and dry.
Memaw left them seated at several tables, returned
a few moments later with the proprietor, Jen-Torn
didn't rise to greet him. The ceiling, lined with shiny
sea-green tile, was too low.
Cheijal was a large koala- He wore an apron, vest,
the ubiquitous short pants, and a bright blue scarf
around his forehead. He let out a tired groan as he
plopped down in an empty chair and regarded his
new guests.
Jon-Tom sipped at his sweet dder and waited
patiently while Cherjal exchanged pleasantries with
the rest of the otters. The floor was full of drains.
and the dampness of the room reflected the inn's
THE MOUEffT OF TfEE MAGJCLUT
223
largely riparian clientele. There was no sign of mold
or mildew, however, and he suspected the place was
scrubbed clean every night. Still, he couldn't escape
the feeling that he was sitting inside an enormous
terrariirm.
"So how go zee feeshing, Memaw?"
She shrugged and set down the dope stick she'd
been puffing on. Jon-Tom had already taken one
whiff of the pungent smoke and set temptation aside.
He needed all his wits about him now, and half that
stick would've laid him flat.
"Not bad. Our trip turned out to be full of interest-
ing digressions, however, hence our early return. We
happened upon this tall human chap and his friend
and helped them out of a difficult spot. This is
Jon-lbm."
, "Hi" He extended a hand, was surprised by the
koala's powerful grip.
"His friend Mudge is around somewhere. Well, no
matter." She leaned across the table. "What does
matter is something we stumbled across where the
Lakes meet the Wrounipai: a complete colony of
water-dwelling Plated Folk."
"Plated Folks?" Cherjal's eyes widened. "How shock-
ing a discoveree thees be! How reemarkable. How
frighteneeng."
"Yeah, it sucks," Frangel agreed.
"Indeed, indeed." Cherjal considered. "Sometheeng
must be done about thees. These Plated Theengs
cannot be allowed to colonize our waters. An expee-
deetion must be mounted to wipe theem away."
"There is no need to panic, my good friend." Memaw
crossed silver-furred arms. "The colony is not that
big, and we left them with sufficient to think about to
keep them from causing trouble for a while." Mut-
ters of agreement sounded from the rest of the
band, except for Mudge. He was too busy stuffing
Atan Deu Foatcr
224
himself with freshly broiled fish to care much about
the conversation.
"So you come back to mee early. What can I do for
my favorite lady, heh?"
'Always the flatterer, Cherjal." She smiled across
the table at him.
It was raining harder than ever now. Jon-Tom
could hear the drops drumming on the roof. The
warmth from so many furry bodies and the thick
scent of their mixed musk was making him sleepy. It
would be so nice just to find a warm bed and lie
down and sleep for about two days.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do that. Not just yet.
"We need to know what this new advisor to the
Quorum is like, what his plans are, and what he's
been up to," he asked Cherjal.
"So. You weesh about Markus the Ineluctable
information, heh?" Right away the koala lost some of
his good humor. "I have plenty I can tell you, yes,
and not much of eet much nice.
"Nobodies took much notice of eet when he defeated
Opiode the Sly. The cheef advisor spends hees time
mostly advising the Quorum. Very leetle of what hee
do treeckles down to us ordinary ceeteezens. Then
thee rumors up-started. Steel nobodies pays much
attention. As long as it don't much affect their lives,
thee people preety much ignore what thee govern-
ment gets up to." Cherjal lowered his voice and took
a moment to check the inhabitants of the tables
nearby before continuing.
"They say thees Markus setting up hees own net-
work of spies. Eenformers in Quasequa, can you
imagine?" He shook his head in disbelief at his own
revelation. "Theen last week eet finally happening.
At first nobody believe it. Thee shock steel not
settled een, I theenk. That's why everything look so
normal around town."
TH» MOMENT OF THE MAGICIAN
228
"Believe wot?" Sasswise asked him.
"What thees new weezard he done. He dissolve
thee Quorum. Temporarily, hee say, unteel a new
one can be chosen. Meanwhile he running Quasequa
all by Heemself."
A new voice interrupted loudly. "I knew it!"
All eyes turned. "You knew what, Mudge?" jon-
Tom asked.
"I knew we should've stayed *ome."
"Calm down," He looked nervously over the otter's
head, but none of the other patrons appeared in the
least bit interested in the conversation taking place at
the far side of the room- Of course, a good informer
wouldn't reveal his interest. "We're still not sure who's
done what," he told the otter softly.
"No, eet ees certain not yet who is completely
altogether responseeble," Cherjal admitted. "But thee
rumors they say also that thees Markus has put all
the members of the Quorum who don't support
heem into the dungeons beneath the Quorumate.
