“For one thing, we like it beautifully barren and destitute, visitor. To most of us this is splendid country.”
Thus hailed, they halted. The figure that had spoken had paused in its stroll down the osseous promenade. It was a lizard, but while both Ehomba and Simna were familiar with the four-legged reptiles from their respective travels and homelands, neither man had ever encountered a lizard like the one they confronted now.
Standing on its severely bowed hind legs, the reptile was a good three feet tall. It wore a military-style cap, maroon vest with gold stripes, long, tattered brown pants, and no shoes. Stretching another three feet behind it, a brown-and-green tail whipped nervously back and forth as it spoke. Completing the unexpected costume were a pair of pince-nez glasses that rode comfortably halfway down its snout.
Inclining its head slightly downward so it could peer out over these at the visitors, the lizard tut-tutted softly. “I declare, you lot are the most peculiar collection I’ve seen in some time. If you don’t like it here, I suggest you move on.”
“That is exactly what we are planning to do,” Ehomba responded politely. “Just as soon as we are able to top off our water supply.”
“So it’s water you want, is it? In Skawpane.” The head bobbed rapidly up and down. “Interesting. We don’t get many calls for water here. Sulfur now, or antimony, or cinnabar; those the general store stocks in bulk. But water—your options are mighty restricted.” Slitted eyes blinked as they stared up the street. “So’s your time.”