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wrapped in snug clothes could shove aside all worries about such picayune matters as survival. Base
animal nature, he mused.
But if he was going to survive in this world, he would have to revert to basics. Wasn't that just what
Clothahump and, in different ways, Mudge had both told him? Maybe by keeping his thoughts focused
on those basics he could keep a firmer grip on his sanity.
All assuming that Talea didn't change her mind as fast as she seemed able to and didn't decide to shove
a sword through his belly. That thought cooled his ardor, if not his long-term interest.
Slowing, he found himself standing close to her in the central chamber of the tree. Her perfume was in his
nose, her presence a constant comfort in alien surroundings. Yes, they would have to remain friends, if
naught else. She was too familiar, too human for him to abandon that.
Pog directed them out of the central room and into a work area he and Mudge hadn't visited before. The
bat hovered nearby while all four watched in silence as the wizard Clothahump fumbled awkwardly
among bottles and vials.
Thoroughly engrossed in his work, the wizard failed to notice his visitors. After a proper pause, Pog
fluttered forward and said deferentially, "Pardon da intrusion, Master, but dey have returned."
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"Um... what? Who's returned?" He looked around and his gaze fell on Jon-Tom. "Oh yes, you. I
remember you, boy."
"Not too well, it seems." It was something less than the exuberant welcome he'd hoped for.
"I have a lot on my mind, boy." He slid off the low bench and sought out the gray figure of Mudge, who
was partly hidden behind Jon-Tom. "Back early, I see. Well, you lazy, foul-mouthed, slanderous
mammal, what have you to say for yourself? Or is this merely a courteous visit and I should assume
you've encountered no troubles?" The last sentence was spoken with false sweetness.
" 'Tis not like you're thinkin' at all, Your Worshipfulness," the otter insisted. "I was showin' the lad the
ways o' Lynchbany and we ran into some unforeseen problems, we did. They weren't no more my fault
than they was 'is," and he jerked a short thumb in Jon-Tom's direction.
Clothahump looked up at the tall young man. "Is what he says true, boy? That's he's done his best and
taken good care of you? Or is he the outright liar he looks?"
"Wot a thing to say," muttered Mudge, but not too loudly.
"It's hard to lay responsibility for what we've been through lately at anyone's feet, sir." He was aware of
black otter eyes hard on his back. "On the one hand, it certainly seems as though I... as though we've
been the victims of a really unlikely sequence of unfortunate happenings. On the other...."
"No, mate," interrupted Mudge hurriedly, "there be no need t' go into such silliness now." He looked
back to the wizard. "I did me best for the lad, Your Highestness. Why, I venture t' say nary a stranger's
'ad quite such fullness o' experience o' local customs as 'e 'as in these past several days."
Jon-Tom kept his expression carefully neutral. "I certainly can't argue with that, sir."
Clothahump considered while he inspected Jon-Tom. "At least the laggard has clothed you properly."
He took note of the war staff and the duar. Then his attention shifted to the third member of the little
group.
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"And who might you be, young lady?"
She stepped proudly forward. "I am Talea of Wuver County, of the Brightberries that mature at Night,
third on my mother's side, first of red hair and green eyes, and I am afraid of neither man, woman,
beast... nor wizard."
"Hmph." Clothahump turned away from her, then suddenly seemed to slump in on himself. Sitting back
down on the workbench he leaned his shell against the table. Fingers rubbed tiredly at his forehead as he
smiled almost apologetically at his visitors.
"Pardon my tone, my friends. You especially, Jon-Tom. I forget common courtesy myself these days, as
I forget many other things too easily. Responsible as I am for your inconveniencing, I owe you more than
a curt interrogation concerning your recent activities. If I seemed brusque it was only out of worry for
your welfare. But you see, things are growing worse and not better."
"The coming crisis you told us about?" Jon-Tom wondered sympathetically. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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