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

finish and I couldn’t do a thing to stop you from doing

so.”

The jailer considered, wrestling with unfamiliar con-

cepts. Jon-Tom and Mudge waited breathlessly, glad of the

darkness. It helped to conceal their anxiety.

“Yes, I think that would be safe enough,” the jailer said

finally. “And I am curious to hear you sing. I will see if

your instrument is with your other possessions. While I

look for the sack of gold.”

“You won’t regret it!” Jon-Tom called after him as he

disappeared up the stairway. As soon as he’d left, Mudge

looked excitedly at his friend.

“Cor, mate, can you really do anythin’ tied like that?”

“I don’t know. I have to try. It’s clear he wasn’t just

going to hand me the duar without some kind of safeguard.

I just don’t know what I could sing that could help us out

of here before he decided it sounded threatening and took

the duar away from me. Not that I ever know what to sing.

48

Alan Dean Foster

I had the same problem in my own world. But it was all I

could think of.”

“You better think o’ somethin’, mate, or it’ll be two

worlds that’ll be missin’ you permanent. I don’t know

what this Zancresta has planned for us, but as much as ‘e

hates Clothahump, I don’t figure on ‘im bein’ overly polite

to a couple o* the turtle’s servants.”

“We’re not his servants. At least, you’re not.”

“Aye, an’ you saw ‘ow far that got me with Chenelska,

I’m stuck with the bedamned label just like you are, like it

or not. So think of somethin’. Somethin’ effective, and

fast.”

“I don’t know.” Jon-Tom fought with his memory.