"I'll be occupied. The night after?"

"I will be occupied. Three nights hence?"

"Yes. Until then?"

"--good night."

The blast and the crash that followed blinded me and deafened me forseveral moments. Suddenly, I felt the rain and the wind. When my visioncleared, I saw that the hollow was empty. Retreating, I made my way backover the crest and down to my camp, which the rain had found again, also.The trail was wider now.

I rose at dawn and fed myself while I waited for Shask to stir. Thenight's doings did not seem like a dream.

"Shask," I said later, "do you know what a hellride is?"

"I've heard of it," he replied, "as an arcane means of traveling greatdistances in a short time, employed by the House of Amber. Said to behazardous to the mental health of the noble steed."

"You strike me as being eminently stable, emotionally andintellectually."

"Why, thank you--I guess. Why the sudden rush?"

"You slept through a great show," I said, "and now I've a date with agang of reflections if I can catch them before they fade."

"If it must be done..."

"We race for the golden piss-pot, my friend. Rise up and be a horse."