Spellsinger 03 – The Day of the Dissonance by Foster, Alan Dean

Then a vast white-and-black shape was pushing past

him, the limp naked form of Folly bouncing lightly on one

shoulder like a hunting trophy. Jon-Tom’s heart stopped for

a second, until he saw that her condition was no different

THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE

131

from that of the rest of die ship’s complement. His spell-

singing had put Folly to sleep also.

“Satisfied?” Roseroar snarled.

“Quite.” He muffled a grin as he raced her to the stern.

Mudge and Jalwar were just boarding the sloop, Mudge

having negotiated the short swim with ease, while Jalwar

displayed typical ferret agility by walking the swaying tow

rope all the way down to the boat. Roseroar was about to

step over the side when she saw Jon-Tom hesitate for the

second time.

4’Now what’s the mattah?”

“I’ve done a tot of running, Roseroar, and I’m a pretty

good swimmer, but the sea’s rough and my shoulders are

so sore from pushing that damn scrub brush that I’m not

sure if I can make it. You go on. I’ll try and catch up.

When you cast off the line you can swing her ’round and

pick me out of the water.”

She shook her head. “Ah declah, ah nevah heard any-

one, not even a human, talk so damn much. Grab hold.”

She turned her back to him.

Deciding this wasn’t the time to salvage whatever remained

of his already bruised male ego, he put both arms around

her neck, using one to help balance Folly. Roseroar ig-

nored her double burden as she went hand over hand down

the towrope until all of them were standing safe on the

deck of the John B.

“Cast off!” Jon-Tom shouted at Mudge as he ran for the