makes a speedy recovery. As for me, I’ve some (ravelin’ to do
for me ‘ealth, and salt air doesn’t agree with me lungs.”
THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE
29
“You’re not going anywhere unless it’s with me,”
Jon-Tom snapped at him. “You take one step out that door
and I’ll call the madam. I saw the look in her eyes. She’d
enjoy separating your head from the rest of you. So would
that side of beef that came in with her.”
“I ain’t “afraid of no bag of suet wot communicates in
grunts,” Mudge said.
Jon-Tom turned from the window. “Then maybe I ought
to call them. I can always find someone else to accompany
me.”
Mudge rushed at him. “Take it easy, mate, ‘old on. To
Snarken, you say?”
“Maybe beyond.”
“Ain’t no place beyond Snarken.”
“Yes there is. Little town not too far inland from
there.” He fumbled between the windowpanes, was rewarded
by a double clicking sound. “Ah,”
He lifted the window slowly. Halfway up, something
loud and brassy began to clang inside the building.
“Shit! There’s an alarm spell on this thing!” The
sounds of pounding feet came from the hall.
“No time for regrets, mate, and you’d best not stand
there gawkin’.” Mudge was over the sill in a flash and
shinnying down the rainpipe outside. Jon-Tom followed
more slowly, envying the otter his agility.
By the time they reached the pavement, faces had
appeared at the open window.
“You won’t get away from me, otter!” Madam Lorsha
yelled, shaking her fist at them as they ran up the side
street. At any moment Jon-Tom expected to hear the
grizzly’s footsteps behind them, feel huge paws closing