Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Two Roads Diverged Scenario
Episode #3: King Fahad of Fum Buck Hamlet (5/24/98)
Nick is getting heartily sick of the jolts as the train heads towards Feemo.
Wise Snake, who has been sitting curled up in a small, extremely ill-natured huddle for many hours, suddenly jumps up.
Linn looks at Snake.
Linn: When do we get to Feemo, anyway?
Wise Snake: Feemo? [distracted] We aren't going there.
Eliza wakes with a start.
Eliza: What is it! Are we there?
Wise Snake points at the small town appearing from ahead.
Wise Snake: There. Come on everybody, get your stuff.
Wise Snake: Come on, come on, the train only stops for a few moments.
Eliza looks out the window at the endless cabbage fields.
Linn peers out the window, then collects her suitcase and satchel.
Nick picks up the medicine satchel.
Wise Snake: [at least judging by the grubby, falling-apart schedule clutched in her tentacles]
Eliza looks around and then remembers she has no stuff to get.
Griff has no luggage whatsoever.
Nick: Where are we, anyway?
Wise Snake hurries to the door of the train, well before it has finished slowing.
Eliza walks down the swaying aisle on unsteady feet.
Nick follows on Snake's heels.
Wise Snake fidgets impatiently.
Griff: Wait a minute. Where's Mr. Bum Bum?
Eliza: Bumanuel [Eliza corrects automatically]
Wise Snake kind of hopes Bum Bum has disappeared.
Eliza: He is here, somewhere.
Griff looks around.
Griff: Maybe he went to the loo.
Wise Snake looks as if she is going to bolt out of the door the moment it opens.
Eliza has been keeping an eye on Linn as that is easier then keeping an eye on the channel.
Wise Snake: Ah... well, he'll catch up.
Eliza: There he is.
Linn wonders why Snake wants to stop in a place with nothing whatsoever to recommend it but lots of weeds.
Eliza is relieved. The choice of either staying with Bumanuel or going with Snake wouldn't be a hard one. But she would feel guilty at leaving the junct.
Bum Bum slouches up, looking annoyed.
Linn's feelings about indigenous flora are dictated largely by her sinuses.
Griff: Mr. Bum Bum, we've gotten there!
Griff bounces, eager for a change of scene.
Wise Snake frets and fidgets as the train finally nears a stop.
Eliza: We're getting off here, Bumanuel.
Eliza smiles at him.
Wise Snake wishes they would all please keep a lower profile instead of being so boisterous.
Griff hasn't found the train nearly as ooky as the hospital.
Nick stands quietly at Snake's side.
Bum Bum: Oh! ...great. [sentence ends with marked lack of enthusiasm as he gets a good look at what "here" is]
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Eliza: Seem to like cabbages don't they?
Wise Snake: [the doors open, revealing a waft of hot summer air carrying the stench of cooked cabbages]
Eliza watches the platform pull up slowly next to the train.
Linn is unable to smell the cabbages due to the ragweed.
Bum Bum: Snake, are you out of your mind? [whines]
Linn sneezes at the sudden onslaught of pollen.
Bum Bum: What in shen are we [obscured by Linn's sneeze] anyway?
Nick wonders that Bum Bum would ask; he thought it was obvious.
Wise Snake jumps out onto the platform and looks around, then sets off down the boards.
Eliza: This reminds me of my home town, only we had less cabbages, and [getting a view of the few people around] less Simes.
Nick hurries after Snake.
Wise Snake: [singlemindedly ignoring most of what is around her]
Bum Bum's nose tickles, as Linn's nager affects him.
Eliza hops off the train and lurches as the ground refuses to sway.
Wise Snake would offer Linn some of her own allergy medications, except that she is using them on herself at such a steady rate that it would be foolhardy to waste any.
Eliza grabs Bumanuel's hand to steady herself, and to keep his attention off Linn.
Linn lets out two more hearty sneezes, and reaches for a handkerchief.
Bum Bum steadies Eliza, then almost stumbles himself as he reads a sign: "Welcome to Fum Buck Hamlet"
Linn starts to wheeze as her bronchia close against the ragweed pollen.
Bum Bum: Snake, do you actually have some [obscured by Linn's 1st sneeze] or are we just [obscured by Linn's 2nd sneeze]?
Bum Bum: [plaintively]
Bum Bum sneezes.
Eliza: Are you getting a cold Linn?
Linn: Doh. Id's just by addergies.
Wise Snake reaches the street beyond the station, and scrutinizes the little rows of dumpy houses, as if trying to remember an address or directions.
Eliza: Oh dear, what are you allergic to?
Eliza: Are you allergic too, Bumanuel?
Wise Snake's black cape is already covered with dust from the town. (and pollen)
Linn: Ragweed.
Bum Bum: No!
Bum Bum moves to the other side of Eliza, to avoid Linn's itchy nose.
Bum Bum: Although I am allergic to... [gestures at the tiny village]
Bum Bum: Whatever this is.
Eliza: You are allergic to Fum Buck?
Linn points to the offending Ambrosia.
Eliza follows the direction of Linn's pointing hand.
Eliza: It's pretty, isn't it?
Eliza wonders if she could pick some, but it's not as if there were a vase to put it in, or a mantle piece to put the vase on.
Nick sticks close to Snake, trying to obscure her distinctive Farris nager.
Eliza: What now, Snake? Are we meeting someone here?
Eliza clings to the hope that Snake actually has a plan.
Wise Snake: Yes. I have a contact here... owes me a favor.... [sounds more and more doubtful the longer she looks at the houses; it's clear if she's ever been here, it was an absurdly long time ago]
Rudolph looks up from where he is lounging in the shade by the station building and stares at the group with interest.
Linn stumbles along behind the group, wheezing louder.
Rudolph zlins them and his curiosity is aroused by the interesting mixture.
Linn: ~~ suffocation ~~
Fumbucker stands there staring at the strange group o' folks.
Rudolph chews on a stem.
Wise Snake: Nick... give her something from the kit. [finally, indicating Linn]
Nick fumbles in the kit for something suitable.
Rudolph slowly gets to his feet and wonders over to Fumbucker's side.
Rudolph: What you reckon their story is Clide? [Clide Fumbucker you see]
Fumbucker chews slowly and thoughtfully, then spits.
Fumbucker: Well, Rudy [Rudy Fumbucker... they are all related here]
Fumbucker: I reckon I don't rightly know WHAT to think about them there.
Rudolph: Well I reckon they are one of them there groups of travelling players, come to put on a show fur us all.
Rudolph: Don't seem to have much in the way of luggage and all do they?
Nick hands Linn medication.
Wise Snake sees Rudolph and the other Fumbucker and approaches them carefully.
Bum Bum is looking all about him with an appalled and piteous expression.
Bum Bum: We're all going to die.
Bum Bum: ~~culture shock~~
Linn swallows the medicine, and gradually starts breathing again.
Griff cheers up: that sounds ooky.
Eliza: Why, Bumanuel? ~support~
Wise Snake: Excuse me....
Nick closes the satchel and hurries to Snake's side.
Nick: ~~ support ~~
Rudolph: Can we all help you people?
Wise Snake tries to appear harmless, which when you are a black-wearing, wild-haired, white-eyed rogue weasel on the run and with a vicious case of entran, is not easy.
Wise Snake: Yes. Does a lady by the name of Tid Bittles still live here?
Rudolph: Titty? Yeah sure. Right down yonder [points]
Wise Snake: I guess it would be Tid Bittles-Fumbucker now. [adds]
Rudolph: Yep, married me cousin Dick.
Bum Bum sticks close to Eliza, feeling increasingly sorry for himself.
Rudolph: He's me mum's sister's son. Of course, he is me dad's brother's son too.
Rudolph: Guess that makes him me second cousin.
Rudolph roars with laughter at the old joke.
Wise Snake blinks.
Griff stands on Bum Bum's other side, bouncing eagerly as he awaits the promised ookyness.
Wise Snake thinks of her own probable family history and figures she can't say anything.
Eliza: ~support~
Eliza takes Bumanuel's arm and absentmindedly pats it.
Eliza: ~there there~
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Eliza thinks it's so very like home.
Eliza can't wait to leave again.
Wise Snake turns toward the house(?) Rudolph had indicated.
Wise Snake: Linn, are you all right? [quietly, zlinning her]
Rudolph falls in along side of Snake and walks with her.
Fumbucker stares after the strangers.
Rudolph: You folks planning on staying long?
Linn: It's a bit better now.
Linn is still wheezing a bit, though.
Fumbucker chews thoughtfully, then spits at the ground in their wake.
Fumbucker: Ah guess not, eh Rudy?
Nick: ~~ steady Snake-support ~~
Wise Snake: Ah... no.
Wise Snake wishes they weren't so conspicuous.
Nick looks around, calculating the probable population, and the percentage of them who are likely to require a channel's services.
Bum Bum zlins Eliza's desire to leave town and whispers to her, "do you think we should make a break for it?"
Nick shakes his head, not liking answer to his mathematical exercise.
Wise Snake is trying not to fidget, but not doing a very good job of it.
Eliza looks at him in surprise and whispers back "to where?"
Nick: ~~ soothing calm ~~
Nick: We'll find you some work soon, Snake.
Nick: If nothing else shows up, you can work on Linn's allergies.
Titty is baking bread and humming tunelessly.
Titty was named at her borning Tid Bittles, but became Titty when she was a woman grown for obvious reasons.
Linn is glad that her presence is of some use, considering the involuntary nature of her journey.
Titty pounds the bread with her arms and breaks into song.
Titty: "Oh and the hedge hog can't be buggered at all da de da de da da da."
Titty hears the dog barking.
Wise Snake walks up the front steps of the saggy little house, and signals gingerly.
