This old Jalwah, ah’m thinkin’ we’ve been underestimatin’
him all along. Do yo suppose he deliberately led us out
heah into this desert knowin’ we didn’t know about this
comin’ Conjunction thing, and hopin’ we might get oah-
selves killed?”
Jon-Tom considered only a moment. “Roseroar, I think
that’s a very good possibility, just as I think that the next
time we meet up with our ferret friend, we’d better watch
our step very carefully indeed.”
XIII
Inquiries in the marketplace finally unearthed mention of
Folly and Jalwar’s passing. They were indeed several days
ahead of their pursuers, and yet they had rented no riding
animals. Apparently Jalwar was not only smarter than
they’d given him credit for, he was also considerably
stronger. The merchant who provided the information did
not know which way the ferret and the girl had gone, but
Jon-Tom remembered enough of the map to guess.
The desert reaches were much more extensive to north
and south. There was no way back to Snarken except via
Redrock. Therefore their earlier suppositions still held
true. Jalwar was making for Crancularn as fast as possible.
Roseroar’s search for nighttime lodging was terminated.
There was no time to waste. Jon-Tom reluctantly allowed
Mudge to scavenge for supplies, and the travelers then beat
a hasty retreat from Redrock before their unwilling vict-
ualers could awaken to the discovery of their absent
inventory.
“Of course, we’ll pay for these supplies on our way
back,” Jon-Tom said.
“And ‘ow do you propose we do that?” Mudge labored