started down the hill.
“That’s done. Now we can get down to mo important
business.”
“I admit she’s better off here than with us,” Jon-Tom
said. “Certainly it’s a more stable environment than any
alternative we could come up with.”
“Hang on a minim, you two.” Jon-Tom and Roseroar
turned, to see Mudge inspecting the entrance.
“What’s the matter, Mudge?” Come to think of it,
Jon-Tom hadn’t heard a single comment from the otter
during the tour. “I’d think that you, of any of us, would
be anxious to get back to the inn.”
“That I am, mate.”
“Come on, then, ottah,” said Roseroar impatiently.
“Don’t tell me you miss the cub? You liked her no mo
than did ah.”
“True enough, mistress of massive hindquarters. I thought
‘er obstinate, ignorant, and nothin’ but trouble, for all that
she went through. Life’s tough and I ain’t me sister’s
158
Alan Dean Poster
THE DAY OF THE
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keeper. But I wouldn’t leave a slick, slimy salamander
who’d ooze all over me in a place like this.”
“You saw something, Mudge?” Jon-Tom moved to
stand next to him. “I thought it was neat, clean, and
well-equipped.”
“Bullocks,” snapped the otter. “We saw what they
wanted us to see, nothin’ more. That Chokas chap’s as
slick as greased owl shit and I’d trust ‘im about as far as I
can piss.” He turned to face them both. “I don’t suppose
either o’ you sharp-eyed suckers ‘appened to note that there
are no windows on the first floor anywheres facin’ the
streets?”
Jon-Tom looked left, then right, and saw that the otter
was correct. “So? I’m sure they have their reasons.”