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Post by thundertail on Oct 18, 2008 4:56:50 GMT -5
FIFTEEN:
The hatchery workers cleared the area as several adult saurian forms sauntered into the room. There was a Triceratops and two Hadrosaurs among them, and an old grey Triceratops stood well in back of the crowd. Richard walked over to assist the workers prepare bowls and towels and other medical acoutriments, just like part of the practice he had gotten; but Anna Foirsythe pulled him away to stand off so the leader of the hatchery could enter the center of the space. She listened to each of the three eggs in turn, and smiled as she found each to her professional liking; then she looked at the humans and saurians all around her and smiled before she spoke.
"What a wonderful day for miracles!", Francine Rivers said both in human and saurian. "The miracles that will transpire today will make all our wishes come true!"
Muted agreements in all languages wafted softly through the incubation room, then she spoke again. "I say that this one will hatch within moments.", she went to a soccer ball size egg of blue and green speckles, and the lead Triceratops came forward, for it was hers. "Please observe the miracle.", she placed her hands on the slightly wobbling orb, and slowly pulled them away as the wobble turned to a shake.
The movement of the egg ceased for a few seconds, then redoubled as squeaking and squawking came from within. A bang, then another made the egg rock; then the top of the egg bulged in a crackling way. Two more such blows and a tiny horn emerged, followed by a tiny hoof, and finally an eggshell covered head. The room, formerly so quiet you could hear breathing, now erupted in gasps and approving sounds. The baby Triceratops shook his head and sneezed, then took his first look at the world! Mother grunted and boomed softly, and the child looked at her with unfocused eyes.
"Just wonderful!", Anna said.
"Anna told me of your heroics your first day.", Francine said softly to Richard. "This is the egg you saved that day. We told Zidra here, and she insisted you attend..."
"Oh! I remember that!", Richard said, making eye contact with the hatchling. "Ooh!... He's so cute!"
The baby heard Richard's voice and turned to see him, mewling with joy; but Zidra was just about to name him when the baby let off a loud squawk. He jabbered slightly, turning repeatedly at Richard, hoping mom would understand; and eventually she did!
"My baby wants YOU to name him, human!", Zidra rumbled.
"Me?!...", he asked.
"You were the first that helped him, you may have the honor...", she replied.
"Go ahead, Richard.", Anna told him softly.
"It's all right.", added Francine.
"Ok, here goes...", Richard said as he paused for thought. He thought back to the day he first came here, to the hatchery and to what he was doing; then what he said as he caught the egg, and had a great name! "How about 'Nellie'?", the baby cooed and chirped approval.
"Nellie?", Anna said. "He's a boy, and that's a girl's name!"
"Well, back a while ago, they named boys a name that they don't use any more.", Richard said quickly. "The name is 'Nells'. 'Nellie' is a nickname for that male name."
"I see!", Francine said.
"Human, you do my baby honor!...", Zidra rumbled. "For not only did you give him one name, you have given him two!"
Suddenly the room erupted in muted applause and cheering, and little Nellie looked around in wonder of all the sound. Francine came over with a bowl, set it down and gathered most of the shell fragments into it. A large platter of cut greens was brought over by Christopher, and he held it as Zidra took a few leaves to feed to her new son. Soon she beckoned Richard over to closer examine his new friend, getting nuzzled back by the young tyke. At Zidra's direction, she had him feed the child as well; and the baby was eating up the attention like he was eating up the food, receiving verbal chants of wonder from all present.
Soon the simple ceremony was over, and other attendants took the baby away to be washed and examined further. Thier part done for now Zidra backed away and Richard went back to Anna's side, she smiling knowingly as his aparent gushing with pride. Soon other eggs were placed on the table in like manner, and all nonconcerned parties were instructed to leave for a while. Anna walked with Richard to the outer door, where the grey Triceratops stood looking out; and surprised Richard to no end when he found out who it was!
"Flatbottom!... What are you doing here?...", he nearly shouted.
"I had to be here.", Flatbottom replied. "See, Zidra is my brother's sister's sister. The rest was away, and I was nearest of her kin.", he smiled. "I am the 'Potty Father'!"
"You mean 'Proxy Father!", Richard erupted in giggling.
"Yeah, that!", Flatbottom chuckled as well. "See, the kids' dad is over harvesting rice, and I agreed to stand in for him."
"So, you do good deeds after all...", Richard stated.
"You too.", the Triceratops said. "First saving the kid's life, then giving him TWO names!... Boy, is there nothing you can't do?"
"Staying out of trouble has always been my weak point...", Richard jokingly commented.
"Heh,...heh...!", Flatbottom chuckled. "Well, a person who does that to my family is OK in my book!"
"You're OK by me, too!", Richard said, touching his nosehorn.
They stayed there at the front entrance of the hatchery, talking and going over gossip at work. Anna and the rest were needed inside, and came to receive them in a little over an hour. Once this was done, they were escorted to the hatchling rooms; and Richard was bidden to play a few more songs for the newly hatched hatchlings. Nellie crouched in joy at the pleasant sounds, marveling once again at his new friends' singing. Even Flatbottom gained enjoyment in Richards impromptu performances, discovering another of his friends' talents.
All too soon the late afternoon sun drowned out all reveries at the Baz hatchery, and all too soon the visitors began to go home by ones and twos; but Richard stayed on, bedding down the stray hatchling or helping to clean up the accumulated mess of the day. Flatbottom stayed on as well, intending to walk Richard to the shipping company when he was done. They both had seperate intentions of spending a quiet day doing the predicted chores tomorrow; but what was revealed to them both in the morning put both thier plans to pause... _
Richard Dennison woke to a far less shock than he did the morning before, for it wasn't under the pain of a rock hard pillow but the glinting light of the sun as it came above the horizon. None of the others were up yet in the loft, so he quietly descended to the barn floor and quietly went to get the rake, shovel and other stall-cleaning paraphanalia. As he wheeled the wheelbarrow toward the paddocks, he noticed that Pinney was awake; so he quietly opened her paddock door and cautioned her to be quiet as he opened the back door of the barn to let her out, but her club tail bounced on the wooden floor as she left, startling some of the other dinos awake.
Richard got busy cleaning out her stall as first Malachi and then Croaker prepared to leave the barn, grunting and softly squawking as they did so. Flatbottom stuck his head through his paddock gate to watch Richard work, winking at him as the human turned to look; and presently all the dinos except him were out in the back yard. By this time Richard had finished Pinny's stall, and then stirring could be heard up in the loft; climbing down the ladder many moments later, complaining about the earliness of the morning. Paul Grimes wasn't among them as they sleepily milled about before going into the kitchen area for cups of Jinka, but nobody noticed. Before the first of them could come out of the kitchen, the front door of the barn opened and in walked thier boss, Sidney Mallone.
"OK, you guys. Listen up!", Mallone bellowed, and even the dionos stuck thier heads into the barn. "I have two announcements to make this morning... The first thing is that Paul Grimes has been arrested last night. He was caught fighting with another guy at the pub."
"Yeah, we were with him.", Costello said.
"We were drinking and eating, then he went off with this fellow.", Hannibal Presha explained.
"They were in a corner at a table, drinking more and playing cards and things; then the greasy guy he was with accused him of cheating!", Emily Freedom said. "We saw the fight start, then all of us cut out of there before the fireworks went off!"
"Well, he's in jail now.", Mallone said. "I told you guys I wouldn't bail any of you out, and I won't!... He'll be there until the magistrate decides what to do.", he looked each in the eye. "That means we'll be short handed for a while."
"Think of all the free time I got now!", Flatbottom gushed.
"Don't count on it, threehorn!", Mallone said. "The second thing is the mill at Horsetail Grove burned down last night. They will be out of milled flour soon, and won't be able to produce more until it is rebuilt. Word has gone out to all the towns, asking for help. The leader of Baz has volunteered all the flour and other grains we can spare, and I have volunteered to ship it there.", he paused. "I was going to have Grimes and Flatbottom deliver it, but now I'm a driver short.", he looked at Richard. "Son, I know it might be too early for you to do this; but I want YOU to be the driver on this run..."
"Me, sir?", Richard asked meekly.
"Why not?", Mallone said. "You're pretty good with the other things around here. Maybe you'll be a good driver."
"Sure, hon!", Freedom added. "Anybody is better than Grimes!", everyone chuckled.
"Pipe down!", Mallone barked. "I think you better get your cart and puller ready, Richard. Lives may be at stake, and time is of the essence!", Richard ran to the cart around the side, Flatbottom waddling along in his wake.
"Wow guy, you got a promotion!", Flatbottom was saying as Richard prepared the harnesses. "You. Me. On the road together...!", Flatbottom backed into the carts' yokes.
"Where's Horsetail Grove?...", Richard was saying as he synched the harness around the dinosaur's belly, then paused. "I mean, from here?"
"Don't worry. I know the way!", the Triceratops said. "Just sit up there, hold the reigns and look important... And watch out for snakes!", he turned. "I hate those things, don't you?"
"I think they're cute...", Richard mounted the cart and had Flatbottom turn it around.
The cart paused out on the street beside the barn, and Mallone was there waiting for them. Richard got off and went back into the barn, coming out a moment later with his Zithar. He commented that it was a pretty quick hitchup, and told them to go to the Baz mill outside of town to get the load. Mallone then went back to the doorway to instruct the other pullers and drivers on thier runs; for it was going to be a regular day for them. The man turned and glared at both human and Triceratops, indicating that they should get going or else!
As Richard and Flatbottom drove through the streets of town, many pedestrians scooted out of thier way, and thier cart got into the lane along with many other carts that were off to thier varied destinations. As the mill came into view, waterwheel that was the backbone of this facility turning sedately; they headed down the lane that connected it to the rest of the community. Flatbottom came to a halt at a wide door that led to the storerooms of the mill. Several workers were already at the door, and knew what to do; for as soon as the cart stopped, they began loading the back of the cart relay style. Within moments the cart was full, and another worker came out of the mill proper to give Richard paperwork to give to Horsetail Grove when they got there.
Nodding and waving to them, Richard flicked the reigns and Flatbottom slowly got the heavy load going; turning and leaving the Baz mill. Doubling back through town and taking another road to the south, the pair at last left the outskirts of Baz; on the road and all alone in the wilderness. A mile finally went beneath the carts' wheels, and at last Flatbottom took the effort to speak.
"So, why the Zithar?", asked he.
"I brought it in case I get bored.", Richard said. "Who knows how long this trip is going to take..."
"We'll be there by lunch, and we'll be back by dinner.", Flatbottom told him. "I took this run a hundred times before, and it's a synch!"
"Oh...", Richard put the Zithar back behind him. "So, I take it you don't care that Paul Grimes is in jail..."
"Well, it's a shame; but it serves him right!", said the Triceratops. "A guy with that adititude deserves it."
"He didn't seem so bad...", Richard said. "But I don't know him too well."
"In a few words, he's bad news.", Flatbottom said. "Always getting into trouble, spiteful, vengeful,... Totally un-Dinotopian!..."
"I mean, sure he's quiet around me, but...", Richard continued.
"That means he's trying to figure a way under your skin!", said Flatbottom. "If I were you, I'd watch my step around him!"
"I'll be careful...", Richard said, falling silent.
Many more miles passed them by, and all Richard had to do was watch the scenery go by; endless vistas of green, and not a snake in sight! As he predicted, he was growing insanely bored with the bouncing and jostling he was taking thanks to the uncushioned cart; so he reached in back and took out his Zithar, picking it absently until he began to think of a tune to play. A few moments later he was playing a spritely tune, adding some lyrics and yeowling at the end of many stanzas. The Triceratops pulling the cart was inwardly smiling, secretly enjoying the audio entertainment as he pulled; and made his feelings known when Richard paused at the end of his tune.
"You know, you play really pretty...", he said. "I like music!"
"Thanks.", Richard said. "I learned on the guitar when I was younger, then hadn't played it for years. Then when I got this Zithar, I practiced and took lessons... The kids at the hatchery really love it."
"Ah, to be young again!", Flatbottom said, inhaling. "Play another?..."
Richard did as was requested, playing a tune akin to a country and western song; then did another, slower song as more miles passed under the wheels of the cart. Pretty soon more traffic was seen ahead of them on the road, passing them by as both parties waved and hooted greetings to one another. As they reached the outskirts of Horsetail Grove, the smell of woodsmoke predominated the air, and in the distance the charred skeleton of thier mill could be seen; antlike people and mouselike dinosaurs still milling through the wreckage. As they finally walked along the avenues of the town proper, people passed ghostlike with the knowledge of what tragedy had befallen them twenty four hours ago; and no business seemed to be taking place.
At the predetermined warehouse they were supposed to drop off thier load of flour and grains, Flatbottom stopped and looked around; and seeing no one in sight, bellowed several times to greet anybody that might be inside. Soon a long bearded human stepped out and looked at the cart in surprise before scurrying back into the office next to the rather large wooden structure, coming back out with many helpers hot on his heels. He took the paperwork that Richard handed him as he hopped down from the cart to help out, and followed Richard as he undid the carts' tailgate.
"You must excuse us, sir.", the man said as Richard turned to address him. "We weren't expecting you until noon... But thank the fates you arrived early!"
"What do you mean?", Richard asked. "We're on time."
"No sir! You are almost a full hour ahead of when you were expected to arrive!", he said. "The winds of fate must have been at your backs!"
"That's wierd...", Richard said as he hopped onto the cart and relayed the many bags to the helpers... _
The work at the warehouse in Horsetail Grove soon was over, and paperwork was signed and changed hands; then Richard Dennison unhitched Flatbottom so both could seek out thier lunch. It was strange what the warehouse leader had said: They were about an hour early... Why? Oh well, better off this way! As smells of cooking soon met thier nostrils, both homed in on them and found a feed station for the Triceratops and an eatery for humans right next to it; and many dozens of moments later finished and met back at the cart.
Richard was, in the mean time, reasoning out why they got there so fast; and the only conclusion he could come up with was the fact that he had been playing his Zithar most of the way. He knew dinosaurs loved music, especially children; and Flatbottom liked it too. Maybe he liked it so much it put a spring in his step or something, making the beast move a little faster!
He vowed to find out on the return trip, that was for sure!
At the warehouse where they had left the cart, they went to work hitching up and preparing to leave. This would be an easier trip for Flatbottom, for pulling an empty cart was a breeze, he told Richard as they walked to it. Flatbottom paused and moaned slightly, and Richard paused at his side with a worried look.
"What is it?", asked Richard.
"My back again...", Flatbottom winced. "Oooohh...!"
"No worries, my friend!", Richard said, getting into position. "I know what to do...!"
The beast rumbled with pleasure as Richard's fingers worked thier magic all around Flatbottom's neck and all along his spine; drawing stares from passers by, but who cared so long as it helped the beast out. As soon as the Triceratops informed him that the spasm was over, Richard stopped and patted his nosehorn before continuing the hitchup process. A few moments later this was complete, and Richard was just about to hop up onto the driver seat when they both noticewd a small commotion going on near by.
Down the street a ways they noticed a pile of objects being put near the street. Boxes and trunks, bits of furniture and luggage; and the pile was growing larger as porters were taking them out of an apartment building near by. An older lady and a stooped old man were there, forlorn and crying; and a grizzled man with an Abraham Lincoln tophat on was reading from a scroll, telling them in terse words that they were disposessed because the whole block was being rezoned for commercial use. Both puller and driver tried to pay them no mind as they prepared to leave, but the dispondancy these poor people were loudly showing was making a scene!
"Please sir!", the lady was saying. "We've lived here these past twenty years. We paid the rent faithfully!"
"What are we going to do?", the man asked. "Where will we live?"
"That is not my problem.", Tophat told them. "Please get your things off the street before I report it as littering.", and left.
"We're ruined!", she said.
"Where will we go, dear?", he asked her.
"Perhaps my cousin Elbert can take us in...", the lady thought.
"He lives in Volcaneum!", he exclaimed. "How are we going to get our things all the way over there?", he sobbed.
"There has to be a way...", she looked around until her gaze fell on the cart, then her eyes lit up. "OH, SIR!...", she called. "You, on the cart!...", she walked over.
"Yes, ma'am?", Richard said like he just noticed them.
"I was wondering if you would do us a favor...", she shuffled. "Um, ... It would seem that we are suddenly disposessed. We would apreciate the use of your cart to take us to Volcaneum."
"We do not go to Volcaneum.", Richard told her. "We must be back in Baz by nightfall."
"No unscheduled deliveries.", Flatbottom rumbled.
"Oh please!...", she begged. "It is of the utmost importance!"
"We'll pay you for it...", called the old man.
"Pardon me while I consult my cohort...", Richard hopped off the cart, whispering to the Triceratops. "What do you think?"
"Volcanium is way out of our way!", Flatbottom said. "We'll be late - and earn Othgar's wrath when we get back!"
"Look, all we have to do is get them to Baz, then they can fend for themselves the rest of the way.", suggested Richard.
"There is a Brach bus service outside of Horsetail Grove.", was the reply. "They can get a lift to Volcaneum from there."
"Isn't there a Dinotopian ethic where you help those in need?", Richard told him. "Look, they said they'd pay us...!"
"We shouldn't get too far behind schedule.", Flatbottom told him. "If we do, we only take them to Baz. There's a bus service there, too."
"Um,... How much do you intend to pay?", Richard inquired, turning.
"One hundred Drachs.", the lady replied.
"Apice...", added the man.
"See?", Richard whispered. "Two hundred Drachs. All for doing some needy folks a favor..."
"Well, since you put it that way...", Flatbottom smiled, and Richard clapped his offered nosehorn, nearly whooping.
"We'll do it.", Richard told them. "But we can only take you as far as the Bracheosaur bus depot in Baz. From there you're on your own."
"That would be fine, sir.", she said after glancing at her husband.
"Very well, then!...", Richard said like a salesman. "Flatbottom, would you back the cart up a bit?..."
"Yup...", the Triceratops said, and slowly complied.
As soon as Flatbottom had the cart into position, Richard lowered the tailgate and tried to muscle the first of the trunks up into it; but found the huge box so heavy with what was inside that the older man had to assist. The second box was even heavier, and the lady had to help as well. Next came thier scant furniture: side table, cupboard, one highback chair, one rocker and several small tables; and quite a few suitcases large and small of luggage. When everything was all secured, Richard fastened the tailgate and climbed up onto the driver's seat. Flatbottom said the load was slightly lighter than the load of flour, but took it back as the added weight of the man and lady climbed aboard. The lady took a seat on the driver's seat beside Richard, and the man sat on the rocker; which was wedged in between the other belongings well enough for travel. Panting from the exertion, Richard smiled at his passengers and called out:
"Ok, if everyione's all set, I think we can start out now.", said he. Both nodded, so he continued. "Let's get going, Flatbottom...!"
"Gotcha, boss...", replied the Triceratops as he grunted the cart to a slow roll.
They trundled down the streets of Horsetail Grove, back the way they came; and seeing in the distance that the citizens had finished gleaning anything useful in the mill, watching as two Bracheosaurs began the extremely dirty task of leveling the structure. Richard wondered about thier well being over the time it would take to rebuild it, and feared lean times ahead for these people. As thier fields faded in the distance behind them and the forest that the path led into swallowed up the cart, Richard took the silence to make some introductions.
"Well, folks, the trip should take a few hours, so I guess now is a good time to get acquainted.", he said, turning to her. "I am Richard, and this strapping creature is Flatbottom."
"Howdy, folks...", the beast grunted.
"Well sonny, we're just grateful you could help us out!", she said. "I am Addy Meredic, and this is Elmo."
"Nice to meet you both, I'm sure!", Richard said. "We work for the Trilobite Shipping company, out of Baz."
"We're sorry to hear what happened to your mill...", Flatbottom said.
"Life's full of unpredictable mishaps.", Addy said.
"No worries...", Elmo added.
"My philosophy exactly!", Richard said. "And to cheer everyone up from thier troubles, I have a special treat for you all...!", he reached in back for his Zithar.
"Oh, goody!...", Flatbottom said as he heard Richard tuning the instrument.
As Richard began to play, just a traditional Dinotopian ditty that Rasputain had taught him, Flatbottom redoubled his pace; and that got Richard to thinking once again as the ditty came to its' conclusion. As he prepared for his next song, Elmo reached around to a trunk and brought out a long, round instrument uncannily resembling a banjo; which was what it was, and began to tune it in much the same manner as Richard's Zither. He started the second tune, and Richard was hard pressed to keep up the tempo, let alone the gist of the tune! Pretty soon the whole forest paused to listen to this miniature concert as the cart passed them by, then resumed thier noisey business as the sound faded in the distance.
"We had our retirement all planned out...", Addy was saying as she watched Richard play. "We saved up plenty, we did!"
"Then to have this happen...", Richard said as he picked. "What a shame..."
"All our holdings were sold, over forty thousand Drachs worth...", she continued, indicating rearward with her hand. "And this is all our worldly posessions..."
"Don't forget the twenty pounds of Sunstones...", Elmo added.
"Boy!... You guys are loaded!...", Flatbottom blurted.
"Hush!...", Richard scolded. "It's all they have..."
"It'll be enough.", Elmo said and continued picking.
Fairly soon landmarks appeared that even Richard could pick out as they neared the beginnings of the outskirts of Baz, for stone walls and wooden fences began to make themselves aparent along the ever smooth road. At the cruix of several fields the town proper could be seen in the distance; but Flatbottom didn't take the road that led to it, rather taking another fork in the road toward several small buildings next to two gigantic gantries with platforms at thier apexes. Though Richard could see these structures from the back door of the hatchery and through the upper window at the Trilobite Shipping company barn, he had never really been there before. As Flatbottom pulled the laden cart closer to the complex, Richard had never dreamed that the place was so big; but figured it had to be in order to service large creatures such as Bracheosaurs.
Flatbottom stopped at the entrance of one of the hoistels in the area, panting but in good spirits; and waited a few moments to be noticed before bellowing thier arrival. Immediately several porters came from the hostel and began unloading the belongings in back at Richard's direction. Once all the Meredics' things were squarely on the ground, he turned and addressed the elderly pair.
