Titans of Chaos

"Maybe. But if a low-level god like Boreas can have a psychic on his staff, are you telling me theGod of Strategy and Winning Battles is not smart enough to go find someone who can trump yourpowers when he is setting out to hunt you down? Come on. Seriously, guys. All these gods musttravel in packs of four, just like Boggin and his four flunkies. Jeez, even if he can't get Grendel,don't you think he can get a recording of Miss Daw's music?"

Victor said, "Leader, we have to assume the enemy has taken reasonable steps in calculating theirtactics."

He still had that look of good humor on his face. Now I knew why he was wearing it: because hewas not leader, and he did not have to make decisions in the no-win situations. Bastard.

I looked out at the ships. Closer now. Coming as fast as the fastest bird can fly-faster, even.

I said, "Idea number three: We put the ring of Gyges on the ship, like stick it on the mast orsomething, and turn the whole darn ship invisible."

Victor said, "Might work. But the same objection as to number two applies. If Mavors has anycyclopes aboard, they might not be fooled by mere magic."

Colin said, "Even you have trouble seeing through this ring, Vicky-boy."

Victor nodded. "But I am young and new at this, Collie-boy. It might work, though, if Ameliafloated this ship into the so-called fourth dimension at the same time, which might confusecyclopean detection powers."

Black ships astern slightly closer. Black ships ahead very much closer, eating up the miles.

I said, "Idea number four: Vanity zaps them with her power, so that those ships are not sailingthrough dream-waters, but suddenly find themselves traveling at the speed of sound in woodenships in the waters of Earth. Momentum kicks in. They wreck."

Vanity said, "I cannot do that without having it happen to us. We'd have to slow down toEarth-speed first I mean, I can do it, I think I can do it, because there is a boundary around therailing of each ship. But I do not think I can do it unevenly. That's why Grendel's mom could notturn off Colin's power. Hey-you know what I just thought? Phaeacian powers must be somethingyou can learn, or get, because people like Boggin and Echidna have them- Oops! Damn." Vanityjumped as if a bug had stung her.

Echidna could hear when her name was spoken, as Vanity had just reminded Colin.

Victor said dryly to a chagrined Vanity, "I thought we agreed to call her 'the fishmonger.'"