Suddenly, bright blue and the length of a man's forefinger, a lizard ran halfway down the trunk of the tree. It's sapphire belly heaved in the early light with indrawn breath; then it opened its red mouth, its throat warbled, and there was another burst of music.
"Oh well," said Iimmi. "I was close."
They walked further, until Iimmi mused, "I wonder why you always think things are going to turn out like you expect."
"Because when something sounds like that," declared Urson, "it usually is a bird!" Suddenly he gave a little shiver. "Lizards," he said.
"It was a pretty lizard," said Iimmi.
"Going around expecting things to be what they seem can get you in trouble—especially on this island," Geo commented.
The angle at which they walked made one of the clumps of tree before them seem to fall apart. A man standing in the center raised his hand and said briskly, "Stop!"
They stopped.
He wore dark robes, and his short white hair made a close helmet above his brown face.
Urson's hand was on his sword. Snake stood with his feet wide, his hands out from his sides.