"Well folks, I guess this is it!", he hopped down to lead Addy off the cart. "I hope you enjoyed your journey with us,", he helped Elmo off. "And good luck with the remainder of your journey!"
"Aye, and you two!", Elmo said. "May you and your company prospor like no other!"
"And now for the recompense of your services to us...", Addy went to one of the trunks. "Your kindnes and entertainment is more than twice worth this!...", she bent and pulled out a sizable satchel, counting out money and putting it into a small sack.
"And for your kind company, I dare say we should accept it.", returned Richard as he caught the sack.
"Breathe deep, Richard and Flatbottom.", Elmo said as they turned to wait for assistance.
"Seek peace, Addy and Elmo Meredic!", Richard waved as he hopped aboard the cart.
Presently Flatbottom had the cart turned around, and set off the one or two miles to the Trilobite Shipping company. No words were spoken as Richard tested the weight of the sack in his hands; and finally losing patience, Flatbottom turned his crested head to say:
"Well, are you gonna count it, or what?", he rumbled softly.
"It would be rude to count it.", Richard replied. "They seem trustworthy folks."
Grunting, Flatbottom continued pulling... _____
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Post by thundertail on Oct 19, 2008 16:29:34 GMT -5
SIXTEEN: Nearly ten minutes later, Flatbottom halted the cart right in front of the barn of the Trilobite Shipping company, and Richard hopped down to prepare unhitching his puller. With little notice from either of them, Sidney Mallone, thier boss, stormed out of the office; scowl on face and hands on hips. He waited for Richard to turn around before bellowing in his face.
"You two good for nothings!...", he bellowed. "What did you do, Flatbottom?... Show him your favorite mudhole for the day?... Where's the flour?... Why, I aught to...!"
"Wait, boss!", Richard pleaded. "We delivered the flour - honest!..."
"Then where were you?", he asked, still steamed. "If you went to Horsetail Grove, you should have been away for a lot longer than this!"
"I can explain that, sir... Please calm down!", Richard told him.
"I wish you would...", he walked over to the cart.
"Well, I figured out how the pullers can pull faster.", Richard explained. "Flatbottom likes music, and I played songs for him."
"It puts a spring in my step!... Hee, hee!...", the beast turned to Richard suddenly. "Hey!... Did you pull a fast one on me?"
"Sort of, friend...", Richard said. "See, with the music, it makes them happier. It also makes them quicken thier pace."
"So that's why we were almost an hour earlier getting to Horsetail Grove...", thought Flatbottom.
"Sounds interesting...", Mallone said. "But I think the rest of the crew should know too...", he whistled toward the barn, and within moments all drivers and pullers were there - minus Paul Grimes, who was still in jail.
"Boys, Richard here has an idea. It has to do with quickness.", Mallone continued. "I think you should listen..."
Richard repeated what he already said, giving details of his entire trip to Horsetail Grove and telling of his wish to confirm it on the return trip. Then he told them of the deal with the old couple to transport thier belongings.
"Wait!... You mean you moonlighted without telling me?", Mallone asked.
"It was right on the way.", Richard said. "Besides, they were so grateful for the help that they gave us two hundred Drachs for the trouble!"
"Nearly four times what we usually charge!", Mallone said.
"Those people were loaded!", Flatbottom put in. "They could more than afford it!"
"And...?", Mallone said in a warning tone.
"And we know, you get half.", Richard said dejectedly and went into the cart and drew out the sack, tossing it to him; much to Flatbottom's chagrin! "We did it on company time, and in company equipment; so that's fair...", he explained to the Triceratops.
"We'll count this out later.", Mallone held the sack in a deathgrip. "Now, since you did all this, what ideas does this give you, Richard?"
"Well, if we all serenade our pullers, they will pull faster, saving time for other things.", Richard said quickly. "We might even have enough time at the end of things to do more runs, which will make us more money in the long run."
"But I don't play an instrument!", Hannibal said. "I can't even sing!"
"I played the pan flute as a kid.", Emily Freedom said. "Now I can't even whistle; but I can sing...", the sounds that came from her voice should never be uttered by any living creature!
"I can sing too!", Pinney said, and her saurian voice was even worse!
"Let's face it.", Costello hissed. "That idea won't fly unless you give us lessons!"
"How 'bout this:", Mallone said. "How about I go into town and find some instruments. Then I'll find music instructors somewhere.", he smiled evilly at Richard. "This looks like the beginnings of the worst band on Dinotopia!"
"It might work if everyone puts thier minds to it.", Richard replied. "If you all agree to try, we might be able to pull it off."
"I'm game.", Freedom said.
"Worth a try.", Hannibal added, and the rest nodded uncertainly.
"Now, I've only been here a few days; but I think I got a few other suggestions that might help.", Richard said, looking at Mallone. "Want to hear them?"
"Sure... Let's hear what you got.", Mallone put a foot on the cart's yoke and listened.
"Well, for one thing, these carts...", said Richard. "They are all drab and dull, weatherworn and dirty. We could clean and repaint them, perhaps in brighter colors... Or maybe paint them like that sign up there..."
He pointed to the sign of the Trilobite Shipping company hooked to a bracket high in the barn wall, sunfaded and rainworn; but they could see the colors of it right off. It had a background of light green, and the borders were of chesnut brown; and the yellowish symbol of a Trilobite stood out in carved relief, and red lettering in both saurian and English proclaiming the name.
"We get some paint with those colors, paint the carts, add the trim and put the Trilobite logo on the sides, front and back.", he went on.
"Paint costs money.", Mallone said.
"An investment to show how professional we are.", Richard added. "Everyone will know that this is the Trilobite Shipping company, and no other, when they see the carts... It will be like advertising!"
“I can draw.”, stated Costello.
“Anyone can paint.”, Hannibal said.
“All right!”, Mallone sounded exasperated. “I’ll buy the paint...!”
“I got more.”, Richard said. “It’s about personal appearances, and personal hygene...”
“Out with it...”, Mallone barked. “Get it over with...”
“No offense to anyone, I’m sure; but most of you dress awful!”, Richard told them. “I’m no fashion magnate myself, but it would be best to dress well in front of the customers. You know: functional clothing, but nice and well taken care of. Per haps a little jewelry for the ladies; and I hear both male and female saurians sometimes wear baubles here and there.”
“I got a nice tiara...”, Pinney said.
“I always thought my rings gawdy...”, Freedom said.
“I got some festival garb.”, Hannibal said. “Turban, Hosan shoes and a nice Sari.”, indicating traditional Indian garb.
“Cousin Pierre’ has some nice cotton vests I liked.”, Costello offered.
“Any of that would help.”, Richard said. “Now, I’m sure all of you have taken baths recently...”
“Why? Are there any missing?”, Flatbottom got chuckles.
“There should be MORE missing!”, Richard chuckled. “We all should bathe more often. For humans, hair should be neat; and for saurians, skin should be smooth without scaling or roughness. Creams for skin ailments should be gotten...”, he paused. “Oh yeah! Perfume for the females and cologne for the guys might also be helpful...”
“So, what is all this stuff going to prove?”, Mallone asked.
“It will show that we are professionals.”, said Richard. “It will prove that we take our work seriousely, and would do anything to maintain the trust of our customers.”, he smiled. “Once we do this, our customers will keep on using the Trilobite Shipping company forever. And new customers will surely follow.”
“I don’t know about you mugs, but I think Richard got a good head on his shoulders!”, said Mallone. “We will start doing these things right away... After we get todays things done first!”, he paused. “Um,... Richard...”, he beckoned him into the office.
Richard knew that he had to do the paperwork soon, as he had neglected it to go on his run; but other than that and splitting up the money that older couple gave them for helping them out, he knew nothing of what Mallone had in mind when he followed him into the office and his boss sat in his chair. He also knew he had to unhitch Flatbottom outside and tend to his needs, but could do that later. Finally Sidney Mallone spoke, and it wasn’t what Richard had in mind at first.
“You sure ain’t like anybody I met before, Richard.”, he said after looking from the desk. “Who are you? Really...”
“Just a person seeking his fortune.”, Richard said instead of the truth.
“I mean, most people just work. You know, do as thier told.”, Mallone said, pouring out the Drachs before him. “You actually go out and find problems, then think of a way to fix it. On Dinotopia, abilities like that are rare indeed!”
Sidney Mallone began stacking the Drachs on his desk, neat little piles of ten, all lined up neatly in a row. He silently reguarded Richard as he continued, and soon had twenty piles lined up; then looked at his employee and waved his hand over the stacks with a smile.
“Without you here, I would have never been able to do this!”, he said. “Or this...”, he scooped up ten of those piles and put them back into the sack. “You keep on doing things the way you’re going and I’ll have a bunch of competition on my hands!”, he tossed the bag over.
“Well, that might take a long time.”, Richard caught it. “I just started out here, and I’m kind of broke...”, he chuckled. “Well, not so much anymore, huh!”
“With your brains, it won’t take long.”, Mallone said, Richard smiled.
“I guess I should get the paperwork done...”, Richard began to get up.
“Naw, it’ll be here for you later.”, Mallone told him. “Go and take care of Flatbottom,... just scram!...”
“Ok, and thanks!”, Richard said and left the office.
He went out into the street, now rapidly becoming dark; and saw that someone had taken Flatbottom in already, and his cart was secured along the side. He went in and located the Triceratops, munching away on his fodder dinner; and smiled as both he drew near and the dinosaur saw him. Richard waited for him to finish swallowing before greeting him.
“How’d it go?”, the Triceratops asked.
“There’s a hundred here...”, he held up the bag. “Of course, he kept half.”
“No, I mean, what did he want?”, Flatbottom returned.
“He wanted to size me up one more time.”, said the human. “See, he thinks I’m someone special for thinking all that stuff up.”
“You are!... Those ideas were fantastic!”, he thought. “I don’t think a lot of it’ll work around here, but they were great anyway!...”
“Thanks...”, Richard said. “Um,... I came back to take care of you, but it looks like somebody already did...”
“It was Gill, such a sweet girl...”, Flatbottom turned. “So that means I get fifty?... Oh well...”
“Sorry...”, Richard told him as he walked into his paddock.
“You see, it’s just that I’m saving my money.”, Flatbottom told him, walking to a secluded corner of the paddock by a wall. “I want to buy that cart off mister Mallone; then I can go into business for myself. You know, they say that freelancers make a lot of money...”
“Just that you’re out on your own... Alone...”, Richard saw the Triceratops stomp on a loose board, making the other end of it go up. “Nobody there to protect you...!”
“Quit it!... It won’t be that bad!”, he stopped. “You can put my share in there...”, Richard looked down and saw a smallish box with hundreds of coins in there. “I have nearly a grand. The boss said he’d sell me it for two grand...”
“You know something, buddy”, Richard said after a gasping thought. “I promised you a hundred, didn’t I?... Well, that’s what you’ll get!”, he began to pour the whole bag into the box.
“Wait!... What about your share?”, Flatbottom protested.
“Never let it be said that I held you back from your dream...”, Richard told the dumbfounded beast. “Good luck with it, buddy.”, he skirted past Flatbottom, out the paddock and across the barn proper to the loft and his bed... _
A few days passed by, totally without Richard Dennison's knowledge; for he and the others had been hard at work at the Trilobite Shipping company, with plenty of breaks along the way to stop by at the hatchery to entertain the kids. Costello found out that he was a pretty good artist, drawing the Trilobite from the sign and transferring it to all the carts; of course that was after mister Mallone had gotten around to buy the paint for the carts. All had gotten dirty and tired painting all the carts, and the females there went shopping for the jewelry and clothing they would wear while on the runs. Richard even found jewelry for Flatbottom and Malachi at the curio shop in town, twin jade encrusted silver facehorn bands for Flatbottom and a gold nosehorn tip with a jeweled ball on the tip for Malachi; giving the explanation the shop owner gave him that it was all the rage in Sauropolis. Emily Freedom put together many ensambles for herself as well, looking like a female pirate when she was done, and looking like a Genie from a bottle when she put on the matching fess. Costello found an Afghan vest of blue and gold, making him look real sharp, carniverous teeth notwithstanding! Hannibal looked like a real live Sultan in his traditional Indian attire; which came complete with a Scimitar, but he hid that carefully under his bed. Croaker got a sash reminiscent of Scottish attire, and Pinney looked ravishing in her tiara accentuating her bony headplates; and even the good looks trickled uphill to make mister Mallone dress in his best leather vest, silk shirt, homespun pants and brand new jackboots.
The smile on Richard's face as he sung for the children of the hatchery was mainly for these reasons other than for the kids themselves as he concluded the last song for the evening. Truely he knew that he was swiftly gaining respect from those people, ones who wouldn't even give folks the time of day. Smiling even more as he regestered his little admirers smiling back; but they didn't smile for long as they noticed with a groan that the music was over. Sadly he looked at them all and made the announcement.
"I'm sorry everyone...", Richard said to them. "It's getting mighty late. Time for all good little dinosaurs to be in bed!"
"Awwwww.....!", they all groaned in unison.
"Now I know, but you got to!", he put the Zithar down. "You want the hatchery leader to be mad at you?..."
"Awwwww.....!", they groaned again!
Richard spent the next hour or so amid the mild chaos of trying to corral the youngsters and get them to thier respective nests one at a time. He had help, of course; for Christopher and James helped out shooing the children in the right direction while Samantha dutifully gathered up the toys, playing a little with this or that toy before resigning them to a shelf or niche. Richard grabbed the running little Triceratops girl named Selene, who squealed with glee and squirmed to no end; before accepting the fact that her nest was the place to be. After that Richard saw Greppa the colt sized Bracheosaur in the corner, whimpering and favoring his foreleg again; for this Bracheosaur was a clumsey one.
"What happened?", Richard asked. "You fall down the steps again?", he inspected. "Just a scrape, big guy... I'll go get the bandages..."
In a few moments Richard came back, took the little one into the light of a lamp and wiped the scrape with a cloth; then he rubbed salve on it and wrapped it with some cloth. Then he smiled at the Brach. "Now... No more falling down.... Ok, big guy?", the infant mewled. "Good!... Now let's go to bed!"
He led the slightly hurt dino to his little bed, patting his knee lovingly as the Brach curled up for slumber. Moving away to visit the baby next to him, Richard tucked some hay around Bobbin the little boy Hadrosaur and moved off to the next ones. As they all snuggled in for slumber, first little James yawned and roamed upstairs; then Samantha and Christopher did likewise after the older boy finished placing wood in the kitchen by the stove.
Richard dimmed the lights in the hatchling sleeping area after checking them all one last time before entering the incubation room to see how Anna was doing. She was in checking the eggs for the night and jotting numbers on a piece of parchment, statistics to calculate when each would be born; and turned with a start as she noticed him. He smiled and she smiled back as she checked the last of the eggs, then paused before checking the water level in the humidifyer machinery; which was simply a cauldron of water brought to a gentile boil, and its' steam permeated the room, creating both heat and moisture ideal for incubating eggs.
"The kids are in bed.", Richard whispered his report. "Everything OK in here?"
"Just finishing up.", Anna told him quietly. "Could you get more wood for in here? I will fill the water buckets when I'm done here."
"Gotcha...", he whispered and went outside.
There were many logs at various stages of being chopped for firewood lying about around the side of the hatchery. Coming back inside, he placed the wood near the humidifyer as quietly as he could and located Anna again. He held the door open as she came in with two buckets from the well and helped her with one as she placed hers next to the humidifyer equipment as well. Once this was done, Richard followed her around as she inspected each egg once more; then smiled at her as the task was done and a break was in order.
"Want some Jinka?", Richard offered softly as they both sat at a table near the doorways between the hatchling and incubation chambers. She nodded, stifling a yawn. "I'll go heat water...", he got up.
Quietly walking through the hatchling room, he went to see how the little ones were doing. All were quiet or breathing away in childlike dreams. Little Bolero the Troodont had shuffled his little tail out of the nest, so he carefully scooted it back in; but all the rest hadn't seemed to move since they were tucked in. He looked at them all, his favorite little ones; smiling with joy and love. There was Bobbin the boy Hadrosaur, Toddy the Triceratops kid, of course there was his godchild Nellie, there was Bruka the Dromeosaur boy, Fargha the cute little Stenoychosaur, Selene and Lillith, girls of Triceratops and Strutheomimus lineages; of which he remembered Lillith's parents were to pick her up in the morning. And then there were Winnie, Walta and Tabbis; all girls that were Chasmosaur, Pachycephalosaur and Dionychus respectively. All sleeping soundly as he lovingly checked them out, so he went into the kitchen beyond to make the Jinka.
He stoked the wood stove and poured water into the ancient copper kettle, seeing that the firewood for the stove was getting low; and waited for the water to boil. He rinsed off a few stray dishes and wiped down the sink, turning once in a while to monitor the boiling process - a watched pot never boils!... Then came loud mewling and crying coming from the hatchling sleeping area! Fearing that one of them had fallen out of thier nests in thier sleep or something, Richard gasped and rushed out into the room to observe the scene; abandoning the kettle as well as his quietness as he did so.
Nearly all of them were sleeping and only a few were stirring, but Fargha the female Stenoychosaur was sitting bolt upright staring off into nothingness and whimpering uncontrolably. Richard rushed over and startled the little one further as he crouched at her side.
"What is it, hon?", he asked softly.
"Monster...!", she wailed, and resumed crying.
"There,... there...", Richard said as he scooped her rather tiny body into his arms. "Just a bad dream, is all!...", he cooed.
"Tyranosaur!...", Fargha said loudly again. "In window...!", she whimpered some more.
"Sweetie, there are no windows here...", Richard softly explained, picking her up and gently carrying her down the aisle, swaying softly. "It's only a bad dream..., shhhhhh... shhhhhh..."
He headed for the kitchen, concious of Fargha's whimpering might wake the others; and sat on a stool after taking the kettle off the stove as it was boiling. Then he softly sang a lullaby to her as she calmed down enough to stop her fussing. She looked up to him with moony eyes and smiled a bit.
"See hon, it was only a dream...", he told her.
"Really?...", she yawned.
"Yes!... See dreams are important.", he told her. "They help us figure things out."
"Oh?", she looked unsure.
"But remember...", he added. "No matter how bad or scary they become, there is no way any of them can hurt you."
"I see...", Fargha said after thought. "You have bad dreams?"
"I had lots of them!", Richard told her. "And none of them ever hurt me.", he thought. "They were a bit strange, but no worries!", she giggled, then yawned again.
"You hungry? Want water?", he asked innocently.
"No...", Fargha said sleepily, and soon her head collapsed on his shoulder.
After a few moments to make sure she was falling asleep, he slowly rose with her and crept back into the hatchling sleeping room. He gently deposited her into her nest and tried to draw his arm away, but her grasp was pretty strong in slumber; and he didn't have the heart to jostle her to remove it and possibly wake her, so he just stayed there and waited. A handful of moments later, as she fell into deeper sleep that only children seem able to do; he was able to slowly slither his arm away, and crept back into the kitchen with a second glance to make sure the others were still asleep.
The kettle was still warm enough to not need reheating, so he fixed the brewer with Jinka leaves and poured the water inside to brew. He got two clay mugs from the cupboard and served both cups, adding a bit of sugar to his own as the mixture was extremely bitter in its' straight form. Grasping both mugs, he crept through the hatchling area and into the incubation room. He found Anna nowhere in sight near the eggs, so he looked and found her at the small table where he had left her. Her head was slumped in her arms on the table, and her breathing made her back rise and fall - the poor lady must have fallen asleep!
He sat a little noisily across the table from her and set the mugs down with a clunk - no effect! "Anna...", he said softly. "Anna!...", he said louder, with the same results! Then he placed a hand on her arm and shook gently.
"Wh...? What?...", Anna's head sprung up, then almost went back down before thought registered. "What's wrong?...", yawns.
"Looks like you could use a pick-me-up...", Richard smiled, indicating her mug as he sipped.
"Must have nodded off...", she straightened her light brown hair. "What's the time?"
"Must be the middle of the night by now...", Richard said. "Drink up..."
"I must have been out for a while...", she considered. "Anything happened?"
"Not much.", Richard sipped again, and so did she. "Little Fargha had a nightmare...", he briefly described it.
"The poor dear!...", Anna sipped again. "She all right?"
"I think so.", he said. "Say, I been wondering. How long have you been up?"
"I got up at midmorning.", she said.
"Gee!... No wonder you nodded off!", said Richard. "I got up right after noontime myself.", he smiled. "I got prepared!"
"There was a lot to prepare for.", was her reply. "Someone had to do it...", another yawn.
"Well, you're practically asleep on your feet!", Richard told her. "Why don't you take a nap over there on the cot?"
"Who will look after things?", she asked.
"Me, silly!...", he said. "I can do this; and I'll wake you the second something happens, OK?..."
"Well,... OK.", she said after a moment of yawning consideration. "But wake me in an hour!", she got up and headed for the cot.
Smiling as he watched her leave, Richard downed the last of his Jinka; then he got up to make the rounds one more time. First he took the clipboard and inspected each egg, checking temperatures and basic moistness of each as he checked them off. Next he refilled the water cauldron and added more wood to the fire underneath. Then he went into the hatchling area and made sure everyone was sleeping well. He went outside to refill the firewood near the humidifyer and the cookstove in the kitchen, then he took a small break.
A little while later he woke up himself, startled as he inadvertantly swiped his empty mug onto the floor in his sleep. He guiltily got to work repeating the same processes before stopping once again to make more Jinka for himself. All in all, several hours passed him by, and the lightening sky in the east as he gazed out the doorway in the kitchen reminded him that he promised to wake Anna up in an hour! He quickly went to the cot and shook the medium aged lady awake, and it wasn't for many minutes before she realised what time it was!
"You jollyhead!...", she nearly yelled. "You let me sleep the whole night!..."
"No worries!", he backed up a little. "You were tired, and now you're fresh for the rest of the shift... Nothing bad happened the whole time, at any rate.", he smiled. "Face it. You needed it!..."
"I suppose...", she smiled wryly. "Anyway,... thanks!...", she patted his shoulder and gathered her wits to enough remember her duties.
