Xone Of Contention Read Online Free PDF

never apologized, she just changed her mind, like the popular conception of the ideal woman. She had one effective way to make everything right, and he was not about to object. Whatever other problems they might have, they had none in bed when Pia was amenable. He knew that this was merely a gesture of the moment, and that nothing long-term had changed. But it would be one phenomenal moment.
    He was correct.
    Next day they coordinated by phone, then got on the GigaGrid. Edsel was on his system, and Pia on hers in the other room, and Dug and Kim on their two systems at their house. They “met” at a private online site they maintained, checking in. “Follow me,” Edsel said, knowing that they would lock on to his name and be carried along with him.
    He made his way to the Magic Mesh. When he came to the warning sign, he typed “Party of four: Edsel, Pia, Dug. Kim.” Then he did his voice whistle.
    The sign shimmered. WELCOME TO THE O-XONE. Then they were standing in the hall of pictures.
    “Oh!” Pia breathed, amazed. She tugged at her skirt, as if not believing that it was real. Maybe it was illusion, as was her body, but it was tangible
    “It's the O-Xone all right,” Kim said. “They have done a nice job.” She checked her own clothing. She had put on a skirt and blouse for this occasion, and looked decent.
    Edsel led the way to Breanna's Leaf. This time he did not knock; hitting was too literal here. “Breanna.” he said.
    The picture animated. “Good; you're here. This time we're set up for it. Come in.” The picture expanded as her image fuzzed out. and became an entrance to a comfortable chamber.
    They stepped inside. The room seemed larger from inside; in fact it was like a huge living room, with easy chairs around the edge, facing in.
    They stood in the center, uncertain whether to sit. Then from a hall on the opposite side a man and a woman entered. The man seemed to be of college age, and the woman of high school age. In fact she was Breanna, this time complete. “You're right,” Edsel said, sun eying her body. “It's proportional.”
    Breanna smiled. “You've been kissed recently, Edsel. It shows. So I guess it's okay for me.” She walked up to him, embraced him, and reached her face up to kiss him.
    It felt real. Not destabilizing in the way of Kim's kiss, or sexy in the way of Pia's kiss, but solid and pleasant He had never been kissed by a black girl before, and was almost surprised to discover that it was just like any other kiss. She was a very nice little package.
    Breanna stepped back “This is Justin,” she said, indicating the young man. He looked quite ordinary. Not at all like a tree.
    “This is Pia.” Edsel said. “And Dug, and Kim.”
    “I know,” Breanna said. “We haven't met before, but they are well known in Xanth.”
    “And we know of you.” Kim said. ”We got a report on Jenny's wedding, and you were there."
    “For sure. So are we ready to meet Nimby and Chlorine?”
    Kim's jaw dropped. “Who?”
    “Those are the names,” Edsel said quickly. “I guess I garbled them.”
    Breanna glanced at him sharply. “You don't know who they are?”
    “I never heard of them before yesterday.”
    Breanna smiled. “Maybe that's just as well. They are the ones you'll be exchanging with. They want to visit Mundania. In fact it turns out they set this up, so they could do it.”
    “Set this up?”
    “Ah. here they are now.”
    Two more people entered the room The man was handsome to the point of looking princely, while the woman was so stunningly hnely that it was hard to look directly at her.
    “Nimby and Chlorine.” Breanna said.
    Edsel tore his gaze from Chlorine. “Uh. this is—”
    “Thank you.” Chlorine said smoothly. "We know. Now there should be no misunderstanding, so I will spell it out. Nimby is a demon who normally assumes dragon ass form in Xanth, hut he can take any form he wants, and give any form to his companion. We will borrow your forms in Mundania,