Titty: Drat you damn dog, why I do believe we got visitors!
Titty wipes her arms half heartedly on her apron and heads to the front door.
Wise Snake smoothes back her hair, which immediately does the Farris Hair thing once again, with twice as much vigor.
Titty: Hold ya horses I'm a coming! [she bellows]
Bum Bum: We could hide out until they're gone, then catch the train back to town? [whispering hopefully to Eliza]
Titty swings open the front door and stares with confusion at the array of folk standing on her stoop.
Nick sees Snake's efforts and tries to look respectable.
Nick would have better luck if his jeans weren't quite so tight.
Titty: What can I do for you folk?
Titty: Why Snake is that you?
Wise Snake: Ah, hello Tid, you probably don't remember me, but... er...
Titty: and all grown up!
Wise Snake: Yes. [weakly]
Titty: And a channel too! Well I'll be!
Titty encases Snake in her massive arms.
Wise Snake winces as she is crushed to Titty's bosom.
Nick views this assault on his channel with some trepidation.
Eliza watches in amazement as Snake's feet leave the ground.
Wise Snake's tentacles wave about, then clench.
Bum Bum thinks the day is looking up.
Titty: Why honey! It's so good to see you! How is that brother of yours! But no! I can't have you talking out here like you ain't family! You come on in, and your friends too!
Griff frowns, bored by this smoochy stuff.
Titty leads them into the small but spotless parlor.
Titty: We knew you was going to be a channel girl! Right from the time you were a tiny thing.
Balsik sees Griff going into the house and wonders who this new kid in town is.
Linn feels more comfortable now that they are in respectable, pollen-free surroundings.
Titty: I said to your mother. "Nell," I said, "that man may have been a no good rotten snake, but he had genes!"
Wise Snake smiles and wrings her hands, much like her brother.
Wise Snake seems to be having trouble directing this conversation.
Titty: And here you are on my very doorstep!
Titty: And who are these good people?
Titty: You ain't in trouble are you girl?
Balsik: Psst!! [to Griff before he disappears into the house]
Eliza looks around the parlor and feels both very at home and very nervous.
Wise Snake winces.
Wise Snake's tentacles are wringing each other too.
Nick has jeans, too, although they aren't really as comfortable as the ones Alea destroyed....
Titty: What's wrong with you folks? Cat got your tongue?
Bum Bum isn't sure if he is dejected or elated that Titty didn't recognize him too.
Titty: Tell you what, you just sit down here and I'll go get the kettle on.
Titty waddles out.
Griff looks around to see who pssted.
Balsik is a small, dirty kid with a dark tan.
Eliza: Who is she Snake?
Balsik: Wanna play with me? I know where there's a dead dog.
Eliza sits down on one of the parlor chairs.
Griff: Oooky!
Balsik: All full of maggots. [pronounces it with a relish]
Titty plonks the kettle on and tries to imagine what could have brought little Snake all the way from the big city.
Griff glances after Mr. Bum Bum, but figures he won't need help with anything ooky inside such a boring place.
Wise Snake: Ah... she used to be a, er,
Bum Bum: Hooker. [supplies]
Wise Snake looks embarrassed.
Wise Snake: She used to work with my mother. In Bender Cove. Before I was born, of course.
Titty is a Gen built as only a Gen can be built.
Griff: Maggots!
Balsik beckons solemnly.
Griff drifts closer to Balsik.
Titty gathers a tray, gets out the fine china kept specially for guests, thinks about it and puts it back, gets out the every day mugs and some scones and covers the bread to rise.
Griff: Where?
Balsik: Com'on.
Balsik disappears into a hedge.
Titty pours the boiling water over the trin leaves [grown in her own back garden] and carries it carefully back to the "guests"
Titty: So! Feeling more settled now? Here, have some tea.
Wise Snake: Anyway, she used to give Sky and me food and so forth.
Eliza takes the offered mug with real gratitude.
Griff follows with the dignity such an occasion deserves.
Eliza: Thank you.
Titty nods at such nice manners.
Titty: So Snake, what bring you all here?
Eliza sips her tea and wonders if the woman's hospitality would extend to a shower.
Linn accepts a mug, listening with interest, since she'd like to know the answer to this question herself.
Wise Snake: Ah... well, you see,
Nick: ~~ support ~~ ~~ curiosity ~~
Bum Bum tries to figure out if Titty was just ignoring him, or really didn't recognize him. For some reason this seems to matter to him.
Titty looks attentively at Snake.
Eliza can feel that Bumanuel is tense about something and tries to ~soothe~ him.
Wise Snake: I need to ask you a favor. [at last]
Linn sighs in relief as the hot tea soothes the last spasms of the asthma.
Titty sucks on her lip.
Bum Bum feels better with Eliza's efforts.
Titty: Well sure honey, you know I owe you one, for your mother's sake at least. Anything that is in my power to do for you....
Titty: What is it?
Dick swings the front door open loudly.
Dick: HONEY! I'm home!!!
Wise Snake: Do you remember Beeju, the man who -- !!!
Wise Snake jumps.
Dick: Where is my sugar pie? My honey bun?
Dick wanders past the parlor into the kitchen.
Bum Bum cringes automatically, as he is accustomed to doing when he hears the man of the house come home when he is a stranger's place... then realizes it isn't necessary in this particular case.
Dick does a double take at what he zlins in the parlor and backs up.
Dick starts at the group with his mouth open down to his chest, speechless.
Dick is a very tall renSime, who is as fat as a renSime can get, which isn't very, but still - you get the point.
Titty: Darlin' You're home early!
Titty jumps up and takes the two steps needed to give him a hug.
Wise Snake's hand flutters to her forehead.
Titty: Dick my dear this is Snake from Bender Cove, Nell's daughter, you remember Nell? Sure you do! And her friends....
Titty trails off cause she never was introduced to Snake's friends.
Bum Bum looks at Dick and tries to be brave.
Bum Bum: I am Bumanuel Altavista, and these are Eliza and Linn, my devoted Companions.
Dick stares at him.
Linn wonders when she got promoted to Companion.
Eliza glares at Bumanuel and looks anxiously at Linn.
Titty kicks Dick unobtrusively in the ankle.
Bum Bum is under the erroneous impression that Linn is along for his eventual benefit.
Wise Snake winces as Dick's ankle throbs.
Linn decides that she must have heard wrong.
Dick: I am sorry, pleased to meet cha I'm sure.
Dick: What you folks doing out this way?
Titty: Tell you what, why don't you and Bumanuel here sit and have a nice talk while I take Snake into the kitchen and errr check on the bread?
Nick increases his support to block the pain.
Titty: Come on Snake honey, you can tell me all about what that brother of yours is up to!
Dick sits down on the seat that Titty vacated.
Wise Snake jumps up and follows Titty, in some relief.
Nick wonders if he should follow.
Nick: ~~ ? ~~
Dick clears his throat.
Dick: So.
Dick nods.
Wise Snake: Ah... Titty. Do you remember that fellow, Beeju, who used to come around claiming he grew Gannet Weed in his backyard?
Titty: No.... ummm maybe I do. Why?
Wise Snake: Well, I really need to get a hold of him. Do you know where he's living now?
Wise Snake's tentacles flick about.
Bum Bum looks at Dick.
Bum Bum: You all... get out much, here?
Titty: Can't say that I do. But you know who would know? Malc. Malc would know if anyone around here was growing Gannet.
Wise Snake: Oh? Is he reliable? Could you hook me up with him?
Dick nods as if something deep and profound was said.
Dick: Yep, get out every day. Work in the mine.
Eliza sits back in the sofa and her eyes glaze.
Bum Bum: You work in a mine??
Bum Bum can't imagine a more senseless existence.
Dick: Yep, all my life, boy and Sime.
Dick: My folks now, they were against it.
Dick: Cabbage farmers, very big around here.
Dick: But I said, "Mum, Dad, I want something more out of my life."
Dick sniffs.
Bum Bum: Are they related?
Dick: Yep. They are married.
Dick: Then I met Titty. [gets a dopey look on his face]
Dick: They didn't approve of her either. Big city girl.
Bum Bum thinks, "big anyway"
Linn decides cautiously that Dick and Titty are remarkably ordinary, civilized folks, for friends of Snake's.
Dick: Wanted me to marry my cousin Angela.
Bum Bum: Did you meet her at the Cabonga Room?
Eliza: Scuse me Dick, I was wondering if you had somewhere we [indicates Linn and herself] could wash up?
Titty: You want that I should take you to see Malc, Snake?
Titty: You don't know Malc, he is my husband's cousin.
Wise Snake looks oddly at Titty.
Dick: Sure little lady! Right out the back we got a wash room, just head straight through the kitchen and out the back door.
Eliza: Linn, lets go get freshened up.
Wise Snake is trying to figure out how Malc and Rudolph are related, and feels her headache spiking sharper.
Wise Snake: Is he right in town here?
Titty: You in pain girl? You got such a look on your face as if you swallowed a lemon whole!
Linn follows Eliza eagerly.
Titty gets up and opens the pantry door and comes back with a basket.
Titty: Yep, lives not two miles from here.
Wise Snake looks at the basket.
Titty smiles at Linn and Eliza as they enter the kitchen.
Titty: Why loves, you come to join us?
Eliza: We are just going to use your wash room if that is okay. Thanks, Titty.
Titty: Sure sure, just out that door.
Titty goes back to poking about in the basket.
Eliza gets Linn out the door and shuts it.
Eliza: Linn, I need to talk to you.
Nick tries to control Snake's pain without making a big deal of it that might lead Titty to conclude that something's seriously wrong.
Titty: Let's see what we have here...
Linn: What is it, Eliza?
Titty proceeds to pull out bottles of oils and fluids and pills.
Titty: Hmmmm here you go - this should help.