For the rest of the early morning Richard followed her around, helping her do the final rounds of thier shift. As the sun finally came over the horizon, stirrings throughout the hatchery became aparent; and soon it was time for them to start to prepare breakfast for the entire facility. Soon some of the others came down from the lofts, sleepy and wanting breakfast; and Richard was told to go and set up the breakfast table in the dining area, putting out plates for some twenty people attending thier charges at the time.
It was about this time that the hatchlings began to stir, noisey squeaking could soon be heard; but all of a sudden the noises changed, and a miniature thundering could be heard from thier bedroom. Richared rushed through the kitchen to see what was the matter, and nearly got bowled over by a dozen or more hatchlings making a beeline for the outer kitchen door; each making urgent squealings and moanings as they passed his legs as he gave them way. Anna's back was turned to this as she tended the stove, but turned abruptly to witness the stampede, and Richard shrugged as he got back into action.
Out the back door he chased them, out onto the path that led out back and nearing a small field. At a tree several bushes stood, and beyond that was the Copro pile; Richard remembered, and he followed the last of the stampede around the bushes and screeched to a halt when he saw what was happening. Every single one of them were squatting or otherwise in position to do thier duty, groaning in relief around the latest batch of adult copro. Richard broke into peals of laughter as he went back and met Anna on the path, of which he halted still smiling impishly.
"Gang potty...!", he said and redoubled his laughter. Anna peeked through the foliage and saw for herself, and both laughingly waited until the little hatchlings finished...
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Post by thundertail on Oct 22, 2008 20:48:01 GMT -5
SEVENTEEN:
Richard Dennison trudged tiredly down the road toward the Trilobite Shipping company, look of happy satisfaction on his face. His first full shift at the hatchery of Baz went over about as smoothly as it usually did, Anna had told him; and he performed his duties admirably, or so Francine Rivers, thier leader told him. He was quite surprised at who was there near the end; for he knew that little Lillith would be going to her home today, but he didn't know that Greppa's parents were going to be there to do the same! He said his teary farewells to Lillith, who hung on his neck until her father Morse had to practically pry her free, receiving encouraging words from her mother Eldie.
Little Greppa was a similar scenario for him, his insistent hugging and mooing goodbye while Francine was talking to his parents Gare and Gron from a third storey window; him later finding out they were discussing spectacles and other ways to cure the tyke of his severe nearsightedness. A teary good bye was had by all when it was time for Richard to leave as well, though it would be a short-lived good bye as he promised each one he would do this again soon. He was still smiling about this as he entered the Trilobite Shipping company barn and ascended the ladder, trooping to his now familiar bunk and laying his head on his newly acquired pillow.
"So, the 'golden boy' is back.", came a voice behind him. It was Paul Grimes. "Did you have a good time playing with the kiddies?"
"Oh, hi Paul.", Richard sat up. "When did you get back?"
"This morning.", he said. "Then they tell me you thought of all these goofball things...", Paul glared at him. "What are you?... Crazy?!"
"I heard what happened.", Richard said, ignoring that comment. "I hope they didn't treat you too bad."
"Bad enough, but why would you care?", Paul asked. "You were too busy changing things around."
"Well, we work together, for one.", Richard told him. "For another, I hate to see another person get a bad break."
"What do you know about bad breaks?", Paul said. "I spent years trying to make it. Just as soon as I get somewhere, someone gets in my way; then nobody cares about me, and usually ruins everything I've worked for!... I come here looking for work, and I'm doing real well.", he worked his fingernails with some object. "Then you come here, and suddenly everyone is mooning over you!"
"I aim to please others.", said Richard, picking up his Zithar. "It's the reason why folks like me.", he strummed a few chords, for music has charm.
"And I don't. That what you're saying?", he accused.
"Well, people like likable people.", Richard said, growing cautious and making a sour note.
"And folks like the way you get these strange ideas.", Paul said. "They like it that you make more work for them, and the boss likes it because it'll get him more profit, so you say.", he slipped the object back into his boot. "Well, I don't believe it for a minute!... You're a liar and a phony!..."
"I'm just making an extra effort for the good of all concerned.", Richard told him. "It's what I do. It's what I was trained for in the jobs I had a while ago."
"And that'll work here?", he chuckled. "That'll be the day!"
"It's worked in the past. Why can't it now?", asked Richard.
"Because no one wants it to!", Paul spat. "We like it the way it is; and no upstart is going to change things!", he got up and stormed over. "Not if I have anything to say about it!..."
Paul stopped right in front of Richard, spied the Zither in his hands and ripped it from his grasp before he could react. Richard gasped as Paul slung the Zithar and it shattered into a hundred pieces against a support beam across the loft. Paul then grabbed Richard by the scruff and tossed him to the floor boards, stunning Richard slightly. As Richard's eyes focused, he saw Paul reach to his boot and pull out something long and sharp. It was a dagger, more than ten inches long; and gleaming evilly with its' own metallic sheen. Paul took a crouching step toward him!
"W... what are you...?", Richard asked in extreme dismay, scrabbling backward to get out of range. "Crazy...?!"
"Don't worry, 'golden boy'...", Paul slithered forward like a spider stalking a fly. "This won't take long..!"
Richard's scrabble stopped at the side of one of the bunks, of which he tried to draw himself up so he could make a dash for the loft ladder. His hand snaked back on the bed, hoping against hope that he could find something - anything to defend himself with; and reaching, all he could grasp was the pillow!... What can he do with THAT?!... There was no time to think further as Paul's blade swung down toward Richard's chest; and Richard swung the pillow up, knocking it out of his hands. Paul snaked back and looked around for it as Richard swiftly rose to a standing position; but that was all he had time for as Paul advanced once more, knife wielding around from hand to hand. This guy was an expert at knives!
"Pretty fancy with that pillow...", Paul was starting to pant, and so was Richard! "This is going to be fun!..."
Unbeknownst to either of them, Costello was just coming up the ladder; intending to get a few spare paintbrushes. Just as his head rose to above the floor of the loft, and couldn't believe his saurian eyes! A fight breaking out up here? His eyes went wide, and he slid back down the ladder to tell everyone; running around and rousing everyone.
"Fight in the loft!...", he hissed many times. "Get the boss!..."
"I'll get the constable...", Pinny rushed out of the barn in her Ankylosaur shuffle as Hannibal was close behind; barging down the door of the office next door.
In the mean time Richard had fended off a lunge and a swipe with his pillow, crossing his pillow swings in a figure eight pattern. Paul skittered right, then left to find an opening; but couldn't find much as Richard was fast with his pillow. Richard was backing up the whole time, trying to maneuver himself around, between his attacker and the ladder; but Paul knew what he was doing and kept shifting his position, ever keeping himself between his victim and any chance to escape.
"Surely we can talk this over...", Richard pleaded, swiping away another lunge.
"I was never much of a conversationalist...", Paul swung the knife. "I let my steel do the talking!...", he made an uppercut, nearly slicing the pillow in two!
Pillow nearly useless, Richard backed up in a hurry, barely missing a slash to the chest. His legs flailed against a bunk and he landed hard on it. Paul smiled as he lunged forward, but scowled in dismay as his forward momentum was halted by an invisible force. Simon Mallone threw Paul backward into himself, impaling him with a ribcrushing embrace. As Paul struggled, Mallone reached for his knife arm and grasped the wrist in a vicelike grip. Hannibal, Costello and Freedom grabbed Richard, lifted him off the bed and shoved him across the other side of the loft, well away from any lunge; and Richard sagged in thier arms, dropping the remnants of the pillow. As his wrist lost circulation, Paul dropped the knife; and it clattered to the wooden floor, and Hannibal rushed over to kick it out of range.
"RICHARD!", Mallone turned to him. "What happened?", Richard told him everything. "Are you hurt?", a negative nod. "Meet me downstairs and wait until we're finished up here, OK?...", a positive nod, and Richard shuffled away as soon as he was released.
"Now, buddy boy!...", Mallone said, squashing Paul's face into a near by support post. "Mind telling me what you're doing?!..."
"I...", was all Mallone let Paul say.
"ENOUGH!!...", Mallone bellowed. "I've had enough of your hyjinx, mister Grimes!... I take you in, and I give you a place to stay!... You do good work, so I don't say anything when you get too drunk to do your job... I feed you, and I look the other way when you get into trouble!"
"But I...", Paul could only say as his mouth was pressed against the post. "You get into trouble and keep on getting into trouble!", Mallone continued. "I cover for you and I keep on covering for you!... You know what, funny boy?", he looked into the only exposed eye. "I simply can't afford to keep on covering for you!... You're too high a risk, and I can't afford to take that risk any more!"
"Gugg...", at every word, Mallone was pushing Paul's face deeper into the post!
"As of right now, you no longer work for me...", Mallone told him whisperingly, then louder. "I want you to pack your things and never come back here again.", he stepped away from Paul's ear. "In fact, I don't want to see you in town any more!... And I'm going to take this little adventure straight to the magistrate as well as the leader of Baz."
"I did nothing!", Paul's muffled protest said.
"You'll be banished from Baz, my friend.", Mallone told him, ignoring the protest. "I wouldn't be surprised if they banish you from the entire region!... Now get going and PACK!...", he tossed him to the floor. "Never mind!... We'll help you!...", they all got to work. Richard woodenly paced toward the loft ladder, pausing in disgust as he passed the shattered remnants of his Zithar. He stooped and tried to pick up the biggest piece, but all that came with him in his hands were the strings; which were still attatched to the top of the neck and to the fretbar at the bottom, but most of the wood was ripped apart. He took it with him as he turned to descend the ladder. At the bottom he missed the last rung in his dismay, and skittered to a standing position at its' base. Hearing a hissing sound, Richard headed for it, and only vaguely realised he was standing next to Flatbottom's paddock.
"You ok?...", Flatbottom asked softly.
"I should have listened to you...", Richard barely breathed, using the paddock side for support. "Oh, God!... I should have listened to you!..."
"There there, buddy...", Flatbottom cooed. "It's over now..."
"He tried to knife me!...", Richard nearly wailed, shaking like a leaf. "The jerk broke my Zithar!...", he displayed what was left, then dashed it away with his hands.
"It's all over... Come here a little.", Flatbottom opened his paddock door and ushered Richard in. "You're white as a sheet, kid!"
"I don't understand it!", Richard's mind was filled with dozens of emotions - all bad! "Where does he get off!..."
"Take it easy!... Turn around...", Flatbottom thusly began rubbing Richard's back with beak and nosehorn, attemting to give him a massage like Richard does to him. "My!... You're all tense!..."
"Thanks...", Richard breathed at last as he smiled slightly at the Triceratops's administerings. "Friend..."
"Shhh...! Breathe deep,... Seek peace...", Flatbottom sussurussed over and over again for many moments until Richard's quivering body began to relax... _
As Richard Dennison waited by Flatbottom's paddock, nerves shot to ribbons for what just happened to him; plenty of noises and voices could be heard from the loft above, and none of them were very pleasant sounding. Bumping and clattering sounds like those made when one was hurriedly packing, being coaxed along rather violently, by the sound; and the sound of mister Mallone's uncouth coaching as he tried to make Paul Grimes perform the task as quickly as possible.
"That's not yours...!", was heard.
"I bought it last week...", the reply came. "Careful with that, Freedom!...", another crash.
The others in the paddocks had heard what went on, and stood around in them staring up there looking concerned or glad or both. The Hadrosaur named Croaker turned to spy Richard as the human's attention turned, and gave him a wink of support before drawing his attention back to the loft. Malachi got out of his paddock as he sensed the packing process was over, and set his Triceratops form against the rear door that led out into the back courtyard, preventing an avenue of escape for Paul Grimes. Cordial did likewise for the side door, barring the way to the kitchen with his plated side and the window beyond with his spiked tail.
Flatbottom got ready by shielding Richard with his width as the noise died down, for he suspected further confrontation as soon as Paul Grimes descended. Pinney came in from the street, at last, and blocked the front entryway of the barn with her girth; and she was accompanied by a tall saurian guard, spear in hand and writ in the other. Just then a large duffel bag came flying off the edge of the loft and landed with a loud thud in the middle of the wooden beamed floor below. A few seconds later, Costello slid down the ladder and got into a defensive stance; claws and teeth bared as he backed away, and Flatbottom came out to nearly completely block Richard's view.
Paul Grimes was next, descending cautiousely and with dismay; for Sidney Mallone was hot on his quickly retreating hands! He would get them stepped on if he slowed down any, and the painful noises he made caused Richard to smile inside. Hannibal Presha started coming down next, Paul's small dagger in hand; and Emily Freedom was next, mumbling at how the loft was now a mess. Once all stood on the main floor of the barn, Mallone grabbed Paul by the wrists and presented him to the guard.
"What is the nature of the disturbance?", the guard asked.
"Sir, this man pulled a knife on my employee over there...", he pointed to Richard. "He was promptly fired, but my employee may want to press charges."
"I did not!...", Paul protested.
"Here is his knife...", Hannibal passed it over, and the guard sheathed it in his tunic. "Richard, why don't you tell the officer just what happened.", Mallone suggested.
Richard, put on the spot, shuffled forward; being reminded to pick up the remains of his Zithar by getting it caught in his feet. He stopped many paces away from Grimes, Costello taking defense a few feet away. Richard told the guard everything that went on, including the false accusations and the broken Zithar; and mostly the fight, including how he had to use a pillow as a shield. Once done, he exhaled and bowed.
"This is a grave charge.", stated the guard, turning to Paul. "You will be detained until a proper tribunal can be held."
"But I...", Paul stammered as the guard took him in a steel grip, forcing him down the street beyond.
"I ran as fast as I could...", Pinney said at last, waddling inside. "Goodness Richard!... Are you all right?"
"Shaken, but unhurt.", Richard said woodenly.
"Nobody messes with the help, INCLUDING the help!...", Flatbottom stormed. "Ok, boys!... The party's over...", the other pullers proceeded to thier paddocks.
"And I have all of you to thank!...", Richard said shakilly. "If you didn't step in, I would have been dead in another second!... Thanks, mister Mallone - and the rest of you...!"
"Aw...", Freedom said.
"No worries.", Hannibal said.
"I'm really sorry, Richard.", Mallone said. "I should have warned you about him... I never thought he'd pull something like this - and never this soon!"
"Well, Flatbottom told me about him.", Richard told them. "Too bad I didn't believe him!... Now my Zithar's broke, and I'm scared to death!...", he still shook a little!
"We'll get you a new Zithar...", Freedom told him.
"Maybe the curio shop has one.", Hannibal put in.
"There is a shop I know in Chipaharool that makes custom musical instruments.", Costello told him. "Maybe you could order one from them."
"Thanks a lot, guys.", Richard told them. "I'll get by without one for now... Only what will the kids at the hatchery think?"
"Yeah!... And what about my music during road trips?", Flatbottom asked.
"Guess I'll have to sing...", Richard thought.
"Then I guess I'll have you walk!", Flatbottom joked, and the rest laughed, and so did Richard.
"Ok, now break it up everyone!", Mallone said after a while. "The excitement is over. Why don't someone clean up the loft - and Richard, please come into the office.", he led the way, practically guiding him.
"You seem to have had a pretty busy morning.", said Mallone as he steered Richard into his chair. "And night, I'd gather."
"Yes, I guess...", Richard stifled a yawn. "The night shift at the hatchery went pretty routinely."
"The reason you're here is to coach you in what you need to say in court.", Mallone said. "I've been there plenty on Grimes' behalf, and the magistrate can be pretty formidable."
"I've seen judges before.", Richard said. "Minor issues, I assure you."
"It's just simple stuff, really.", he went on. "You know: don't speak unless asked, no emotional outbursts, give accounts clearly and accurately; and the basic codes of conduct, of which is simply common sense."
"I think I can handle that.", Richard said.
"Also, what I want to know is what you are going to say.", Mallone told him. "Already Grimes has broken many laws and codes around here. We try to be leinient on him to keep peace, but he keeps on doing these bad things. Everyone in Baz thinks we have enough evidence to have him banished from town, which is what we think is best for all concerned; and with your testimony, we can all but assure it."
"I'm really not sure what I'll say - other than the facts.", Richard told him, yawning again. "I'm not really sure I want to press charges, either; but I know one thing. If he's that dangerous, he could kill someone around here.", another yawn. "He has psychologiacl problems besides his tendancy to violence, in my opinion; and he needs councilling, not persecution. Maybe it is best that he is banished, but he needs to go to a place to get his problems worked out.", Richard's eyelids were closing to slits his whole speech, and he yawned again. "Look, I can't think straight right now. I been up all night...!"
"Yeah, you're right...", Mallone admitted. "Why don't you go get some shuteye...", he escorted him to the door. "Good night, Richard..."
"I'll try; but after what just happened, sleep won't come easy!", he replied. "Good night, mister Mallone...", Richard trudged out.
Climbing the ladder to the loft was the most difficult thing for him, mostly since he had been without sleep for almost a whole day; and the other factor being the harrowing experience he had at the hands of Paul Grimes. He nearly panted as he made it to the top, and found his bed out of instinct; falling into it without preamble, let alone disrobing. He slept dreamlessly and fitfully the whole day long, disturbed by a menagerie of both heavenly and demonic dreams that curbed his sleep to a series of deep episodes and light dozes.
By very early morning the next day he woke up refreshed and all but forgetting the events of the past forty eight hours; but that was when he went to retrieve his Zithar and found it wasn't there, parts and shards of which were gathered up and placed in a basket beside his bunk! Groaning in sudden rememberance, he got up and descended the ladder to begin cleaning out the paddocks. No one was in them, and he saw from a window that all but Cordial was out there doing thier things; and the aforementioned Stegosaurs' cart was also missing, along with Hannibal his driver for the day. Half way through with this chore there was a knock on the barn door, and Francine Rivers, leader of Baz, was out there; escorted by mister Mallone.
"Ok, Richard. Stop working.", Mallone told him. "Francine here has a court order for you."
"Richard. You are hereby notifyed to present yourself in court concerning your recent incodent with mister Paul Grimes.", she told him, handing him a scroll that said the same thing. "You are to proceed directly to the reception hall of the Baz hotel, where we hold our court proceedings. The trial of said suspect will conviene at midday sharp."
"Yes, ma'am!", Richard said crisply. "I will attend without delay."
"Good...", Francine said. "Um, Sidney. Is there a place where Richard and I may talk in private?"
"Sure, ma'am!", Mallone said. "My office is right next door.", he smiled. "Guess I better finish the paddocks!...", he got to work.
Waggling a finger, Francine rivers led Richard Dennison into the office of the Trilobite Shipping company. Richard only half knew what she might say, for he had promised not to make trouble; even though the incodent yeaterday could harcly be considered his fault! She sat at Mallone's desk, pushed aside the stacks of papers there so she could rest her elbows there. She closed her eyes and breathed a few minutes before speaking.
"Mister Dennison.", she said. "I thought you promised you wouldn't make trouble."
"I didn't, honest!", Richard pleaded. "I was coming in from the night shift at the hatchery, getting ready for sleep; and all of a sudden Paul was trying to get under my skin."
"Did he?", she replied.
"Well, no; but he tried.", he said. "I tried to have a decent conversation, and I ignored all his jibes and accusations. He got all steamed for some reason, and pulled the knife on me after wrecking my Zithar."
"And you defended yourself.", she stated.
"Of course.", he said. "But all I could find was a pillow."
"You see, weapons are enemies, even to thier owners.", Francine said, and Richard nodded; remembering learning that from his studies. "It doesn't matter whether they be for attack or defense. Even though you chose a weapon that could do the least harm possible, you were in the wrong as well."
"You mean a person can't even defend themselves around here?", Richard accused.
"That is why we have courts of law.", she said. "We negotiate peaceful solutions there."
"What if things grow beyond the ability to settle it that way?", Richard asked. "As far as negotiation goes, Paul was way beyond listening to reason.", he paused. "And another thing. If it is my own life that is on the line, I WILL defend it if necesary."
"It is a basic need to fight for survival, this is true; but we are a civilized people, and do not settle differences with violence of any such kind.", Francine said. "I came here to tell you this, and to say we will overlook your affront at this time because you are still relatively new here. Just let it be known that we will NOT overlook it in the future."
"Yes, ma'am...", Richard said.
"Now, off with you...", she rose to leave as well. "Oh, by the way..."
"Yes?", he stopped.
"Since your Zithar is broken, how will you entertain the hatchlings?", she asked.
"I'll think of something...", he said and left the office, not really knowing what that something was.
Richard went back up into the loft, went to his footlocker and chose some of the good yet functional clothes he had chosen to wear for his job. He wanted to look good in front of the magistrate and the rest that may be there for Paul Grimes' trial. Once finished with this, he headed for the ladder; then remembered that the judge might need a little evidence to prove his case, so he took the basket with the Zithar pieces and headed down the ladder with it. He saw that Flatbottom had come into the barn and nosed his paddock door open, and waved at his buddy as he stepped out the door.
The trip into the town proper went by with not many people noticing Richard as he walked along with the basket in his hands, even though he got a nod from a few passers by. he didn't notice it at first, but Emily Freedom soon caught up with him; and immediately after that Hannibal Presha came walking beside him with Sidney Mallone waiting for them all as they aproached the entrance to the hotel. They all nodded to him, silently presenting thier own summonses; and proceeded inside as a loose group.
Already the reception hall was full, and the larger saurians had to wait outside as thier human and smaller saurian counterparts would actually witness the trial of Paul grimes. The hall grew warm with the heat of so many bodies, and Richard wished he didn't wear his new hot outfit; but then the guard he witnessed escorting Paul away came in with him in hand, followed by an older man in an ornamented robe. Francine Rivers was next, dressed much as he had last seen her save for an ornamented sash and simple tiara of silvery wire.
"All may sit...", intoned the old man. "We are here today to decide the fate of one Paul Grimes,", the magistrate said after everyone did so. "A person who had disturbed the serenity of Baz many times."
"We would like to have him banished from Baz forever.", Francine Rivers said. "Or until the time comes when he learns to live a Dinotopian life."
"This would be decided upon after the hearing of the case brought by mister Richard, if I'm not mistaken.", the magistrate said. "His sentancing will come no sooner."
"I understand.", she said.
"Now, let us proceed...", the magistrate said. "Guard. Please give your testimony."
