“You’ve got to get out of that nightdress, Folly,” he told
her. Obediently, she started to pull it over her head, and he
hastened to restrain her. “No, no, not yet!”
They were racing down a steep street that led back
toward the harbor area. It had begun to drizzle. He was
grateful for the rain. It should aid the fleeing children in
their escape.
“Why not yet?” Folly eyed him curiously. Curiosity
gave way rapidly to a coy smile. “When you first saw me
on Corroboc’s boat I wasn’t wearing anything but an iron
collar. Why should my nakedness bother you now?”
“It doesn’t bother me,” he lied. “It’s raining and I
don’t want you contracting pneumonia.” Citizens of Snarken
out for an evening stroll watched the flight with interest.
THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE
173
“I don’t mind if you see me naked,” she said innocently.
“You like me a little, don’t you, Jon-Tom?”
“Of course I like you.”
“No, I mean you like me.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re still a child, Folly.”
“You don’t look at me the way you’d look at a child.”
“She ain’t built like no cub, mate.”
Jon-Tom glared over at the otter. “Stay out of this,
Mudge,”
“Excuse me, guv’nor. None o’ me business, right?” He
skittered along next to Roseroar, running fluidly on his
stubby legs and trying to hide a grin.
“I’m concerned for your welfare, Folly.” Jon-Tom strug-
gled to explain. “I don’t like to see anyone taken advan-
tage of. You noticed that we freed everyone from the
orphanage and not just you.”
“I know, but you didn’t come to free everyone. You
came because I was there.”