]
âMr. Dalton,â Linda said, âyou can surely find another golf partner."
âOh, I play a few holes with Rashid occasionally. But it's just not the same. Half the fun was listening to his lordship swear."
âI'm glad to have provided you with so many hours of amusement,â Lord Peter said dryly.
âYou did, old boy. You did."
âThough hereafter you'll have to look elsewhere for fun and games, I'm afraid."
âBut I can still hear you cuss when I beat you at chess."
âThis one's not over. Don't take a henhouse census just yet, old man."
âMerely a matter of time, milord."
Lord Peter merely grunted as he studied the board.
âWell,â Gene said, âsomething will come along. Something always does. And then I regret that things aren't boring any more. Meanwhile, I try to avoid boring myself and others."
âYou're about as boring as a ten-car pileup,â Deena said. âIs that it, Mr. Bridge Wiz, or are we gonna have to go around with this nonsense again?"
âYes, ma'am. Who leads?"
âI'm dummy,â Linda said.
âThen I lead,â Snowclaw said. He laid down the six of hearts.
âBy the way,â Gene said, âwhere's Incarnadine been lately?"
âWho knows?â Linda said. âAs usual, he's had business off in one of his many universes."
âA finger in every cosmological pie."
âFor a king, he does get around."
Melanie finished her Scots ballad, smiled at the applause, then launched into a Breton folk song.
The hand went badly for Gene and Linda. With Linda's hand as dummy, Gene played a club to her queen and ran the jack of diamonds. He played cagily enough after that, testing clubs, running them, then testing hearts by playing his eight to the dummy's queen.
He took every trick but the last. The defenders were one card too strong in hearts, Deena spoiling with her jack. The contract was blown.
âRats,â Gene said mildly, throwing in his hand.
âYou should've been content with the little slam,â Snowclaw said.
âContent,â Gene mused.
âYou seem kinda troubled, chum."
â Weltschmerz ."
âWhat's that?"
Linda said, âSounds German. Gene, you're always using foreign words to show off."
âYeah, that's me, your basic intellectual snob. You ought to hear me swear in Sanskrit."
âIs that a town?â Snowclaw asked.
âYou're thinking of Scranton,â Gene said. âAnd I've uttered mighty oaths there, too.â Gene slowly got to his feet. âWell, I think I'll take a walk."
âWant some company?â Snowclaw asked.
âNo, thanks, big guy. I think I want to solo this time. Got to do some thinking."
âSuit yourself."
âSee you later, people,â Gene said in general farewell, waving as he strolled away.
Snowclaw watched him leave, then shook his massive head. âI dunno. I'm kind of worried about him. He's been acting funny lately."
âCabin fever,â Linda said. âYou hang around the castle too much, you get it."
Melanie walked over. A steel string was dangling from her guitar.
âBusted my high-E,â she said. âI'll have to go back home to find another."
âNo need for that,â Linda said. She sat back, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes. Something materialized on the card tableâa small packet.
Melanie reached for it eagerly. âBless my soul, a new guitar string!â In fact, she was not in the least surprised, having witnessed Linda's materialization talents many times. âThanks, Linda."
âNo problem,â Linda said, then yawned. Recovered, she asked, âWhere are your kids?"
As if on cue, two bonneted nursemaids, each bearing a swaddled infant, entered the hall.
âHere they are!â Melanie said, running to meet them. She took one of the babies and carried it back to the table.
âCan you tell them apart yet?â Linda asked.
âAlways could,â
âMr. Dalton,â Linda said, âyou can surely find another golf partner."
âOh, I play a few holes with Rashid occasionally. But it's just not the same. Half the fun was listening to his lordship swear."
âI'm glad to have provided you with so many hours of amusement,â Lord Peter said dryly.
âYou did, old boy. You did."
âThough hereafter you'll have to look elsewhere for fun and games, I'm afraid."
âBut I can still hear you cuss when I beat you at chess."
âThis one's not over. Don't take a henhouse census just yet, old man."
âMerely a matter of time, milord."
Lord Peter merely grunted as he studied the board.
âWell,â Gene said, âsomething will come along. Something always does. And then I regret that things aren't boring any more. Meanwhile, I try to avoid boring myself and others."
âYou're about as boring as a ten-car pileup,â Deena said. âIs that it, Mr. Bridge Wiz, or are we gonna have to go around with this nonsense again?"
âYes, ma'am. Who leads?"
âI'm dummy,â Linda said.
âThen I lead,â Snowclaw said. He laid down the six of hearts.
âBy the way,â Gene said, âwhere's Incarnadine been lately?"
âWho knows?â Linda said. âAs usual, he's had business off in one of his many universes."
âA finger in every cosmological pie."
âFor a king, he does get around."
Melanie finished her Scots ballad, smiled at the applause, then launched into a Breton folk song.
The hand went badly for Gene and Linda. With Linda's hand as dummy, Gene played a club to her queen and ran the jack of diamonds. He played cagily enough after that, testing clubs, running them, then testing hearts by playing his eight to the dummy's queen.
He took every trick but the last. The defenders were one card too strong in hearts, Deena spoiling with her jack. The contract was blown.
âRats,â Gene said mildly, throwing in his hand.
âYou should've been content with the little slam,â Snowclaw said.
âContent,â Gene mused.
âYou seem kinda troubled, chum."
â Weltschmerz ."
âWhat's that?"
Linda said, âSounds German. Gene, you're always using foreign words to show off."
âYeah, that's me, your basic intellectual snob. You ought to hear me swear in Sanskrit."
âIs that a town?â Snowclaw asked.
âYou're thinking of Scranton,â Gene said. âAnd I've uttered mighty oaths there, too.â Gene slowly got to his feet. âWell, I think I'll take a walk."
âWant some company?â Snowclaw asked.
âNo, thanks, big guy. I think I want to solo this time. Got to do some thinking."
âSuit yourself."
âSee you later, people,â Gene said in general farewell, waving as he strolled away.
Snowclaw watched him leave, then shook his massive head. âI dunno. I'm kind of worried about him. He's been acting funny lately."
âCabin fever,â Linda said. âYou hang around the castle too much, you get it."
Melanie walked over. A steel string was dangling from her guitar.
âBusted my high-E,â she said. âI'll have to go back home to find another."
âNo need for that,â Linda said. She sat back, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes. Something materialized on the card tableâa small packet.
Melanie reached for it eagerly. âBless my soul, a new guitar string!â In fact, she was not in the least surprised, having witnessed Linda's materialization talents many times. âThanks, Linda."
âNo problem,â Linda said, then yawned. Recovered, she asked, âWhere are your kids?"
As if on cue, two bonneted nursemaids, each bearing a swaddled infant, entered the hall.
âHere they are!â Melanie said, running to meet them. She took one of the babies and carried it back to the table.
âCan you tell them apart yet?â Linda asked.
âAlways could,â
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