74

At dusk one night, you, Audrey, and Brute are trekking through Hondelet to find the best deal on candied nuts when you hear the music of a quick, tuneful reel wafting through the square. A fine stride to it; whatever could it be? you think, marking out the chords and the penny-whistle melody in your head.

You draw closer to where a pair of musicians have a crowd in front of them. The music sets your toes tapping; and then they start to sing:

"Jesterel, Jesterel had a secret none could tell!

Jesterel, Jesterel had a secret none could tell!

Now we all know that Jesterel kept the beetle-king amused

With flights of fancy all his own; or was that but a ruse?

The foolish worm did steal his words from other wits, it's true,

For his own mouth spurted naught but dirt; so did his other end, too!"

Onward