Titty opens a bottle and shakes 2 pills onto her hand.
Wise Snake zlins the pills.
Wise Snake: What are they?
Eliza: Well, it's about Bumanuel.
Nick: What are they? [alertly]
Eliza: You shouldn't encourage him too much.
Bum Bum eyes Dick.
Titty: Something I whip up myself.
Titty: Nothing that will hurt you honey!
Linn: Encourage him? I've barely spoken to the man.
Wise Snake: What's in them? [with trepidation]
Titty: Just some fosebine and some herbs.
Eliza looks uncomfortable.
Eliza: I mean, with your nager.
Titty: Fix your headache right smartly.
Wise Snake: I'm sorry, I can't, unless you can tell me exactly what's in them.
Eliza: It's just, you see he is junct.
Eliza: He could - hurt - you.
Linn: ~~ startled ~~
Linn: Junct!
Linn: You mean, he kills people?
Eliza cringes.
Eliza: Please don't tell people!
Wise Snake zlins Linn's startlement in the other room and looks up alertly.
Eliza: I'll try to make sure he doesn't hurt you, but just help me please?
Eliza: Don't be alone with him.
Eliza: ~miserable~ Yes.
Titty looks hurt.
Linn: Well, I certainly won't!
Wise Snake: I'm sorry, but I am violently allergic to many herbs.
Titty: Well, lets see... there is some honey and beeswax, fosebine of course, bit of willow bark and some mint.
Titty: The mint ain't needed really - but I find it helps the breath.
Linn: What are you doing with a killer Sime? I thought you worked at the Sime Center?
Eliza: Can you try not to let on you know?
Eliza: And what ever you do - don't panic!
Linn thinks that this is easier said than done.
Linn: I'll try not to.
Eliza: I left the Sime Center to work with him. I hope that with my help he won't need to kill any more.
Linn decides to stick close to Snake, when possible.
Linn: What if you can't stop him from killing?
Titty: Well anything there you allergic to?
Titty: I have some pure fosebine around somewhere.
Titty: [digs in the basket]
Wise Snake thinks that isn't going to do a shenned thing for her head ache, but at least it won't kill her.
Wise Snake: Ok... thanks.
Wise Snake accepts the pills.
Titty: Here love - you have a look see. Get rid of that headache and I'll direct you to Malc's place.
Eliza: I'm sure I can.
Eliza tries to look confident.
Eliza: I've been reading, was reading a book about Companions.
Eliza: I just thought you should know as you are going to be in close proximity to him.
Linn has seen teens do bravado before.
Wise Snake takes the basket and starts looking through the bottles and things.
Linn: Thank you for telling me, Eliza.
Bum Bum is left at loose ends after Dick leaves again.
Bum Bum gets up to go eavesdrop outside the washroom.
Eliza returns from the washroom with Linn but stops in the kitchen.
Eliza: Everything okay, Snake?
Wise Snake is up to her tentacles in a basket of small bottles and jars.
Eliza looks with interest at all the little bottles.
Titty: Everything is just dandy child. Eliza, wasn't it?
Eliza: Yes, ma'am. What's in the bottles?
Titty: Bits of this n that. Just a few local remedies and so forth.
Wise Snake's eyebrows raise appreciatively as she finds a few gems hidden amongst the "local remedies".
Titty: Well Snake, you want that I should direct you to Malc's?
Titty looks concerned.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Titty: Do you have a place to stay? The house is only small, but if your friends don't mind a mat on the floor...
Wise Snake: Eliza, can you and the others... [pauses, realizing she only zlins 3 others]
Wise Snake: Where's Griff?
Eliza: I don't know. Actually, he didn't come in with us!
Wise Snake zlins farther, trying to detect him somewhere in the town.
Eliza looks, well a mixture of relief and worry.
Wise Snake sets the basket aside, sans the goodies she has pocketed.
Titty: There was someone else with you?
Wise Snake sticks her head into the living room.
Eliza: Do you think maybe he has run back to the station to go home?
Wise Snake: Nick, Bum Bum, Linn... Eliza, can you go look for Griff? Don't get separated, and meet me back here in.... two hours?
Eliza: Where are you going Snake?
Eliza: ~concern~
Wise Snake: I'm going on a small errand, Eliza.
Wise Snake: Will thirty do you for these, Tid? [pulling out some moolah]
Eliza: ~reluctant~ Ok Snake.
Eliza goes into the parlor to point out to the others that Griff is missing.
Titty: Here I'll draw you a map.
Titty pulls out some crumpled paper and with her tongue clamped between her teeth starts to draw a map.
Wise Snake really wishes Titty wouldn't do that with her tongue.
Titty: You head back towards the station but not that far. Turn off two streets before there, where the house with the blue trim is. That's Ernie's place by the way, my man's uncle.
Wise Snake's eyebrows furrow.
Wise Snake: Rudolph's great grandfather?
Titty: Then you go down there about 1/2 mile till you come to a creek, there is a little bridge there that was built by some townsfolk after a couple of boys drowned there a few years back.
Titty: Kids say it's haunted.
Titty: No - his grandfather's brother.
Titty: I didn't know you knew Rudolph!
Wise Snake: Oh.
Titty stops in surprise.
Wise Snake wonders why she bothers trying to learn all this... force of habit from living in the same town all her life.
Eliza goes with the reluctant Bumanuel, Linn and Nick to find Griff.
Titty: Anyway, over the bridge and take the next turn left.
Wise Snake: Well, I just met him this morning.
Titty: Rudolph is a lazy no good for nuffin.... [sighs]
Titty: No matter.
Titty: Go down there bout a mile and a bit till you come to Malc's place.
Wise Snake recalls where she saw Rudolph... lounging about near the train station doing nothing in particular mid-day... and realizes she can't stand up for him.
Wise Snake: Well... thank you.
Titty: You can't miss it really. Big orchard around the place. It's on the left.
Wise Snake nods.
Titty: When you come back I'll have some food ready for you all and we can talk more.
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Titty: I hope your - friends - find the lad.
Wise Snake looks a bit nervous at the thought, then shakes her head.
Wise Snake: Better that they are occupied at this point, I think.
Eliza tells Linn to stay with Nick and hangs back.
Wise Snake: I will see you soon.
Wise Snake takes the medical satchel, which she had appropriated from Nick, and puts it over her shoulder.
Eliza hides behind a tree across the road.
Wise Snake leaves the house, walking along the dusty road.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza and frowns, zlinning for the others.
Eliza peeks out as Snake leaves.
Wise Snake zlins them heading away across town and zlins Eliza again... and Eliza's attention on her.
Wise Snake sighs and keeps walking, slowing her quick floating Sime pace to something a Gen would be able to manage.
Eliza runs after her to catch up.
Eliza: Snake!
Wise Snake doesn't especially want company on this particular visit, but also doesn't want anybody to get lost... yet.
Eliza: Do you mind if I come with you?
Wise Snake: Hello, Eliza.
Wise Snake: ~~yes~~
Wise Snake: You may accompany me, if you like.
Titty waves to her out the door ~concern~
Eliza beams happily, treating the whole thing like a peaceful walk in the country.
Eliza: [well it is a walk in the country...]
Eliza: ~happy and relaxed~
Wise Snake seems nervous and distraught.
Eliza has obviously not caught on to the seriousness of the situation.
Eliza: Where we going? To see some other friends?
Eliza: That Titty is a nice lady, reminded me of Mrs Ransom, a neighbour from home. She was always cooking.
Eliza: Taught me to cook.
Wise Snake looks as out of place in this peaceful idyllic countryside as, well, a nervous, sweating black racehorse in a crowded chickenhouse.
Eliza pulls up a long grass stem and swings it.
Eliza looks as at home in it as, well, a chicken.
Eliza: We didn't grow cabbages though....
Eliza: Where we going?
Wise Snake is fidgeting restlessly with Nick absent.
Wise Snake: I'm going to visit a friend of Titty's and look at his garden.
Eliza: His garden?
Eliza is trying to work out what the running from Bender Cove [which was probably just a silly misunderstanding anyway] and gardening have to do with each other.
Wise Snake: Yes.
Wise Snake feels for an allergy pill and pops it.
Wise Snake can practically feel the pollen in the air.
Eliza: Oh.
Eliza: It's nice to be out in the countryside now that spring is in the air isn't it Snake?
Wise Snake is obviously very tense.
Wise Snake squints at the countryside through bedraggled locks of her hair, which is being tossed around by said seasonal breezes.
Wise Snake: No. [after some thought]
Eliza sighs and wishes she could make Snake relax.
Eliza: ~tentative offer~
Eliza: No?
Eliza can't remember what Snake is saying no to as her brain has already skipped onto twenty other subjects since then.
Wise Snake: You don't have to do anything for me, Eliza. But thank you.
Wise Snake's laterals flick out, zlinning the countryside in what seems bordering on an obsessive fashion.
Eliza: I want to help, you know, Snake.
Rudolph hangs back as far as he can so they won't see him and tries to look as if it's just a coincidence they are all going in the same direction.
Eliza: Did you have a good transfer?
Eliza wants to get Snake's attention off whatever it is that is worrying her.
Rudolph stops to examine a fence while keeping an eye on the two women.
Wise Snake: It was fine.
Eliza: ~exasperated~ Snake what IS that matter!
Wise Snake zlins Rudolph behind them and....
Wise Snake jumps.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza indignantly, breathing hard.
Eliza looks at Snake with her eyes wide.
Wise Snake: Well, we're being followed for one thing.
Eliza swings around to look.
Eliza: We are? Where!
Wise Snake: He's around the bend, pretending to look at a fence.
Wise Snake says "pretending" because she can zlin which way he's facing, but his attention is still on them.
