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. "Here, attach this some-
place, but just as a slip. Give me the other end. I'll release
it when I want loose from you."
Obediently, with an ironic grin, Wingover slipped the
rope through his pommel-clasp and pulled it until the
free end came clear, then handed that end back. "Just out
of curiosity," he asked the gnome, "why did your colony
drive you away?"
The gnome glanced up. "Because I'm insane, is why.
Insanity can't be tolerated, you know." Bobbin hurried
back to his machine, carrying the loose end of the rope,
and climbed into the basket between its wings.
"Insane," Wingover told himself. "I should have
known."
"Well," the gnome shouted at him, "let's go. Just go as
fast as you can, and as soon as I'm airborne I'll unhitch us
and take it from there. That's all I need you for."
"Insane," Wingover breathed. 'Ye gods." He looked
back at the gnome in the fabric-and-metal gull.
"Go!" Bobbin shouted. "Go!"
With an oath, Wingover snapped the reins and dug
heels into the horse. The animal surged, took up the
slack, and stretched out to a belly-down run. Behind
him, Wingover heard a shout, but he didn't look back.
The rope sang in his open pommel, and he heard its end
snap free. He listened for the sounds of wreckage astern,
then ducked as something huge and white whispered
past him, just overhead
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