Date:         Sun, 10 Nov 1996 04:42:11 +0000
From: Christopher Vaughan <space.cowboy@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      INT: Lancomb's Adventure

Reserved:
        Lancomb
        Aderyn
        Sanchez
Raini Maddens:
        Lyriss
        Mathen

        Lancomb watched the children leave with interest.  Sanchez
closed the ba rn door after them and sighed.
        "We weell 'ave to move, now."
        "I suppose," Lancomb said, absent-mindedly.  His thoughts were
still on the children.
        "You are theenking about them, aren't you?"
        "What?"  Lancomb looked at Sanchez, wide-eyed.  "What was
that, Sanchez?  "
        "The cheeldren," Sanchez said, frowning.  "You were thinking
about them, yes?"
        "No.  I was just thinking about the island.  What was that
they called i t?  'Kyreeter'?  I can't say I've ever heard of it."
Lancomb rubbed his bearded chin.
        "They deed say it ees near China, Senor.  Many of the dragon
legends com e from China.  Eet ees not inconceivable that some dragons
may steel leeve there."
        "No, I don't suppose it is.  Get my maps, Sanchez.  Let's do
have a look ."
        "Si, Senor."  Sanchez walked over to the book cases and dug
around until he found a round, leather cylinder about six inches in
diameter.  He pulled its top off with a "pfunfft" and dust rose into
the air.  Then he turned it over and several rolled-up maps slipped
out.
        "Find the one from 1321, would you?"
        "Let's see..."  Sanchez flipped through the yellowed maps as
Lancomb watched over his shoulder.  At one point Lancomb pushed the
sombraro askew so he could see the maps, better.
        "There, that's the one," Lancomb said when Sanchez uncovered
an ancient map of the world.  Most was marked "Unknown".
        "That island, there," Lancomb said, pointing to a greenish-red
blotch on the right side of the map.  "'D'cor Rowan'.  Isn't that
Innoise for 'Dragon's Isle'?"
        "Eef you say so, Senor.  Eet ees near China."
        "Hmmm..."  Lancomb rubbed his chin.  "Could that be 'Kyreeter
Island'?"
        Sanchez sighed and rolled up the maps.  "We are goeeng to 'elp
them, are n't we?"

        Lyriss rubbed her arm and looked down, sadly.  "That dragon
was so sweet ," she said.  "I wish he would have helped us."
        "'Sweet?'  How can you say that after he virtually chased us away?"
        "I can't explain it," Lyriss said, "but I could *feel* his
emotions.  He wanted to help us, but he was afraid."
        "Great.  Just what we need, now, a scared dragon."  Mathan
looked back a t the barn.  "I think we're better off, though you
should have taken the gold.  At least, then, we could have had some
chance."
        "I'd rather die than hurt that dragon," Lyriss said.  "He's a
one-of-a-k ind creature.  There are a lot of girls."
        "I can't believe you're saying that," Mathan said, furious.
"How many Lyrisses are there?"
        Just then the barn door opened and Sanchez walked out.  He
looked to be in a hurry, but he stopped and looked relieved when he
spotted the children.
        "What does he want?"  Mathan stood and faced the Spaniard as
he walked o ver to them.
        "Take it easy, Mathan," Lyriss said.  "Don't be foolish."
        "There you are.  I 'ave some good news for you, I theenk.
Lancomb 'as decided to 'elp you."
        Mathan smiled.  "He did?"
        "Yes.  He theenks you may be able to 'elp 'eem at the same
time."
        "How?"  Lyriss' brow furrowed.
        "We can talk about that, later.  For now, we must see about
renting a truck."  Sanchez grinned and jiggled the gold scales in his
fist.
_____________________________
Chris Vaughan
space.cowboy@worldnet.att.net