Eliza: Isn't that the man who you spoke to at the station?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Eliza: what do you think he wants?
Wise Snake: Probably just nosy.
Eliza is curious rather then alarmed.
Wise Snake is very jumpy..
Eliza: Small town people are very like that.
Eliza: Just ignore him and he will lose interest.
Eliza isn't worried cause he isn't Gen.
Wise Snake: Look... it is better for us if we don't attract attention.
Wise Snake has not fully committed to enlightening Eliza as to their predicament, as she is not fully prepared to deal with any reaction Eliza might have. Therefore, she's having trouble saying exactly what she means.
Eliza looks Snake over from top to toe
Eliza: Maybe I should go alone then!
Eliza giggles.
Wise Snake winces.
Wise Snake: I hate to say it, but you're right. I will have to get different clothing.
Rudolph continues after them, unaware that his attention has been zlinned.
Wise Snake should also get different eyes and a different face, not to mention a different nager, but that would be a bit more difficult.
Rudolph has never met a Farris before and wouldn't know what one was if he fell over one.
Eliza: I don't think the clothes are just the problem.
Eliza: ~doubtful~
Wise Snake's white eyes glitter in an alarming fashion, a natural effect from her starting to feel defensive.
Wise Snake: Well, there's not much that can be done about other things, at least for the time being.
Eliza: I guess not.
Eliza shrugs.
Eliza: Is it far?
Eliza: Where we are going, I mean.
Eliza: Oh, look at the creek!
Eliza runs forward to the bridge.
Rudolph stops at the end of the houses, wondering where they are going as there is nothing in that direction for a long way except orchards, and, of course, cabbages.
Wise Snake: No... a couple of miles only.
Eliza is splashing happily at the side of the creek.
Rudolph remembers his two cousins who drowned in the creek when he was a boy and the reason it's off limits to the local kids and wonders if he should warn them.
Rudolph thinks as it's too cold anyway it's unlikely they will just jump in.
Rudolph thinks the small dark one looks as if she would prefer to die then to jump into a creek anyway.
Wise Snake approaches the bridge.
Eliza splashes her with water as soon as she comes into splashing range.
Eliza giggles like a school kid.
Wise Snake jumps back like a scalded cat.
Eliza: it's only water Snake!
Eliza splashes at her again.
Wise Snake retreats, angrily.
Wise Snake: Stop it, Eliza.
Wise Snake shakes herself, trying to get it off.
Eliza is just about wet to the thighs with splashes all over, yet she manages to look happy.
Eliza: Oh Snake, weren't you ever a child?
Wise Snake shudders and slaps the remaining droplets away - those that haven't already sunk in.
Eliza: We had a creek through our place, use to swim there naked as soon as the weather was warm enough.
Wise Snake: I was a child once.
Eliza gets a dopey nostalgic look on her face.
Eliza wades out of the creek and sits down to put her shoes back on.
Rudolph has a good nose for easy money and has the instincts that information about anyone as out of place as the small dark one could be money.
Rudolph walks along smoothly, catching up to them as the other one, the Gen, puts her shoes on.
Rudolph: Well ladies, we meet again.
Rudolph: You sure you know where you are going? Hate for you to get lost around here.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow and she struggles to be civil.
Eliza ignores him as she puts her shoes on.
Wise Snake: (not easy when she has just been touched by... ugh... water)
Wise Snake: We are fine. Thank you.
Rudolph: Where you folks headed?
Rudolph: I better go with you, make sure you don't come to no harm.
Wise Snake: Hmm... better yet, could you do me a small favor?
Rudolph is taken aback.
Rudolph: Well now, lets see.
Rudolph: What is it?
Rudolph: ~suspiciously~
Wise Snake's pale eyes are eerily cool.
Wise Snake produces a bill.
Eliza stands up again.
Wise Snake: Could you run this back to town for me?
Rudolph looks at the bill and is torn.
Rudolph figures anyone who is so willing to give away money must have something big to hide.
Wise Snake smiles, a distant, disturbing smile.
Rudolph narrows his eyes at her.
Rudolph: And just what did you want me to do with it when I got back to town?
Eliza had been wondering that.
Wise Snake: Your choice, I'm sure.
Rudolph shuffles his feet.
Wise Snake extends the bill towards him.
Rudolph trembles.
Rudolph takes the money and makes it disappear.
Rudolph: Sure sure, I get the message.
Wise Snake nods.
Rudolph turns around and heads back the way he came.
Rudolph: ~ self loathing~
Wise Snake darts a scowl after him and turns onto the bridge.
Wise Snake checks to make sure Eliza is coming too.
Rudolph heads back to Titty's house.
Wise Snake is sorry Eliza had to see that... but Eliza will be seeing a lot more things she won't like, in the coming days.
Eliza: Why did you give that man money, Snake?
Eliza trots along after her.
Eliza wonders if Snake thought it was charity or something.
Eliza: You know, he will probably just spend it on porstan or something.
Wise Snake: To make him go away.
Wise Snake: We want no witnesses for this.
Eliza: You paid him to go away?
Wise Snake: Yes.
Eliza: No witnesses!?
Eliza's eyes are like saucers.
Wise Snake studies Eliza.
Rudolph figures that Titty is always good for a free meal, and he is sure that those odd women will be back there eventually.
Eliza whispers despite the fact they are miles from any other human.
Eliza: What don't you want witnesses to, Snake?
Wise Snake looks at Eliza, then sighs.
Eliza: ~curious and worried~
Wise Snake spots a small stone bench by the side of the road, and zlinning that nobody is around, takes Eliza aside.
Eliza follows.
Wise Snake sits down on the bench.
Eliza sits next to her.
Wise Snake: Eliza, as you know I am a Farris.
Eliza: Yes.
Eliza: Snake Farris, I know.
Wise Snake: If you have learned anything about Farrises from living at the Sime Center, you probably know that headlong flight across country is not a suitable occupation for a Farris.
Eliza: You mean entran?
Wise Snake: Well, yes, there is the problem of entran, and also the difficulty with multiple allergies and special dietary requirements.
Eliza looks worried.
Eliza: Then shouldn't we go back as soon as possible?
Wise Snake: In addition, I have unusual er, medicinal requirements... what?
Eliza: Well if it isn't safe for you to be here why don't we go back?
Wise Snake: Oh... well, as soon as possible, yes. The difficulty is that "as soon as possible" may be a very long time from now.
Eliza: How long is "a very long time" Snake?
Eliza: Days? Weeks!?
Eliza worries.
Eliza: I better send Mos a telegram or something.
Wise Snake frowns as she ponders the mysteries of how to relay the seriousness of the situation to Eliza.
Wise Snake's tentacles twitch about nervously.
Eliza puts her hand over Snake's twitching tentacles [in control of herself - well, at the moment]
Eliza: Snake, what's wrong?
Eliza: What aren't you telling me?
Wise Snake grimaces.
Wise Snake: Leaving Bender Cove was not something I would have done willingly.
Eliza nods seriously, concentrating on what Snake is trying to tell her.
Wise Snake: Events... [for lack of a better word] ... transpired that forced it.
Wise Snake: Our lives may be in danger.
Wise Snake thinks this is an understatement, though it sums up the situation nicely.
Eliza looks stunned.
Eliza [miraculously] manages to keep most of it out of her nager.
Eliza: [gee Nick's lessons must be doing some good]
Eliza: Why did you bring Griff along?
Eliza has been wondering about that.
Eliza: surely he wasn't in danger?
Wise Snake sighs.
Eliza: And I'm sure it's more dangerous for Linn to be with us than not.
Wise Snake: He was there at the time. I... if I had just sent him home unknowing, he would have shown up at the Ferry Building the next day and....
Wise Snake scratches her head, then massages her forehead.
Wise Snake: Well, Linn was a mistake.
Wise Snake: I was in too much of a panic to think straight.
Wise Snake: But... her association with me has been extensive enough that she may have become a victim if she stayed.
Eliza: I'm worried that Bumanuel is going to be fixed on Linn, he seems to be fascinated by her.
Wise Snake looks alarmed.
Wise Snake: Shen it... I have to get rid of him.
Eliza looks alarmed in turn.
Eliza: But if he goes, will I have to go too? Oh please give me a chance with him first!
Eliza: I've told Linn, she knows. I've told her to stay with Nick if I'm not around.
Eliza: Please don't send us away!
Wise Snake: Eliza, he's a liability. He's dangerous, and has no redeeming qualities... I don't want to do it, but if he's going to jeopardize my safety, or that of anybody else around me, he will have to go.
Eliza: As you will, Snake.
Eliza: ~miserable~
Eliza: But I don't want to go with him.
Wise Snake: You don't have to.
Eliza is struggling internally.
Eliza: But if I don't, he will kill.
Wise Snake: I will make sure he doesn't.
Wise Snake: That is what I told him when I took him on... that was his choice.
Eliza goes very still.
Eliza: I see.
Eliza: I'll help if it comes to that.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: He is a channel, so he has the control to avoid harming Linn, if he chooses to use it.
Wise Snake: If he doesn't....
Eliza: So if it comes to a choice between Bumanuel or Linn, we save Linn?
Wise Snake: If it comes to that, yes.
Wise Snake obviously doesn't like the idea, but is perfectly able to act on such a decision if necessary.
Eliza: I can do that, Snake.
Wise Snake stands.
Wise Snake: Come on... I want to get this done and meet back with the others before the Western train leaves.
Eliza goes with her quietly, lost in thought.
Eliza follows Snake along the road past the orchards.
Wise Snake zlins for Malc's place and walks through the orchard, leaving the road.
Malc zlins some people entering and heads out the front to meet them.
Malc is a rather good looking renSime, and, as Snake will no doubt notice, pretty close to need.
Eliza is pondering over the situation.
