The Series Boxed Set

by Piers Anthony

  Duban focused, and the ring expanded until Sylvie had joined us in the boat, lusciously naked and fully aware of it. “I’m willing,” she said. “I swore an oath not to seduce Duban, but that doesn’t count for the other two of you. So yes, I can divert you while you wait to die of exposure.”

  So she could hear and understand us while in ring form. I would keep that in mind. “I need to get a lamp from our cabin in the Fat Chance. Can you swim fast enough to catch up to the ship?”

  “Certainly; a siren can outrace any ship. But you don’t need lamp light; it’s daytime. Even at night, we can do it by feel. If you fumble, I can guide you.”

  It seemed that Sirens were somewhat single minded about the interests of men, perhaps not without reason. “We’re not interested in seduction at the moment,” I said. “I just need that lamp.”

  “Oh, poo,” she pouted. “I’ll do it if Duban asks me to. I’m bound to him for the duration.”

  Duban knew about the lamp, of course. “Do it,” he said.

  “Immediately.” She paused. “But you know I’m not conversant with the insides of ships. They’re generally in bad shape by the time we get them. I could use some guidance along the way.”

  “We can’t swim the way you can,” I said.

  “You won’t need to. Just have Duban transform one of you into a ring, now that he knows how to do it.”

  We gazed at each other in wild surprise. She was right: she should have guidance, and we could do it. But who? “Me,” I said before I thought. The others did not argue.

  Thus it was that Duban took my hand and transformed me into a brass ring, after I stripped so as not to mess up my clothes. The process wasn’t painful, merely weird, though I would have preferred to merit gold instead of brass. Sylvie put me on her middle finger, as I would have been loose on a smaller one. Then she dived into the water, her legs becoming her tail.

  It was interesting the way she swam. She did not stroke with her arms, but merely held them out before her to break the water while she threshed with her powerful tail. She moved faster than any ordinary person could dream of; the spume fairly flew from her de facto prow. She wasn’t even breathless from the effort; she talked to me in a normal voice.

  “The Mistress likes you. She said to keep you safe as well as the boy, if I could. Our alliance would not be worth much if you died. So I’m helping you survive.”

  I squeezed her finger once, meaning agreement.

  “You know, it would serve that nasty captain right if someone dosed him with bhang and marooned him,” she continued. “I could do it if you approve.”

  Now that was a notion! I squeezed once again.

  “I hated seeing the captain plot against you,” she continued. “I suspected him, and tried to warn Duban, but he misunderstood my squeeze.”

  So that was the meaning of her communication. She had been trying to help him, not seduce him. She did not seem like a bad sort, as Sirens went.

  But then she countered my thought. “You’re a halfway handsome lout. Are you sure you wouldn’t like me to seduce you? I could do it with my song, now that the tone-deaf spell has worn off, but Mistress said not to do it unless you actually want it.”

  I did not respond, though I did wonder whether her song could do it. After seeing the non-stop passion of the sailor, I was not about to bet that it couldn’t.

  The ship hove into view ahead. We had made amazing progress.

  I anticipated a problem: Sylvie would surely be seen, and a lovely naked woman would attract immediate attention. How could we abate that?

  “Good question,” she said. That was when I realized that she could read my thoughts; I didn’t have to be limited to squeezing. But then why hadn’t she had Duban read her thoughts about the captain?

  “His mind was closed to me,” she said sadly. “He doesn’t quite trust me.”

  I decided not to pursue that aspect, because I did not quite trust her either. Find clothing, I thought. Avoid showing yourself before that.

  “I will try,” she said.

  She came to the ship, found a trailing rope, put on legs, and climbed nimbly up it. She was one strong healthy creature, a lot tougher than she looked.

  “Thank you.”

  I stifled further thoughts.

  Soon we were on the deck. We were in luck; no one was looking our way. I directed Sylvie to a storage bin where we found discarded old tattered men’s clothing. She donned that, then bound back her luxurious hair. Now she looked almost like a small sailor.