"Yes, your honor.", the guard said in saurian tongue. "On the day in question, I was summoned by Pinney the Ankylosaur to go to the Trilobite Shipping company; saying that a fight had broken out, and to hurry. I did as asked, and found the defendant standing with Sidney Mallone and his employees. They all confirmed that Paul Grimes had gotten into a fight with Richard, and a knife was involved.", he produced the knife, exhibit one of the case. "One of the employees named Hannibal Presha presented it to me, and I confiscated it."
"Did he wield the knife?", the magistrate asked.
"No, everyone then present told me that Paul Grimes did.", the guard continued. "Then mister Mallone had Richard tell his account of the incodent. It seems that he defended himself from injury with the aid of a pillow."
"Where is this pillow?", asked the magistrate.
"Your honor...", Emily Freedom spoke up. "I threw it out after the fight. It was ruined by the knife."
"Richard. Would you give your account of the incodent?", he requested.
"Certainly.", Richard said. Put on the spot once again, he shuffled forward. He told the court exactly what happened and everything that went on, including the false accusations and the broken Zithar; and mostly the fight, including how he had to use a pillow as a shield. Once done, he exhaled and bowed. "So you see, I think Paul has problems he is not ready to admit to himself, among other issues.", Richard concluded. "The last thing he needs right now is to have something like this compounding things. I don't know what other trouble he has gotten himself into; but in this case, I will not press charges."
"Richard...!", Mallone asked softly. "You crazy?!..."
"He nearly killed you, kid!...", Freedom added.
"That doesn't make sense...", Costello said, and Hannibal merely shook his bowed head in disbelief.
"A most Dinotopian sentiment, Richard.", the magistrate told him after a pause to think. "However, assault and battery is both a personal charge as well as a civil charge. It is against our laws, your leniency not withstanding. Since the guard was summoned, he had to fulfill his duty and arrest him."
"Your forgiveness does not take away the fact that you were, indeed, assaulted.", Francine clarifyed. "The court can not turn a blind eye to this act, For paul Grimes has performed many heinous acts in Baz his time spent here... He must be punished."
"Indeed he shall.", said the magistrate. "But first let us hear what he has to say on the matter. Mister grimes?..."
"I could say everything that is on my mind,", Paul told the court. "But what I have to say would only cause further outrage, and possibly extend my sentance.", you could tell he was holding a lot back! "I thereby keep silent, and do so with utter contempt!"
"Very well, mister Grimes.", the magistrate said. "Since you do not wish to defend yourself, I have no choice than to place sentance on you at this time.", he stood.
"Mister Paul Grimes, you are hereby deemed guilty of assault and battery of Richard; the use of a deadly weapon and contempt of court.", announced the magistrate. "These charges, along with the many other instances you were before this court for other charges great and small, and not excluding the above; give me no choice but to banish you from Baz, the outlying areas and the entire Northern Plains for a period of no less than five years.", the crowd stirred.
"Furthermore,", continued the magistrate. "You will hereby be dispatched forthwith to Sauropolis to undergo extensive training in ways Dinotopian. You will report to the compound of Diedrae the Parasolophus in Sauropolis, and be indoctrinated into her tutelage for no less than one year. Let this be placed into record.", his gavel fell.
As everyone rose to leave the improvised courtroom, an air of somber cheeriness spread throughout the crowd as they left. The only ones not showing a jovial mood was paul Grimes for the sentance he was about to undergo and the guard for his extra duty of guarding his prisoner upstairs in the penthouse suite. Richard later on found out that, though the rooms above were fully functional and sported the ultimate in services for the prisoner; it was furthest away from a safe escape as it was on the third floor, and the only window was a sheer drop to the cobbles below, right next to the crossing guard shack that serviced the intersection near by.
Richard Dennison joined his friends from the shipping company as they walked back to thier home. Thier moods were those of final victory over an unsavory situation mixed with the prospect of peaceful prosperity in the very near future. Richard felt like he had never felt before around these people that were strangers just a week or so ago, for never had he had friends like this; those who would stand up for him and help him in a nasty situation, and those he would from now on give his all to help in return!...
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Post by thundertail on Oct 25, 2008 20:30:01 GMT -5
EIGHTEEN:
Many days later, and with the to-do concerning Paul Grimes a fading memory, life in Baz quickly returned to normal. At the Trilobite Shipping company Richard's suggestions were just about nearing thier completion, and soon it would be time to put them to the test. All the carts were painted, finishing touches being applied by Costello's improving artistic handiwork. All were getting used to thier improved personal looks, and becoming more aware of when they became dirty or unpresentable around others. Even Flatbottom was getting more self concious of himself, and receiving aproving stares from the various Threehorn females around the town! Even though they had scoured the town for musical instruments to serenade thier pullers, the drivers only came up with a scant few of them; and they would soon be forced to search the other towns, for there could be more in the curio shops of other towns. Richard would soon need another Zithar or similar instrument himself, but so far none of those were forthcoming, either. The one music instructor in town only taught the piano, but was good with reading music; and she said she would do what she could with them between shifts, for Anna Forsythe still had the hatchery work to consider.
One day Sidney Mallone came out to inspect his no longer ragtag group of employees, smiling toothily as he also sported his best duds featuring a purple silken sash and carrying a scroll. Inspection soon over, he handed out the delivery assignments; and all but Richard and Flatbottom got one that day. Richards' was to be the stableboy and accountant for the day while Flatbottom was to assist Mallone with errands around town; for local deliveries were just as important as the ones further abroad. The rest presently hitched thier pullers up and headed out to all points of the compass toward thier assigned towns; and as Mallone finished hitching up Flatbottom, Richard got to work in the barn.
The chores were done quickly when Richard did them, for he had devised a system to make the work go swifter than usual; and Mallone had seen him do it many times, and had no complaints with it. Even though his boss handled the books better since Richard showed him how, he could never really get him to be neat about it and file the paperwork away like it should; so first he got to work straightening every file out and putting the older papers into thier apropriate files. The books were simple enough, as the profits only reflected the few runs they had gotten the past few weeks; but the expenditures overwhelmed any profit they had made, for Mallone had taken company funds to buy paint and other materials to improve the carts, and make loans to the employees for other personal things. Yes sir! The Trilobite Shipping company would be in the red for a little while; but with these improvements, they should be out of the hole in no time at all!
Finishing up, he left the office and prepared to do his most favorite thing: visiting the children at the hatchery. He strolled into the barn and climbed the ladder to grab his Zithar, but remembered all too suddenly what became of it when he couldn't find it! He remembered he had salvaged what he could of the shattered mess; just the fretbar, the strings the tuning pegs and various other bits of hardware. The rest of the wooden body was no more than a pile of kindling, so he had disposed of that soon after he took what he could off; which was now resting at the bottom of his footlocker for spare parts. He grabbed his vest as the weathercasters said it was going to be a chilly evening and set out for the Baz hatchery.
Like usual Richard nodded at everyone that passed by, whom nodded back in kind; and he paused with a smile when he at last made it to the end of the lane where the hatchery was located. He was happy to be here once again, keeping all the children happy and learning all there was to know about thier care; but there was something more that made him want to be here all the time, come to think of it. The trouble was he couldn't put his finger on the other reason why. The reason kept on escaping him as he finally darkened the front door of the complex. As the door opened without his volition, Anna Forsythe appeared; and she was carrying out a bucket of mop water ready for dumping, smiling in surprise as she hurriedly slid the bucket aside. At the sight Richard slowly became aware of what that other reason might be!
"Oh!", she said. "Startled me!... Come in, Richard.", she scooted aside. "Wasn't expecting you just then..."
"Oops!...", Richard chuckled. "Well, back for another day of fun and play...", he entered.
"You know it!...", she chirped. "Hey!... Where's your Zithar?"
"Don't get me started...", Richard said. "Now, where's the kids?"
"Don't get THEM started!...", Anna echoed. "They're nearly all ready for you."
Richard found them sitting on the floor in front of Francine Rivers, being instructed on the Codes of Dinotopia; all of them chalked up on the blackboard behind her in both human and saurian. She was having them recite them one by one, asking them what it means to them in thier own words. All were doing poorly, but that was all right considering thier young age; and soon one of the little tykes turned his attention, looking around until he saw Richard. Squawking in excitement, this soon turned the attention of all in the class!
"Look!...", Toddy yelped.
"Richard!...", Nellie gasped.
"Music!...", nearly all the rest cheered.
"Well!... It looks like I'll get nowhere further today!", Francine smiled at the sheepish looking Richard. "Time for some entertainment, then!..."
"Yay!!!...", all of them cheered once again.
"Hi, kids!", Richard said, stepping to the balckboard. "Everyone ready for some fun?", he shuffled, empty handed.
"Where is your Zithar?", Christopher asked from the kitchen doorway. "You forgot it?"
"You see, the thing is...", Richard bowed, slightly ashamed. "A bad man broke it on me...", he kind of smiled. "I guess he didn't like my music..."
"No music?", one asked meekly.
"Awww...!", a few droned.
"You beat him up?", Nellie asked, looking angry.
"Oh, no!", Richard told them. "That's even worse than breaking something!", he crouched. "I forgave him because I can always get another Zithar.", he looked at them all. "But the others in town were so mad at him that they sent him away until he can behave himself!"
"Ooh!...", Nellie cried. "I broke my food bowl the other day!... Will they send me away?..."
"No, silly!", Richard chuckled, rumpling his frill. "I think the hatchery has plenty of bowls!... Besides, if you're sorry you did it, then everything is OK."
"Oh, I am!...", he nodded.
"OK then!... Everything's fine!...", he patted him, getting up. "Now, for some music...", he went to the piano after sliding the blackboard aside. "I wish I could play this thing...", he looked around. "Samantha, can you play the piano?"
"A little...", Samantha came around. "Mom taught me, but I'm not very good..."
"You'll do fine.", Richard told her as she came forward, him scanning the sheet music atop it and choosing several pieces she might be able to play. "Can you play these?", she nodded and sat.
As she fingered the keys in preparation to play, Richard leaned over and scanned the words within the stanzas. These simple Dinotopian childrens' songs he knew the words for, but wanted to read them through again so they were fresh in his memory. As the songs proper began, Richard began to sing them; using a funny falsetto of his own voice, and dancing around a little with expressive looks on his face. the children laughed and thouroughly enjoyed his improvised performances, which lasted over an hour; and they applauded both he and Samantha's entertainment when it was done.
In the mean time, Anna and Francine was busy getting the noontime meal prepared; having some help from Christopher and James, getting more firewood for the stove or handing them requested kitchenware or the odd ingredient. Moments after Richard's performance, the meal was called; and Richard helped out with the feeding of the young ones. As thier own meals were set in the dining area, all ate with gusto; but what was a relief to Richard was the fact that nobody mentioned his incodent with paul Grimes. Instead talk was of the noncommittal kind: of hatchery business, town policies, how things were going at the shipping company and things like that. They asked Richard when he was going to get another Zithar, and he commented he and the others at the shipping company was looking around for one as they spoke.
At last the midday meal was over, and the cleanup process from it soon commenced. The hatchlings were bedded down for thier naps and Richard found himself in the kitchen, doing dishes with Anna. Both were joking around, splashing each other with water and nudging playfully as they washed, dried and put away. They were really having a good time working together, and this activity did not go unnoticed by Francine Rivers; who spied the activity as she passed by many times during her working rounds. She knew that a new romance between them was likely to happen soon, and simply left them to thier devices until it was time for Richard to leave the hatchery... _
Many a day went thusly for Richard Dennison. Between work at the shipping company and work at the hatchery, life for him was soon becoming routine but never really dull. One time he noticed the bread at the bakery was beginning to have strange tastes, and went to Beatrice Crocker to ask why. The old lady could not explain it, for she had been using the same recepies she had gotten from her family for generations - plus the few that she borrowed from other bakers, she admitted! He asked to inspect the kitchen, and found the flue pipe leading outside was caked with nearly an inch of soot, and some of that was backing up into the ovens, creating bad flavors. Richard, grateful for all the free bread he was getting, volunteered to clean out the flue; and in the end he was covered from head to foot in black offal! As a precaution, he had Beatrice and the rest clean up any soot residue; which ended up being on every possible surface in the kitchen!
The jobs around town never seemed to stop, but the recent influx of people and saurians gave every business plenty of extra help. These were persons on thier way to or from jobs in the fields, harvesters and planters; workers who help eat the food, so they help grow it. With the crowds flooding into town, of course businesses flourished; no less the shipping companies. They were back ordered for deliveries, and seldom did any see an idle cart in town. Between shifts at the hatchery, Richard found himself on deliveries more times than not; and his buddy Flatbottom was always seen pulling his cart. A few days after his Zithar was broken, he was on a run to Cornucopia just rocking along with the cart and enjoying the scenery. The trip was a long one, so both he and Flatbottom knew they were going to spend the night on the road. Richard reached in back of the cart, realised he no longer had his beloved instrument and sighed.
"What's wrong?", Flatbottom asked suddenly.
"Oh, nothing...", Richard looked ahead. "Just that I miss my Zithar."
"No worries...", Flatbottom said. "Maybe you can sing..."
"And have you kick me off the cart?". he replied. "No way!"
"Just kidding!...", the Triceratops chuckled. "Anyway, what else is new?"
"Oh, I don't know...", Richard said. "Say Flatbottom. Do you have anything like a girlfriend back home?"
"Not really.", he replied. "But some of the ladies have been giving me the eye lately!...", more chuckles. "How about you? Emily Freedom is cute, I hear..."
"Her?... Well don't get me wrong...", Richard stammered. "I mean, I like her and all. It's just that she's too flighty and things...", he made a fluttering hand gesture. "Don't tell her that!"
"If I do, she'll pound you!", he chuckled again. "Anyone else you been thinking of?"
"Well, back at the hatchery, there is one...", Richard said slowly.
"Anna Forsythe?", Flatbottom guessed. "I thought the only reason you go there is for the kids!"
"Them too, but I was thinking...", he said. "I been here a while, got a good job. Why don't I settle down with someone.", he looked at his friend's back. "You know, start a family..."
"I hear she has a ready made family.", Flatbottom said. "Too bad about her first husband, huh?"
"Yeah,...", Richard said. "But how do I go about it?... I mean, here things are different and stuff."
"Things are no more different then the rest of Dinotopia.", Flatbottom said. "You're an honorable man, she's an honorable woman. Start slow and continue slow. Before you know it you'll be friends, then you'll be more than friends and then you'll both want to consider marrage.", he turned his frill. "You don't know this?..."
"Flatbottom, could we stop around here for the night?", Richard asked in a ghostly tone. "There's something I have to tell you, and it's best you're standing still."
"Why sure, buddy...", Flatbottom couldn't fathom why. "There's a small way station up ahead. We can stay there for the night...", the look on his face was strange indeed!
About a quarter mile up ahead there was a cul-de-sac carved out of a small clearing at the side of the road; used mainly to turn carts around or to go into to let other carts pass, a well used campsite in its' middle. At the small circle of stones a pile of pre-gathered firewood sat, and Flatbottom stopped the cart right there. Richard got out and prepared bedroll and fodder before going to light the fire. Once all this preparation was set, he unhitched Flatbottom so he could move around freely.
"Um,...", the beast said. "So, what was this thing you wanted to tell me?"
"Well, first off, I wanted to let you know that I will definitely listen to your advice from now on.", Richard told him as he took out some food fit for humans. "You put me wise to Paul Grimes - and too bad I didn't heed your warning... But I will definitely take your advice when it comes to Anna."
"I'm glad for you...", Flatbottom saw on his face there was something more. "And?..."
"Flatbottom. You said you have had Partners before.", he replied, cooking. "What were they like?"
"Well, I told you.", he replied. "They were good for a while, but then they ended up being jerks!... What's that got to do with anything?" "Well, I can tell you like me... And I sure like you.", Richard searched. "I never had a Partner before..."
"Never?", Flatbottom considered. "And you want to know if we could?", he stared at this human, then all of a sudden bellowed laughter! "You jollyhead!... If you couldn't tell we were Partners by now, humans are dumber than they look!", he turned serious. "You didn't know, did you?"
"I thought there was something official we had to do...", Rihard was stunned. "I knew we were friends, but..."
"Well, we are!...", he considered. "There IS one thing we could do, just to make it seem official.", he shifted his weight so he could lift his right forehoof forward. "We press our palms together and bow... Hurry! I can't do this forever!..."
"Like this?", Richard scrbbled over and placed his palm onto Flatbottom's underhoof, bowed as Flatbottom did, pressed and released. "Perfect!", Flatbottom let his foot down with a thud. "Now it's official!...", he noticed more clouds over his Partner's face. "Kid, you got more problems than a Brach has skin!... What now?"
"Well, it's my guess that Partners are supposed to be honest with each other.", Richard divulged. "See, with me, I'm not exactly who I seem to be..."
"Who are you then?", asked Flatbottom jokingly. "Othgar's ghost?"
"Well, you see it happened over six months ago... Or was it eight?... Time flies so strangely here!...", Richard began to tell him his entire story. From being an office worker back in New York to his divorce and his kid; and the trip to Bermuda courtesy of his boss. He described the voyage and tagging along with Stacy Taylor; and didn't leave out the raging storm that wrecked the ship and sent him on Dinotopia.
"You are a Dolphinback?", the Triceratops nearly shouted.
"Yes.", Richard said. "My full name is Richard Dennison, and..."
"Dennison?!", Flatbottom nearly bowed! "Oh, my gosh!... You are related to some of the most famous humans here?"
"They think so, but not me.", Richard told him. "I was just a lowly office boy, and not very famous or special..."
"Well here you are!", Flatbottom said. "It is certainly an honor, mister Dennison, to make your acquaintence!"
"Oh, cut it out!... It's me... Good old Richard.", he told him. "The same guy who feeds you and fixes your back!"
"But I...", Flatbottom was hushed.
"Want to hear the rest of my secret?", the saurian nodded. "As I said, they thought I was special too. When I got to Waterfall City, I was educated in your writing and languages. I was good at it too; but I still loved to do my old job. I went around to the local businesses and helped them with thier books and things. I played the guitar as a teenager, but lost my touch; and then I got that Zithar and some lessons. When the time came to graduate, I did real well in all my studies; so well that they assigned me as a scholor, and was about to send me to Carnask as an Archaeologist apprentice."
"Then they changed thier minds.", Flatbottom guessed. "And they sent you here."
"No.", Richard said. "I didn't want to be an Archaeologist, so I snuck out of the city in the middle of the night and walked for miles. Then this crazy Troodont came and led me to Baz.", he smiled. "You pretty much know the rest."
"You're a fugitive, mister Dennison?", Flatbottom was shocked.
"I guess so... But please, just Richard.", he told him. "And please, don't tell anyone about this!"
"The town leader should know!", Flatbottom said.
"Francine Rivers already knows.", Richard said. "She was notifyed by the matriarch about me, but must have told her she didn't see me.", he served his own food and continued. "She says she keeps a peaceful town; and if I don't cause trouble, I can stay as long as I want."
"She looks the other way?", said a gruff Flatbottom. "That's dishonest!"
"She's only doing what she thinks is best.", Richard said. "And I request you do likewise and keep this hush-hush with the rest, OK?"
"Oh,... all right...", Flatbottom said after a moment of consideration. "How can I refuse my Partner - and a famous one to boot!... Boy, this is going to be an exciting secret to keep!..."
"Thanks, buddy!", Richard hugged him. "And I'm keeping a secret for you too!... I know where you keep your money back home!"
"Oh, yeah...", the Triceratops realised. "I forgot!..."
Chuckling, Richard began unfurling his bedroll, then ramped up the fire for the night. Flatbottom came over and lay beside him, near enough but not overly so in case he rolled over in his sleep. As both hunkered down for the night, the Triceratops' frill stood out starkly red against the campfire glow. He turned his gargantuan head and smiled at his new, famous, Partner and got his attention.
"You know, I been thinking.", said he. "You should really tell Anna about all this sooner or later. Girls don't like having a secret kept from them."
"I suppose you're right.", said Richard. "But when?", he turned. "I can't say anything until I know she loves me... Or should I?"
"I can't really say when, just soon.", Flatbottom said. "I'm not exacly up on girls myself. At least the human ones..."
"Well, thanks anyway...", Richard yawned.
"A pleasure, mister Dennison!", Flatbottom said like a gentilebeing.
"Oh, go to sleep!...", Richard snapped and rolled over... _
Richard Dennison and Flatbottom woke up in the cul-de-sac on the way to Cornucopia just as the midmorning rays filtered through the trees, right into thier eyes! Realizing they had overslept, they made all possible haste to clean up the campsite and hitch up before nearly trotting down the road less than a half hour later. Nothing was actually said about what was discussed last night, but the silence both of them showed told volumes.
By late morning they came out into a vast plain of rolling grain, miles and miles of wheat, barley and corn receeded from them in waves of tan and golden; and the road made a lane between these huge fenced off areas. Soon this plain turned into row upon row of fruit bearing trees: apple, orange, peach and many more Richard could not name; but the fragrances coming both from the fruits as well as the budding florals on the trees made thier welcome to Cornucopia all that much more pleasant. The first signs of activity came from the fruit pickers deep in the groves, then the first sparse outbuildings were seen between the tree boles; then as the trees finally thinned out being replaced by thier wilder kinfolk, the barns and other grove buildings came into view.
Of course, the closer they got to these buildings, the more workers and other people they saw; and then the town proper became aparent to them. Cornucopia was built with a combination of styles and with a number of building materials, all melded together like an organized collage of wood, mud, plaster, stone and glass. All buildings built of lesser materials were merely one to three stories high while the ones with better materials were made much taller; and some of the ones made of stone rivaled the buildings Richard had seen in Waterfall City!
Flatbottom knew the way to the cargo depots, and wove his way through the partially cobbled streets; obeying the traffic patterns and stopping when the odd crossing guard bade him to. Soon they came upon the complex with many warehouses servicing the shipping companies that passed through, and stopped at thier assigned drop off point for thier load of forged hardware from Volcaneum. At Richard's direction, the workers there unloaded these goods; and they were just about to go to the dispatcher's office to see about thier return load when said dispatcher came out, long sideburns rustling as he rushed; and halted Richard's descent from the cart.