Seence nobodies can get een to see heem or them,
thees can't be verified, and the members who come
and go as they please, like Kindore and Vazvek,
won't say what they must know."
"When's all this supposed to have happened?"
**0nly a few days ago." Cherjal rubbed his flat
black nose, sniffed. "Nobody really knows nothing.
When asked, word come back that thee members of
thee Quorum are engaged in long and deeficult
deescusions about the future of the city. But that
what they always say when they want to have private
party and geet smashed."
"So the government of Quasequa is either over-
thrown or drunk," Jon-Tom decided-
Cherjal nodded. "About thee size of eet that ees.
Those of us who fear thee first worry that Markus
may solidify his power on the Quorum with thee
Alan Dean Foster
226
help of those who support heem until eel ees
unbreakable becoming." He stared up at Jon-Tbm.
"You gots strong eenterest in thees even though you
not coming From Quasequa, man. Why?"
"I think it's also rumored that Markus claims to
come from another world." Cherjal nodded. "I think
he may come from mine. If I can meet with him, I
may be able to straighten a lot of things out."
Cherjal glanced at Memaw. "Is true? He from
another world?"
"Who'd lie about a thing like that?"
"Maybe a magician," Cherjal suggested.
"That's exactly why I need to talk to him," J
on-
Tom said. A paw came down on his shoulder.
" 'Ere now, mate," Mudge mumbled, "if this 'ere
bloke's the type to go around deposin' rightful
governments, it don't sound to me like 'e's the kind
who'd be ready and willin' to 'elp you find your way
*ome."
"I admit it doesn't sound promising, but we don't
know anything for certain yet and we won't until I
meet this Markus. Like I said before, if he is doing
these things, he may be doing so to protect himself
because he's in a strange place and he's afraid for his
safety."
"So hee protect heemself by taking control of
everybody else?" Cherjal made a disgusted sound.
"Doesn't matter no ways. No ways you can meet
heem. Hee sees nobodies. Lots of people have tried
to see heem. Nobody do it, and those who try too
hard disappearing"
"Isn't there an appointments secretary for the
Quorum, or something?"
"For thee Quorum, there is. For Markus is nothings.
Only Quorum members themselves have seen heem.
Appointments secretary will tell you to lost be getting."
"I see." Jon-Tom considered for a long moment
THE MOJHKWT OF TOE MAGICIAN
.227
before saying, "Then we'll ^ust have to make our own
appointment. Where is Markus staying?"
"Een a private apartment in the Quorumate
Complex. So the rumors saying."
Jon-Tom leaned as close to the koala as he could.
"You wouldn't happen to know of a service entrance
that's lightly guarded, would you?"
Mudge broke out in a broad grin. "Bugger me,
mate, can it be that you're Finally comin' 'round to
seein' things the way the world is instead of'ow you'd
like 'em to be?"
Jon-Tom replied primly. "I am always praematic.
Mudge"
"Oi, is that wot you calls it? I always thought it
were called breakin' and enterin'."
"We're not going to break anything," Jon-Tom
snapped, leaving the second half of Mudge's defini-
tion uncommented upon,
"There are several serveece entrances," Cherjal
informed them, "but all are being guarded."
"Who does the guarding?"
"Eet vary from place to place."
Quorly spoke for the first time, grinning over at
Jon-Tom. "Don't you worry none about the guards,
tuv. You just leave that little problem to Sasswise,
Splitch, and meself."
"I don't know—" he began uncertainly, but she cut
him off.
"We'll handle things... so to speak." Twin giggles
came from the table nearby.
"I wouldn't ask anything like that of you if this
wasn't really important, Quorly, I wouldn't want you
to do anything that's..." Mudge leaned over, his
nose inches from Jon-Tom's.
"Now, you shut up, mate," he murmured, "or
you're goin' to make the ladies feel bad. They're
TOlunteerin' for this little caper and they damn well
Alan Dean Footer
228
know wot they're about. Might even 'ave themselves a
good time doin' it."
"We always 'aves ourselves a good time doin' it,"
Sasswise commented from the neighboring table.
Not for the First time since he'd fallen in with this
remarkable gaggle of otters, Jon-Tom blushed.
"It could be very dangerous."
"Now, didn't you already say that?" Quoriy sounded
exasperated. "That were 'alf the point in our comin'
along."
"That is right, dear." Memaw looked over at Jon-
Tom. "We shall help you gain entrance to the
Quorumate so you may meet with Markus the In-
comprehensible."
"Ineluctable," Jon-Tom corrected her. "But why?"
"We already told you, I believe. We do not care for
this new wizard's politics. We stand ready to fight
anything that infringes on our freedom, including
each other. Can't just allow this sort of thing to slide
by."
