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seem childlike, although you know that they aren't." "You make the threat of true death seem like an asset,.
     
    Tiana noted.
     
    "Oh, no! It just makes the outlook different, that's all.
     
    You see, deep down, no human really believes that he or she can die until it happens. The fairies, whose power is partly based upon belief, know the truth of that and its finality. Because of that, you either go nuts or you live every moment of life to the fullest. Whole races of fairy folk have gone in both directions." He paused a moment, then continued.
     
    Page 23 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods "However, as to your holiday problem, we might be able to solve it. I agree that you need a break, if only because of the boredom. Both of your natures are freespirited, and that's part of the problem. Me, I could use a little boredom now and then. Let me think on the problem for a day or so. Perhaps we could invent a new holiday, one in which the two of you would supposedly go back to Heaven for a few weeks or something. I've never really been comfortable with this idiotic theology, but it has been convenient in many ways and it's no sillier than ninety-nine percent of the religions and cults in this world or on Earth. So long as it emphasizes Heavenly values and virtues, it doesn't serve Hell's ends, and that's more than can be said for most of them..
     
    They arrived at the castle, where elfin grooms took their horses, and they entered and went to the Great Hall.
     
    They settled down in comfortable, fur-covered chairs, and a servant brought them a tray of delicacies, and another brought drinks. Ruddygore, still formally attired but with hat taken, settled back and looked somewhat relaxed.
     
    "I can tell that you have been arguing over children again," he said casually.
     
    They both jumped. "What!" Tiana cried. "How did you know?" She had visions of spies all over the place.
     
    VENGEANCE OF THE DANCING GODS 32 "Because it's something that would happen if boredom weighed heavily upon you. I know you both too well..
     
    "Well, it's out of the question," Joe growled.
     
    "Why?" the wizard asked him. "Oh, I agree when it comes to Tiana, but you're both weres. You can become each other. The genes would be the same..
     
    "You mean me have the baby?" Joe was aghast.
     
    "Certainly. Oh, at thirty-six hours a month I fear the pregnancy would be about fifteen or sixteen years to term, but what of it? A simple spell would continue you every were-period until it happened, although you'd have to make certain that you did in fact become Tiana each time or heaven knows what you'd give birth to in the end, but it's possible..
     
    Joe shook his head in wonder. "No, I don't think so..
     
    "Well, perhaps there are other ways. We'll see..
     
    "It is the first night of the full moon tonight," Tiana reminded him.
     
    "Oh, yes—I know. Don't mind me. I'm here for a brief rest and to do some studying anyway. Something is up.
     
    I can smell it. Something that I feel both here and on Earth, and that means something big. I want to find it and nip it in the bud before it bites all of us..
     
    Macore was a small man dressed in a dark gray tunic Page 24 Chalker, Jack L - Vengeance of the Dancing Gods with an integral hood. The hood, of course, was down now, in the bright daylight and in the company of familiar friends, and revealing a darkly handsome man with an angular face, always clean-shaven, and a nose perhaps a bit too big but of which he was inordinately proud.
     
    He was not surprised to find Ruddygore away, although his usually reliable sources told him that the old boy was due back almost any time now. Macore was one of the few who knew where Ruddygore went on these frequent and sometimes long business trips, although he'd never been to Earth, and all he knew about it was what he'd learned from associating with Joe and Marge in the old days.
     
    JACK L. CHALKER 33 The old days, he thought sadly, sitting in a small