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attend the same school."
"I still can't place you. Have we had a class together, or something?"
"I don't think so," he told her. "I'd remember if we had. I have seen--"
"Wait a minuto... now I know!" She pointed an accusatory finger at him. "I've
seen you working around campus. Sweeping the halls, working the grounds at
practice."
"I do that occasionally," he replied, embarrassed. "I always managed to be out
gardening whenever the cheer squad had practice." He smiled hesitantly.
Loud, high-pitched feminine laughter came from behind him. Everyone turned to
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01%20-%20Spellsinger.txt see Talea sitting on the wood-chip floor, holding her
sides and roaring hysterically.
"I don't know you," said Flores Quintera. "What's so funny?"
"Him!" She pointed at Jon-Tom. "He was supposed to be helping Clothahump cast
for an engineer to switch places with. So he was thinking back to his home, to
familiar surroundings. But he couldn't keep his mind on his business. It was
drifting while he was spellsinging, from engineering to something more
pleasant, I think."
"I couldn't help it," Jon-Tom mumbled. "Maybe it was something about the song.
I
mean, I don't remember exactly what aspects of home I was concentrating on. I
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was too busy singing. Maybe it was the line, 'If I had to tell her....'" He
was more embarrassed than he'd ever been in his life.
"So you're responsible for my being here," said the raven-haired amazon,
"wherever 'here' is?"
"Sort of," he mumbled. "I've kind of admired you from afar and when I should
have been thinking of something else, my thoughts sort of... drifted," he
finished helplessly.
"Sure. That clarifies everything." She fluffed her hair, looked around at man,
woman, otter, turtle, bat. "So since this guy is too tongue-tied to explain,
please would one of you?"
Clothahump sighed and took her by the hand. She didn't resist as he led her to
a low couch and sat her down. "It is somewhat difficult to explain, young
lady."
"Try me. When you come from the barrio, nothing surprises you."
So the wizard patiently elucidated while Jon-Tom sat off to one side morose
and at the same time perversely happy. If he was going to be marooned here, as
it seemed he was, there were worse people to be trapped with than the
voluptuous
Flores Quintera.
Eventually Clothahump concluded his explanation. His intense listener rose
from the couch and walked over to confront Jon-Tom.
"Then it wasn't entirely your fault. I think I understand. El tortuga was very
enlightening." She turned and waved around the chamber. "Then what are we
waiting here for? We have to help these people as best we can."
"That is most commendable of you," said an admiring Clothahump. "You are a
most adaptable young lady. It is a pity you are not the eng'neer we sought,
but you are bigger and stronger than most. Can you fight?"
She grinned wickedly at him, and something went all weak inside Jon-Tom. "I
have eleven brothers and sisters, Mr. Clothahump, and I'm the second youngest.
The only reason I'm on the cheerleading squad is because they don't let women
play on the football team. Not at the university level, anyhow. I grew up with
a switchblade in my boot."
"I am not familiar with the weapon," replied a pleased Clothahump, "but I
believe we can arm you adequately."
Talea had stifled her amusement and had walked over to gaze appraisingly up at
the new arrival. "You're the biggest woman I've ever seen."
"I'm tall even for back home," said Quintera. "It's been a drawback sometimes,
except in sports." She smiled dazzlingly down at Talea and extended a hand.
"Do you shake hands here?"
"We do." Talea reached out hesitantly.
"Bueno. I'd like for us to be friends."
"I think I'd like that too." The two women shook, each taking the measure of
the other without conceding anything.
"It's just like I've always dreamed," Quintera murmured, eyes shining.
"You mean you're not upset?" Jon-Tom gaped at her.
"Oh, maybe a little."
Pog grumbled steadily as he began cleaning up the debris created by the
explosive collapse of the interdimensional vortex.
"But I've always wanted to be the heroine in shining armor, ever since I was a
little girl," Quintera continued.
"No need to worry, then," said Jon-Tom firmly. "I've learned quite a bit since
I've been here. I'll make sure no harm comes to you."
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"Oh, don't worry about me," she replied gaily.
Pog appeared with an armful of old weapons. "Got 'em since ya left," he told
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the curious Jon-Tom. "Boss thought it'd be a good idea t'have a few
lizard-stickers around in case his magic really got rusty."
Flores Quintera immediately knelt over the pile of destruction and began
sorting through it with something other than doll-like enthusiasm. "Hoy, but
I'm looking forward to this."
"It could be very dangerous." Jon-Tom had moved to stand protectively close to
her.
"Well, of course it could, from what Clothaheemp... Clothahump tells me...
watch your foot there, that ax is sharp." He took a couple of steps backward.
"It wouldn't be any fun if it didn't have any danger," she informed him, as
though addressing a complete fool.
"Oh, this looks nice," she said brightly, hefting a saw-edged short sword.
"Can
I have this one?" It was designed for someone Mudge's size. In her lithe hands
it looked like a long, thick dagger.
She moved as if to put it in her belt, became aware she wasn't wearing one.
"I can't go marching around in this," she muttered.
"Oh God!" Mudge threw up his paws and spun away. "Not again. Please, I can't
go back to Lynchbany and go through this again."
"Never mind." Talea was studying the towering female form. "If the wizard can
conjure up some material, I think the two of us can make you something,
Flores."
"Call me Flor, please."
"I don't know about conjuring," said Clothahump carefully, "but there are
stores in the back rooms of the Tree. Pog will show you where."
"O' course he will," snorted the bat under his breath. "Don't he always?"
The two young women vanished with the bat into yet another section of the
seemingly endless interior of the tree. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]