Page 71 of Curse of the Wolf

With several of the swarm facing the laboratory, seemingly distracted by Duncan, I tried to get to the first door.

But the ones that had remained to guard it rotated toward me. The red eyes of one flared, and its orifice opened. A denser cloud of vapor than I’d yet seen wafted out.

I backed away, the sweet scent strong in the air. Too bad there weren’t windows down here that one could open.

A numbness crept up from the ends of my fingers and into my arms. And did my eyelids feel heavy? Or was that my imagination? That vapor could be something that would knock us out.

“There are some magical tools in here,” Duncan called.

“Any swords?”

“Not that I’ve seen. It might not be here.”

“That would be annoying. I didn’t come all the way up here just to see the sights. The bizarre multi-legged, robot-bug sights.”

Moretinkssounded as they shuffled around.

“I thought you came to find a way to lift my curse,” Duncan said.

“I did. Have you found it yet?” I eyed the blocked door. Though there were probably some artifacts in the laboratory, the greatest concentration of magic that I sensed came from beyondthisdoor. Something back there even felt familiar, though I couldn’t identify the aura with any certainty. Still, the memory of being in Radomir and Abrams’s office with numerous artifacts lined up on the desk came to me.

“I haven’t.” Duncan stepped into view in the doorway. “These magical needle-nosed pliers are somewhat intriguing though.” He held up the tool, the tips glowing a slight blue.

“I could use a new pair,” I said, “but I suppose we should only take what’s been taken from us.”

“Your tenants might be alarmed if you came to repair their faucets with glowing tools.”

“That is true. Though the ghost hunters might be delighted.”

Duncan walked toward the back of the swarm, again eyeing the one door we’d been denied access to. He rubbed the tips of his fingers together.

“Are they numb?” I asked.

He lowered his hand. “Tingling, yes.”

“I think it’s that gas or vapor or whatever you’d call it. I don’t advise breathing it.”

“I think you’re right.” Duncan withdrew a grenade. “I’m aching to see what’s in that room.”

“You advised me against hurling explosives in a basement.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“If the bugs have reservoirs of that gas in their bellies, blowingthemup might not be a good idea either.”

“That’s a good point. Maybe I can get them to chase me, and you can check out that room.”

“They’re not dogs, and you don’t have a raw steak in your back pocket.”

“No, but, oh!” Duncan snapped his fingers and jogged back into the laboratory.

Soon, the roar of a jet engine came from within, and I raised my eyebrows.

“Ventilation fan,” he called.

“You think it’s powerful enough to suck vapors all the way from in here?”

“We’ll punt the bugs in there if we have to. Iknowthere’s something worth seeing in that other room.” Jaw firm, he reappeared and pointed his chin at the door that had been denied to us, then strode toward it.