"You from Baz?... Trilobite Shipping company?", the short and stocky man asked. Richard nodded. "We got a postal bird from your boss. They want you to bring a load of lumber to Mollusk Town...", he looked. "It's in warehouse 32...", he pointed.
"So much for making it back early!...", Flatbottom said and steered the now empty cart toward the indicated building down the street.
"Who's going to pick up that load of instruments?", Richard wondered. "That's what we were supposed to get."
"No worries, friend.", Flatbottom said as he stopped. "I can carry both loads!"
The workers at building 32 loaded the lumber, just a handful of rafter planks and six sets of prefabricated window casings, and quickly left them as another task was assigned to them; and then after Richard signed the required bill of lading for them, Flatbottom moved the cart out of the warehouse district of Cornucopia and down into some rather ritzy streets. These sported small shops and food marts, along with the odd pub and hostel thrown in for good measure, and Flatbottom stopped at one of these shops; and the sign that was on a canopy draped out over the sidewalk said 'Decker's Desirables'. Richard produced thier order request and hopped off the cart.
The bell connected to the door tinkled as he stepped through, and Richard stood in wonder at all the handmade trinkets, small sculpture of human and saurian subjects, odd instruments and every other sort of oddity for purchase that Dinotopia could ever hope to offer. Nobody was present as yet to service hiom, so he spied a small counter near the back of the shop and wove his way among the curios to there. The handbell on it was rung, and Richard waited for the owner to appear. Soon a small armored dinosaur came out, quadropedal and sporting a clubless tail; it squinted up through armored eyelids and bellowed greeting at him. He nodded and asked in saurian whether the owner was in, and she bellowed that he was looking at him.
"Yes...! I was wondering if you have our consignment of musical instruments.", he said in saurian. "We are from the Trilobite Shipping company, out of Baz..."
"Yes, yes!... Have them we do!", the Gastonia said. "Old Hermes never forgets an order.", she squinted again. "They are out back. No time to pack, but all are good as new.", she looked up. "Follow me, human!", she waddled away.
"Name's Richard.", he made conversation as he followed. "My puller is Flatbottom."
"Good to see new faces, and hear new names...", Hermes said as they emerged into her back room. "We found several of the instruments mister Mallone requested. Violins, Dragon horns, other stringed instruments and more. Could you pack them for shipment?... My help I had to let go."
"It's hard to find good help these days...", Richard said as he prepared a crate with excelsior. "What's this? A Zithar!...", he hefted the instrument, smaller than his and made of darker wood.
"And more!", Hermes said, swishing a tail at three more in thier own cases. "An extra forty Drachs each, if you want them..."
"Well, this one isn't the kind I had in mind.", Richard said, considering. "Would you care to trade? One of the others for this one?", she considered.
"I hear that your company intends to play these instruments for your pullers.", said she. "For what purpose?"
"Well, dinosaur hatchlings like music, and so do adults.", he explained. "It makes them almost want to dance. When you play for them while they are pulling the carts, it makes thier feet move faster. Faster feet make quicker destination times. Quicker destination times make more runs possible; and thusly more profit."
"Brilliant!... It would take more than music to move these old feet!", she chuckled. "That idea needs all the help it can get!... Please take them all for free. The market is slow for musical instruments!"
"But I can't just take them from you...", Richard thought. "Look, write out a receipt and I will have mister Mallone send money to you. Nobody should be left short on profits..."
"A kind lad, to help an old one as myself...", Hermes said. "Now hurry packing!... No need for one as yourself to be late!", Richard got to work.
"No worries there...", Richard said as he did so. "We just got assigned another side trip to make.", he began crating the instruments. "So much for going home any time soon!..."
Presently Richard got done with that chore, and loaded the few small wooden crates onto a longish wheeled handcart; pivoting wheels at each end and fixed wheels in the center for maneuverability in tight spaces, and wheeled it out the side door of the store room. He wheeled it down the alley beside the building and to thier cart, Flatbottom waiting dilligently and conversing with a Strutheomimus that had just happened by. Richard muscled the crates up onto the back, and had to rearrange the load already there so the instruments would not get damaged during the trip.
Cart loaded, Richard returned the handcart and climbed abord his cart; clicking to Flatbottom that it was OK to travel. On the way out of the city, Richard explained about the extra Zithars, gloating that now he had a choice; as the Triceratops chose a different route out of the city of Cornucopia. Horsetail Grove was in a different direction from there as opposed to Baz, and indicating that Richard might not know the way for his foriegn lineage, said that he would once again lead the way. The road ahead was steeper and twistier, but somewhat better paved; and many strong bridges forded many a stream, of which they paused frequently to replenish thier canteens. Night was soon falling as they continued down the trail, and Flatbottom spied another campsite at the edge of an unused field; so he pulled in there and Richard began setting up camp and unhitching Flatbottom. This campsite the former users had neglected to replenish the campfire wood, so Richard presently foraged in the near by forest for some.
High above a winged shape took form, gliding on thermals and screeching out his cry. The pilot yawned and looked around for a good spot to land. Seeing the cart and its' puller in the clearing below, she turned her steed and he descended, spiraling about lazilly to conserve energy. As the Skybax landed with a thud several dozen yards away, the puller, a grey Triceratops, lifted his head with a start and looked accusingly at the flyer and pilot when she descended from his back; then bowed in recognition of a Skybax team, friend to all. Her auburn hair spilled out of her helmet when she took it off, and purposefully sauntered over to the beast.
"May we share your campsite for the night?", she asked. "Cirrus needs to rest his wings..."
"Why certainly, noble flyer!", Flatbottom returned. "My puller should be back momentarilly, for he is out gathering firewood."
"Excellent.", she said and went to tend to her steed.
Flatbottom waited and watched these two for many moments, never liking being alone among strangers and wishing Richard to return so he wouldn't be alone with them any more! She returned a little while later with her bedroll, and set it out near the proposed campfire; then she went through a small satchel she had also gotten, taking out a few rations to eat later. Without even noticing the Skybax before, Richard came out of the forest on the leeward side of the cart; so it became a complete surprise to see both lumbering Skybax in the near distance and his rider by his unlit campfire. What startled him even more was when he saw Elana Dennison crouching there, and he dropped his load of firewood noisilly, gaining the attention of all before him!
"Wh?... I don't believe it!...", Elana rose suddenly. "Richard Dennison!... You are a long way from Carnask!"
"I,..." Richard stammered. "Um,... How did you find me?"
"Luck, I guess.", she said. "What are you doing here?"
"Um,... I'm sure you heard what happened at Waterfall City...", he began.
"It was strange.", she said. "They sent us out to look for you, then they called it off less than a day later.", she shrugged. "I thought they found you... What happened?"
"Well, it all started when I left Waterfall City...", Richard began. He told Elana about his walk through the wilderness, and about the Troodont named Rasputain who helped him all the way to Baz. Then how he got established in town, his two jobs and all the friends he made in town.
"You mean you were NOT assigned there?", Elana interrupted. "You mean you're STILL a fugitive?!... Oh, Richard!... I can't let this slide. I must report this!..."
"Please, Elana! Don't tell anyone!...", Richard pleaded. "I found a life for myself in Baz. The kind of life I always wanted to have!", he bowed. "Please don't take this away from me..."
"Now wait a minute!...", Flatbottom cut in. "What are you two talking about?!", he rose, and Cirrus made a warning squawk. "Nobody's taking away MY Partner and get away with it!!..."
"Now Flatbottom... Nobody't taking away anyone just yet!", Richard said. "Maybe some more explanation is in order.", Richard rose. "Elana Dennison, meet Flatbottom. We recently became Partners.", he turned. "Flatbottom. This is Elana Dennison. Flatbottom knows all about me being a Dolphinback as well as my other troubles. The only thing he doesn't know is you are my cousin."
"You and her?", the Triceratops said. "I'll be!", he bowed. "Sorry for being short, ma'am..."
"No worries...", she told him. "But as for you, mister Dennison!... I know I must report this, as is my duty; but you are my cousin, and doing well there, you say.", she began to eat. "Frankly, I'm torn... I can't destroy your dream, but I could get into trouble for dereliction of my duty... You know how it is..."
"So, what do you suppose you'll do?", Richard asked.
"I don't know.", she said between bites. "It is too dark to fly right now... I guess we'll stay the night...", she began to finish. "I will give you my decision in the morning.", she got up.
Elana Dennison went to Cirrus, loostening straps so the Skybax could nestle down for the night while Richard Dennison got up and went to Flatbottom to see to his bedding. Both returned to thier bedrolls, saying nothing as they lay down, and sleep came to them both less than an hour later. In the morning Elana was up first, nursing the fire back to life before tending to her steed; and the Skybax's squawking woke Flatbottom up, where his grunting woke Richard up. He looked over to his cousin as he stowed his bedroll, and prepared Flatbottom's rigging as she came to gather her bedroll.
"Any decisions?", Richard asked.
"You, like me, seem bent on going against establishment.", Elana Dennison began. "Many were the occasions where I disobeyed orders, and ended up saving the day. You did so, and I think you are doing what they want you to; which is to fit in on Dinotopia.", she clenched her bedroll. "You have found your own niche in our society, all by yourself; and who am I to get in the way of that?", she smiled. "My answer is no. I will not report you to the matriarch at this time"
"Thanks, cousin...", Richard said. "You're true family!"
"My only request is that you should attone for your crime, and to make ammends for it; and you should do it soon.", Elana reached for a hug. "After all, who knows who else will find you - and they won't be so easy on you, either!"
"I know...!", he realised, returning the hug. "I'm feeling kind of guilty about it myself."
Without warning she broke the hug and rushed over to her Skybax steed, who had turned at an invisible body signal by her and waited, crouched to take off as soon as she sprung onto his back. A crouch and a swoop and the giant bird was airborne, lumbering left and right to gain altitude; and spread his wings to full length as soon as he cleared the treeline. Both human and Triceratops watched as they shrank in thier sight, circling ever higher as at last they disapeared out of sight. As the wonder of this spectacle wore off, they both looked at each other and smiled.
"Boy, that was a close one!", Flatbottom said. "She could have nabbed you good!"
"Blood is thicker than water, I guess...", he said. "But I guess she is right. I got to fess up one of these days..."
With little extra talk, Richard got Flatbottom ready for the remainder of the trip; and was soon back on the road, on thier way to Horsetail grove. When they got there they dropped off thier load of wood and building supplies for thier mill, then headed back on the road and to home...
_
Wind rushed across her steed's wings and into the vent holes of her helmet, but this didn't cool the heat of worries that now engulfed her senses. Elana Dennison knew that Richard was doing something bad, but wondered why nobody knew - or even cared! Usually the leader of Baz kept a close eye on everyone in her town, for there was little there that she didin't know about in her sphere of control. Was there something else going on that she didn't know about, or did Richard Dennison keep such a low profile that he escapes notice?
They were going to the Romana Hatchery, delivering corespondance from Pteros to the matriarch herself; but her curiosity was eating away her will to do her duty in that task. She was sure that taking a little detour wouldn't put her behind schedule too badly. Besides, there was no other way to stop that nagging other than to face the source of her trouble. She gave a signal to Cirrus to change his course, and the giant flyer squawked questioningly to her.
"We are going to Baz, my friend.", she yelled through the wind. "I'm going to get to the bottom of this Richard Dennison business once and for all!"
Cirrus made the sweeping turn and headed for the upper Polongo river and off across the Obnubian Range to the central trading post city of Baz. By midmorning they landed at the Skybax aerie there near the Brach Bus terminal, and the handlers there tended to Cirrus while Elana went off in search of Francine Rivers.
There was no sign of her in town, but word said that she was at the hatchery at this time; so off she walked, strides spelling purpose to anyone who watched her pass by. She stormed up the steps and stopped the first one she met there, and Christopher said that Francine was in the incubation room; leading her there and quickly disapearing to his other duties.
"Well! Skybax pilot Dennison!", Francine said as she turned. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I have recently encountered someone, and I think you may be unwittingly harboring a fugitive.", Elana said without preamble, hands on hips. "What say you?"
"This is a surprise, but I do not know what you're talking about.", Francine told her, stifling her with a finger. "Let us talk some place more private, eh?... Don't want to upset my patients, you think?", she turned. "Anna...? Would you be so kind as to finish this hatching?..."
"Yes, ma'am.", Anna said, rushing over just as the first cracks appeared on the egg.
Francine Rivers led Elana Dennison out through the kitchen and out the back door of the hatchery, down the path past the Copro pile and out into a flower farden lined with topiary creations; which was a common garden, but nobody was there at the time. Elana trudged a few paces behind the leader of Baz as Francine pointed out this or that flower. Once she was sure they were as secluded as could be, Francine began to speak.
"So, I'm harboring a criminal...", she stated. "Who?"
"A man that goes by the name of Richard Dennison. That's who!", Elana said, slightly angry. "I met him out on the road yesterday evening, and he says he lives here."
"Miss Dennison, I run a quiet town here.", Francine said. "He gives no indication of being dangerous."
"So, you know about him!", Elana announced. "Why would you let him stay here when you know he is wanted in Waterfall City?... Harboring a fugitive is a crime, if I'm not mistaken."
"I am working in the closest co-operation with matriarch Elizabeth Reynolds, I assure you.", Francine said. "I send reports about him on an almost daily basis."
"To what end?", Elana asked. "Word had it that he was supposed to go to Carnask and become an Archaeologist."
"Well, I don't know about that, but matriarch Reynolds told me to keep him here until he fits in.", said Francine. "I've taken him into my confidence and trust, saying I won't tell anyone he's here if he stays out of trouble."
"But in reality, he's learning how to be a Dinotopian.", Elana concluded. "I hope I didn't mess things up!... See, I told him that he should go back and make ammends."
"No. That might be for the best after all.", Francine said. "It will make him see it is wise to bend to authority."
"I'm sorry for bothering you then.", Elana said, smiling. "Now that I know, maybe there is things I can do to help."
"Maybe, but I wouldn't push things if I were you.", Francine told her. "I think it would be best if you go tell matriarch Reynolds this and see what she wants you to do, if anything at all."
"That would be for the best...", Elana thought. "I was on my way to deliver some correspondance to her from Pteros anyway. I could see about this while I'm there!"
"I have a message I want you to deliver to her.", francine said. "If you'll follow me..."
She led her back into the hatchery, through the kitchen back the way they came. Inside she led her up a stairway around behind the Hatchling area and up into a series of bedrooms and worker's quarters; one of these rooms being her office. Francine sat at her utilitarian desk and bade Elana to sit in the room's only other chair, then got out parchment and stylus and began to compose her note in overly elegant calligraphic script:
Matriarch Elizabeth Reynolds,
Salutations, I have been informed that Skybax pilot Elana Dennison has encountered Richard Dennison on the road at his job of driver for the Trilobite Shipping company. I have informed her of his purpose here, and she thinks she may be able to help. I have asked her to talk to you about this, for you alone know the true purpose for him being here. I trust you will make a wise decision concerning this; and, as always, my best wishes go to you and your beloved husband, mayor Edward Reynolds...
Sencerely, Francine Rivers, Baz.
"There we go...", Francine said as she rolled the message up and sealed it with a leather thong. "This should explain everything."
"You think Richard will make it?", Elana asked.
"He's doing more than fine as it is!", Francine told her. "I suspect he will be an exceptional addition to Dinotopia before long."
"I thought so!...", Elana chuckled. "That's a Dennison for you!...", she looked around. "Guess I better deliver this..."
"That's a girl!", Francine said as the Skybax pilot turned. "Breathe Deep!"
"Fly High!", Elana Dennison turned as she trotted off out of sight...
_____
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Post by thundertail on Oct 31, 2008 5:43:29 GMT -5
NINTEEN:
At first Richard Dennison and Flatbottom never noticed anything was different in Baz when they arrived there. They simply wheeled up to the Trilobite Shipping company and began unloading the instruments they had gotten in Cornucopia, meeting Sidney Mallone as he came out to inspect the load. As soon as the crates were opened, Richard went to the one containing the Zithars and brought out the four instruments of extremely different designs. As he handed Mallone the invoice for the extra instruments to his boss, he told him of the side deal he made with Hermes; and the possible sale of the extra ones.
"Yeah, she wants forty Drachs apice for them.", Richard said. "Maybe we can sell them for more and make a profit."
"But I still got to pay her the one twenty!", Mallone said, inspecting the other instruments. "These things put me back enough as it is..."
"Just think of all the profits you'll make with the increased production...", Richard said as he took a good look at the Zithars. One of the Zithars was of a deep metallic blue finish, laid out with Mother Of Pearl and ebony; and much smaller than Richard's old Zithar, and playing it had a tinny quality due to its' mainly steel strings. The next one was made of extremely light wood, like pine or beechwood that was shellacked but otherwise uncolored; and that one had a rubbery sound from its' mainly sinew strings, but lower tones as it was slightly larger. Another seemed of a wierd shape like a pear, and done up in a reddish type of stain; and was trimmed out in pewter hardware and edges, even though the tone was almost similar to his old Zithar. The last one, an almost exact copy of the second one only squarish in design, had the same tones as it; so Richard claimed the reddish one for his own.
"I like this one!...", Richard shouldered the instrument. "I'll go put this away, and then unhitch Flatbottom in a moment.", he began to leave.
"The Skybax courier was early this week.", Mallone commented. "Saw one flying about yesterday, but they're not due for another twoday..."
"That so?...", Richard said, giving Flatbottom the eye. "Must have been something important..."
"It's always so with them!", Mallone chuckled. "Now off with you!", he went back into the office with the paperwork.
With a more worried look then usual for the occasion of attaining a new Zithar, Richard went into the barn, climbed to the loft, deposited the instrument on his bed for now and went back out to unhitch his new Partner, Flatbottom. Nothing was said about what Mallone mentioned until they were safely out of the street and back into the Triceratops' paddock. Before they did, both looked every which way to make sure they were alone.
"What do you make of that, Richard?", Flatbottom asked.
"Could have been any Skybax.", he replied. "They come and go all the time."
"Well, I heard of Elana Dennison.", Flatbottom said. "She's not one to just let something lay."
"Well, even if it was her, and she asked around; it wouldn't matter because everyone here just calls me Richard - no last name.", Richard said, giving the beast a rubdown. "And if she talked with Francine Rivers about me, she would no doubt cover for me.", he looked the beast in the eye. "I haven't been making trouble, right?"
"Well, yeah, but...", Flatbottom paused for pleasure. "I'd watch myself, if I were you."
"Look, you think it'd help if I talked with Francine about it?", Richard asked. "I was going to go to the hatchery after this anyway, and I can ask her then."
"What ever you think is best, my Partner.", Flatbottom told him. "Just don't overdo things...", Richard rubbed on a special spot, and the saurian's foot began to quiver. "You can also have a talk with Anna too, if you want!"
"My intentions exactly, my friend!", Richard smiled at the prospect. "The kids will be thrilled at my new Zithar, too!"
"Ooh!... Play me a song before you go.", the beast requested. "I want to hear how it plays."
"Right after this...", he inspected a hoof, which was filthy. "Where have you been walking?...", he said as he got a rag.
Presently the job was done, and then it was time to feed his friend; and Richard added an extra scoop of oats to Flatbottom's fodder, a thing the beast apreciated greatly! The other thing that compelled Flatbottom to be glad they decided to be Partners was what happened next. Richard, after tuning his new instrument, began to play from the loft; looking down into the paddocks as the other drivers and pullers began arriving from thier runs, and they began to respond as they too grabbed some of thier instruments and began to play.
Emily Freedom grabbed her pan flute, and with growing expertness, piped out the counter to Richard's strummings. Costello, found to not be very talented at all in music, but liking the implied violence of pounding drums; took his sticks and began playing anything wooden within reach - beams, fence posts, paddock sides - in aproximate beat of the music being played. A surprised Gill quickly got her Dragon Horn and added a slight bass to Emily's fluting. Hannibal saw this too, and found a Ukulele' in the crates of instruments; and though he wasn't musically inclined at all, began to pick a note or two as well.
What surprised them all was when Sidney Mallone walked in, already playing a fiddle to counter all that was being played. Flatbottom was already prancing in place at all the music, grunting to the beat; but the rest of the pullers had to get into thier own paddocks for thier drivers' neglect! They did a lot of chuckling and laughing at all the festivity, and soon joined in with hooting and humming and trying to match the beat with thier feet. All to soon for all the performers as well as all the listeners, the tune faded of its' own accord; and that was when Richard noticed that everyone was looking at him, so he found the right thing to say.
"Say guys... Guess what happened today!", he announced from the loft. "Me and Flatbottom just became Partners!...", cheers from them all erupted as he climbed down.
"Hey guys!...", Freedom shouted. "Let's party!..."
"I'm happy for you.", said Gill.
"Excellent!", Costello said.
"Got another rube, eh Flatbottom?", sneered Malachi.
"Just wonderful!", Pinney smiled. "Reminds me of me and Emily!", Croaker divulged. "I love happy announcements.", Cordial said.
"Way to go, son!...", Mallone said. "But why this threehorn?"
"Why not?", Richard said.
"He's the only one here that can fix my back!", Flatbottom joked.
"He needs someone to feed him...", Richard returned, looking fondly at his friend.
"Watch it, human!", the beast warned playfully.
"Anyway, I figure we work well together; and well...!", Richard said, displaying Flatbottom. "Who can resist a face like this!...", all laughed.
"So, what are you two going to do?", Emily Freedom asked. "Partnerships are kind of personal. You got any secrets you like to share with us?", she smiled. "You can tell me!... I won't blab!"
"It takes time to form a lasting relationship.", Cordial said to all. "They are probably still trying to get acquainted."
"Well, it's true we only met a little while ago,", Richard said. "But as for me, I knew we would hit it off sooner or later."
"He's a far sight better than my other choice.", Flatbottom said. "My only other option was Paul Grimes!", he shuddered!
"Thank you for comparing me to him, my finehorned friend!...", Richard said sarcastically, bowing. "I can see we will become fast friends despite that!", more chuckles.
"Um,... Richard?", Flatbottom said. "Don't you think you should keep this short?"
