us?”
Folly looked thoughtful. “Maybe they’re concerned and
want to protect us from ourselves. Or maybe none of them
really do know the way.”
“Mebbee they don’t know the way, boy, because it
moves around.”
“What?” Jon-Tom looked back to see an old chipmunk
standing next to a botherbark bush. He pressed against the
small of his back with his left paw and gripped the end of
a curved cane with the other. Narrow glasses rested on the
nose, and an ancient floppy hat nearly covered his head
down to the eyes. A gray shirt hung open to the waist,
and below he wore brown dungarees held up by suspend-
ers. He also had very few teeth left.
“What do you mean, it moves around?” Roseroar
looked up interestedly and moved to join them. The
chipmunk’s eyes went wide at the sight and Jon-Tom
hurried to reassure him.
“That’s Roseroar. She’s a friend.”
“That’s good,” said the chipmunk prosaically. Mudge
turned to listen but was reluctant to abandon the cool
water.
The oldster leaned against the tree for support and
waved his cane. “I mean, it moves around, sonny. It never
stays in the same place for very long.”
“That’s crazy,” said Folly. “It’s just another town.”
“Oh, it’s a town, all right, but not like any other, lass.
Not Crancularn.” He peered out from beneath the brim of
182
Alan Dean Foster
THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE
183
his hat at Jon-Tom. “Why thee want to go there, tall
man?”
“We need something from there. From a store.”
The chipmunk nodded. “Aye, the Shop of the Aether and
Neither.”
“Then you’ve heard of it!” Jon-Tom said excitedly.