Redrock by the time the next moon begins to rise, you
never will.” He slapped the camel on the side of its neck.
The animal turned to gaze back up at him.
“Let’s have none of that, Bartim, or you will find
yourself walking. 1 am measuring my pace, as are the rest
of the brethren.”
“The time is upon us!”
“No less so upon me than thee,” said the camel with a
pained expression. He turned to glance back to where
Jon-Tom was beginning to fall behind. “We will see you
in Redrock, strangers, or we will drink the long drink to
your memory.”
212
Alan Dean Foster
THE DAY or THE DISSONANCE
213
Panting hard in the rising light, Jon-Tom slowed to a
walk, unable to maintain the pace. On firm ground he
might have kept up, but not in the soft sand. Roseroar and
Mudge were equally winded.
“What was that all about, Jon-Tom?” asked Roseroar.
“I’m not sure. It didn’t make much sense.”
“Ah you not a spellsingah?”
“I know my songs, but not other magic. If Clothahump
were here …”
“If ‘is wizardship were ‘ere we wouldn’t be, mate.”
“What do you think of their warning?”
Sand was building up around the otter’s feet, and he
kicked angrily at it. “They were both scared. Wot of I
couldn’t say, but scared they were. I think we’d better
listen to ’em and get a move on. Make Redrock by
nightfall, they said. If they can do it, so can we. Let’s get
to it.”
They began to jog, keeping up a steady pace and taking
turns in the lead. They barely paused to eat and made
lavish use of their water. The more they drank, the less
there was to carry, and if the warning was as significant as
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