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Show delighted. "Aye, we will indeed," said Dr'Anya, "during the latter part of EighthMonth coming-Janni and I." Then she changed the subject. "Lookest thou on t h i s . " She laid the disintegrator on the table. "Rollanda gavest it to me," she said to the wide-eyed folk around her, "to place in a museum." She patted the thing gingerly. '"Tis a good thing, methinks, to put it safe away someplace, but we must needs be careful where it goes." "'Twould be best disintegrated itself," said Erica firmly. "By the mass," said Dr'Igor, "the things thou sayest, my pearl. Tellest thou to me how a disintegrator can disintegrate itself." Janni and Lodyan looked at each other and then away, hiding smiles. "'Twas a talisman of Jothra's," said Dr'Anya, and Janni looked back, suddenly interested. "But the cunning Rollanda stole it from him whilst he was fighting away from his castle in some battle or another." "Jothra s a i d . . . " began Janni, and then she stopped dead, for everyone had turned to her, knowingly. Even young Pym, who-Janni was startled to see-had acquired a small, dark maiden on the chair next to him, mute with admiration of his curly hair. And the knowing looks at Janni were not surprising, for the gallant Jothra had gone back to his kingdom, vowing to visit the Commendiums soon after the fall harvest. In particular, he had vowed to visit the Needlesmith Hold, to no wight's great surprise. Dr'Anya smiled. "Go on, my pearl." Janni tossed her head. "Jothra said that he used it once, when he was full young, in direct disobedience to the commandment against it a n d . . . ." She swallowed, then went on in a rush. "...and reduced a giant YellowBison to a pile of ashes the size of a tea cup." 359 |