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dragged on more than seven hundred years. Finn had no idea what they were fighting for, and had never found anyone who did.
    Yet, in spite of the carnage and destruction, the maimed, the mutilated and the dead, Prince Aghen Aghenfleck found the time to send a gift—a birthday present, mind you—a golden lizard with a clock in its belly, to the horrid, despised King of Heldessia, Llowenkeef-Grymm himself.
    “Why?” he said aloud, and answered himself at once. Easy enough, as the words were his own, loosed not long before. “Because neither law nor reason applies to princes and kings. They do as they will, and damn the rest of us poor bloody souls!
    “And, if a craftsman should tell a prince he does not wish to waste his precious time making lizards with clocks in their bellies, he might find himself some fine holiday on the Grapnel and the Snip.
    “Or,” he added, “a
mushing
, whatever sort of horror that may be”
    “Someone told me once, that he who talks to himself is conversing with a fool. I suppose there's truth in that.”
    Finn didn't bother to turn around. “I told you that, as you know. I have also said that every adage, every saw, every chestnut of advice, contains its own exception to the rule.”
    Julia Jessica Slagg gave a rusty cackle and waddled into sight.
    “The exception being when Master Finn babbles to himself. I think I see now.”
    “You don't, and no one asked your opinion, as far as I can tell.”
    “No one ever does.”
    “And might that tell you something? Might it be some kind of clue? Julia, what are you doing out here? Do I appear lonely, in need of company tonight? Is this what's whirring about in your head?”
    Julia opened her silver snout and showed him a row of razored teeth.
    “I was somewhat anxious. I simply couldn't sleep.”
    “Of course you couldn't sleep. You're not supposed to. You're a mechanical device.”
    “We've discussed this before. You say I don't, I say I do. Finn, I have to tell you Letitia is handling all this much too well. She fell into bed, went right to sleep. She hasn't let herself believe what is happening here. Our imminent departure, the gravity of the event, the danger most apparent in such a voyage, has yet to fully hit her. When it does, I strongly urge you to be prepared for weeping and wailing, hysterics of every sort.”
    Finn shook his head. “I had no idea you were qualified to give medical advice.”
    “Play me for a fool if you like, but tell me I'm wrong. Tell me she will take your almost certain impending demise with perfect ease.”
    Finn looked Julia in the eye. In a set of ruby, unblinking eyes, as it were.
    “I grant your concern is well founded. Still, I believe she'll handle this better than you think. And, on two grounds, Julia, I have to say you're quite wrong. One, in spite of the fact that it's suicidal to even get
close
to a balloon, I intend to survive and get back here intact.
    “Two, you mentioned
our
departure. It's not our departure, it's mine. You're not going, you're staying here.”
    “What?” Julia gave a rude and horrid squawk, like the howl of rusty iron.
    “You're joking, of course. You'd be daft to embark on such a treacherous journey without my presence. Why, you wouldn't last a day without me at your side. You've lost your reason, Finn, what little wit you have, you—”
    “Stop. Right there.” Finn raised a restraining hand.“There can be no argument here. None. Stop squawking for a minute and listen to me. Yes, this is a fool's journey, I've the wit to know that. I feel I'll throw up a lot, and risk death a number of times.
    “I could surely use your help. But I need you more here. I'll regret these words the rest of my life, but it's true you have uncanny senses, beyond the ken of any human or Newlie alive. You can hear things, smell things, see things no other creature can.
    “What you can do is protect Letitia Louise. Warn her of danger, and fight all intruders, if it should come to that. This