Page 40 of Geoffrey the Very Strange
"You have to ask? Let me see what I have at the yard still that those things didn't get. I'll find Geoffrey in the square. I have some words for that youngster."
With Ryu on his way, Aspic tried the door to the shop and was distressed to find it open. "Why isn't this locked? It's not safe!"
He realized a moment too late that he'd yelled at Mr. Talondon. Clover, Heliotrope, and Ayla stood behind him in a knot of worried confusion.
"We saw you coming and unlocked it. What in all lunar cycles is going on out there, boy?" His employer growled. "Screaming all night. People running back and forth. Then the Goldenscale girl comes to tell us about zombie shells and that you're involved. Explain."
Goldenscale girl? Oh, Katya. "Yessir. It's a necromantic spell gone wrong. That is, the raising the dead bunny went fine, but the spell ingredients went wrong and came alive—er, undead—so there are zombie shells and rocks rampaging through town trying to make more zombie shells and rocks and you can't crush them or shatter them, I don't know why, and they escaped from Ryu's iron box where he had them trapped, and now there at the butcher's trying to get in, but Geoffrey has a plan and needs help. Can everyone help, please?"
"Holy seeds. That was alot," Heliotrope murmured.
Clover stomped a hoof in agitation. "Are they dangerous? Is everyone all right?"
"They attacked Cormac, going after his bone necklace. He's bitten up pretty badly. So far, they're mostly wrecking things trying to get to more things like them. But my fear is it's going to get to the point where they come after people and animals for the bones inside us."
Ayla shivered. "Thank you for that image, Aspic."
Mr. Talondon placed a hand on Aspic's shoulder, his fingernails more claw-like by the moment. "Tell us what we need to do."
While Aspic had to look up quite a bit to meet his gaze, an unexpected calm radiated from Mr. Talondon that calmed Aspic considerably.This was the sort of thing I'm made for, that look said.
"We need to gather bait in the square. Any seashells we have here, any garden limestone, any bones we have waiting to grind for meal, we need to get it there to Geoffrey." Aspic leaned around Mr. Talondon. "Ayla, the witches need you at the bakery. Anyone who can fly."
"I'm off, then." Ayla brushed a kiss atop Aspic's head as she floated past. "I'll get my pixie girlfriends along the way. I want to see everyone after this is done, so be careful."
The shop bell jingled as she left, and everyone remaining took a moment for a breath until Mr. Talondon shook himself.
"Let's go! Shove whatever you can carry into sacks! Move like your town depends on you!"
Which it did, and what a strange feelingthatwas. But this was how an actual, healthy community worked, Aspic supposed. When the town was in danger, its people stepped up to save it and each other. Some of the chill seeped out of Aspic's bones, knowing he didn't have to do any of this alone.
"Hey, boss. How are we doing?"
Geoffrey startled, his attention divided between the square around him and his link to Sundrop up in the clouds. "I thought I told you to guard the cave."
Cecil perched on the edge of the fountain. "You did. It was boring. All the action's out here. Besides, you might need my help."
With a piercing raptor scream, Sundrop arrowed out of the clouds to land on Geoffrey's arm, shaking the moisture from her feathers. Yes, the clouds were ready, but his heart was sinking toward his boots. He was alone out here with Cecil and Sundrop. No one had come. Aspic hadn't even returned, and Geoffrey had begun to imagine terrible things that might have happened to him.
"I may need it. Thank you, Cecil." Geoffrey tipped his head back to take in the roiling clouds. "Once I call the storm, I won't be good for much else."
"Yeah, your big spells kinda take you over." Cecil swung his feet, clunking his heels against the fountain's concrete base. How a shadow clunked, Geoffrey hadn't the slightest idea. "What do you need me and the pretty bird to do?"
"I need—" Geoffrey stopped to listen. Something was coming. He hoped it wasn't the shells. Not yet. He wasn't ready. But this had none of thetiptiptipsounds of bouncing zombie seashells and all the rustling, fluttering of…
Wings.
They came, a full two dozen of Merseton's flying citizens and certain familiars. Ishi the tengu led with the librarian griffins right behind. Ayla the sylph and her three pixie girlfriends flew in a clump. Aunt Frida's raven familiar soared over them in solitary splendor. A kirin, a family of small wyverns, Marta's goose familiar—everyone was coming, and they all carried what Geoffrey hoped were vials and flagons of vinegar.
Ishi angled his feet down and spread his wings for a graceful landing. He offered a gentle smile. "Your grandmother sent us with vinegar. But I think you knew that."
"Thank you." Geoffrey's insides trembled so hard he had to wrap his arms around himself.They came. I asked for help and they came. He raised his voice. "Thank you all. I know this will sound, well, unsound. But I need the clouds…" He pointed up to the rain clouds forming above him. "To be seeded with vinegar."
"Grandma Tutti explained the theory," Ayla reassured him. "Should we wait until your bait arrives?"
Her words might as well have conjured it as townsfolk began to trudge into the square with carts and sacks, crates and pots. Ryu had brought a cart of limestone scrap. The dwarven jewelers had bone. The remaining employees from Talondon's—andtherewas Aspic, grinning brightly at him, not a pink hair harmed on his head—had brought a little of everything, shell, stone, and bone. On and on they came to dump everything in a pile near the fountain at Dire Talondon's direction.
When everyone had contributed, Geoffrey found himself gaping at a pile half as high as himself.