"Yes, you're right!...", Richard said, turning his attention to the rest. "Um,... guys. I Was going to go over the hatchery this afternoon. I really should be going soon..."
"I see...", Mallone said, coming to grasp his shoulder. "Can't keep the little nippers waiting!... Congrats on your partnership, pal!"
"We'll take good care of Flatbottom while you're gone!", Pinney told him.
"Torture...!", Costello hissed playfully, but Flatbottom gulped just the same!
Laughing, Richard shouldered his new Zithar and patted Flatbottom's nosehorn before heading for the entrance to the barn; receiving pats on the back or other forms of physical farewell. He proceeded down the street, into the crowd and made his way across town; and made it to the Baz hatchery along the now familiar roads less than an hour later. He saw Samantha and James pushing a small cart bearing hatched eggshells around back, and patted thier heads as they slowly muscled the cart by him.
Going inside, he skirted past the incubation room and directly through to the kitchen; where nobody was presently there, then looked around the whole lower floor to find who he was looking for. He really didn't care who he would meet up with first, for he had something to say to both Francine Rivers as well as Anna Forsythe. Climbing the rear stairway of the complex, and looking into each of the worker sleeping rooms; he found Francine making a bed, and stayed in the doorway of the rather cramped room until she was finished.
"Richard!...", she said as she looked. "I see you have a new Zithar. The children will be so thrilled!..."
"Ma'am, I would like to ask you something before I go down there.", Richard came right out with it. "Did you recently have a Skybax visitor?... See, one visited me when I was on the road, and I was wondering..."
"No need to worry, my boy.", she replied. "All has been taken care of."
"See, she's my cousin, and...", Richard was cut off.
"I said everything has been taken care of!", Francine repeated more forcefully. "No worries!", she smiled. "And no need to say more."
"Just 'thanks', I guess!...", he said as he got it.
"Don't worry about anything; for as long as you cause no trouble, your secret is safe with me...", she patted his shoulder and pointed that he leave.
Heading back down the hall and down the stairs the way he came, Richard found that the hatchlings had just woken up from thier naps; for several wove thier way between his legs, and he avoided the ones he could see coming. Along a service area he strode, and a closet opened up as he got near; and inside it was Anna, chin high load of fresh linens in her hands. She didn't expect Richard's helping hand of closing the door, and nearly fumbled her load when she saw him; but the load muffled any sound she was likely to make. He smiled as he followed her to a changing table in the incubation room, where she deposited the linens before smiling back.
"Hi, Richard!", she chirped. "Snazzy Zithar you got there!"
"Yeah, I just got it from Cornucopia. There were three others, and this was the best one!", Richard said for conversation, looking to see her hands in his. "The kids miss my playing, I suspect."
"They will be so thrilled!", Anna's head tilted to see the same thing, and drew them away. "Um,... I saw a Skybax pilot here the other day..."
"Probably delivering a message...", Richard said. "They fly all over..."
"Um,... James' birthday is in a few days.", she said for conversation. "Trouble is we're too busy now to celebrate..."
"Too bad.", Richard said. "You know my cart puller, Flatbottom? Me and him have just become Partners."
"That's wonderful!", she lit up. "Such a wonderful institution, don't you think?"
"Yeah, we've become real close of late...", Richard said, thinking. "Um,... I was wondering. I was going to celebrate it somehow... You know: take a day off, go some place. Maybe have a picknick or something..."
"Just the two of you?", Anna asked. "One time many years ago a Partnership was celebrated by a huge parade, and the whole town celebrated!"
"Well, he doesn't like crowds much.", he said. "Just me and him... And I was going to ask if you'd like to come along too."
"But my work!", she balked. "I mean I'd like to, but..."
"I'm sure you could get the time off.", Richard said pleadingly. "I'm sure Francine would say yes.", he smiled. "You could bring James along for his birthday, and Samantha and Christopher too!... I could bring Nellie along too, and I'm sure his mom would say yes as Flatbottom is his uncle..."
"But why me?", Anna asked.
"Well, you work hard around here.", Richard told her. "You and your family could use a day off.", he grasped her hand again. "Besides, I like you...", he drew away, leaving her gaping.
The rest of his stay at the hatchery was spent with the hatchlings, singing and playing his new Zithar; and a wonderful time was had by them all. He helped serve dinner and bed them down for the night; but all during this there was little sign of Anna abouts, and she seemed silent and cold when they met up in thier chores. Richard thought he had insulted her by asking her out, and tried to figure it out; but her explanation was she was still deciding on it, his invitation being so sudden and all. As Richard made his way out the door, at last Anna said she would try to make it; and they would talk later to arrange it... _
It ended up being almost four days to get everything ready for thier picknick, and Richard was a little irked that he and Flatbottom had to make the trip to Chipcharool in the mean time. It was kind of Sidney Mallone to give them the next two days off for the trouble, though. Too bad Anna Forsythe could only get an afternoon off on the day they could finally arrange the event, and it still took a whole morning to get everything needed together. She had told her kids the day after Richard had made the offer, and they all quickly became excited about it, a day without classes or working at the hatchery! Anna made lunch for them all, acquiring basket and picknick blanket along with all the other items needed for it. The only thing Richard could not tell them all was where they were going to have it; for that was Flatbottom's decision, and he had said he would decide the day of the event.
Richard provided the transportation, and Flatbottom provided the propulsion for it; along with permission from Nellie's mom for the hatchling to come along, and the answer turned out to be yes, so long as his uncle Flatbottom was his chaperone. Richard would also provide the musical portion of the afternoon festivities, along with much of the baked goods like James' birthday cake and other baked sweets for everyone else; which called in a the favor of cleaning out Mrs. Crocker's stovepipe a while ago. He also wanted to get the little guy a birthday present, and found a colorful ball the size of a soccer ball in the sporting section of one of the town's three curio shops; but the owner there was inept at wrapping it, and anybody with eyes could guess that it was a ball!
Finally the day of the event arrived, and Richard got up early; like he would if he and Flatbottom had an early delivery run, and prepared the cart for the day ahead. He was just as excited as he guessed the kids would be, and began to softly whistle a tune as he organised harnesses and scrubbed the whole cart clean; then he put fresh hay on the floor in back, along with an extra bundle of the stuff in case Flatbottom wanted an extra snack. Only then did he start to bring down his Zithar and presents, hiding the latter in the space below the drivers' seat where the other rations and first aid bag were always stored; and once done with this he went to Flatbottom's paddock to wake the beast up - what ever it took to do so!
"Flatbottom...", Richard said softly as he prepared his trough for breakfast. "Flatbottom!...", he said louder as he put the feed in.
He went to get his water and came back with it. "Hey!... Flatbottom!...", the beast groaned and rolled to the side. Richard sprinkled water on the beast. A jerk, and no more!
"FLATBOTTOM!!!...", he dumped most of the bucket on his frill!
"Wh...who...?", the animal jerked up and back down. At last his eyes opened. "Hey...! What th...?", he looked at Richard, then himself. "Very funny...!"
"And good morning to you too!", Richard smirked. "Sleep well?"
"Outside of a little bailing out, good enough...", Flatbottom rose. "And you?"
"Like a hatchling...", Richard finished filling his trough. "And speaking of hatchlings, we better shake a leg if we're going to pick up Nellie on time."
"You're right...!", Flatbottom said, digging into breakfast. "Zidra's supposed to be at the wheat fields early today...", another mouthful. "Caretakers cost money, you know..."
Nodding, Richard waited as his Partner finished; then he led him out to the cart, and backed him into the yokes and strapped him in. He climbed up into the driver's seat and soon they were on thier way. The cart was pulled through town, past people on the streets; and both greeted whom they knew as those thast knew them greeted them as well in turn. Presently they passed all the major buildings in town, and headed down another well used lane that skirted a vast harvested field.
The paddocks for the field workers was at an enclave at the edge of town, near the main cluster of barns and silos that serviced many of the farms that cultivated the dozens of acres of grain fields that surrounded the town. Flatbottom pulled the cart through these enclaves until he came to the paddock area that his cousin Zidra was staying, right next to a quaint little cottage that held her Partners' family. Zidra welcomed them with a grunting cry, touching nosehorns with her brother in law; and Nellie wove his way between her legs, toy contrivance being pulled in his wake. A surprised Richard looked down before getting up and climbing down to the ground!
"What you got there, big guy?", he crouched.
"My cart!", Nellie squeaked. "Let's go!", Flatbottom chuckled.
"Well, that cart can't carry everything.", Richard told him, faking being serious. "Uncle Flatbottom's one is much bigger!"
"I pull?", the tyke asked.
"Ohh...! You're a little small to pull it...", Richard pretended to think.
"That's right, kid...", Flatbottom said. "Maybe in a few years..."
"Hmmm,... better let uncle flatbottom pull it this time.", he crouched and grasped the youngster. "Up you go...!"
"Hey, I bet he'd be the best puller in town before long!", said Flatbottom.
"He's a natural!...", Richard agreed as he put the youngster onto the drivers' seat.
"Be nice for uncle Ricahrd and uncle Flatbottom...!", Called Zidra.
"Uh, huh...", Nellie said.
"Try getting him home by sunset.", both nodded as she winked.
Zidra turned to prepare for her duties as Richard hopped up and seated himself; rumpling Nellie's frill beside him as Flatbottom got the cart moving again. Nellie immediately sat up on the seat and faced forward, having a commanding view of the way ahead; and Richard smiled as he looked at him, a smaller version of his uncle pulling the cart. As the mile or so through the turning path, and the odd intersection went by on thier way to the hatchery, Flatbottom began to hum a tune in time with his footfalls; and Richard had a notion to pick up his Zithar for a tune, but decided to save any of that entertainment until they got to the picknick grounds.
At last the hatchery came into view, beacon of the Sunstone atop it coming in through the foliage; and as they neared the structure, they saw Anna and her three children waiting for them right out front. Each either held some of the picknick paraphanailia or had said equipment at thier side for easy access, and all smiled as the cart being pulled by Flatbottom came into view. Richard waved, Nellie bawled and Flatbottom rumbled greetings as he stopped the cart before them; her children wishing to scramble onto the cart right away, but Anna had them bring thier things to the rear of the cart despite thier protests.
"Hey, everyone!...", Richard called as he hopped down to give everyone a hand with thier things. "Ready for a day of fun?..."
"Well, we're all here...", Anna observed. "Any idea where we're going?"
"Sure, miss Anna!...", Flatbottom rumbled. "I know a nice meadow just outside of town.", he turned his great head to observe the loading process. "Got a nice stream near by, plenty of ferns and a mud hole not too far away!... All the comforts of home!..."
"Maybe for you,", Anna replied quietly. "But if my children end up getting dirty, let it be on YOUR head!", she went back to see how everyone was doing.
"Yes'm...", he rumbled.
Richard was in the middle of handing up the picknick basket to Christopher, who had hopped up there expertly after he had undid the tailgate of the cart, arranging the load so there was room for sitting back there as well. Samantha and James were relaying the rest of the stuff to the back of the cart, playfully jabbing each other like all siblings have a want to do. They found a school book and writing paraphanailia in with thier things, and groaned when thier mom came over and indicated they might want to study too; and this she did with her eyes. Annna came over, and all that ceased while she began handing things up to Richard. Next were the children, and Richard gave both of them a hand up before closing the tailgate. Anna went around to the left side of the cart and climbed aboard while Richard did the same on the Right. Nellie wasn't too happy as Richard unseated him and placed him down in back with the rest of the children, but became all to happy at the prospect of getting reacquainted with Christopher, Samantha and James.
"Everyone ready?...", Richard called out. Shouts of readiness. "Ok Flatbottom, you may do your worst!... Hang on tight back there!..."
"You know, it was nice of you to invite us out today.", Anna said a moment after the cart began to roll. "We rarely get any time off."
"No worries.", Richard said. "Everyone deserves it once in a while..."
"I haven't had more than an hour off in at least two seasons!", Anna smiled as the hatchery shrank from view. "All the kids know is the hatchery, home and school."
"I'm sure they play once in a while...", said Richard. "All kids do, you know...", she gradually nodded.
As Flatbottom pulled the cart, the rest looked around enjoying the scenery; fields and patches of woods dotted with the odd weatherbeaten wood building or two. After a span of some ten minutes, the three small humans and one small Triceratops in back became quite restless. At first they took to childish smalltalk, what some of thier friends in rown were saying and the like; but soon these tales turned into childish arguements and namecalling!
It was growing louder by the minute, so Richard suddenly had an idea. He reached back for his Zithar and began to pick out a tune, and Flatbottom hummed and hooted along with the tune. This brought that minor chaos under control as soon all in the cart began to sing to the popular tune or clapped! It wasn't for many miles until Flatbottom came out onto a sprawling meadow undulating down to a line of trees on one side and down to a gurgling stream on the other. He pulled the cart over the side of the road and at last halted his pulling.
"This looks like a good spot...", he announced. "End of the line, everyone!..."
Christopher undid the tailgate and all four kids bounded out the back; running around, amid and between the cart. Flatbottom watched them as they passed by his nosehorn on thier second lap, and Anna jumped down and halted them with her eyes. Richard got down in back and began unstowing the things they would need while Anna directed the youngsters to help tote it to a clear, flat spot in the meadow a few dozen yards from the cart. When that relay was over, Richard went up front and unhitched Flatbottom; rumpling his frill as he meandered off a short distance.
The next thing he did was reach back into the cart for his Zithar, then he brought it over to the rest; who were spreading out the large picknick blanket. Anna put the picknick basket on it, along with several other things; like jugs of punch and lemonade, a wooden box that had wooden bowls, plates and silverware along with napkins and other picknick tools. The other crate had other nonperishable foods, like breads, pasta salads and raw fruits; and the basket itself had other things like sanwiches of various fillings. Anna made sure everyone was seated at the blanket before she eventually served.
"Such a wonderful day for a picknick, don't you think?", she said for conversation.
"Just lovely!...", Richard replied.
"Not a storm cloud in the sky...", Flatbottom observed.
"We want to play.", Christopher said for them all, whom had a quiet consensus while everything was being set up.
"Not before lunch...!", Anna warned. "Now, we have a variety of things...", she began rattling off the dishes. "Who wants what?..."
Richard began fixing the things Flatbottom and Nellie wanted while Anna served plates to her children; large and small bowls of greens for the saurians and plates of varied fare with fruits on the side for the kids. Anna and Richard then began serving themselves as snippets of basic conversation wafted around the group. After serving, nothing was said for many moments as each sated thier immediate hunger; but after that many had questions and comments that needed answering to.
"So, that guy you fought.", Christopher said suddenly. "You beat him, right?"
"Well, not really.", Richard told him. "I tried to fend him off as best as I could with that pillow, but it wouldn't have been long before he hurt me bad.", he took another bite. "I was always good at pillow fights as a kid!", the children giggled, remembering how fun they are.
"Good thing that the workers at the shipping company intervened, right Richard?", Anna said.
"Yes, it was.", said Richard, nodding.
"Well, it looks like you're pretty brave after all!", Christopher said.
"Just my strong sense of self-preservation, acting up again!", Richard said, smiling.
"I hear you and uncle Flatbottom became Partners.", Samantha said.
"Yup!", Flatbottom said. "He's the best."
"Yeah, he's a little rough around the edges; but he's a good kid anyway.", Richard leaned and hugged his nosehorn.
"Aw...! Cut it out!...", the beast bellowed, but didn't push away.
"And I know what happened recently!...", Richard continued. "Someone had a birthday not too long ago!"
"But that was a few days ago!", James spoke out.
"Better late than never, right?", Richard said, getting up. "Anna, could you help me?...", she got up as well.
She followed him back to the cart as Flatbottom tried to keep the children occupied long enough. Richard got up in back and handed down many smallish light boxes, which contained all sorts of sugary convections and baked goods; and one special cake decorated half for a birthday and half for a Partnership, which was Beatrice Crocker's special creation, she claimed. He also took James' present out from hiding, Anna rolled her eyes at the wrapping job; and both took two trips bringing the goodies to the picknick blanket, her lightly slapping Christopher's hand as it wandered into one of the boxes. Richard and Anna smiled as they sat back down, arranging the boxes around them before anything else began; and Richard sitting on James' present to throw the tyke off as to what it was.
"Now, today we will celebrate two important events.", Anna began. "One is to congratulate Christopher on his sixth birthday!", Richard said, getting clapping from all.
"And the next is to celebrate the Partnership between Flatbottom and Richard!", Anna said, and got another short round.
"Want to do the birthday first?", he asked Anna.
"What ever you want...", Anna told him.
"I don't mind seconds...", Flatbottom told them, Richard noddingly agreed.
"Very well!", Anna said, taking the cake out of the box. "James Forsythe, today you are six, still a boy and almost a man. You were your father's and my newest hope. May this token bring you many more!", she presented him with it.
"Thanks...", the boy said timidly.
"Cut the cake.", said Richard, handing him a knife. "Careful..."
"The boy did so, and his mother provided small plates so he could pass the pieces around to everyone. He was instructed to leave the other half for later, and all dug into the sweet confection. Several moments passed by as they ate, and as everyone finished, Richard stood up.
"Now, no birthday is complete without a present or two.", he bent to pick up what he had been sitting on. "This is for you!", he presented it.
"It's a ball!", James guessed with a smile!
"Darn it!... You peeked!", Richard smiled. "Anyway, happy birthday!"
"Hey!... It's a bouncy one!", James looked at the ball, which was far more colorful than the wrapping. He had made sure it was of hollow rubber, not one of those hard rubber or leather ones, like a rock wrapped in hide. "Gee!... Thanks!"
"No worries!", Richard accepted a small hug.
"Can I play with it?", he asked.
"Maybe in a little while.", Anna told him. "But now it's time for the next part of the festivities!"
"Shall I start?...", Richard asked, nods. "Ok, here goes:", he faced Flatbottom. "Flatbottom, noble saurian. Today I pledge my deepest friendship to you. May it grow for the rest of our lives...", he raised a hand.
"Richard, my friend whom I pledge the deepest devotion to...", Flatbottom rumbled. "May this relationship of friendship grow with the years.", He raised a forefoot and both touched, then both of them drew into a hug.
"And may this food symbolise your devotion to each other.", added Anna.
Richard cut the cake for everyone and passed them around, then got to work feeding Flatbottom his piece - deliberately mooshing part of it on his beak! Once he ate his own piece, Richard turned to the rest and smiled at one and all. Never had he known peace with such a family, and never had the others around him known such a time! This soon prompted him to reach for his Zithar and pick a few notes as he tried to think of an apropriate song.
Pretty soon a simple yet heartfelt tune emerged from the Zithar, and a moment later the lyrics to that tune passed between his lips; making all who heard just as happy as he was feeling right now. A moment after it ended and the cheering for it stopped, he went right off with another tune; lively and spritely in melody and words, nearly all of them clapping along or trying to hum to it. Soon that was over and the music in him calmed down, and he put the instrument away.
"I always liked your playing!", Anna said.
"Play some more!", Samantha requested.
"Those were real pretty!", added Flatbottom.
"Maybe in a little while.", Richard told them. "I had a wonderful meal with all you wonderful people, and I feel like relaxing a bit..."
"Aw...!", the children droned.
"No worries, kids!... I'll play again later.", replied Richard.
"Why don't you go and play?", Anna suggested. "You can test out James' ball!"
"Yay!...", they all said and loosely got up to inspect it first at a short distance away.
"What a wonderful day...", Anna commented after a few moments as she scooted over to clean up thier dishes.
"Why don't you do that later?", suggested Richard. "We got all day...", he smiled. "Please, sit and relax!"
"I guess you're right...", replied Anna, returning to her place. "I do things like that all the time, it's hard to stop!"
"Resting one day won't kill you...", Richard told her. "And it's such a beautiful day for a rest!"
"That it is...", she agreed, sighing and waiting for her own resolve.
"You know what I think I'm going to do?", Flatbottom said, seeing his cue. "I think I'll go down by the stream over there. I smelled there was a bunch of yummy ferns down there!", he rose and slowly turned.
"Well, don't eat too much or you'll be too stuffed to pull the cart home!", Richard warned, smiling.
"Think they'll be ok?", said Anna after a few more moments as she watched her three children and Nellie bound by in hot pursuit of the ball.
"Yeah, sure...", Richard said. "There's not a carnivore for miles!"
"You're terrible!", she smiled, but it quickly faded. "Nice day...", she became silent. "Anything bothering you?", Richard asked after just as many moments.
"No,... not really...", Anna gazed upward, looking at a cottonball cloud. "Just that,... I don't know...", she suddenly looked at him. "I was wondering why you invited me and my children here, is all."
"Oh, that!...", he chuckled. "Well, you see... The thing is..."
"You like me!...", she realised. "You took me here to see if I felt the same way!", she accused.
"Well, sort of...", he bowed his head. "I mean, we work well together at the hatchery. You're good company, and you sure know your stuff at work... And yes, I like you..."
"Well, when I first saw you at the hatchery, I thought you were nothing but an interloper.", Anna told him. "I thought you were trying to do harm to that egg; but when I saw the concern you showed, I knew you meant well.", she lowered her head. "Ever since then, I found out you were charming and witty; and you sure know your stuff with the Zithar!"
"Actually, I hadn't played since high school.", said Richard. "Then I recently took it back up."
"And your rapport with the kids!", she said with a little more cheeriness. "That was something special! Even Francine has commented on it."
"When I first saw the eyes of a hatchling, something inside happened.", he replied. "They're so adorable!...", he looked at her fondly, then veered his eyes away as she noticed. "They've awoken a love for them in me that I always feel compelled to return..."
"The same went for me...", she said. "It was a long time ago. Way before I met Frank...", she hitched. "I was apprenticed at the hatchery, you know..."
"I see...", Richard saw the hurt. "Too bad about your husband..."
"It's hard, being married to a Skybax pilot...", she was on the brink of tears. "They are always off on important missions. Sometimes for days and weeks on end!... No time for more than a few days' stay, always duty coming first. I hate him!...", this she nearly screeched!
"Now, there there!...", Richard cooed. "I hear they do a lot for Dinotopia. You shouldn't blame him for that...", he reached for her shoulder, but she recoiled a bit.
