Ben looked around. Then up and down. Then in a few other directions not normally accessible to humans. "So is something different today, or is it just me?", the wizard finally ventured. "What're ya on about now?", Hook returned testily. The dwarf was busily making preparations for a campfire, splinting wood for kindling. It was, Ben sometimes reflected, as if dwarves felt embarrassed to acknowledge the existence of magic. They had excellent mages, true, but what they usually did was enchant existing tools, or make feats of engineering cheaper and faster than was usually possible. No self-respecting dwarf would establish a two-way permanent

"Look", said Ted, "you don't understand. We need to see the Prime Minister at once!" The rough-hewn man tried an intimidating glare, but the bureaucrat had his face in a sheaf of paper, and didn't notice. "The future of Wales is at stake!", he added, without much effect. "Sorry, you'll just have to go through the proper channels, like everybody else." Hmf. Well, there were numerous ways of making an impression. And he even knew several that didn't involve fists. He took a deep breath to make that special low bear growl he knew, the one that got people's attention by way of their bladder control, when- "You're dealing with the Prince of Tedd

Setting down on the small world, the rough-hewn man found Vivian Manifold sitting in a field of flowers, creating butterflies, one after another. "Good to see you, Viv. What's this place?", Theodor asked. "Well", said the fair-haired incarnation of Imagination, "as you recall, I was flung into space by that Warmain." "Yes, after you had hit him with a laser blast, a meringue pie, and a cruise missile. Why the pie?" "It was poisoned. No matter. It was interesting at first - my first spacewalk! - but as I passed the moon, I grew increasingly bored. So I made some rock, to lie on. Then some spirits of Gravity so I COULD lie." "You could h