noon
Obviously he had angered the man by his silence , but he could answer only by shaking his head . He began to walk , pausing an instant in the middle of the bridge to stare down at a stream of water that rippled in the sunlight over moss-covered rocks . Tiny silver fish darted to and fro beneath a tumbling waterfall and he felt calmed and reassured by the sight . Shoulders erect now , he walked on ... It was high noon when he reached the tavern . He went inside , saw men and women dancing in a dim light , and there was a huge , rainbow-colored musical instrument by the door which startled him by its resonance . The music was wild , weird , a little terrifying . He sat down at a table near the door and searched the minds of the dancers for a clue to the meaning of what he saw .