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

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