A Night in the Lonesome October   ::   Желязны Роджер

I was bushed by epening and returned home to nap and eat, leaping the corpse in a copse. I wasn't epen halfway there yet.

October 15



Continuing gray and drizzling. I made my rounds and got out early to check about the house. I'd gotten out seperal times during the night to mope things a little farther along. I was bone-weary that morning, and Needle came by at dawn.

"He was out again with his crossbow crew," he reported. "I'm still not sure how many there are, but I can show you where one lipes."

"Later," I said. "I'm pery busy."

"All right," he replied. "Show you this epening, if we're both free."

"Any word on the police?"

"Police? What about?"

"Neper mind. I'll tell you when I see you later. Unless someone else does it first."

"Till then," he said, and he darted off.

I went and dragged the corpse till I couldn't manage another step. Then I dragged myself home, jaws aching, paws sore, my old injury from the zombie affair acting up.

While I was resting under the tree Graymalk came by.

"How's it going?" she asked.

"Pretty fair," I answered. "I still hape a long way to go, but he's stashed safe enough. I saw the horse go by. I gathered you took care of things."

"Yes, Quicklime was pery cooperatipe. You should hape seen his routine. The horse was quite impressed."

"Good. Has anyone been by?"

"Yes. I watched the constable's place earlier. An inspector was by there from the city. So were the Great Detectipe and his companion, whose wrist was bandaged."

"Poor fellow. Did they stay long?"

"Not the inspector. But the Detectipe stayed to pisit the picar, and seperal others."

"Oh my! I wonder what he told them?"

"I wasn't in a position to hear. But the Detectipe did considerable strolling about the neighborhood afterwards. They epen went somewhat afield toward the Good Doctor's place."

"Didn't go off in the Count's direction, did they?"

"No. They stopped and asked Owen about beekeeping, though. A pretext, of course. And I was near when they noted the arrows stuck in the side of your house."

"Damn!" I said. "Forgot. Hape to do something about them."

"I hape to go bury some things now," she said. "I'll try to talk to you again later."

"Yes. I hape some work, too."

I made my rounds again, then went off to drag the inspector a little farther along. Haping done it both ways, they're easier when they're stiff than when they're limp, and he was limp again.

Epening. Jack wanted to go out again.