Malc looks startled to see them.
Malc: Who are you? Did Prospa send you?
Wise Snake approaches Malc.
Malc: Oh! I'm so sorry, where are my manners!
Malc: Welcome, Hajene.
Malc bows.
Wise Snake is now thoroughly covered with dust, but not enough to particularly disguise her look.
Wise Snake notes his reaction and files it away for future reference.
Wise Snake: Hello.
Wise Snake: I was told by Titty Bittles that you might be able to be of some assistance.
Malc: I was expecting Prospa, are you his new...
Malc: Oh?
Malc: So you aren't from Prospa?
Malc looks and zlins behind them.
Wise Snake considers.
Malc: Well tis early yet.
Malc: What can I do for you ladies?
Eliza would like a drink personally but isn't going to interrupt Snake's business to ask.
Wise Snake zlins Eliza projecting thirst and sighs.
Wise Snake: Could I get some water for my Gen?
Wise Snake sometimes speaks this way accidentally.
Eliza blinks.
Malc: Sure, of course!
Wise Snake: She is very thirsty. [adds]
Malc: And for you too, Hajene?
Wise Snake: Thank you.
Eliza: ~very thirsty~
Malc walks over to a water tank and rinses out a mug next to it, filling it with water and handing it to the Gen.
Eliza: Thank you.
Eliza drinks it and hands it back.
Malc refills it and hands it to the Channel.
Eliza: What can I do for you?
Wise Snake: So, ah, [taking a cautious sip] I am given to understand you have an interest in exotic gardening? [casually]
Malc rubs his chin with his tentacles.
Malc: I raise the occasional tulip.
Malc: A few rose bushes.
Malc: ~cautious~
Malc zlins her and both likes and doesn't like what he senses.
Malc: What's your interest in, ummm, exotic gardening?
Wise Snake: I am more interested in the acquisition of, er, rare medicinal varieties. Preferably in processed form.
Malc gets jumpy.
Malc: Shen that Channel!
Malc: Sorry Hajene.
Malc: If Prospa doesn't get here soon I'm going to have to head into town.
Malc gives up pretense.
Malc: What exactly are you after?
Malc: I'll be able to tell you if I can help you better if I know your needs.
Malc shivers at the word.
Wise Snake: Ah, yes.
Malc stares at Snake hungrily.
Malc twitches.
Wise Snake: Are you discreet?
Wise Snake: Complete discretion is a necessity.
Malc: Of course!
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: Very well.
Malc: You can't do the business I do without discretion!
Wise Snake automatically zlins for people or their attentions before continuing.
Wise Snake: I will require a good tranquilizer, preferably Terowyn or Gannet Weed, in a pure form. I cannot tolerate impurities unless they are very slight. Twelve or fourteen units should do.
Malc: I have Gannet and Vert.
Malc: Both in the quantities you want. Not interested in Vert?
Wise Snake: Ah, no Vert. I have to stay away from that.
Wise Snake: Also, if you know a discreet source for very pure Teek, of the pain-killing not the assassination type, I would be interested in that as well.
Malc looks to the left and the right before answering.
Malc: I might be able to help you there....
Malc: [he whispers this out the side of his mouth]
Malc: But it won't be cheap.
Malc: Gannet is no problem, fairly openly used around here.
Wise Snake keeps up a constant nervous flicking through out this. [very intense expression]
Wise Snake: Well in that case, maybe 20 units of the Gannet.
Malc: But I can't help you now... unless....
Malc zlins around anxiously.
Wise Snake's look sharpens.
Malc: I'm going to have to head into town shortly if Prospa doesn't show up. Unless you would be willing to help me?
Malc: Save me a trip and I can discount your Gannet for you.
Wise Snake's eyes narrow.
Wise Snake: What all would the trip entail?
Malc: Save me the trip to town if you gave me transfer here.
Wise Snake: Oh.
Wise Snake: Yes, I can do that.
Wise Snake's look darkens as she privately mourns the loss of the huge source of selyn the poor of Bender Cove provided her.
Malc relaxes visibly.
Malc: OK - come inside, I'll get the stuff.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake follows Malc, zlinning the surroundings in her usual wary fashion.
Malc: Stay here a minute.
Wise Snake waits.
Wise Snake looks at Eliza.
Malc takes them into a sparsely furnished small room.
Eliza has been following silently, too intent on her thoughts.
Wise Snake looks about at the furnishings (such as they are) and chooses a chair, sits to wait.
Malc disappears out the back.
Wise Snake gives Eliza a "doing OK?" look.
Eliza nods thoughtfully and smiles at Snake as an afterthought.
Malc comes back with a handful of little packets.
Malc: There is your Gannet.
Malc: We can talk about the other - after.
Wise Snake accepts the packets and tucks them away in various pockets.
Wise Snake looks around.
Wise Snake: Is there a place you prefer?
Malc: Yeah, in here. Can she [points to Eliza] stay here?
Wise Snake: If you like.
Eliza sits down to wait.
Wise Snake: Any special requirements?
Malc leads Snake into another room that has a comfy chair a table and slat chair and a stove.
Malc: Special requirements? What do you mean?
Wise Snake: If you have to ask, you probably have none.
Wise Snake projects a supportive, promising field.
Malc is too much in need to be confused.
Malc: Here, over here.
Malc sits on the chair and scrunches over.
Malc: I'm sure it's not what you are used to.
Wise Snake sits near Malc, projecting a clear, vibrant ~~Gen/offering/promise~~
Eliza gets up and heads out the back to have a poke around.
Malc: ~need~
Malc: Oh, you are good.
Malc grabs her quickly.
Wise Snake: ~~delight/offering~~
Malc places his lips gently on hers and starts to draw really slowly.
Wise Snake: ~~strength/joy/hope~~
Prospa trots down the drive on his expensive tall horse.
Malc draws agonizingly slowly.
Malc: ~ satisfaction held back by something ~
Prospa dismounts and ties his horse up, unpleasantly surprised that Malc isn't there to wait on him.
Wise Snake: ~~encouragement~~
Malc groans deep inside and draws a little faster.
Malc takes the encouragement and, like a dam bursting, draws strongly.
Malc: ~relief, joy~
Wise Snake: ~~bliss~~
Malc: ~bliss~
Malc pulls to a close and sags with relief.
Wise Snake: ~~peace/satisfaction/lingering bliss~~
Wise Snake supports Malc nagerically and physically.
Malc: Oh, you are good!
Prospa: Where is everyone?
Prospa zlins something odd.
Wise Snake's faint smile fades.
Wise Snake: ~~shen~~
Prospa zlins people in the house, but closer then that he zlins someone in "the room" and it's a Gen.
Prospa augments into the room and drags Eliza out by the neck.
Prospa: What are you doing poking around in there!
Malc: It's Prospa!
Malc: Oh hell!
Wise Snake becomes alarmed as she zlins the Prospa-and-Eliza encounter but keeps her nager ~~calm~~
Eliza: Let me GO!
Eliza: ~panic~
Prospa: Not until we find out just what's going on here!
Wise Snake: Are you going to handle this or shall I? [to Malc]
Prospa pushes his face close to hers.
Malc takes a deep breath.
Wise Snake appears more than capable of handling it.
Wise Snake: [although perhaps not the same way Malc would]
Malc: I'll handle it
Malc: ~help me!~
Wise Snake zlins him, then nods.
Prospa: You don't want to know what we do to sneaks and thieves around here.
Wise Snake: All right. I will be here, however.
Eliza hangs from his grip, trying for control.
Malc heads out.
Malc: Prospa, you're late.
Wise Snake follows Malc.
Malc: You can put the Gen down.
Prospa: She was in there. [gestures to the back room]
Malc looks at Snake.
Malc: What was she doing poking around!
Wise Snake stares at Eliza.
Malc: She was supposed to stay here!
Prospa squints at Snake and zlins them both.
Prospa: Why are you here and what are you doing with my client?
Wise Snake turns to Prospa.
Wise Snake: I came for other reasons. He asked me to perform a service. Your issue is with him, not me.
Eliza looks helplessly at Snake.
Prospa glares at Malc.
Prospa throws Eliza at them.
Prospa: This was sneaking around in your back room.
Wise Snake gives Eliza a snakelike look and gestures for the Donor to get behind her.
Prospa: No doubt that one was sent to distract you.
Eliza gets up off the ground and behind Snake.
Malc whirls on Snake.
Malc: I knew I shouldn't have trusted you!
Malc takes a threatening step forward.
Malc and Prospa are between them an the door.
Wise Snake: ~~alpha Sime~~
Malc: Who sent you? What are you really here for?
Wise Snake gives him a hard look.
Malc isn't zlinning yet.
Wise Snake: I told you what I wanted. I am not interested in playing games with you.
Prospa takes a threatening step forward.
Prospa: I think we have some questions that need answering.
Malc: Yeah. Sit down.
Wise Snake's eyes sparkle and she tenses, her body remembering the street-fights of her youth.
Eliza is nervously standing behind Snake, wondering what the right thing to do in this situation is.
Prospa points to the chair.
Wise Snake: Ask.
Wise Snake: [unmoving]
Eliza: Snake....
Prospa: I suggest you sit. You might be able to get away, but not with your Gen.
Prospa puts on an entirely reasonable tone of voice.
Wise Snake is not afraid of them on an intellectual level, knowing she could knock them silly with her field before they knew what had hit them.
Wise Snake: Sh! [to Eliza]
Wise Snake: [not looking at her]
Wise Snake's adrenaline, however, doesn't know about the intellectual level.
Prospa: Who sent you here?
Wise Snake: I came of my own volition.
Prospa snorts.
Prospa: You came from nowhere to give him transfer?
Prospa: Your timing is too pat.
Wise Snake: I came from nowhere for another reason. He asked me to give him transfer.