"No, I don't blame the Skybax in general.", she wiped tears. "I blame him!"
"Why?", he asked, growing concerned.
"There was a reason why he always went off doing dangerous missions.", she became canded, voice quavering. "I think he had a death wish - or was too brave for his own good.", she sniffed. "Frank always volunteered for them, no matter the danger. When he heard of that mission to escort that medicine through the Rainy Basin, he jumped at the chance. His squad commander told him to hang back when the Tyranosaurs attacked; but he went off, saying he could lead them away.", another hitch. "They reported later that they found his helmet a few miles away from the attack, and blood was near by... Nobody ever saw him or his Skybax since...", she could not go on.
"I'm sorry... What a bad break...", was all Richard could say.
"And he left me!... All alone!...", Anna bowed. "I only had the hatchery job back then, and three children to take care of!", she continued. "Between the two the work load was so hard!"
"You do a good job, too.", said Richard. "That fact makes me admire you all the more..."
"That's nice of you to say.", Anna started calming down. "But now, I don't know... I'm so tired all the time."
"You're not the only one with such problems.", Richard told her. "A few years ago my wife divorced me, took all I owned and took my son away from me.", he saw her interest spark. "Samantha used to be fun and witty, and liked going out to the places I took her; but when we were married she still insisted going out every night, and she spent most of my money all the time.", his memories came, and he smiled. "The day Jeremy was born, I thought all that would end; but it only got worse. I worked overtime and brought in all the money I could, but it still wasn't enough for her! She bought expensive clothes, lots of jewelry and shoes; and jetted off everywhere in the world.", he looked up.
"That doesn't make sense!", Anna said. "Most women would understand and stop thier frivilous behavior..."
"I couldn't make enough money for her, so I filed for a divorce.", he continued. "Even though I initiated it, she got most of the assets; and full custody of Jeremy. I only get to see him for a weekend every two weeks!", he bowed his head. "I still love him, you know... By now he should be about between Christopher's age and your Samantha's age..."
"Richard, what are you telling me, exactly?", Anna wondered.
"It means that I can never see them again.", Richard told her. "Do you remember the secret Francine mentioned I had a while back?", she nodded. "I think that now is the time I tell you it."
"What is it, Richard?", Anna asked.
"It's nothing bad, not really.", said Richard. "You see, about six or eight months ago, the ship I was on was washed ashore on Dinotopia. I was on vacation in the Bahamas, and used my bosses' yacht for a cruise organised by his neice. We were studying marine life when this wierd storm hit. We ran aground with only me and her as survivors, and recovered in the fishing village of Irenic. Know where that is?"
"North of here, I think...", Anna said.
"We were sent to Waterfall City to learn your ways, and to read and write saurian and the like.", Richard continued. "I did very well there , but she didn't do so good. She was sent to the Crackshell Coast to study there, but I wasn't sent there - or here, for that matter."
"Why was that?", she asked.
"Well, it all has to do with my name.", he told her. "For a person that has a famous name, great expectations are called for... Instead of here, they wanted me to become an Archaeologist in Carnask.", he bowed. "You see, my real name is Richard Dennison..."
"Dennison?...", Anna disbelieved. "Please, Richard!... A joke is a joke...!"
"He ain't lying...", Flatbottom returned from where ever he went off to. "I stake my reputation on it!"
"You see, I didn't want to be an Archaeologist; so I snuck out of Waterfall City under cover of night.", said Richard. "I was on the road for many days until I came to Baz. Once I saw the place, I knew this was the place I wanted to be...", he looked at her. "The only trouble is I think they are still looking for me."
"You're a fugitive?", Anna was really concerned now! "You must go to the leader of Baz immediately!"
"She already knows.", Richard told her. "The matriarch contacted her about me, but she tells her she never saw me.", Richard got closer. "Francine is willing to give me a break and let me stay there so long as I don't start trouble."
"And you want me to as well...?", Anna stated, then bowed her head to think a moment. "So long as Francine trusts you...", she looked at him. "But a Dennison not wanting adventure...?"
"I guess I come from the laid-back side of the family!", Richard shrugged.
"Then your secret's safe with me!", she smiled. "Besides, if they take you away, I'll miss you!"
Anna Forsythe leaned in a little further, impish smirk forming on her face. In a moment Richard could guess what was on her mind, and leaned into her as well. His gladness he expressed was evident on her face as well as they came within inches of a romantic kiss; but that's as far as they got when a loud braying and bellowing coming from miniature lungs, which destroyed the moment, disapearing like mist. Nellie was leaping in place and catterwauling up a storm, and both looked at the tiny beast in an extremely startled way!
"COME!!!... QUICK!!!...", Nellie brayed. "I think she's DEAD!...", he bounded in a circle. "HURRY!!!...", off he scooted!
"Samantha!...", Anna wailed as both of them quickly rose...
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Post by thundertail on Nov 4, 2008 6:05:06 GMT -5
TWENTY: As Nellie scrmbled away across the sloping meadow, Anna screamed and quickly got up to follow him. Richard got up quickly at the same time and ran to the cart, then rummaged in back to get the first aid bag. His experience in the hatchery bade him to grab the canteen back there too, for where there were injuries water was definitely needed - and there was no telling how bad Samantha was hurt! Seeing the commotion, Flatbottom rushed near and watched his Partner go. "What's going on?", he rumbled. "I don't know,". Richard said as fast as he could. "But prepare to leave just the same...", he ran after Anna. "You bet...", said Flatbottom, backing into the yokes. Little Nellie bounded out of Anna's sight, then doubled back to watch her progress. Soon uncle Richard could be seen running in that direction too, longer strides shrinking the distance between aunty Anna and himself. Satisfyed, the little Triceratops galloped over the rise in the meadow and down toward the treeline, to a tract of bent over grasses and bushes from whence he came from. When Anna came to where Nellie had stopped, the scene she saw was NOT what her imagination led her to believe; for there was Samantha, crouched beside her little brother, ball at thier feet. Her oldest son, Christopher was huddled over this medium sized dinosaur in a nest of sorts; and he had a hand placed on her flank, checking her out inexpertly. As Richard came up beside her, Anna rushed to the stricken dinosaur to give her a more detailed visual examination. It was a Strutheomimus, just barely at adult age; and she was unconcious, reposed as if in sleep. Her breathing was shallow and irregular, and when she pulled out a tubelike stethoscope; she found the dinosaur's tri-valve heart pumping at a sedate yet labored rate. "What happened?", Richard wanted to know. "Not sure...", Anna listened harder. "I know!", Christopher said. The young man moved around to her legs and lifted one of them up, revealing the beginnings of many eggs. The Strutheomimus was heavy with eggs, and tried to get to a hatchery; but ended up not making it, the adults had guessed silently. From the extended ribs and dry skin of the poor creature, it looked like she had been there for at least one day, or possibly many more. The poor girl was dehydrated and starved - besides just laying her eggs! No wonder she passed out! "I'll prepare some Trilobar...", Anna said in the mean time, rummaging in the first aid bag for the ingredient. "See if she will drink..." Remembering his stunt with Flatbottom this morning, Richard uncorked the canteen and began wiping water on her face and jowls; hoping the mild shock would bring her around a little bit. The Strutheomimus wheezed and sputtered as the sprinkled water entered nostrils and closed eyes, twitching and moving her head; but all this produced was an eye opening, iris turning to a slit and closing again! "Ma'am,... Can you hear me?...", Richard said into her ear. "Ma'am...?", a barely audible moan. "We're here to help...", Anna put in. "Everything will be all right..." The Strutheomimus shuddered slightly, then slowly opened both eyes, blinking many times as each blink became faster. The head rose an inch, then back down; but the tongue came out to sponge the water collected on her leathery lips. Richard placed a handful of water near her mouth, and she lapped that up after a moment of effort. Soon she craned her head up a few inches to take a look at her rescuers, squinting through the dehydration before laying it back down again. By this time Anna was done preparing the Trilobar, and came over with a tiny crucible. "Here, hon...", she smiled. "This Trilobar should perk you up!...", she placed some in her slightly open mouth. "There..., now chew,...chew...! ...Now swallow...!", the Strutheomimus complied with great effort. The stricken dinosaur rested a moment before looking at Richard once more, who gave her another handful of water; then a second as she drank it more greedily. Once she was done she laid her head back down, but her heart seemed to be working slower and her breathing was far less distressed. Many, many moments went by, and the Strutheomimus rose her head slowly, as if waking from a normal sleep; and gaped around like Richard and company had just arrived. "Ohhh,... What ha - happennn...?", she blinked, nearly swooning. "Rest easy, miss...", Richard told her. "You had a bad time, we think.", she laid her head back down, blinking. "We need to take her back.", Anna stated the obvious. "We can't take her like this.", Richard turned to her. "We need to make her stronger somehow so she can walk..." "Is she hungry?", Samantha said, taking an orange from her pocket. "She can have my snack." "Why yes, dear!", Anna said as the dinosaur detected the fruit scent and raised her head. "That might bring her energy up a bit." Anna took the offered orange, peeled it and handed the sections to Richard, who was closest to the creatures' head. Gently Richard placed a piece into her mouth, her spirits raising as the sweet, sticky juice hit her tastebuds; and took another piece more eagerly then the last. Within a minute the whole fruit was gone, and the creatures' eyes seemed a bit brighter; but after a struggle, found attempting to stand not worth the effort. The Strutheomimus bowed her head, collecting her wits before speaking. "Thank... you for... help.", she said. "I go to...Romana hatchery... No make,... try for Baz hatchery... no make...", she slumped further. "We are from the Baz hatchery.", Anna told her. "Could not make. Had to lay eggs...", her eyes widened. "My eggs!..." "They are fine.", Richard told her. "How long were you here?" "Morning lay eggs. All night, next day to now.", she rose her head. "I hungry,...thirsty..." "Here's water...", Richard palmed another dose of it, but the Strutheomimus had him tilt the canteen for her. "Slowly now!..." "Kids, go find more food.", Anna instructed. "Go bring the picknick basket." "There's food in it!", James said. "Not only that, we can transport her eggs in it.", she told them. "Make sure you bring along the napkins and anything else to use as padding." "Yes, mom...", Christopher said and began to leave. "And tell Flatbottom what happened...", Richard called. "We have to find a way to get her up.", Anna said. "She's so heavy the both of us won't be able to carry her.", she looked over the creature that would be over twelve feet tall and weighing in at nearly a quarter ton. "Maybe if she gets strong enough, we can support her from either side...", Richard was thinking on just how to do it. "That we can do if we're both strong enough." "I walk...", the Strutheomimus said, who just woke up again; preparing to rise, but the effort was still a struggle. She disturbed her eggs in the process never the less, and stopped abruptly, laying back down. "You carry... eggs?" "We'll take care of them.", Richard promised. "We're experts!", Samantha smiled her way, which got one in return. "Name... Selma...", she cooed. "What... yours?" "Samantha.", she said, and ducked behind her mom. "My name's James...!", the boy said. "And I'm Nellie!...", said the little Triceratops. "That's a girls name, but I'm a boy...", he shuffled. Selma smiled slightly as she made another go of standing. "Help, please?...", so Richard crouched up and lifted a flank, Anna quickly helping. "Easy... easy...!", Richard coaxed. "Slow and steady..." "One, two, three,... four, five, six!... Seven!", Anna counted as she lifted. "That's an awful lot of eggs for your kind!" "You look rather young...", observed Richard. "I nesting age...(grunt)!", Selma told them. "I'm twenty...!" "Now steady a moment...", Anna said as the creature was a little wobbly. "Well, most Struthies wait a few years more... And they usually have only four or five.", she shifted her hold. "Ready to walk?... (oof!)", Richard said as Selma wobbled his way, and he struggled to right her. "Step slowly... Easy... One more,... now rest...!" For many minutes this went on. Richard and Anna would assist Selma a few steps at a time, allowing her to rest a bit before she took the next few steps. By the time they reached the crest in the meadow, Christopher had returned to the nest with the picknick basket; all four children helping to carefully pack the bluish, eggplant sized orbs, wrapping each with a napkin before gently arranging them into the basket. Richard and Anna led the weakened creature further toward the road and awaiting cart; and as soon as they could see the cart, Flatbottom lumbered into view, sidling up to the trio as Selma's strength finally let out. "Here, ma'am...", Flatbottom had her lain across his nosehorn. "Let me take you the rest of the way..." Anna still steadied the creature as she rode roughly sprawled across the massive face, and Richard rushed over to get the tailgate. As Anna giuded her up, Flatbottom raised his head so Richard could pull from above; and with great awkward efforts from all three of them, Selma was sprawled out onto the bed of the cart. By this tiome the children had finished thier task, and the basket lay on Nellie's back with Christopher and Samantha guiding the almost fifty pound load, James taking up the rear, ball in hand. "Thank you, kids...", Richard said as he hauled the offered basket onto the cart, sliding the basket of eggs closer to thier mother. Anna climbed aboard to tend to Selma while Richard got down to quickly hitch Flatbottom up, and saw the mess on the picknick blanket from Christopher's hasty picknick basket preparation. He told the kids to get the balnket, and laughed inwardly as they took corners and simply drew it into a ball! Nellie came over with Richard's Zithar, receiving a thank you as Richard stowed it behind the driver seat. "Samantha?", Richard asked as he discovered thier schoolwork and writing paraphanailia. "Could you take a piece of paper and write the word 'Baz' on it? It should be in both human and saurian footprint language." "But why?", she asked. "I want to leave a note for this nice ladys' husband.", he said. "I hear Struthies have a good sense of smell, and he will track her down to this spot. I want to tell him we're taking her to Baz." "Oh!", she got to work. Pretty soon all things were cleaned up and brought aboard, and both Anna and Richard relayed all the kids up to the bed of the cart. Samantha soon got done with her writing task and handed it to Richard, who studied it and marveled at her penmanship: He promptly ran back to the nest and placed it inside, protecting it from a breeze with a small rock he found along the way. As Anna went back to tending the stricken Strutheomimus, Richard presently returned and climbed into the driver seat to take up the reigns. "We're all set, buddy...", he said to the beast. "Hurry home, but carefully!" "Gotcha, boss...", rumbled the beast, setting the cart in motion. All the way home Flatbottom tried to avoid every dip and pothole the twisty road had to offer, yet still the ride was bumpy and lurched in every direction. Anna had gotten to work feeding Selma what was left of thier picknick, letting her drink the remains of thier punch and lemonade to help boost her energy up. Meanwhile the children had grown silent and sullen, resolving to entertain themselves by observing how thier mother took care of the Struthie and taking peeks at the eggs in the basket, and receiving scolds from thier mom for letting the eggs get cold! As the miles wore on, the buildings of Baz could be seen in the distance; but the trip took just a little over an hour when they pulled up to the main entrance to the hatchery. "Hurry!...", Richard shouted as he hopped off the cart and rushed inside. "We have a Strutheomimus that has just given birth!..." "Where?!...", Francine Rivers asked, rushing to his side. "Outside, in our cart!...", he said as she quickly followed him out. A few of the hatchery workers overheard and followed them. "What happened?", Francine asked as the workers undid the tailgate and expertly helped her down. "We were on a picknick in this meadow, and...", Richard hastily began to tell the whole episode. "So we found her and got her here as fast as we could." By this time a saurian gurney was wheeled out, and Selma was placed atop it. Anna slid the basket of eggs to the back and passed it down to another worker, who rushed inside with it. As she hopped down and went inside, Richard helped Samantha, Nellie and James down off the cart; Christopher expertly hopped down himself and led the children inside. As Nellie prepared to join them, Richard halted the youngster and had him wait by Flatbottom as they still had to take him home later. Then Richard took up the rear as they all rushed into the hatchery. The hatchery workers were in the middle of examining the eggs as he passed through that room, and found Francine and Anna giving Selma a thourough examination. Both tisked at her emaciated condition, and nodded at thier prognosis of lots of rest, food and water; which should rejuvinate her in a few days. As Francine went in to see how the others were progressing with the eggs, she saw that they had taken out a loaf of bread from the bottom of the basket, split in half the long way and squished to the profile of the bottom two eggs. She lifted up both pieces and scowled at the children, who cringed! "Bread?...", she inquired scoldingly. "We used it as extra padding...", Samantha told her. "It was still warm...", Christopher added. "Brilliant thinking, children!...", Francine smiled. "We should use it more often!... But maybe for the purpose in which it is intended!", she chuckled. "How about that!", Richard said to Anna, who was at his side at the doorway. "I should tell Beatrice Crocker about that!" "It's more than just nutritious!", Anna laughed, then pulled at his sleeve. "Come over here..." "I think we forgot about something back there...", she said as she led him into the vacant kitchen. "We cleaned up after ourselves out there...", Richard saw the longing look in her eyes and realised. "Oh, yeah..." The kiss that came his way was somewhat passionate, but mostly denoted the promise of better things to come. It wasn't a very long one, either; but it left them both a little winded as they pulled away a moment later. "And about the rest of the things we talked about - and didn't talk about...", Anna panted slightly. "I'll definitely think about it!" She left him there as she rushed out to her other duties. Now it was HIS turn to be flabberghasted! After a moment he left the kitchen; and having nothing much left to do there that wasn't already being done, he went through the many rooms to the main entrance. He saw Nellie there, sitting in front of his uncle Flatbottom; older triceratops telling a story to him as he listened on in rapt attention. As soon as both noticed Richard, Nellie ran up to him as Flatbottom looked in his direction. "So, how are they?", he asked. "Selma needs many days of rest and good food, then she'll be as good as new.", Richard told him. "Her eggs are doing well too. It's too early to say whether they'll be male or female, but we should know in a week or two." "So much for the picknick...", Flatbottom rumbled. "Awwww!", Nellie squawked. "At least something good came of things.", Richard told them both. "We helped her out, and both her and her eggs will survive." "It was a boring picknick anyway...", rumbled Fltabottom. "Only one more thing to do.", Richard said as he checked his Partner's rigging. "It's getting late, and someone needs to go home..." "Me?", Nellie asked. "Yup!", Richard told him, picking him up. "And you got a big story to tell your mama! Right?" "Yup!", Nellie said as he was placed on the drivers' seat. "We rescued nice lady - and I helped!" "And how did you help?", he quizzed as he got aboard. "We found the nice lady, and I told you and aunty Anna!", the tyke wagged his tail proudly. "That's right!...", Richard patted his frill. "There's a lesson there, you know... When you find trouble, go run and tell a grownup!" "Yeah!...", Nellie agreed, and flatbottom added his own voice to it. With that Richard laughed as he flicked the reigns, and Flatbottom got the cart moving once again. Soon they were traveling down the road, through the center of town and back through the farmsteads to the paddock area that housed Nellie and his mother Zidra. She came out of her living area when she saw the cart come near, and bellowed greetings to them all as soon as they came within earshot, which was quite a considerable distance if you have ever heard a Triceratops bellow! She came over and inspected her son as soon as he was let down off the cart, then gave Flatbottom a scowl as she indicated the time with a raising of her massive head toward the nearly setting sun. Richard smiled at her and began to explain how thier day went, not leaving out the fact that they had to help a Strutheomimus that had just lain her eggs; and included Nellie's help in the whole affair, which was a fact that she quickly became proud of her son. After a moment of consideration, she deemed that it was a reasonable excuse for them to be late, and lovingly coaxed Nellie to tell his side of the incodent. The little Triceratops needed no coaching in telling his tale, for he began with enthusiasm; and continued on as Zidra bid Richard anf Flatbottom good night. Nellie repeated his tale proudly many times that night to his mother, and made sure to never forgot to tell his friends about it for many days to come... _ High above the Romana hatchery a lone Skybax circled in the thermals wisking across the plains below, making sweeping maneuvers and jinking his wings in order to lose altitude sufficiently to make his descent to the hatchery's aerie at the edge of the complex. Moments later he fluttered in closer, fighting the momentary gusts so prevailent today as he made for one of the aeries' many perch railings. He landed with a thud, rose slightly; and his talons dug into the thick wooden perch, halting all momentum as he folded his wings. Immediately the auburn haired pilot hopped down to the platform below, drawing away the bag of correspondance from the saddle as she did so. She stroked the giant flyer's wing in passing, and the Skybax cackled affectionately as she stormed toward the wooden steps to the ground. The well worn path that led from the aerie and the hatchery complex undulated under her feet, following an ancient trail used for a millennia around these parts; and soon she was among many buildings and barns that was part of the farming complex that supplied Waterfall City with most of thier food. Past these constructions and the many workers that occupied them, Elana Dennison sought out and found the Sunstone clad building that was the Romana hatchery proper. Without preamble or ringing the doorbell, she stomped inside, and the look of purposefullness on her face told the hatchery workers she passed not to hinder her. Elana dennison searched every room on the first and second floors until she found the person she was looking for, the leader of Romana hatchery and matriarch of Dinbotopia, Elizabeth Reynolds. The matriarch pretended to ignore her as she was busy tending to a clumsey hatchling, who wounded herself running into a side board a little while ago; and as Elana waited impatiently, Elizabeth took her time with the task just the same! "Yes, Skybax commander?", she said absently as she put the finishing touches on the bandage. "Your correspondance from Pteros...", Elana stated, presenting the satchel. "Thank you, dear.", Elinore told her. She turned. "You are nearly a twoday late!... Please state your reason." "I have encountered someone in my routine rounds, and went to follow up a suspicion I had.", Elana Dennison replied stiffly. "I had suspected that the leader of Baz may be harboring a fugitive, and my suspicions may all well be true." "I see...", Elizabeth Reynolds said slowly. "If you would, could you follow me to my office?" Nodding, Elana stepped back as the little dinosaur sauntered out of the matriarch's presence and out of the room. Both matriarch and Skybax pilot left the infirmary room and the latter followed the former out and down a hallway to a set of long, narrow steps; and into a small office at the end of the hall. Elizabeth Reynolds directed Elana to deposit her bag of correspondance on her desk as she sat down, indicating that she take the only other chair in the room. The dashing painting of Will Dennison, her father, hung just behind the desk, and Elana stared at it; eyes betraying the troubles both the picture and the look-alike she was about to talk about was giving her. Before opening the satchel, Elizabeth looked at her and motioned that she speak. "Francine Rivers has informed me that you condoned the relocation of Richard dennison without the council's knowledge.", Elana Dennison said without preamble. "At least that is what I was able to ascertain through my investigation in this matter." "Miss Dennison, your abilities of deduction are most flawless; for this is what I have done.", the matriarch said. "I am merely allowing Richard Dennison to learn what it is like to be a TRUE Dinotopian. A lesson that can only be learned by actually living the life.", she looked at the satchel. "You would deny all these people no less..." "Of course not, my matriarch.", Elana said. "it was