Geis of the Gargoyle by Piers Anthony Page B

the golem residence?" she asked him.
     
    "I'm sure the demoness will be able to locate it, once you are on the surface." He turned to Gary.   "And you should be able to summon the demoness by speaking her name.   She seems to be interested in you, so will probably appear."
     
    "But we aren't on the surface," Gary said, using his funny human mouth for the first time.   "We'll need to find another figgle."
     
    "A figgle!" Iris exclaimed.   "I wouldn't want to mount one of those oversized worms."
     
    "There should be an easier way," Trent said.   "I believe that Brain Coral has a private freight elevator to ship freed creatures up in." He lifted his chin.   "Coral?"
     
    A golden glow appeared before them.   It was in the form of a path leading away.
     
    Trent smiled.   "Follow the yellow slick road," he suggested.
     
    "Yes, we had better," Iris agreed.   "Come on, gargoyle man.   We have a quest to get out of the way."
     
    Gary shrugged, using his human shoulders, and followed her.   He still wasn't sure that this quest was a good notion, but he seemed to be stuck for it.
     
    The path led up out of the pool and across the dry cave floor.   Neither Gary nor Iris dripped as they emerged from the water; they were dry.   Gary realized that the pool was magical in several ways.
     
    But as he walked through air instead of water, the slight change in environment eroded his orientation, and he began to stumble.   He half fell into Iris.
     
    "What's the matter with you?" she demanded sharply.   "Are you trying to paw me?"
     
    "If I had my paws, I wouldn't be stumbling," Gary said, embarrassed.
     
    "Oh, that's right, you're as new to human form as I am to youth," she said.   "And you are an animal, so pawing has no meaning for you."
     
    "Should it?" he asked, perplexed.
     
    "Just follow the path and try to stay steady."
     
    In two or perhaps three moments Gary adjusted to the different feel of balancing in air, and was able to walk without stumbling.
     
    "You might try swinging your hands," Iris suggested.
     
    "Swinging my hands?"
     
    "It helps you balance when you walk."
     
    He moved his hands in circles as he took another step, but it didn't seem to help.
     
    "Like this," she said, and strode briskly forward, her arms pumping vigorously.
     
    He tried it, but suffered worse problems than before.
     
    "Opposite sides, dummy," she snapped.
     
    "Opposite?" he asked blankly.   This was all very confusing.   When he walked four footed, one hind leg came forward and landed before the forefoot on that side took off.
     
    "Here." She sounded exasperated.   She came to stand behind him, putting her hands on his human elbows.   "This foot, that hand." She pushed at his left leg with hers, and shoved his right elbow forward.
     
    Gary tried it, putting the left foot ahead and bracing himself to retain his balance.
     
    "Now the other two," she said, shoving at his right leg and left elbow.   "And swing back your arm on the opposite side.   This time don't stop; just keep going."
     
    "I'll fall," he said, wary of this awkward combination of moves.
     
    "No you won't.   Try it."
     
    He tried it, and got all fouled up.   He began to fall, and she was entangled with him.   She braced her legs between his and looped her arms around his chest, hauling him back to upright.   They swayed precariously together before steadying.
     
    "You were right," she gasped.   "You tried to fall."
     
    But now that he was steady, he became aware of something else.   "Your front is soft."
     
    She let go of him and stepped back.   'This isn't working.   Don't you coordinate your limbs when you walk four footed? I don't see why you should have so much trouble."
     
    "Yes.   I have a four-beat gait when I walk, two-beat when I trot, three-beat when I canter-"
     
    "Two-beat!" she cried.   "That's it! Move your arms as if you're trotting."
     
    He tried it-and suddenly he was beautifully in balance.   "So human folk