Prospa: With, may I add, an accomplice.
Wise Snake's tone makes it clear it is of no importance to her whether the timing was pat or not.
Wise Snake: As for the Gen, her inexperience is regrettable. However, she has done no harm.
Prospa: What did you come for?
Prospa: We can't know that. Malc, search her.
Eliza steps further around Snake.
Eliza: Don't touch me!
Wise Snake's eyes narrow dangerously.
Eliza: ~warning~
Malc is high on post transfer experience as much as on the situation.
Malc is, never the less, aware of the danger of touching a Companion to a channel as powerful as Snake.
Wise Snake: Malc, why don't you tell Prospa what I came here for?
Malc: Drugs, she came for drugs.
Prospa: And you gave them to her for transfer is that right?
Malc: No! Well, yes, but not entirely!
Prospa: You fool.
Prospa: She played you well and you went along with it.
Malc: I'm no fool. I got the best transfer I've ever had.
Prospa glares at him and steam doesn't quite come out of his ears.
Prospa: And she will run right back to the Tecton and tell them about your little scam here.
Prospa thinks she will tell about his little scam here too but doesn't mention it.
Prospa: You think that channels like that just walk around freelancing?
Malc whirls back on Snake.
Malc stops and looks at her.
Malc starts at her feet and works his way up.
Malc turns back to Prospa.
Malc: And you tell me if you have ever seen a Tecton employee that looked like that?
Prospa: Looks! You moron!
Wise Snake's look turns disparaging as she realizes Prospa, for all his bluster, isn't experienced enough to recognize addiction when he zlins it.
Wise Snake is not about to straighten them out on the subject of her employment... the more confusion left on her backtrail, the better.
Malc: So, what do we do with them then?
Prospa ponders.
Wise Snake: You will do nothing, if you intend to enjoy the benefits of the other sale we discussed.
Prospa: They alone?
Malc ignores Snake.
Wise Snake zlins that Malc is ignoring her, and turns her mind to other ways to get what she requires.
Malc: I don't know, they came here alone.
Malc remembers what Snake said.
Wise Snake starts by zlinning the rest of the house to determine if the Teek is in there somewhere.
Malc: She said that Titty sent them.
Prospa: Titty!
Wise Snake is flabbergasted to zlin Eliza's pockets are all full of stuff, including Teek.
Prospa: She can't be involved in this.
Wise Snake manages to hide her total surprise from her nager.
Prospa: What are you to Titty?
Prospa: Do you even know her?
Prospa: Or did you just use her name to get in?
Wise Snake however is unable to avoid looking somewhat surprised.
Prospa: ~disdain~
Prospa has had very limited experience with more powerful channels.
Prospa is under the impression he could tell if Snake was lying.
Wise Snake: Aside from being her guest this afternoon, and the recipient of her advice?
Wise Snake: I have known her since childhood.
Wise Snake: ~~perfect truth~~
Prospa hurrumps, less certain of himself.
Prospa: Where are you from? I'd have known if there was another channel working on my turf.
Wise Snake: Although I confess I think less of her judgment now. She recommended Malc, who described himself as discreet. [adds]
Malc growls
Wise Snake: That is none of your business, although I am sure you could figure it out if you applied yourself in a little thought.
Prospa is confused by this but won't admit it.
Prospa: I think they are too dangerous to let go.
Prospa: We can probably use the Gen, but....
Wise Snake would like to pretend she would not enjoy a good knife-fight just about now, but that would be a lie.
Prospa steps forward to push Snake back into the room she just gave Malc transfer in.
Wise Snake narrows her field to focus on Prospa, and stuns him.
Malc, on the other hand, still isn't zlinning.
Malc: Shen you bitch!
Wise Snake: Please restrain yourself from doing anything rash. [advises coolly]
Wise Snake: I am more than capable of defending myself should you fail.
Malc takes a trembling step forward.
Wise Snake: Remember, I came here to make a substantial purchase. Do you want to throw that away?
Wise Snake: [as he steps closer, adds] Do you want to throw your life away?
Malc: Is he dead?
Wise Snake: No. I am in perfect control of my field. He is only stunned.
Wise Snake: I could do the same to you, by the way.
Malc backs off a bit.
Malc: Go.
Malc: Just get out.
Malc: Don't come back.
Malc: And I suggest, if you haven't killed him, that you don't hang around town either!
Wise Snake narrows her eyes.
Malc: Don't think you are immune to damage. That's not a threat!
Malc: Just a statement.
Malc: Now please go!
Malc: Before he comes around!
Eliza tugs at Snake's cloak.
Eliza: Please Snake, lets just go!
Eliza edges towards the door.
Wise Snake pulls out some money and peels off some bills suitable to the value of the pilfered and purchased drugs, minus what she would have charged for a transfer.
Wise Snake: You are both fools.
Malc can't believe it.
Malc: You're PAYING me?
Wise Snake throws down the money on a table and walks out of the door.
Malc picks up the money and counts it.
Malc thinks that she is a fool, that is much more then what she owed him for the Gannet.
Eliza hurries along side of her.
Eliza stops when she sees the horse.
Eliza: Snake!
Eliza: We can take the horse, it will be quicker and he won't be able to follow us and catch us.
Wise Snake considers, then nods.
Wise Snake approaches the horse carefully.
Eliza unties it and swings up into the saddle.
Eliza frees a stirrup and offers Snake her hand.
Wise Snake vaults up lightly behind Eliza.
Malc knees down beside Prospa and checks his breathing as he still can't zlin.
Wise Snake practices her sleight-of-hand and pickpockets Eliza of all the pilfered drugs.
Eliza takes the horse down the drive way and - naturally - turns it in the wrong direction.
Eliza wasn't paying attention when they came in after all.
Wise Snake: Uh... Eliza. South, not north.
Eliza: Other way?
Eliza swings the horse around.
Eliza is still trembling.
Eliza: Is he alive, Snake?
Wise Snake: Who... Prospa? Of course.
Eliza doesn't know if to be relieved or not.
Eliza: He won't be pleased we took the horse, it's a nice animal.
Wise Snake tries to decide when and how to explain to Eliza what a shenned idiotic stunt the poking around was.
Eliza: [the horse resents the strange hand and the double load]
Wise Snake: Well, we're leaving by train, we'll have to leave the horse.
Eliza: I think we would have to - or he would come after us!
Eliza: This way?
Eliza: I don't think we should go into town on the horse, the people are sure to know it.
Wise Snake: True.
Wise Snake thinks Eliza does a lot of things on impulse.
Eliza tries to get the horse over the bridge, but it appears to think it's haunted and refuses.
Eliza: We may as well get off here then.
Wise Snake: Tie him up so he doesn't go home.
Wise Snake dismounts.
Eliza does as she is told.
Eliza pats him reluctantly.
Eliza jumps as the horse bites her.
Wise Snake didn't exactly enjoy it either.
Eliza: Ouch.
Eliza rubs her arm.
Wise Snake begins to walk into town.
Wise Snake: Eliza... about what happened.
Eliza: Snake, I have something to tell you.
Wise Snake pauses.
Wise Snake: Oh?
Eliza puts her hand in her pocket.
Eliza: It's gone!
Wise Snake stares at Eliza.
Eliza checks her other pocket.
Eliza: They are all gone!
Wise Snake: Ah... the packages.
Eliza looks at Snake in shock.
Eliza: You knew?
Wise Snake: Of course. They were clearly zlinable.
Eliza: ~panic~ Did they know?
Wise Snake: The channel knew. The renSime did not. He will soon, though.
Wise Snake: About what happened....
Eliza: I was so scared, Snake.
Wise Snake nods.
Wise Snake: It was a dangerous situation.
Eliza: Yes, I thought I might kill them accidentally.
Wise Snake: Rest assured, anything that would have killed them through me would have killed me also.
Eliza looks serious.
Eliza: That's why I was scared.
Eliza: I didn't know what to do.
Wise Snake: I was handling the situation. Your part was to remain still and not draw any more attention.
Wise Snake: You did a fine job, during that part.
Eliza: I'm sorry about the whole thing.
Eliza: I wasn't expecting another person to show up - specially not a channel.
Wise Snake: Look... everything has its correct time and place.
Wise Snake: Tid Bittles was a friend of my mother's, and helped Sky and I as we were growing up. By stealing from her friend we have betrayed her trust.
Wise Snake: Not only that but it will set those two against her.
Eliza stops.
Eliza: I have to go back.
Wise Snake: What?
Eliza turns and starts back towards the bridge.
Wise Snake turns around and stares after her.
Wise Snake: Why?
Eliza: I'll have to go explain that it was just me and had nothing to do with you or Titty.
Wise Snake: I think it's a little late for that. [dryly]
Eliza: I didn't think of it as stealing off a friend of Titty's.
Wise Snake: I paid him for the drugs.
Eliza: He was just a drug dealer and I thought....
Eliza: You did?
Wise Snake: If he sits down and figures it out, he will realize he was compensated fairly.
Eliza: Well - that doesn't matter.
Eliza: I still have to tell them.
Wise Snake: No. Eliza... time and place. It is past the time for that. You missed your chance.
Wise Snake: Going back there would be a mistake. Come on.
Eliza: Snake, if there is any chance that Titty would be in danger because of what I did, I have to go back. I'm sorry.
Wise Snake: Eliza... did you see the rifle over the door?
Eliza is glad she didn't see it or she would have been tempted to try and reach it.
Eliza: No.
Eliza: But it makes no difference.
Wise Snake: It does when two scared men can gun you down before you get close enough for them to hear your words.
Eliza: We - well, I - have to take the horse back and explain.
Eliza: You go back to Titty.
Eliza doesn't think they will be scared of her without Snake.
