Checkers' Recitation

"I'm fine apart from feeling a little tense," Astra lied. "I've thought of something that might help to relax me, though. I find your voice very soothing. Perhaps you would be kind enough to read me one or two of the poems that you mentioned can be found in Belboz's big book - translating them from the Old High Dolomite for my benefit, of course."

"I would gladly do that for you, Astra. As well as I am able, anyway, for Old High Dolomite is not always easy to translate. [21981] But shouldn't we ask Belboz's permission first?"

"I already asked him while you were still asleep. I can affirm that he has no objection."

Checkers appeared not to notice Astra's slightly odd choice of word. She walked over to the lectern on which the book stood and opened it. She soon found a poem that seemed suitable. "This is a nice piece," she said.

Astra stood behind her and looked over her shoulder, so that Belboz could see through her eyes which page Checkers would be reading from. As far as Astra could judge from the layout of the page, it looked as though the poem was a fairly short one.

"I'll recite it in its original form first," Checkers said. "Though of course you won't be able to understand it, I hope that you will find listening to its rhythms and cadences very relaxing. Afterwards I'll translate it for you as well as I can."

"I'm not so sure that that's a good idea," Astra said. It had not occurred to her that Checkers would want to recite the poem in Old High Dolomite first, and she presumed that Belboz would not want to run the risk that Checkers might inadvertantly perform some more magic.

But Checkers did not seem to be listening. In fact she was already fully concentrating on the words on the page in front of her. It would not do to mispronounce some of them, and thus to spoil the effect. A potential trap if she was not careful lay in the words that were still in use in modern Dolomite, for their pronunciation had often changed over the centuries.

She began to recite.

1. The effect of Checkers' recital was quickly obvious.
2. The effect of her recital was to remove Belboz's "tap" on Astra.
3. There was no apparent magical effect.
4. As Checkers began, Astra heard Belboz in her head: Say 'Deny'!
5. Belboz decided that it was necessary to distract Checkers' attention in the way that he had warned Astra about. Astra suddenly screamed in agony and attempted to tear off her clothes.

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