only trouble about living together will be the commute between West L.A. and Pasadena.”
“So, where are you going to live?”
“Don’t know yet. I’ll be in the dorm for this term, but when Vaya gets out there, we’re going to have to search for an apartment. How the hell we’re going to afford it, I’ll never know. The rents out there are ridiculous. It might all be moot, though. I’ll probably flunk out of Cal Tech.”
“Gene, don’t put yourself down.”
“Well, I don’t think I’m going to fit in with the technoweenie set.”
“Hey, watch that,” Jeremy said.
“Present company excepted.”
Just then a seven-foot-tall creature with milk-white fur padded into the hall. It had yellow eyes and long sharp teeth and long bone-white claws. For all of that it looked friendly.
“Snowclaw!”
“Hi, guys,” Snowclaw said.
“You made it,” Gene said. “I thought I wouldn’t get to say goodbye to you. You disappeared.”
“I wanted to get in some hunting before the freeze hit. Well, the freeze came early, so I came back, though I would have, anyway, just to see you off.”
“Glad you did. Sit down and eat some napkins or something.”
“I’ll just munch on these candles. I’m really not hungry.”
“That’s news. So, are you going back to Hyperborea or are you going to stay awhile in the castle?”
“Hyper … Hyperbor … I can’t pronounce that.”
“What’s the name in your language?”
Snowclaw growled and snapped.
Gene said, “I can’t even begin to get my tongue around that.”
“To answer your question, I’ll probably go back. Gonna be kind of lonely here with you gone. Sure wish I could go with you.”
“You and me both. But you’d raise a few eyebrows in Pasadena — maybe not in L.A., but Pasadena, yes.”
“Yeah,” Snowclaw said. “The last time I went to Earth I really got myself in trouble.”
Everyone at the table laughed.
Gene said, “Those headlines were great. ‘Abominable Snowman Stalks Western PA.’ And then there was the story in one of the tabloids: ‘Saucer Lands, Captures Bigfoot.’ Right up there with ‘Elvis Alive and Living in Scarsdale.’”
“If you hadn’t come along in that contraption of yours, I’d still be there getting shot at by the locals. I’m still digging buckshot out of my rear end.”
“Well, it wasn’t the first time I had to pull your chestnuts out of the fire.”
“And it might not be the last. Wait a minute — it seems to me that I saved your hide once or twice.”
“Just kidding, big guy. We made a great team, you and me.”
“Yeah, and now you’re off to get some book learning, and I’ll probably never see you again.”
“Are you kidding? We’ll get together again. There’re a hundred thousand worlds in this castle I haven’t explored yet, and I wouldn’t want anyone at my back but you.”
“Nice of you to say, Gene, old buddy. Same here.” Snowclaw hung his head. “Hey, I’m getting misty- eyed.”
“Don’t go maudlin on me.”
“I’ll live.”
Linda said, “You guys make a great mutual admiration society.”
Gene shook his head. “It’s embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“I’m only kidding. Friendship is nice.”
Gene glanced up to the pendulum clock on the wall. The sign under it read: Eastern Daylight Time (Earth).
“Holy smoke, I’m late!” Gene gulped coffee, wiped his mouth, and threw down his napkin. “Gotta go.” He stood.
Snowclaw held out his paw, which was more or less a short-fingered hand with claws. “See you around, Gene.”
Gene shook paws. “Take care of yourself. I’ll be back, remember.”
“Right.”
Linda came up and hugged him. “Do good in school.”
“Will do. Don’t take any wooden talismans.”
Deena took her turn hugging. “Come back and visit, you hear?”
“Sure will. So long, Monsieur DuQuesne.”
“Au revoir.”
“‘Bye, everyone!”
Toting his luggage, Gene hurried out.
Linda sat back down and began nibbling at a croissant. She looked thoughtful.
She said, “I wonder if he’s making the right move. He needs adventure. Pasadena’s not going to provide that.”
“There’s always the Rose Bowl,” Deena said.
Three
Castle Keep — Guest Residence
“Are you coming?” Thaxton called irritably.
Dalton had stopped to chat with a servant and another guest. He turned his head. “Hold your horses.”
“Haven’t got all day.”
Dalton said goodbye and hefted his clubs. He came down the corridor toward Thaxton.
“Since when are you in a hurry to play golf?”
“Sorry, hate to stand about while somebody dawdles.”