  We headed for our cabin. And there was a sailor pawing through our stuff. No, it was the captain himself, the one who knew (he thought) that we would not be returning. How could we get the lamp without alerting him to our presence, and to its importance?

  He heard us. He looked up. He opened his mouth.

  Sylvie stepped into him and closed his mouth with a kiss. I could feel his sheer amazement.

  But what would happen when the kiss ended?

  Chapter Fourteen

  The captain, clearly surprised at having been kissed by what surely appeared to be a smallish male sailor, obviously got over his shock by returning the kiss vigorously.

  As the Siren continued her embrace, I saw—or rather felt—what she was up to. With her hands entwined behind the captain’s back, the cunning sea nymph began working me free from her finger.

  Once the ring was free, the spell was immediately nullified and I landed hard on the wooden floor, still curled and clutching my bare toes. Hardly a position worthy of a king!

  But the captain, apparently not completely lost in the luscious creature’s embrace, immediately spun about at the crashing thud behind him.

  “You!” he shouted, his voice rising slightly with confusion and shock. He promptly threw the sea maiden off him. She didn’t go willingly and I saw the lust in her eyes. Apparently, any man would do.

  I leaped to my feet—all too aware that I stood as naked as the day I was born—and faced a fully armed, battle-hardened captain. And, apparently, thief. My member, I couldn’t help but notice, had all but shriveled up and disappeared. Maybe that was always its response to an inevitable fight. Disappearing from action to save itself. If so, I agreed with the instinctive action.

  “How did you get back here?” he demanded, drawing his narrow scimitar, which, I suspected, he wielded expertly. “Where is Sinbad?”

  My mind worked frantically. “He’s here, on board, gathering the men. He’s a hero to them. Much more than you, dung-face. Your ridiculous plan failed.”

  He cocked an ear, listening. “I hear of no activity above deck.”

  He was in such a position to see up through the hatch, where a short flight of stairs led to the deck. Even I could see a sailor lounging not too far away, enjoying the sun, oblivious.

  He turned back to us, holding his sword steady. “I think you lie.”

  “We would have given you a hefty share of the profit,” I said.

  “Why take a share, when you can have the whole lot?”

  “Spoken,” I said, “like a true snake.”

  He pointed the tip of his sword toward Sylvie. “And where did you find this fine creature?”

  I was backed up against a wall. The simple wooden box containing the magic lamp was under my cot. I could see the corner of it and so far the captain hadn’t gotten his grubby hands on it.

  The captain seemed intent on the Siren, for good reason. After throwing her off him, her felt hat and oversized clothing had become partially undone. Some of her female anatomy was partially spilling out. But the captain wasn’t completely enchanted. He advanced toward me, for a snake such as he would first do away with me before pouncing on her.

  True, he might not be fully enchanted by her, but I knew of a way he would be, and I decided I had to risk it.

  “Sylvie, I want you to sing for him,” I said grimly.

  The captain barked with laughter. “Oh, she will sing for me soon enough—and if she values her life, she will
do anything else I ask of her.”

  Sylvie ignored him and steadily looked at me. She knew full well the effects her voice would have on a mortal man. “Are you sure, sire?”

  I nodded. “Once done, return immediately to Duban and Sinbad and lead them here.”

  As the captain adjusted his grip and prepared to impale me, Sylvie opened her mouth...and the most beautiful, rapturous voice I had ever heard came pouring out. Love gripped my heart. Love and lust and joy, and all thought of anything else escaped me completely. I needed the woman desperately, and never had I seen such a beautiful creature in all my existence. By Allah, I had to have her. All thoughts of Jewel fled as surely as shadows do before the light. All that filled my thoughts and heart was the beauty of this incredible creature. The longing was so great within me that I wept nearly uncontrollably.

