29. Phoebe

29

PHOEBE

"M mmph!" Phoebe couldn't hold still any longer—she couldn't breathe!

"Oh!" the nurse gasped and jumped up.

A moment later the thick, heavy comforter was being pulled back and Phoebe was exposed. She twisted around and looked up to see a tall woman with iron gray hair and a long nose staring down at her.

"Who are you and what are you doing in the Shining One's bed?" she demanded.

"I…I'm a guest in the palace," Phoebe babbled. "I came here looking for Humpty—he's the servant who's assigned to me and my Master. But I found myself here instead and when I heard you come in I got scared so I dived under the covers!"

It was more or less true, but she could tell the nurse wasn't buying a word of it.

"Balderdash!" she exclaimed, glaring down at Phoebe. "I never heard such a pack of lies in all my life! You get out of the Emperor's bed at once!" She reached into her pocket and suddenly a small but lethal looking snub-nosed blaster was in her hand.

Phoebe got slowly out of the bed.

"Okay, all right, I'm sorry," she said, holding up her hands in a "don't shoot" gesture. "I'll just go back to my room and leave you alone."

She headed for the door, but the nurse shook her head.

"I don't think so, Missy! You're going to answer for your crimes to Lord Thruck. I think he'll have something to say about you sneaking into the Emperor's room—and his bed!"

"But it was an accident!" Phoebe pleaded. "Please, I was just?—"

"I don't want to hear any more of your lying!" The nurse gestured with her blaster at the door. "We're leaving now—I heard the males coming back from the hunt just a minute ago. So we can see what Lord Thruck makes of your story!"

Phoebe bit her lip. Well at least if everyone was back from the hunt, Sirex should be there to back her up.

"All right," she said, keeping her hands up and trying to make her voice calm. "I'll come with you—just don't shoot."

"I will if I have to. Go on—go through the door. No, not the servants' tunnel—we're headed out the main door to find Lord Thruck. Now move it!"

She gestured menacingly with the blaster and Phoebe had no choice other than to obey.