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"Yes, Pig?"

"Bonnie she was, bucky Beautiful terYer a sh he knew that Pig could not see the gesture "No, Pig"

"Yer h'are Dinna stand nae higher 'n h Ken why, bucky?"

"Yes, I believe so Because you could see her, and she was the only thing you've seen in however long it's been In years"

"S I-this willto you, I realize-but I helped feed and care for her while she and I were living in the Calde's Palace in Viron" He turned to Hound "Does it surprise you that I lived in the Calde's Palace for a few days?"

Hound shook his head

"I did, and Nettle and I caly daughter Much later, she gaveto repay her by finding eyes for her grandmother, and ask where Silk is"

Hound said, "You credit this ghost, both of you"

"Yes Except that she isn't dead-or I don't believe she is Certainly she did not starve to death in this house"

"H'if yer h'object ter me comin', bucky-"

"I do I-yes, I do"

"What'll yer do h'about h'it? Think yer can gae sae hush naebody can hear yer?"

"Pig come," Oreb declared

"Be talkin' ter her, bucky An' me? Be standin' behind yer, lookin' h'over yer head Yer hear, bucky? Said lookin'"

"Yes, Pig I understand If I agree to your co, will you assist me? There's a climb, and it may be difficult Will you let me stand on your shoulders?"

"Will he? He will!"

"Then coether they went out into the blind dark One of the donkeys brayed, happy to hear human footsteps; and both spoke to it, equally happy, perhaps, to hear another voice, even if it was no more than that of a friendly aniain, the faint radiance of the fire, gloeakly through the open doorway, see city in the skylands

"Where we gang, bucky?"

"To the roo, and cleared his throat "The roo the villa now, and it should be to the right, though I can't be certain of that Oreb, you can see the building before us, can't you?"

"See house!"

"Good There was a conservatory at one end, a rather low addition with battlee s Can you see that?"

"Bird find" Oreb took wing "Coht, bucky"

"I know" He had already begun to walk "This was a soft lawn once, Pig"

"Aye"

"A soft, green lawn, before as in effect a palace, an establishment more palatial than the Calde's Palace in the city, or even the Prolocutor's Palace It's hard to believe that all the changes that have taken place here have been-ulti's hand closed upon his shoulder "Swing yer stick wider, bucky Yer h'about ter hit ther wall"

"Thank you I' it at all"

"Aye Yer see like yer bird, bucky?"

Hearing him, Oreb called, "Come bird!"

"No I can see no better in this darkness than you can yourself, Pig"

"Then swing yer stick an' tap ther ground 'fore yer get a fall ter teach yer"

"I will Have you found the conservatory yet, Oreb?"

"Bird find! Coe whether the building on our left is as high now as it was? The original structure is three stories and an attic, as I re replied, " 'Tain't nae mair, h'or dinna seem like h'it"

"Then we're here" The tip of his staff found the wall "I'ht have trouble balancing on your shoulders in the dark Can you stoop here, near this wall, so I can get on? And reh for me to prop myself on it as you stand up? You'll findsqueezed his shoulder "Hadsquatted, bringing his voice to the level of his listener's ear "A heavy mon they said, yer ther h'only ane ter carry hi"

"'Twasn't easy ter find hih nae mair'n a pup Me arms wanted ter tass hiain an' here's yer horse Had h'it behind me neck like a yowe He was that fashed Standin' noo, bucky Got yer han' h'on ther wall?"

"Yes," he said, "I'm ready any time"

It was not as easy as he had hoped, but he was just able to squeeze through one of the ornamental crenels

"Silk coot his feet, puffing with exertion "At least it's true Silk was up here once"

He leaned across the battle, do you think you ht hand my staff up? I laid it by the wall, and I'll need it to feel "

"Aye" A pause "Here 'tis Put h'out yer han'"

"No close Come bird"

Oreb's owner felt a sudden thrill of fear "Don't hit him with it by accident, as I did once"

"Got yer han' feelin' fer h'it, bucky?"

"Silk feel!"