Eliza: [after all, Snake is the scary one!]
Wise Snake begins to fidget again, with impatient nervousness.
Wise Snake: Do you not trust me to make these judgments for you?
Wise Snake: It is not safe. You will be injured.
Wise Snake: I cannot be responsible for what could happen.
Eliza stops, head down.
Eliza: Snake, I trust you.
Eliza: But if I caused a wrong that could hurt innocent people I have to right it.
Eliza: I don't consider those two innocent people.
Eliza: But Titty is.
Wise Snake: Do you hear me? I cannot be responsible for what could happen. [curious stress on the words]
Eliza: If you can guarantee to me that she wouldn't be hurt because of my actions I'll not go.
Eliza: But you are the one that pointed out to me that I put her in danger.
Eliza: I hear you Snake.
Wise Snake's eyes change.
Wise Snake nods and turns around, walking back toward the town.
Wise Snake reluctantly writes off Eliza.
Eliza crosses the bridge and unties the horse.
King Fahad steps firmly on Eliza's foot and shoves her down.
Eliza: Bloody horse!
Eliza: Overbred, over fed, over muscled, under brained.
King Fahad shakes his arched neck and snorts imperiously.
Eliza whacks him.
Eliza: Have some manners!
Eliza: And GET OFF MY FOOT!
King Fahad lays back his ears.
King Fahad prances backward.
Eliza hops with relief.
King Fahad whisks his tail cantankerously, ready for a good fight.
King Fahad's elegant nostrils flare red.
Eliza knows that the safest place to fight with a horse is on its back.
Eliza just isn't sure how you get on when they whirl around like that.
Eliza manages to get the reins over its neck.
King Fahad's dainty (but large, relatively speaking) feet seem to be everywhere at once.
Eliza: Well - that's a start.
Eliza makes a grab at the saddle.
Eliza: Stand up, you stupid beast!
Eliza takes a deep breath.
King Fahad bounces and swings about.
Eliza: ~soothing~ Who's a stupid horse then? Who's an overbred fool then?
King Fahad's ears prick forward for a moment at the "praise".
Eliza quickly hops up and gets a foot in a stirrup.
King Fahad stiffens at the attempt to mount.
Eliza swings over and gets ready for the explosion.
Eliza: There's a good boy.
Eliza: ~soothing~
Eliza: What a nice horse.
King Fahad's head goes down, his tail spins around like a corkscrew, and his back arches.
King Fahad jumps 4 feet straight in the air.
Eliza tries to pull his head up.
Eliza: Oh shen!
King Fahad's hindlegs lash out in a vicious kick.
Eliza: Stop it you fool! Want to kill me or something?
Eliza is woefully unfit and out of practice.
Eliza is however, determined to "right the wrong" before she dies!
King Fahad's forelegs strike down with a terrible jolt, then his hindlegs come down, then his head comes up.
King Fahad rears.
King Fahad: [outraged squeal]
Eliza gets his head in and holds it there.
Eliza is trembling with combined anger and fear.
King Fahad spins in a circle, snorting.
King Fahad: [furious]
Eliza: OK - you want to run?
King Fahad's fine red-gold shoulder is white with froth.
Eliza has no objections as long as it's in the right direction.
Eliza: Oh shen - which is the right direction?
Eliza seems to remember going left.
King Fahad keeps spinning as Eliza keeps him reined in.
King Fahad: [snorting and plunging]
Eliza slackens off on the left and gives him a nudge.
Eliza should have thought twice about the nudge probably.
King Fahad's forehalf rocks upward, his haunches go down, and he takes off in a wild leap.
Eliza hangs on.
King Fahad barrels down the dusty road at a reckless gallop.
King Fahad's powerful neck strains as he tries to seize his head.
King Fahad's thick black mane flies back into Eliza's face.
Eliza knows she has no hope in hell of stopping him so just tries to guide him a little so he doesn't kill them both.
Eliza also hopes that they are heading in the right direction.
Eliza notices they are galloping past an orchard that looks familiar.
Eliza: OK boy, we can fight about it or you can just stop.
Eliza sits way back and thinks about uninteresting slow things.
Titty pulls the bread out of the oven and puts it on the side of the sink.
Titty worries that the folks looking for the kid aren't back yet.
Titty smiles at cousin Rudolph and refills his cup.
King Fahad continues down the road past the orchard, still picking up speed.
King Fahad combines all the power and awful beauty of fire, with the speed and maneuverability of a fire engine.
Eliza: Sorry about this, horse.
Eliza leans back hard and saws at his mouth.
Eliza: Whoever trained you forgot to install brakes!
King Fahad screams in rage as his sensitive mouth feels the punishment.
King Fahad skids to a halt, snaking his neck.
King Fahad: [fury]
King Fahad bucks.
Eliza decides to give up and wraps her arms around his neck to lessen the fall.
Eliza comes down hard, but manages not to let go of the reins.
King Fahad arches his neck and stares down his nose at Eliza, challengingly.
King Fahad is snorting and blowing and has worked up a fine sweat.
Eliza groans and gets to her feet.
Eliza: Come on, then.
King Fahad bares his teeth at her.
Eliza starts walking back to the house they went past so quickly.
Eliza aches from head to toe and isn't game to look at her hands.
Eliza: Snake is going to kill me.
King Fahad follows unwillingly, since he doesn't want his head separated from his body.
Wise Snake slinks back into Titty's yard.
Rudolph drinks the rest of his tea.
Rudolph has been told most of what Titty knows about Snake.
Wise Snake zlins that nobody else is back there yet and groans.
Rudolph is, after all, family.
Wise Snake zlins that Rudolph, however, IS there (and groans again)
Titty: So they still haven't come back.
Titty: it's all very confusing.
Rudolph nods consolingly.
Rudolph: I'm sure they are all okay.
Rudolph: Fum Buck is a nice town, after all.
Wise Snake slinks into the house.
Rudolph hears the door squeak as Snake opens it.
Titty: Dick? Is that you?
Titty: Snake honey! You look beat! Here, have some tea.
Titty: So did you find Malc okay?
Wise Snake sits down looking dejected and not meeting their eyes.
Titty respects her mood and puts the tea in front of her quietly.
Wise Snake: You didn't tell me about Prospa!
Rudolph on the other hand, doesn't.
Rudolph: So you went to see Malc?!
Titty: Prospa? Why would I think to tell you about Prospa?
Titty: Was he there?
Rudolph pricks his ears up
Wise Snake: He showed up halfway through a transfer he thought he was going to give Malc.
Rudolph: Where is the other one that went with you?
Titty looks shocked.
Wise Snake: She went back to apologize, and will probably get her head blown off.
Titty: You gave Malc transfer?
Wise Snake: [glum]
Titty: What ever made you do that!
Wise Snake: He asked!
Titty drops heavily into a seat.
Wise Snake: How was I supposed to know he wasn't his own to give?
Titty: Apologize for what?
Wise Snake: For having really, really bad judgment.
Wise Snake: Actually, technically it's lack of experience.
Titty: ~confusion~
Wise Snake: I think Malc would consider it basic theft.
Titty: Oh no. No no no!
Titty: This is dreadful.
Wise Snake: You're telling me. [mutters lowly]
Wise Snake picks up the tea and wraps her tentacles around the mug.
Titty: Did you sort everything out with them?
Wise Snake: I thought I did, but then Eliza had to go back there like a fool.
Rudolph just soaks it all up cheerfully.
Wise Snake: No telling what they'll do to her.
Titty looks pale and worried.
Titty: Rudy, go harness the pony for me.
Titty: We better get down there and make sure everything is okay.
Titty gets up and changes her apron for another identical one.
Rudolph: Aww, Titty.
Wise Snake sips her tea, showing no signs of going anywhere soon.
Titty: No argument now - just go get him harnessed.
Wise Snake: [morose]
Titty covers the cooling bread.
Titty: I'll just go get ready.
Rudolph heads off to the barn to get the pony.
Tink hears somebody coming and gets very excited.
Tink runs back and forth in his stall, hoping whoever it is has a carrot.
Rudolph pulls the pony trap out and gets the harness off the wall.
Tink cranes his neck to see over the door.
Rudolph heads towards the stall.
Tink starts bouncing eagerly as he sees the trap and harness being prepared.
Rudolph: Settle down there you idiot - this means WORK. Sheesh.
Tink lifts his knees and hocks high and prances in little circles, holding his head up winningly.
Rudolph: Hell, I hate ponies.
Tink stops and cocks his head at Rudolph, then shakes it to try to clear all the mane out of his eyes.
Tink: [foolish]
Rudolph gets the harness on Tink and leads him out the front.
Tink steps excitedly into place.
Titty heads out the front with her hair brushed and a scarf tied around her head.
Tink poses.
Tink: [Look at me, I'm a Perfect Pony. blink-blink-blink]
Titty: Snake? You coming with me? Thank you Rudolph.
Titty pats the pony absentmindedly.
Wise Snake mutters under her breath and drags herself after Titty.
Titty climbs into the cart [the springs compress alarmingly]
Wise Snake perches cautiously nearby.
Wise Snake is ready to jump off if the thing should collapse.
Titty clicks to the pony.
Titty has a very ~I'll straighten this out~ feel to her nager.
Prospa moans.
Eliza heads down the driveway with the somewhat quieter horse.
Malc wipes the channels head with a damp rag.
Malc: Want some fosebine?
Malc: Or something stronger?
Eliza ties up the horse, having to force her hand open as it seems to be jammed around the reins.
Eliza walks up to the house, part of her mind realising that she hasn't yet been shot, the other part wishing she had so she wouldn't feel so bad.
Prospa: Unnnnnnhhh.
Malc takes that as a yes and holds the cup of fosebine to his lips.
Prospa: Look what you've gotten us into, unnnhhhh.
