Two To The Fifth Read Online Free PDF Page A

void dance.”
    “A what?”
    “A void dance. It's what folk use to get out of trouble or avoid anything else, such as ugly old witches.”
    “Avoidance,” he echoed. It was a pun.
    “So what do you want?”
    “I'll take a knuckle sandwich. What do you require in return?”
    “I'm bored as bleep. I'd trade it for one good laugh.”
    What would make a witch laugh? That was a challenge indeed. His mind sifted through the humor section of his data bank.
    And found something. He fetched a stick from beside the path, then used it to beat madly at the path.
    “What are you doing?” the witch demanded.
    “I'm beating the path,” he explained. “So that you are truly off the beaten path.”
    “That's crazy!” But in half a moment her expression changed. “It's crazy enough to be funny. Oh, no—I think I'm going to laugh.” She struggled with herself, but the laugh surged up and finally burst out, hurling her back against her shoppe wall. Piled sandwiches fell off the shelf, half burying her. “Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!” Her form seemed to be changing back to young and full, as she lost control.
    Cyrus doubted that it was really that funny, but this was a Challenge, and the witch was probably keyed to laugh at any reasonable attempt. “So if I may have that sandwich now...”
    One foot lifted from the pile, bearing a sandwich. The foot was on a marvelously bare and well formed leg. He squinted to focus only on the sandwich and accepted it. “Thank you.” He shut his eyes until he could turn away from the leg.
    The sandwich was shaped like a big fist with protruding knuckles. Cyrus kept it well away from his face. He carried it back to Tuff's domain. “Here is your knuckle sandwich.” He handed it over.
    The man took it and lifted it to his mouth. The sandwich leaped forward and smashed into his face. “Hoo!” Tuff exclaimed, licking off a spot of blood from his lip. “This one's smashing.”
    “As represented,” Cyrus agreed, bemused.
    Tuff had at the sandwich. The next time it tried to smash him, he met it with open mouth, and chomped down on a knuckle. The sandwich didn't give up, but every time it jabbed, it encountered the stony teeth again, and lost another joint. Finally it was gone.
    “Great stuff,” Tuff said, “I haven't had one of those in years. Really punches me up.”
    “You're welcome,” Cyrus said.
    “Now you want stone for the moat,” Tuff said, getting back to business. He bent forward, put his hands on an orange boulder, and heaved. The stone rolled onto the path. Tuff heaved again, keeping it going, until at last it rolled into the water of the moat with a satisfying splash.
    “Eeeek!” the nymphs screamed cutely in unison.
    “Sorry about that. Acro,” Tuff said, looking at several of the nymphs without freaking out.
    “Are not,” they chorused. “Did it on purpose.”
    “Well, sure, but it's part of the Challenge.” Tuff turned about and walked back to his shop.
    The nearest nymph looked at Cyrus. “So you're figuring it out.”
    “I seem to be, yes,” he agreed.
    “I want to come with you, I think you'll figure out the rest of my riddle, in time.”
    Could she do that? “You'd freak me out.”
    “I'd put on new clothing, silly,” she said. “I promise not to freak you out unless you ask me to. May I join you?”
    Cyrus suspected he should say no, but it was difficult to do. “Yes, if you're sure.”
    “Thanks! I'll meet you at the far side.” She and the other nymphs swam away.
    Tuff returned with another boulder. “She's a nice girl,” he remarked as the stone splashed into the water. “A man could do worse.”
    “All she wants is for me to figure out her magic talent.”
    “Well, sure, but she's still worthwhile, I'd have taken her, had she been interested. The nights get lonely. There must be something about you.” He went back for another boulder.
    Cyrus was afraid he was getting in trouble, without even meaning to. Tess had been attracted to him, and it