Piers, Anthony – Xanth 27 – Cube Route – Anthony, Piers

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Looking back, as was natural in the circumstance, Cube concluded that it all started with the rear-view mirror. What a complicated route, from such a minor trigger.

She was out picking bubble gum from the bubble gum tree beyond the hay field when there was a swirl of smoke beside her. “What are you doing?” the smoke inquired.

Startled, Cube gazed at it. “Talking smoke?”

“That doesn’t exactly answer my incertitude,” the smoke said, forming a set of eyes.

“Dubiousness, skepticism, suspicion, mistrust, uncertainty–“

“Whatever,” the smoke agreed crossly.

“I don’t see why I should answer you if I can’t see you,” Cube said. “Are you a refugee from the smoking section?”

The smoke formed a mouth. “Ha. Ha. Ha,” it said. “Very funny. Not. Don’t you recognize a lovely demoness when you see one?”

“A demon!” Cube sidled nervously away from the smoke. “I never did anything to you. Why are you harassing me?”

“Because that’s what demons do.” A head formed around the eyes and mouth, framed by smoky hair. “Demoness Metria, not at your ritual.”

“Observance, rite, liturgy, ceremony–“

“Whatever! So who are you?”

“Cube! What kind of a stupid name is that?”

The hair spread out and formed a question mark. “You just said it was.”