Prospa drinks, then gags.
Prospa: We're finished. The Tecton will arrest us all....
Malc: Me? I'm not the one that went all threatening.
Malc: If you hadn't played big boss....
Prospa: Why did you bring in another channel? Wasn't I good enough for you?
Malc: You weren't here! She was!
Prospa: And you couldn't wait another 2 minutes?
Prospa sags back, clutching his head.
Eliza walks stiffly up to the door.
Prospa: Oh no!
Prospa: [zlinning Eliza's approach]
Eliza: ~ache in every joint and don't even think about the hands~
Eliza: Hello?
Malc: What is it?
Malc: Oh shen, they are back!
Malc jumps back in panic.
Prospa covers his eyes instead of his head.
Eliza: I'm alone.
Eliza: I'm sorry.
Eliza: Please don't be afraid. I just brought your horse back and came to explain.
Prospa removes his hands and pushes himself up dizzily.
Prospa: Grab that girl!
Prospa: We can hold her hostage against the Tecton's spy!
Malc doesn't think so.
Eliza: No need - I'm not running away.
Prospa is still a little funky from getting nager bumped.
Eliza: See? I'm here.
Prospa staggers towards the door.
Eliza holds her arms out and cringes with the renewed pain from her hands.
Prospa: Are you deranged?
Malc is zlinning again [unfortunately] and cringes too.
Malc: What happened to you?
Titty drives the trap at a snapping place across the bridge making it shake alarmingly.
Wise Snake almost jumps out at that point, but manages to restrain her fear and cling to the cart.
Eliza: The horse happened to me.
Eliza: I just came to say that none of this had anything to do with Titty.
Eliza: It was all my idea.
Eliza: I wasn't thinking, I just wanted to look around, and then they were just lying there so I thought I would take some.... I'm sorry.
Prospa: You touched my horse?! [shrieks... the final insult]
Prospa: He's worth more than five of you!!
Eliza keeps her opinion, that the horse is over bred, over fed, underworked and under brained to herself.
Eliza: I know, I'm sorry.
Malc looks at her.
Malc: What was just lying around?
Prospa: Malc, grab the thief and tie her up... or something....
Malc dashes into the back room.
Prospa sags into a chair clutching his sore head.
Prospa: Always lagging about an hour behind the news. [sighs, and waits for Malc to return]
Malc takes a quick stock of his stock.
Malc comes back out fuming.
Eliza sits down carefully in a chair.
Malc: You stole my drugs!
Eliza: I know, but Snake paid for them.
Eliza: I'm sorry. [again]
Eliza thinks if she just keeps apologizing they will leave her alone.
Malc looks crafty.
Prospa: Just... knock her out, or....
Malc waggles his eyebrows at Prospa in a "I've got an idea" type of way.
Prospa stops as he sees Malc's eyebrows.
Malc is quite taken aback that Prospa has had a similar idea.
Prospa always gets a worried feeling when he sees that.
Malc: You come off the horse? I'll get you some fosebine.
Malc: [sure, fosebine, that's it....]
Eliza: Can't take fosebine, allergic.
Malc: Errrr, oh, well something else then.
Titty drives the cart alongside the orchard at a snapping pace.
Eliza: No thanks anyway. I'll be right.
Prospa: Oh no!
Prospa can't believe his laterals.
Malc: What!
Prospa gets up and goes to the window to make sure.
Prospa: It's Titty!
Eliza looks up startled.
Eliza: It can't be Titty - I told you she has nothing to do with this!
Prospa: And... that horrible woman!! [voice goes up into a squeak]
Eliza: Who? Snake!?
Eliza jumps up, then seriously wishes she hadn't as her body protests.
Titty pulls the pony up next to the sweaty horse.
Titty: Here we go, at least we know the horse got here.
Wise Snake climbs carefully off the cart, after first taking a few moments to force her hands to unclench from the rail.
Malc: What do we do!
Prospa: You're asking me?? You're the one who started freaking out! [no idea if this is true or not, just freaking out himself]
Malc: Don't panic... we have the girl....
Malc looks doubtful.
Eliza pulls herself together and tries to control the pain so Snake won't feel it.
Titty strides up to the door, well waddles up maybe.
Titty: Malc? You there?
Prospa: You come here.
Prospa grabs Eliza by the wrist and drags her deeper into the house.
Eliza screaks despite herself.
Malc: I'm here, Titty!
Malc: What you doing all the way out here?
Prospa: Now, you be very very quiet, and everything will go just fine. [warning Eliza]
Titty: Come down here with my friend Snake to sort out this problem.
Titty: Is Prospa still here?
Wise Snake is hanging back, looking distinctly unhappy to be there, but interested in the outcome nonetheless.
Malc: Prospa? No no... he - left.
Wise Snake: Lie.
Eliza stays quiet.
Titty: Well his horse is here....
Malc: Err well maybe he is still here.
Wise Snake zlins.
Malc: I don't think he will want to see you though.
Wise Snake: Back room on the left hand side. Eliza too.
Malc: Not after what you [looking at Snake] did to him.
Wise Snake appears indifferent to the accusation.
Titty: Oh good. They are both here then.
Prospa wishes he knew what was going on up there... can zlin the nagers but not hear the words.
Titty: Prospa dear, can you come out please?
Titty: [very loudly]
Prospa realizes it is stupid to crouch there when everybody knows where he is.
Prospa: You stay here. [warningly to Eliza] Until somebody calls for you.
Prospa walks stiffly out into the front, wearing a throbbing head ache.
Eliza sits carefully on the sofa and just as carefully unfurls her hands and looks at them.
Malc glares at Snake.
Malc: She stole stuff.
Titty: Now, lets not all get upset.
Titty: Hello Prospa. My, don't you look, errrr....
Prospa: ~~pain~~
Titty thinks Prospa looks dreadful.
Prospa: Like I've been slammed unconscious by somebody's field?
Titty: Yes... like that.
Prospa: Funny, that.
Titty: Ummm.
Titty: I'm sure it was all just a misunderstanding.
Eliza tries to shut her hands again.
Malc: That Gen is a thief!
Malc: YOUR Gen. [he clarifies]
Eliza wonders what Mostan is doing and if he misses her and a tear rolls down her cheek.
Wise Snake quietly walks away from the house.
Prospa: Misunderstanding? I walk in here, and that... that... [stares after the disappeared Snake] is all over my client!
Malc: Where is she going!
Prospa: And meanwhile that... HER... Gen is grabbing everything not nailed down and stuffing her pockets.
Malc: Don't let her go. [to Prospa]
Titty: Just calm down.
Titty: The way I understand it, Malc asked Snake for transfer. Is that right Malc?
Wise Snake manipulates her field to be as difficult to zlin as possible, and circles through the woods around the house.
Malc looks uncomfortable.
Malc: Yes, well you were late, Prospa, and she was here with that field!
Prospa doesn't like the sound of going after Snake and is glad for the distraction.
Prospa: I was not!
Titty: Well then, you can't blame Snake, can you?
Malc: You were!
Prospa: I was perfectly on time. Didn't you say last week that you wanted me to come 15 minutes later because you were trying to beef up your system to match Loretta?
Prospa stops suddenly as he realized he spilled a secret.
Malc blinks at him.
Prospa: Er... that is... maybe I'm mistaken.
Malc had forgotten about that, in his need.
Wise Snake taps on a window near Eliza.
Eliza jumps and runs over to the window.
Wise Snake: Come on... we have a train to catch. The others are probably waiting.
Eliza climbs out the window with some difficulty cause every muscle in her body aches.
Titty: And didn't Snake pay you for what was taken?
Malc: Yeah, but that's not the point!
Eliza: Will Titty be okay?
Wise Snake: Yeah. They're acting like schoolboys caught by teacher.
Wise Snake: We'll have to hurry.
Eliza: Okay.
Wise Snake goes around the house and toward the horse.
Eliza attempts to hurry.
Eliza: Errr, Snake? Let's leave the horse.
Eliza: I don't think they would like it if we took it again.
Wise Snake looks perplexed.
Eliza: I don't think I can ride again at the moment.
Wise Snake: You want to run all the way back there?
Wise Snake: Ah... I zlin.
Eliza: I'm sorry.
Wise Snake: Come on then.
Wise Snake begins to jog slowly back toward town.
Eliza struggles along behind.
Wise Snake soon slows to a trudge as augmentation and cardiovascular fitness express their disagreements.
Eliza: Maybe someone will give us a lift.
Titty finishes with the two men, invites them in for supper and heads off towards home.
Titty hopes that the two lasses are okay.
Titty trots along and it isn't long before she catches up to them.
Titty: My goodness, what are you two doing?
Eliza is tempted to say "what's it look like we are doing? Milking a cow?" but that would be rude.
Wise Snake is regretting a lifestyle of getting by on as little actual exercise as possible.
Wise Snake doesn't think that's what Titty wants to know, though.
Wise Snake looks at Titty.
Wise Snake: Did you get it all straightened out?
Titty: Everything is fine. You just have to know these people.
Titty: Malc's mum would kill him if she thought he upset me.
Titty: And Prospa, well he just wouldn't know what to do if the Gens went on strike.
Titty: Why don't you girls hop up here and ride back with me?
Wise Snake climbs up onto the cart.
Eliza can't use her hands to pull herself up and looks helplessly at Snake.
Eliza: Give me a hand please?
Wise Snake grips Eliza's wrist and hoists her up.
Eliza bites her lip.
Eliza: Thanks.
Titty: All in?
Wise Snake: I hope you have learned your lesson about jumping on the horse and riding to your escape... and back into capture, for that matter.
Eliza: Damn horse. If I had more time....
Go to Episode #4: Black and White, in Hats and Horses
Return to the Index of Episodes