"_HOW_ MANY YEARS!?" Porom screamed as the elder of Thamasa told her exactly
how "far away" from home she actually was.  The screams rang out throughout
the town, and Golbez, knowing just what the cause was, couldn't quite manage
to stifle a giggle.
  "Oh, dear!  Now I'll never see my beautifl Fritz again! *sob*"
  "Don't worry, Sister, I'm sure we could find what's left of him somewhere -
he's only been dead for 900 or so years!"
  Impressed by his own wit, palom began to laugh uncontrollably.
  "That's not funny!" Porom yelled at her brother while smacking him squarely
on the back of the head.  This not only had the effect of stopping Palom's
laughter, but also caused his jaw to close sharply enough on his tongue to
draw blood.  Porom felt a little bad about it, especially since she now had no
magic to help him, but she was relieved to know that she had been spared from
his rambling for at least a few minutes as he sucked on his injured tongue.
  Porom began to cry, thinking that not only would she never see her
beloved again, but the entire world in which she had existed had disappeared
1000 years ago!  Meanwhile, Palom paced silently, fretting.  He didn't like
this new time.  It wasn't fair that he couldn't use his magic, but rotten
people like that wench and her big lug could.  And Porom wouldn't let him have
any fun at all.  He had to find some way to get back to his own time...

*****

  Until they found some way to get back to their own time, the twins had no
idea what to do.  The only man in Thamasa who would actually talk to them was
that stranger they met outside the town (apart from a few brief words from the
elder), and as he was so kind to point out, Thamasa was surrounded by water.
The only way out was to take a boat, and after following the two jerks to the
dock, they didn't think that two innocent young adolescents would be very well
treated there.
  "I know!" exclaimed Palom, as soon as his tongue was sufficiently healed to
speak.  "We can dress you up as a streeetwalker - and I'll be your pimp!  We'll
have no problem hitching a ride then!"
  Porom gave her brother a look that told him his suggestion was totally out
of the question.  The boy looked his sister up and down, noting her simple
dress and practical grey travelling cloak.
  "You're right, you probably wouldn't be able to pull it off."
  "Palom!" Porom yelled as she turned a vivid red.
  Not only could they not leave the place, they couldn't stay either.  Just
one night in the inn cost twice what the twins were carrying between them.
The twins decided their only hope was to try and find that man, who for some
reason sounded strangely familiar, and ask him how he arrived here, and how
they might leave.  (Obviously, he was not a native - he actually TALKED to
them.)  After all, Porom didn't at all like the thought of going along with
Palom's idea.  The two, their spirits raised a little at the tought of a
feasible plan, headed back out the door of the somewhat frazzled elder.