  The effect on the captain was the same, and still the Siren sang. Her voice seemed to grow louder, stronger, richer, sweeter. My entire body reacted to her, craved her, hungered for her. She was my soulmate. I was sure of it. She was my greatest heart’s desire. Of that I was certain.

  The captain dropped his sword. Instead he reached out with both hands open. The look on his face pure bliss. He looked how I felt. There was no jealousy. There was only her.

  As she sang she backed away from us, her angelic voice vibrating the very walls of this little cabin. Now she turned and climbed the stairs, still singing.

  Where was she going? Why was she leaving us?

  The captain and I nearly fell over ourselves as we clambered up the stairs behind her. His hate for me, his wicked ways, my desire to thwart his nefarious plan and to help my good friend Sinbad, were all abandoned.

  We knew only her song, as did now everyone else aboard, for her strong voice carried far and wide, and now the entire crew moved toward her, stupefied, filled with love and lust.

  At the ship railing, she blew me a kiss—I was certain it had been for me—and she fell over backward into the water. The crew and myself all rushed to the starboard side, peering over, crying out to her. There, I saw only a flash of white as her perfect form slipped beneath the waves.

  The captain immediately turned to us all. “We must find her at all costs, men!”

  A great cheer arose, and my voice was perhaps the loudest of all. And we immediately set sail in the direction she had disappeared, heedless of where we were going or of our ultimate fate.

  * * *

  It was sometime later, with the sun setting and the ship making lackluster progress on a weak wind, that another, smaller vessel arrived. It appeared to be moving quickly, as if by magic, and I immediately recognized all aboard.

  It was, of course, Duban and Sinbad. The young wizard appeared to be using an energy spell of some sort to move the small boat quickly over the waves. Once it pulled up along side, Duban appeared exhausted. Performing magic, I suspected, took great concentration.

  Their arrival was met with little reaction from those on ship, myself included. We sought only the Siren, and she alone, for she filled our hearts with a longing that was stronger than anything I had ever felt in all my life.

  Sinbad boarded expertly, drawing himself up a length of rope. He drew his sword, looking about confusedly. Then he saw me, standing near the single mast, holding it longingly, gazing out to sea with no doubt a very wistful look. The others on deck, I knew, had similar expression, and I only peripherally saw Sinbad look at the young man knowingly.

  The sailor said to the boy, “They have been enchanted by the Siren’s song. They are lost to us.”

  “No!” cried Duban. The boy appeared before me, tugging at the hem of my tunic. “Father! Aladdin! King Aladdin! Look at me!”

  But I couldn’t risk taking my eyes off the sea. What if the beautiful creature appeared and I missed her? Oh, the horror! Never will I take my eyes off the sea again until I’m in the arms of my great love.

  The boy took my hand, and I felt a great rippling of energy creep over me, and just for the smallest moment, I felt love again, but this time for Jewel. I looked down at Duban, and he smiled, relieved. But then the moment wore off, and I once again snapped my head forward, horrified that I had looked away from the sea.

  By Allah, what if she had made an appearance and I missed her!

  “It’s too strong,” said Duban. “I cannot reverse the effects.”

  I heard him speaking but, really, I wasn’t paying attention.

  Sinbad stood before me, hands on hips. He had returned his scimitar, seeing that there was no threat here. “The Lamp,” he said. “Fetch me the lamp.”

  Duban nodded and headed off below deck. Still, I scanned the horizon. So far there was nothing. But she was near. I was sure of it. I could feel her.

  The boy came back carrying the box with my lamp, but I gave it only a cursory glance. Lamps had no meaning for me. Nothing had meaning except my deep love for my creature of the deep.

  Sinbad opened the box and removed the beautiful lamp. No one else on board gave us any notice; indeed, like myself, all eyes were directed forward, out to sea, searching.

  “The djinn is surely powerful enough to reverse the effects of the spell,” said Duban. “Except it is bound only to him.”

  “What do you mean, boy?” demanded Sinbad.

  “It means only Aladdin can summon it and make a request of it.”

