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Show figure this mare's nest out for yourselves." Indeed, scheming was all he could do. How can I assume control here? he would ask himself in this or that instance. In what manner may I gather that honor, that object, that office, unto myself? Where can I find a way to extricate myself from this or that murrain? That woman there, she is a delight indeed; how may I obtain for myself her regard, her admiration, her love? Aye, that was ever Dr'Igor's way. Marry, he would wait then, he thought, until they'd found a way through this maze, then. . . .then! "Aye," he said aloud, "I will back to my Hold!" Erica was looking at him in surprise and pleasure. "Go back to the Hold, indeed?" she said. Belinda stamped a foot. "We need that man, the Brown Mole," she whispered conspiratorially- "We need him t o . . . " She looked around, and then gasped. "He be gone!" she said. "Aye," said Dr'Igor, grimly. He began unwrapping a cigar. Dr'Anya, left alone at length by the happy Rollanda, noticed the disappearance as well. She turned to Janni. "Where's Phrapp?" she said, craning her neck past the folk milling around her. The valley was by then in a turmoil of preparation and here and there music had broken out. Lusela and Zud were also gone, having retreated in a pique, quarreling together. They were on their way to their separate tents set up by the southern cliffs. Rollanda and her GarGantuas were strolling in and out among the companies of-men and women in the valley, slapping armored and leather-clad backs and making rough jokes. The Lieutenant's invasion served only to break off the parley, it seemed. 332 |