Faun and Games by Piers Anthony Page B

have any reverse wood, but if LA cared to cooperate, he could
    get some.
     
    "Will you do me a favor?" he asked the lost angel.
     
    "Within reason.   What do you want?"
     
    "I would like you to change some wood for me."
     
    "I'd be glad to.   But I don't have any wood."
     
    "But I do." Forrest removed one of his sandals.   "Will you change this
    sandalwood to reverse wood?"
     
    LA smiled.   "You are a clever one!   Very well: bring it here."
     
    Forrest started to walk into the chamber-and was immediately beaten back
    by utter fear.   Oh, no-he couldn't do what he wanted, because of the
    thing he wanted to eliminate.
     
    But then he found a way.   "I will toss it to you."
     
    He threw the sandal.   LA caught it and held it.   "Are you sure you want
    me to do this?   There may be consequences."
     
    "I'll risk them.   Change it to reverse wood."
     
    "Very well.   Done."
     
    The sandal looked the same, but when Forrest tried to enter the room, he
    had no trouble.   In fact he was drawn into it, delighting in its
    ambiance.   Not only did he feel no fear, he felt absolutely fearless.
     
    "Thank you," he said to the lost angel.   "That worked perfectly."
     
    "Did it?"
     
    "Sure.   My fear is gone.   I'm having absolutely no trouble with this
    chamber.   In fact I could stay here forever."
     
    "That's nice." But LA seemed oddly subdued.
     
    "Well, I must move on into the castle proper.   But I'll need my sandal.
    Please change it back to sandalwood now."
     
    "I can't do that."
     
    "But you changed it before.   Why can't you do it again?"
     
    "Because the reverse wood reverses my talent.   Now I can't change
    anything."
     
    Forrest paused.   The angel had warned him that there might be
    consequences.   He hadn't paid enough attention.
     
    "Maybe I can use it anyway," he said.   "Let me put it on."
     
    "Are you sure you want to do that?"
     
    "I don't have any magical talent.   I'm a faun.   So it can't reverse it.
    If I take it away from you, your own talent should revert to normal, so
    you'll be okay.   And who knows-maybe I'll find some future use for
    reverse wood.   So, yes, this seems the best way."
     
    LA gave him the sandal, and he put it on.   But he felt suddenly quite
    odd.   His hair seemed longer than usual, and his body felt different.
    His feet felt oddest of all.   What was the matter?
     
    He looked down, and saw his legs and feet.   He stared.   They were human!
    They had five toes, and were fleshy, with solid heels.
     
    Then he traced the lines of his legs upward.   They were human, with far
    more flesh than his goat legs ever had had, and got really fleshy near
    the tops.   And above that"Oh, my," he breathed, appalled.   "I'm a
    nymph!"
     
    "It seems that the reverse wood reversed your nature," LA said.
     
    "You are now a fine looking female."
     
    "But I don't want to be a nymph!" he (she) protested.
     
    "Then take off the sandal."
     
    That made sense.   He tore off the sandal, threw it across the room, and
    felt his body reverting to normal.   He was himself again.
     
    "I guess I'll have to do without the sandal," he said.   "I'll use my
    spare pair." He removed the other sandal, put it in his knapsack, drew
    out the other pair, and put them on.
     
    "You may still have a problem," LA remarked.
     
    "Not if I stay well clear of that reverse wood.   I'll just step on into
    the main castle, leaving it behind." He paused.   "Unless it makes things
    too difficult for you."
     
    "Have no concern about me.   I'm here for the duration, regardless. My
    job is here; I'm a prisoner of this chamber.   Your visit has helped
    relieve the boredom."
     
    Okay.   Then I guess it's farewell, and thank you." Forrest walked to the
    doorway into the rest of the castle.
     
    But as he passed through it, sudden terror gripped him.   He reeled back
    into the chamber, and the fear faded.
     
    Then he realized what had happened.   "The spell is reversed.   Now