accordingly reached a philosophical state of mind, ‘would you, old wise Enas
Yorl, explain why a goddess would take the trouble to warn a human being against
some scheme of her god-brother-lover?’
‘Because,’ was the reply, ‘she may be a goddess but she is also a woman. And as
all men know, women get even in strange ways.’
At that, Stulwig, remembering certain experiences of his own, shuddered a
little, nodded agreement, and said, ‘I estimate that we have been imbibing for a
goodly time, and so perhaps I had better take heed of your warning, and depart.
Perhaps, there is something I can do for you. A fee, perhaps.’
‘Make it one free visit when one of my changing shapes be-cometh ill.’
‘But not this night.’ Stulwig stood up, somewhat lightheaded, and was even able
to smile at his small jest.
‘No, not this night,’ agreed One-Thumb, also standing up. The big man added
quickly, ‘I shall appear to accompany you to the door as if to bid you goodbye.
But in fact I shall go out with you.
And so One-Thumb will vanish once more, perhaps this time forever.’
‘He has done nobly this day,’ said Stulwig. Whereupon he raised the almost empty
third cup, and said, ‘To the spirit of One-Thumb, wherever it may be, my good
wishes.’
As it developed, Enas Yorl’s plan of escape was made easy. Because as they
emerged from the inn there, coming up, was a small company of Rankan military
led by a Hell Hound. The latter, a man named Quag, middle-aged, but with a
prideful bearing, said to Stulwig, ‘Word came to his highness that you were