Bad Directions

Over ground? Once they were on the surface, they could hardly return this way without arousing the gnome's suspicions, and to find their way back to the main entrance of the caverns could take them days or even weeks. Fred decided to take a chance. After all, if the worst came to the worst, how formidable an opponent could the gnome be? "Actually, we were looking for the dragon," he said.

"Oh, really?" said the gnome. "Why didn't you say so before? So, assuming you were to find him, what would you do then?"

Fred was trying to think of some non-committal reply, when Avia said matter-of-factly: "We're going to kill him." Fred groaned inwardly at her bluntness.

The smile on the face of the gnome didn't waver. "Oh," he said. "How interesting. Many people have attempted that before now, with a singular lack of success, I'm afraid. In that case, I won't show you the way out, but will give you directions that should lead you to your objective."

They thanked the gnome, and he indicated that they should come through the doorway. They found themselves in a comfortably furnished living-room that had been carved out of the rock. "At the far end of the room is the door to the tunnel leading to the surface," said the gnome, "and to the left is the door to my kitchen and bedroom, but you want the door to the right. Once you go through, I will close and lock it behind you - because, after all, who knows what foul creatures might wish to enter my humble abode through it. So, once through the door, follow the passage beyond it. When it branches, take the left fork. Then take the second side tunnel to the left, and keep following it for about a mile. That should eventually take you directly into the dragon's lair."

"Thank you gentle gnome," said Avia, as they went through the door on the right. As the gnome closed and locked the door behind them, the last thing they heard him say was “Goodbye, suckers!”

Fred panicked and turned around to try and go back through the door. But to his astonishment, the door had vanished! “What are we to do?” he cried.

”What else can we do,” replied Avia. “We must continue down the passage and prepare for the worst.”

The pair followed the passage for a while before coming to a fork…just as the gnome had described. “Well,” said Fred. “After that last remark I’m not sure whether we should be believe that little guy or not!” After much hesitation, he eventually led the way…

1. Left
2. Right

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