you laughing about?” For some reason this only made his
companions laugh all the harder.
292
Alan Dean Poster
Except for one. Soft hands were around his neck and
still softer flesh in his lap as Folly sat down on his thighs.
“I understand, Jon-Tom. I feel sorry for you. I’ll always
understand and I’ll never laugh at you.”
He struggled to squirm free of her grasp. This was
difficult since she was seated squarely in his lap and had
locked her hands tightly behind his neck.
“Folly,” he said as he wrestled with her, “I’ve told you
before that there can’t be anything between us! For one
thing, I already have a lady, and for another, you’re too
young.”
She grinned winsomely. “But she’s half a world away
from here, and I’m getting older every day. If you’ll give
me half a chance, I’ll catch up to you.” By now the
unicom was lying on his back kicking weakly at the air,
and Mudge was laughing hard enough to cry. Jon-Tom
fought to free himself and failed each time he tried,
because his hands kept contacting disconcerting objects.
Mudge looked up at his friend. Tears ran down his face
and formed droplets on the ends of his whiskers. ” ‘Ow
are you going to magic your way out o’ this one, spell-
slinger?” Something nudged him from behind, and he saw
that the unicorn had crawled over close to him.
“Small you may be, otter, but you are most admirable
in so many ways. I look forward to joining you on your
homeward journey. It will give us the chance to get to
know each other better. And it is said that where there is a
will, there is a way.” He nuzzled the wide-eyed otter’s