Excerpt from The Sands of Time by Michael Hoeye, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

"Of course, you being Mirrin's good friend, there wasn't much doubt that you'd get invited," Lista confided. "But you can never be completely sure. Take Lanayda Prink for example. She donates her entire collection of coffee mugs to the museum, including all the mugs from all her trips out West, and does she get invited? Something tells me she won't. And boy, will she be steamed! It shows that you can never be too polite to your postal worker." She winked.

"And now Hermux, who is your interesting new friend?" she asked.

Hermux turned to make the introductions. But the old chipmunk was gone. He had sneaked out of the shop without making a sound.

"I'm afraid I don't know his name," said Hermux. "A nervous, odd fellow. He says he knew my father. But he didn't say how. I never found out what he wanted. I don't even know where he's from."

Hermux ran the tip of his paw thoughtfully over the workbench where the old chipmunk had set his knapsack. "Although from the looks of this sand, I would say that until recently, he's been out West. Probably in the desert."

Copyright Michael Hoeye 2001. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the author or publisher.