"Not bloody likely!" snorted Knorckle.
"Damn right on!" Norgil agreed.
"Then it is settled," she finished, smiling warmly at
him-
"We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Don't we, Mudge? Mudge?"
There were more giggles from the other table,
indicating that at the moment, Mudge was more
interested in getting to the heart of somebody's
bottom.
xrv
A slivered moon helped to conceal their approach as
they paddled toward the Quorumate. The complex
was constructed on a narrow, rocky peninsula chat
extended like a crooked finger out into the lake.
This made it nigh impossible to approach without
being seen, hence the decision to sneak up on it via
the water.
It was a much more impressive edifice than Jon-
Tom had imagined, rising some six stories above the
lake. Numerous towers and walls had been enlarged
over the years until the original buildings had merged
in a single rambling structure that covered nearly all
of the Quorumate grounds. Flying buttresses braced
several towers from the outside. These were capped
by flagpoles from which fluttered pennants signify-
ing the main islands which composed the city,
The boat they'd borrowed from Cherjal drifted
toward the single pier. Several other small craft were
already anchored there, bobbing like metronomes in
the gentle swell.
Quoriy, Sasswise, and Splitch adjusted their feath
ered hats as they slipped out of the boat. All three
were dressed to kill, so to speak. Making no attempt
to hide their presence, they staggered straight to-
229
Alan Dean Foster
230
ward the guard station, giving a perfect imitation of
three drunken, carousing ladies of the evening out
for a good time. Meanwhile Jon-Tom and the others
lay low in the boat and waited.
Half the night seemed to go by. Jon-Tom found
himself staring at the moon. It looked like the same
moon he used to watch set over the Pacific. There
was the same pattern of mares and mountain chains.
How could that be in this world, so different in so
many other ways from his own? There was so much
he still didn't understand.
The sounds of running feet interrupted his reverie.
Hands on ramwood staff, he tensed, as did his
companions.
But the face that peered down at them, hat askew
over one eye, was a familiar one.
"Come on then!" Quorly whispered urgently at
them.
They piled out of the boat and ran up the pier.
Jon-Tom was something of a runner, but already he
saw he was going to have a hard time keeping up
with this bunch.
Quorly led them up a succession of steep stone
steps until they reached a circular patio that overlooked
the pier. Lying side by side were an unconscious wolf
and weasel. Their armor was stacked haphazardly
off to one sid
e. Sasswise and Splitch stood over them,
daintily readjusting their attire.
Sasswise was swinging a weapon in circles. It looked
something like a cast-iron nunchaku. She gestured
with her free paw at the weasel-
"Belongs to 'im, this does. After we got acquainted
I asked *im if I might 'ave a look at it. He was afraid
I might 'urt me delicate self with it, but I promised
'im I'd be careful." She put a finger to her lips and
assumed an innocent look. " 'Pears I wasn't careful
enough. Wot a shame."
TBX MoUEffT 0V THE StAOICIAN
231
"Right then, let's hop to rt." Memaw directed Knorckle,
Drortch, and Wupp as they bound the two guards.
They snored on peacefulty, dreaming perhaps of
happier moments- They were going to be more than
a little -upset when they came to and realized what
had been done to them.
"We can't just leave them here." Jon-Tom peered
carefully through the open doorway into the building.
'Another patrol might come along and find them."
"Right," said the petite Splitch in her little-girl-cub
voice. "Let's dump *em in the lake."
"No, no, I want to try and avoid any unnecessary
killing."
"Told you 'e was weird," Mudge whispered to
Quorly.
"We can put them in the boat," Memaw suggested.
Jon-Tom waited anxiously while half the otters
proceeded to dispose of the guards. The hallway
which led invitingly inward remained empty.
Several minutes passed. He was startled to see
their boat moving slowly away from the pier, its sail
raised. Sasswise gave him an explanation when she
rejoined the others.
"We compromised, Jonny-Tom. Nobody'11 find *em
now. The wind'll carry 'em out into the lake proper."
"What happens if they run into another boat?
Fishermen or something?"
"Won't make no bit o' difference," Splitch assured
him. "1 mean, if you were told to guard an important
place and somebody found you tied up and sailin'
away from that place with your pants missin', would
you be in a 'urry to report it to your superiors?"
"I guess not." He turned his attention inward.
"Let's find this Markus." He called down the hall,
where Memaw had stationed herself behind a table.
•All clear?"
She nodded and waved. They crowded in, comment-
Alan Dean Foster
232
ing on the elegant furnishings and marble Hoor. The
ceiling was impressively high, which meant thatJon-
Tbm couid move without having to walk hunched
over. His oft-bruised head was grateful ^for the
Spellsinger 04 - The Moment Of The Magician Page 25