Spellsinger 03 – The Day of the Dissonance by Foster, Alan Dean

situation. “So she didn’t go with you voluntarily, did

she!”

“No.” Jalwar made the admission indifferently. “But

she came, and that was all I required. I needed assistance

in hauling rudimentary supplies, and she struck me as the

THE DAY or THE DISSOJKAJVCE

263

easiest of all of you to manipulate. As a beast of burden

she proved adequate.” He smiled thinly, enjoying himself.

“Then, too, the destruction of innocence has always appealed

to me, and she still had a little left.”

Jon-Tom struggled to restrain himself. He didn’t for a

second doubt the lethality of those multiple darts or Jalwar’s

willingness to employ them.

“Where is she? What have you done with her?”

“In good time I will tell you, my impetuous blind

friend.” The ferret cocked an eye toward Snooth. “So that

is the precious medicine our friend Clothahump requires so

desperately. How interesting. I suddenly feel the need for

some medication myself. You, proprietress! I’ll take that

container, if you don’t mind.”

“Take a ‘elluva lot more than that to cure wot ails you,

mate,” said Mudge insultingly.

“You think so, do you? Yet I am not so sick that I have

failed to outwit you all. I did not think you would make it

here without the map, and in my confidence I slowed my

approach. I thought in any event that with the aid of my

help I would always know your location. Indeed, without

that help I would not have been able to rush in close on

your heels and track your progress within this place from

two aisles over.”

“What help?” Jon-Tom asked warily.

“Now, be that the right tone with which to greet an old