"Oh, yes... yes, I am... er, I'm fine," Rick said, still not looking at her. His gaze was still locked on the book.
"That's good." Rebecca took a quick look around. "That was too strange. That cold wind blew out the candles and everything. But I would have sworn that it was pretty still outside. At least the candles are back up now. What do you make of this book?"
"A book of magic, created long ago. The passage you read is a summoning of the fiend Malefarxus. Er, I would guess, I mean."
"Malefarxus? Sounds nasty." Rebecca looked at him oddly, her eyebrows raising. "What's up with your voice? It went all echoey and everything."
Rick looked up at her, his eyes gleaming in the firelight. "Uhm. Head cold." He coughed, slightly.
Rebecca nodded slowly. "Okay, if you say so, Rick. Must've been that skinny dipping that got you." A smile quickly lit up beneath her nose. "Are you just going shy on us?"
"Oh, no," Rick matched her smile. "Certainly not shy."
"There it goes again," Rebecca said, arching an eyebrow. "You sure you're okay?"
Rick responded by coughing again. "Must be the dust. That's it."
Rebecca nodded, her red hair reflecting in the candlelight. "Well, come on. Let's get you out of here, then." She bent to retrieve the book.
"No! I mean, that probably wouldn't be a good idea. Taking the book, I mean. If it's that powerful, it could be dangerous."
Rebecca eyed the artist. "Well, I suppose so. We should at least get you back outside, though, to Diane and Harriet."
"Oh, yes. To them. Fresh vict--er, air. Yes." Rick smiled, beaming. His eyes lit with the red of reflected candlelight. "Let's go."
Mon Jul 24 17:42:39 2000