Through Sorcerer's eyes - Oct 26, close encounter of the dog kind

Part of a series analyzing Roger Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October through Sorcerer.

Starts here.

October 26

Short chapter, this. Snuff meets Graymalk, but she has nothing to report. He tries Larry out, but he's out. Everyone else seems to be out, too. He returns home, naps, tries again. Nobody's about and nothing's afoot, as far as he can tell.

Bored, he goes out to stalk rabbits, then a fox, who manages to disappear on him just as he realizes that he is being stalked himself. His tracker is not as skillful, so he is able to circle back and surprise a large dog-like figure. 

At first, he thinks it's Larry, but realizes it's a stranger when he responds. He claims to have just come to the neighborhood and to be curious about the weird people about. Snuff tells him to hide out for the next few weeks. After continued questioning, and seeing him in moonlight and recognizing him as one of the visitors to Jack and Jill's home recorded in the ward when they were out on the town, he runs off. The dog calls to him by name, even though he hadn't divulged it, further encouraging Snuff to depart.

Sorcerers and Demons

• Jack - Binder of Snuff (probably 0 or +/-1), a wand, and a big knife (probably 0 or +/-1), as well as a Container of several Things. Keeps a curse connected to his knife which has him lose control to murderous urges. Has played the Game before, as a Closer.
• "Crazy" Jill - Witch, Binder of Graymalk, and a flying broom. Friendly with Jack, but an Opener.
• Larry Talbot - Possible sorcerer, definite werewolf, Binder of Large Plant. Pledges assistance to Jack, as they are both Closers. Large Plant confers some control over his transformation, but it in itself seems natural to the setting.
• Snuff - a Passer whose Cover is a watchdog. High Will. Possible abilities: Command: dogs, Hold, Perception: heightened senses, Perception: sorcerous implements, Perception: sorcerous pattern, Special Damage: claws and fangs, Special Damage: holy hell. Able to trace paths between sorcerers. Keeps up with who has which tool. Able to communicate with Jack verbally right after midnight. Has played the Game before, as a Closer
• Graymalk - a Possessor of a cat. Possible abilities: Cloak, Travel: teleportation. Possible Need/Desire: burying and uncovering things. An Opener.
• Large Plant - a Passer whose cover is a large flowering plant? Possible abilities: Boost: Stamina (werewolf transformation), Boost: Will (retaining faculties), Hint, Perception: Future
• Strange Large Dog - a dog who knows Snuff's name, and has been walking around the neighborhood. Provenance unknown.

Sorcery and Setting

• Again we see speech between animals as being standard, rather than assumed to be sorcerous.