The Hound of Kemamonit

by Paul Edwards

  Chapter two

  I felt some sort of substance all over my face and chest, I carefully wiped it out of my eyes then slowly opened them. I saw Janet staring at me, her arms were crossed and she had a stern expression on her face.

  "What is this," I said looking at the substance that was now caked all over me. It was greenish yellow and of a slimy texture.

  "Cow snot."

  I felt my heart jump in my chest, instinctively I jerked my right hand over to my left wrist and felt for the bracelet I used to create magic, I needed to summon a shower and soap.

  It wasn't there, I hadn't worn it in months.

  I had made the worst mistake a sorcerer could ever make, I had come unprepared to a duel with someone who knew my greatest weakness.

  I slowly moved my right hand back to the chairs armrest then gripped it tightly so Janet wouldn't see it shake.

  "I've been covered in much worse, I've have had much experience with livestock," I said nonchalantly.

  "The cows were from Texas... you know from that feedlot you were going on about last month."

  Panic started to overwhelm me, I could feel the tiny disease laden microbes probing my skin looking for a weakness.

  "Oh look a shower," Janet pointed to a large white stall that suddenly appeared.

  I had lost all control, panic had taken over. I lurched out of the chair and ran to the shower jumped in then frantically turned the knobs that controlled the water. Nothing came out.

  "There's no water!!!" I screamed desperately.

  "I'll bet there's water in Syracuse," Janet said calmly.

  "Syracuse?"

  "Where Archimedes lives."

  "Um... yaa... ok... I'll do it... no need to get all dramatic."

  "You swear?"

  "Yes... I'll swear... um... on a bible."

  "You remind me so much of my daughter, her birthdays coming up by the way... she'll be twelve. I want you to swear that you'll do it or may Sobek devour your still quivering flesh."

  "Ok... sure... what you said."

  "Say it."

  I said it.