  Sinbad bit his lip and thought hard. I cared little for what he thought or what he did, only that they not stand in my field of vision.

  Where was she? Was she safe? By Allah, I loved her....

  Sinbad said, “Ask her if she can reverse the spell.”

  Duban shook his head. “She’s keeping her distance for now, remember? She can’t risk coming too close.”

  “Camel dung,” muttered Sinbad.

  And just then a great cry arose from the boat. “There!” someone shouted. “She’s there!”

  I rushed to the railing and saw what appeared to be a common dolphin playfully swimming alongside the ship.

  “Fool!” shouted the captain.

  Duban suddenly spoke up, “When I tried to reverse the spell, my father came back to us for just a few seconds.”

  Sinbad apparently caught on to whatever nonsense the boy was talking about. If thy weren’t talking about my lovely sea maiden, then I cared little for their conversation. “Perhaps he can return to us long enough to summon the djinn and make his request.”

  Duban nodded. “I will increase the potency, although I am already exhausted from the energy spell to get us here.”

  “It is worth a try,” said Sinbad.

  Next I felt a familiar tingle rise up my arm, and as it did so, an image of Jewel appeared in my thoughts, and I suddenly felt a wave of guilt for loving another.

  “He’s back!” said Duban. “Father, take the lamp. Quickly. Summon Lamprey and reverse the Siren’s spell.”

  Although confused and disoriented, as if being awakened from the sweetest of dreams—a dream I longed to return to—I absently rubbed the map as instructed and immediately the handsome djinn appeared before me, riding a cloud of smoke and hovering high above us.

  “Your wish is my command,” he said.

  “Shove it, smoke face,” said Duban. “Now wish it, father.”

  “Wish what?”

  “To reverse the Siren’s spell.”

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  “Because you love mother.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes, father. You do.” And the boy grabbed my arm and sent another charge of energy up it, and my head cleared a little more. I immediately made the wish and Lamprey, now looking robust and healthy after last year’s months of being tortured by another of his kind, bowed and snapped his fingers.

  The spell was lifted. The fog was removed and I saw clearly where I was, although a small longing in my heart remained for the beautiful sea creature.

  “You’re back, father,” said Duban, swinging my hand gleefully.

  I was,
although I felt a pang of loss for the sea creature.

  “He’s back,” said Lamprey. “But he will always feel the effects of the Siren’s call. Deep in his heart he will love her and want her, although he will not feel compelled to search for her. It will merely be a longing that can never be answered, by anyone.”

  “I can live with that,” I said. “I think.” I surveyed the deck and saw the other sailors looking yearningly out to sea. How many had turned on us? I didn’t know.

  Lamprey saw my look. “The Siren’s magic is too powerful for me to save everyone, master. I have reached my limit for now. Remember, I am still recovering from my time spent with Prince Zeyn. I am still not at full capacity.”

  “Thank you, Lamprey,” I said. “Begone.”

  The djinn bowed and disappeared; I returned the lamp to its wooden box.

  “What should we do with the others?” asked Sinbad.

  The others were as good as dead. After all, they would forever search for their Siren, now that they had heard her beautiful call. I spied the two rowboats tied to the hull.

  “Duban,” I said, “is it possible for you to determine who was in on the captain’s plot?”

  “I think so, father.”

  “Do so now.”

  The boy closed his eyes and turned in a small circle. “All but three, master.”

  “Fetch the innocent ones.”

  He did, and soon they stood next to me, each looking helplessly out to sea.

  Sinbad and I went to work gathering the others into the two boats and setting them on a course for Siren Rock. At least, they would die happy, which was more than they deserved. The remaining three, although worthless now, could be saved later with Lamprey’s help.

  Now, with the ship riding low and heavy with treasure, I looked at Sinbad. “Welcome to your new ship, captain.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “We need to get moving,” Sinbad said. “But I don’t actually know how to handle a ship. That’s the captain’s job, and the crew’s.”