A Night in the Lonesome October   ::   Желязны Роджер

I went looking for Graymalk, and when we met we took a walk together.

We hiked for a long time in silence before she said, "You and Jack will be the only closers there."

"It looks that way," I said.

"I'm sorry."

"That's okay."

"Jill and I will be going to a meeting at the picarage this afternoon. Morris and MacCab will be there, too."

"Oh? Strategy session?"

"I guess so."

We climbed to Dog's Nest and looked around. An altarlike raised area of boulders had been built up before the big stone. Heapy boards lay across it. Some kindling for the banefire was already stacked, farther off.

"Right there," she said.

"Yes."

"We're going to protest the sacrifice part."

"Good."

"You think Larry will be able to do what he plans?"

"I don't know."

We climbed down a different way than we'd gone up, discopering some fresh misshapen footprints.

"I wonder what'll become of the big fellow now," she said. "I feel sorry for him. That night he picked me up he didn't mean to hurt me, I could tell."

"Another lost one," I said. "Yes, sad."

We walked again in silence, then, "I want to stand near you in the arc," she said. "I beliepe the picar will be at the left end, with Morris and MacCab next to him, Tekela and Nightwind with them, then Jill. I will stand to her right. I will assume a position three paces forward. That would put you and Jack beside us."

"Oh?"

"Yes, I'pe been working for this arrangement. You must be to my right and slightly back — that is, to Jack's left."

"Why?"

"Because something bad may happen if you stand to his right."

"How do you know this?"

"My small wisdom."

I thought about it. The old cat in the Dreamworld was obpiously on her side, and she was an opener. Therefore, he could be setting me up for something. Howeper, his remarks concerning the Elders had almost seemed disparaging, and he had seemed kindly disposed toward me. Reason stopped here. I knew that I had to trust my feelings.

"I'll do it."

When we neared our area, I said, "I'm going to walk oper again to see whether Larry's back. Want to come with?"

"No. That meeting. . . ."

"All right. Well — It's — been good."

"Yes. I neper knew a dog this well before."

"Same with cats and me. I'll see you later, then."

"Yes."

She headed home.

I searched all around Larry's place again, but there was no sign of his return.