just at first, I knew nothing of it.... Had I known I would not have interfered." "In what way?", Elizabeth asked. "When I encountered him, I said I had to report this.", she replied. "However, I relented, advising him to make ammends for the crime of running away. To return to Waterfall City and undergo his assignment of Archaeologist." "And you told someone anyway.", stated Elizabeth. "I discussed this in private with the leader of Baz.", she said. "She told me that she was working closely with you in this matter, and that she had taken him into her confidence; stating that she would not tell you if he made no trouble." "And my preposition I had her make to him is working out.", the matriarch said. "He is making no trouble, and he is making a name for himself there. He is doing very well there, and I'm so proud!" "Do you suppose that Francine has told him that I inquired about him?", Elana asked. "That would surely make me a liar in his eyes..." "Perhaps,", Elizabeth said, "But just suppose that she merely told him that she straightened things out between you and him.", she looked directly at her. "Being a Dennison, he would know you could do no less, am I not right?" "I suppose...", she replied. "Then he should not hold it against you.", the matriarch told her. "You can merely say that you are his family, and family tends to look out for one another. You can tell him that you are very concerned for his well being, and merely wish to keep him safe." "That is all true whether I say it or not.", Elana said with rebellion. "He is my only family outside of second andthier relatives all over the island. he is also a newcomer, and might need all the help he can get." "Was there any correspondance from Baz?", nodding, Elana handed the scroll over. Elizabeth read it, and smiled at the end. "She is such a dear!... Anyway, her account coincides with your own. She also suggests that you may help in the matter; and I think that might be a good idea too.", she paused for thought. "I think you should keep in touch with Richard as your normal duties allow. You should take him into your confidence, as Francine has done; and aid him in any way possible or as what you morally think is correct. Make it seem to him that you are doing things against council edicts by helping him, and doing it because you two are family. You will be working under cover for this mission, and the little direction from me the better. I am sure you can do it, my most intellegent Skybax commander!" "Your wish is my command!", Elana burst, getting up. "Breathe deep!", her fist went to her chest. "Fly high!", Elizabeth Reynolds returned noncommittally and went back to her work... _ Footfalls thudded down the path, the path that the medium sized dinosaur had been following for days; on a desperate search for the one he loved. Selma had said that she was going to Romana hatchery to lay thier eggs, but he feared she was too young to make the trip, and told her to wait for him but she didn't! Dulock managed to make it to the Romana hatchery, but nobody there had seen her, and this spurred him on in a desperate search for her. He lowered his head and picked up the scent once again, which grew ever stronger the further he went; and loped even faster down the path, growing all the more worried every step of the way. It wasn't really his fault that he had to work extra shifts at the farm during harvest, but he loved his mate so much he wanted to provide the best for her. He should have never volunteered for those extra shifts, especially when Selma was so close to laying her eggs! Dulock broke into a run. Her scent was growing really strong now as the forest thinned out somewhat, and the stone walls and wooden fences told him he was at last reaching civilization after so many miles. His keen sense of smell had picked up the scents of many kinds of dinosaurs, as well as humans; but the scent of his mate was the only one on his mind as he came out onto the very edge of the realm of Baz, even though he didn't know this at the time. A strong scent of a small group of humans and one Triceratops seemed concentrated at a spot near the road he was on, but that was intermingled with that of his mate - and this confused him! He followed her scent some more, into a field that sloped in the middle; and down the other side. And that was when he came across the evidence of a nest, roughly made and looking like a scuffle had occurred there. Inside was what appeared to be an egg, but it was only a rock; and under that rock was a paper, and that paper had only one word on it: Baz. "Baz!...",Dulock panted to himself. "She is there!", he concluded, then he saw where the arrow on the note pointed, and headed in that direction as fast as his eleven foot strides could propell him. Being out on the road for so long, Dulock was somewhat intimidated by the crowds of people and saurians milling about, going about thier own business in a self-involved chaos; but wove his way through them with prowess and purpose. He had never been to Baz before in his life, but heard of the bustle it was famous for. He also heard of thier hatchery, rumored to be the fourth best hatchery on Dinotopia. He didn't have a clue as to where the Baz hatchery was; so he asked around to many of the citizens, receiving stares or bad directions. Many were helpful in that respect, but a lot of the time he ended up taking wrong turns; and ending up in parts of town nobody aught to be! At last he came onto the road where the majority of the shipping companies had thier bases of operation, and asked there. Some had heard of what happened, but knew nothing more; but one said that someone in the Backbone Shipping company was there, and he could tell him more. He walked up to the entrance of that barn and looked until he spotted a human pitching hay inside, and in a frantic voice called to him loudly. "Oh, sir!...", Dulock said in saurian. "I wonder if you can help me..." Richard turned from his labors, recognising the species; and he put two and two together in a flash, and smiled broadly. "Yes, kind saurian! I do believe I can!" "If you'll pardon me; but my mate has just lain her eggs, but I do not know where she is...", Dulock said, but was cut off. "Your name wouldn't be Dulock, by any chance?", Richard said, he nodded. "Selma has been asking for you for a twoday." "You know where she is?", it was more a comment of surprise. "I can take you to her.", Richard told him. "I just have to notify my boss... I'll be a moment.", he went to the office in a moment and returned just as fast. "You see, me and my friend and family were there when she was found.", he said for conversation as he led the Strutheomimus down the street. "What happened?", Dulock asked. Richard gave him his account of the entire incodent, from planning the picknick to enjoying the day. He left out his conversation with Anna, but didn't leave out her's and everyone's participation in the event. He explained that Anna and her kids worked in the hatchery, and so did he on a part-time basis; so there was no worries as to them knowing what to do. As they wove thier way through the streets, Dulock conveyed his work schedules during harvest and his ignorance of Selma's need to give birth. He said he found thier note, and produced it; then asked why it was so short. "You see, we figured that time was of the essence.", Richard explained. "She was in a bad way at the time, and we needed to get her to some professional help fast." "And she is better now.", stated Dulock. "She has been given plenty of food and rest.", Richard replied. "She is out of danger, but still pretty weak the last time I checked." "She has given birth?", Dulock asked. "Of course!", Richard smiled up to him. "You are now the proud father of seven eggs!" "Oh, my gosh!... Seven?...", Dulock slowed his pace, nearly swooning. "A father...!" "Congratulations!", Richard offered a hand, but the saurian took it to steady himself. "I will never forget what you and your friends have done.", Dulock said after recomposing himself. "Ask and it is yours." "You have a mate and seven children to look after now.", Richard told him as he led the way down the lane that would take them to the hatchery. "All you need do is take good care of your family and everything is paid back." "You are so kind...!", Dulock said as they at last entered the hatchery enclave. "All you all have done for us..." "All part of the service!", Richard smiled as they made it to the main entrance. The human led the way inside, and both were surprised at all the activity going on in the incubation area; for no less than twelve eggs of various lineage were in the middle of being hatched! Richard quickly ushered Dulock out and through to the hatchling area, where the kids, thinking it was songtime, began to gather around them both, clamoring for a song! Richard had to quickly shush them and tell them that he would be there later that evening for them, and this was for another matter. Thier dejected sounds as they went back to storytime was the most pitiful sound to Richard's ears, but he led the way onward to the sets of private rooms up on the second floor. There was hardly a person up there, just workers and apprentices gathering things needed down stairs and rushing them off to thier destinations; and Richard could see why for all the frantic activity going on. He led Dulock down the corridor and to a room to his left almost half way down the hall; and knocking quietly, opened the door just enough to take a peek inside. Both saw at the same time Selma, asleep in a nest bed over to one side; and a portable incubation box on the other, small braiser with a steaming cauldron in the center of the room. Dulock needed no invitation as he proceeded quietly into the room, but Selma's sense of smell alerted her to her mate; and her eyes opened in a flutter, smile rising on her face as she rose it above her haunches. A second was all it took for her to rise to her feet, and he scurried toward her in the very same second; then both clasped hands and kissed in a saurian way, intertwining thier necks in a Strutheomimus embrace. During that Richard saw Samantha near the braiser, filling the cauldron and tending to the miniature fire; so he made shooing gestures with his eyes, and she silently scooted past him. Richard decided to follow his own orders and left these two with thier new brood. It was obvious to Richard that they had a LOT to talk about! "My love!... I was so worried!...", Dulock said as soon as they disengaged. "Don't ever leave like that again..." "Darling mate!... I didn't want to go...", Selma said. "But I had to!..." "We were so impetuous... We're so young!...", Dulock said. "What do we do now?" "The fates will decide that, my dear.", Selma told him. "But for now, let me show you your sons and daughters...!" She led him to the incubation nests, seven smallish orbs perched in hay being bathed in steamy air. He fawned over the sight, gasping as he peered at each one; reaching to fondle one as she smiled beside him. The sight made both lean to brush sheeks and smile proudly; but the exertion made Selma weak again, and on a silent note he led her back to the nest bed. "This is so fine, my love.", Dulock said. "But what shall we name them?" "It was said that they are too young to know whether they are male or female, but they guess it is an even split.", Selma told what she was told. "We either have four boys and three girls, or four girls and three boys...!" "It is going to be a massive job to take care of them all.", Dulock said. "Both taking care of them as well as providing for them." "The fates will provide.", Selma was growing weary. "But that worry is for the future..." Dulock crouched beside his mate who was on the nest bed, cradling her head and cooing supportive sounds in her earslit; happy for the reunion and the joyous event, yet he was sad for not being there to witness it. For hours they talked softly, snuggled sweetly and administered thier love for one another with hugs and other gestures. This did more for Selma's recovery and spirits than any amount of rest, food or medicines she had gotten so far; and the treatment was equally beneficial to Dulock! "Hi...", Richard said to Anna as he intercepted her near the kitchen. "I found Dulock.", he said after her, then followed. "That's great...!", she rushed away. "Where is he?" "With her and the eggs.", Richard said as she set her load of linens on a table in the crowded incubation room. "Don't forget to tell Francine... He might want to stay for the duration!" "We'll inform him our policies.", Anna said, turning around and pausing. "You came all the way from the shipping company to do that?" "Yup!", Richard smiled, shrinking to a wall to let a line of other workers pass. "You sure you didn't come just to see me.", she joked. "Maybe...", for that Richard got a peck on the cheek! Anna had to hurry to keep the pace she set, and rushed off quickly to her next task; and that prompted Richard to leave the hatchery and continue his work at the Trilobite Shipping company. What neither of them saw in all the confusion was the little face of Samantha peering around a corner, a witness to the hasty kiss. In her girlish mind she now knew that uncle Richard and mama were good friends. She had seen others kissing like that, and pretty soon they got married; and this was what she deduced might happen to them. 'She and her siblings would soon get another daddy!...' was her thoughts as she ran to secretly tell her brothers. During the day Dulock inquired if he could stay with her for the duration, but was informed that she needed a few more days of rest before she could be moved; and it was indeed admissible he spend a day or so with her, but not much more than that. The eggs were only lain a week ago, he was told; and would not hatch for another two or three fortnights. They were informed that after Selma was sufficiently recovered, they should find acomodations elsewhere; for the hatchery was a busy place, and her room would be needed by others soon thereafter... _____
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Post by thundertail on Nov 16, 2008 12:08:29 GMT -5
TWENTY-ONE:
A number of weeks go by, quite routinely for most of the people of Baz; but since Richard Dennison was a relative newcomer to Dinotopia, new things had a habit of popping up for him. The new policies he had suggested for the Trilobite Shipping company became such a success that mister Mallone's profits soon began to soar, and with that so did the extra orders and work load for everyone. Seeing the success they were having, the other shipping companies in town began copying what the Trilobite Shipping company was doing, and soon all the others were beginning to show similar profits!
The many times Richard had gotten shifts at the hatchery, his friendship with Anna became more and more prominent; and his popularity there grew as the generations of hatchlings came and went. Selma and Dulock found rooms at the hostel down the street from the Trilobite Shipping company, she got a job at Beatrice Crocker's bakery as care for her eggs allowed and Dulock worked at the various shipping companies as loads needed to be expedited; and worked at the other various shops in town as handiman. Life went on and people came and went as thier business allowed, and so far peace reigned in Baz.
That was until a lone Skybax shadowed the town for a spell before landing in the aerie, and all too soon the reason for the visitor became aparent. Elana Dennison had made her rounds from shipping company to shipping company, and finally ended up at the Trilobite Shipping company; bearing grim news for any travelers with cargo that might be in the area.
"Ok, everyone!... Listen up!", shouted Sidney Mallone as the Skybax pilot stood at his side in front of the barn. "We're going to have some bad times pretty soon...!", all employees came milling in front of the two, and Mallone nodded that she proceed.
"I am sorry to say that our patrols have detected pirate activities several days east of here.", Elana Dennison announced, noticing Richard among them looking at her intently yet innocently. "Three caravans have been raided within a one week time in Azonthas, Poktook and Halcyon. Two more shipments have been ambushed just north of the Backbone Mountains near Spiker, and a traveling family was robbed and thier belongings burned a mere ten miles southeast of here."
Everyone groaned at the news, they knew how pesky and dangerous pirates were; but it was the first time Richard had heard of them. He was thinking of the men at sea who sacked ships - 'yo-ho-ho, and a bottle o' rum' with swords and thier captain going by the name of 'Captain Hook' - and the thought made him smirk; but to have such characters on land, acting like your basic highway robbers!... He quickly put away those thoughts as Elana was going to speak again.
"Now I know you understand what to do if you encounter them.", Elana went on. "But for those who have never met them - and I really hope you don't - I will go over the rules of contact.", she unrolled a scroll, then looked directly at Richard!
"Number one: do not argue with them, or make comments that will anger them. Two: give them everything they want, for cargo can be replaced, a life can not. Three: do not engage them in a fight in any way, shape or form; for they will no doubt be carrying weapons. Four, like three: if they end up accosting you anyway, do not resist thier administerings, for this will only spurr them to cause you more bodily harm than if you do not resist. Five: report immediately the incident at your nearest destination, and give complete details to the local law enforcement personnel.", she looked up from the scroll she was reading from. "Do I make myself clear?"
There were many positive responses except two. Richard was silent for a moment, giving Flatbottom time to make his comment first.
"Why!... I'll pound those puny pirates to dust!...", the beast rumbled, and Richard put up a hand to hush him.
"Excuse me, ma'am; but am I to understand we can't even defend ourselves against these criminals?", he asked.
"No, sir.", Elana said. "For if you resist, they will do worse to you than you can imagine!"
"Why don't we send for extra protection, then?", Richard went on. "Maybe send out Skybax escorts - or saurian guards?..."
"Both the saurian guards and the Skybax corps are too understaffed to make an effective defense.", Elana told him. "We both are spread too thin as it is!"
"I see...", said Richard. "Then I guess we're on our own...", he became silent.
"Unfortunately so.", Elana said. "Sir, what is your name?", she said this for the other workers around .
"Richard, ma'am.", said Richard.
"Richard, I would see you after the meeting.", said Elana. "I've not seen you here before, and wish to know more of you..."
"Certainly, Ma'am.", Richard said.
"The name is Elana Dennison.", she told him, then returned to her business. "Now people, if you gather around, I will show you the regions that are the most ravaged by pirates..."
She took out a scroll, which was a map, and laid it out on a crate; and the rest of Richard's workmates gathered close. She pointed with a finger at several spots on the map, explaining the troubles they had there recently. Richard hung near the back of the crowd and was barely able to see what was going on; but he was certainly able to hear her telling of the dangers abundant in those areas. Each one there contributed suggestions on how to avoid the dangers, like seeking alternate routes and traveling in caravan and the like; and after over a half hour she was done, rolling the scroll up crisply and placing it back in her satchel.
"So, in closing...", Elana Dennison announced at last. "Please watch yourselves out there - and remember that a life is a thousand times more valuable than any load of cargo..."
She left thier presence, but hung around never the less; waiting for the crowd to disperse until she could pick Richard out from that crowd, and pick him out she did as she beckoned him over with a finger. He came toward her as he hung his head, then looked up as she smiled.
"Now we talk.", she said. "Is there a place where we can talk in private?"
"Sure. Right this way...", He led her into the barn, where everyone was getting ready to travel. "This is our barn. The nerve center of the Trilobite Shipping company...", he said mostly for the benefit of the others. "And out back is where the pullers work out thier agression..."
He led her out the back and into the rear paddock, where the barrel was against the half broken trough that now leaked. They wandered amid the muddy ruts and water-filled footprints until they came to the gnarled and half broken tree in the center. Richard looked around to see if they were being watched, and Elana did the same for a much longer period. As soon as both confirmed the coast was clear, they looked at each other with seriouseness before speaking.
"So, how has it been?...", Richard began.
"I'm sure you asked whether or not I confronted Francine Rivers about you.", Elana began without preamble. "You know I would just like I know you would ask.", she bowed slightly. "I guess all Dennisons are all the same..."
"And your conclusion is?", asked Richard.
"Your story and hers matches.", she said. "She sees no reason why you shouldn't stay. Her acessment of you is that you are a noble and upstanding man, and you are well liked in the town. You certainly do not mean any harm to anyone here, and the extreme opposite is evident." "That was nice of her.", Richard said.
"She sees no reason to notify the authorities for this reason, and wishes the best of luck your entire stay in Baz.", Elana continued.
"And you?...", Richard asked.
"Neither do I!...", she smiled. "You see, you are not the only rogue on Dinotopia. Her decision to keep your presence a secret is a violation of Dinotopian law; but that doesn't matter to her so long as peace is maintained.", she lowered her voice. "I am a rogue too, especially where the happiness of my family is concerned. I will never divulge you are here, either; nor will I say I ever saw you. So long as you are where you want to be, how can I get in the way of that?"
"For that I'm grateful...", Richard said solemnly. "I was beginning to worry you told on me."
"I would never do that, my cousin!", she smiled broadly. "In fact, I think I can help you out - as duty allows, of course.", conspiratorially, she continued. "I have connections all over Dinotopia. I can find out if they are looking for you, and perhaps lead them astray. I can even let you know they are searching in this area, and warn you in enough time to escape..."
"Well, don't go get yourself in trouble over me!", Richard warned. "You'll get into plenty of trouble as it is!"
"So are you, you know!", she play punched his arm. "If you weren't a fugitive, none of this would be necesary!"
"Touche'...", he replied, and she led the way back to the barn.
"I'll be watching you, Richard.", Elana Dennison said as she went through the barn and out into the street.
For many moments everyone in the barn remained silent; then as they were sure she was out of earshot, everyone erupted in brays, whistles, catcalls and all kinds of lewd gestures! Hannibal came up and slapped him on the back, much to Richard's confusion; Flatbottom rumbled and chortled, and so did many of the other saurians. As soon as the barn quieted down enough for anybody to be heard coherently, Richard yelled:
"Ok, what's all THIS about?", he asked.
"Don't you get it?", Hannibal asked. "You? Her?", he winked.
"I think she's got eyes for you!", Emily Freedom said.
"You know what they say about Skybax pilots!...", Costello hissed.
"Let him alone, you guys!", Flatbottom said jovially. "You should know it's a private matter between the two of them!...", he chuckled.
"Oh, shut up!...", Richard shouted before climbing up to the loft. "ALL of you!"
Unbeknownst to anybody in the Trilobite Shipping company, Elana Dennison lurked silent just around the corner, just within earshot, and listened. She overheard everything that was said, and was rather shocked at all the things that was implied! She laughed inwardly at all the teasing Richard was getting from them, and giggled despite herself at what her little meeting with him looked like! Just wait until Cirrus, her Skybax steed heard THIS! - she thought as she strolled out onto the wooden sidewalk and made her way back to the Baz Skybax aerie... _
His cargo run to Azonthas went without a hitch a few days later, and Richard was glad there wasn't a pirate in sight; for the jewelry from Volcaneum he delivered was extremely valuable to the shopowners of that town, and so was the load of fish being to sent to Hookwood for thier caravan going across the Rainy Basin. Little was said about his little fiasco with the Skybax pilot, and Flatbottom never mentioned it out of courtesy for his Partner; but he knew that it was in the back of everybodys' minds at the shipping company. After that run and an evening of rest, Richard spent all of the next day at the hatchery.
His administerings to the hatchlings went on as before; and as the generations passed through the complex, he found he could repeat his growing list of songs to them. These new little ones had never heard the songs the ones that came before them had heard, so he found the songs would come out better with that practice. This generation featured the seven Strutheomimus offspring of Selma and Dulock, the family they had helped out so long ago; and these little ones, named after many of the hatchery staff, clapped and chirped right along with the music! At the end of the performances, and as the little ones went for thier dinner; Richard knew his shift wasn't over yet, for he had another late evening shift. It was his turn in the incubation chamber, looking after the sixteen or seventeen new births; and it was Anna's turn to tend to the hatchlings in the other room.
As all the other hatchery workers went upstairs for the night, Richard examined each egg, and then put thier statistics down on the clipboard. As soon as he was done with that, he ramped up the fire under the cauldron and refilled that with water; then went to the kitchen to boil water for a pick-me-up of Jinka for the both of them. Anna had hust bedded down the hatchlings, and Richard heard thier tiny nocturnal breathing as he passed through the room. Presently Anna joined him at the table in a corner of the incubation room, gasping in relief of sitting; yet smiling as she looked him in the eye.
"They're asleep...", she said noncommittally as he waited for an answer.
"So's mine...", Richard returned.
"I'm glad we got another shift together.", Anna said suddenly. "Your other job takes you away too long."
"What can you do?...", he replied. "With all my ideas going so well for us, we're as busy as a hundred-tailed Baryonyx at a tail counting convention!"
"Being busy knows no bounds.", Anna said. "We're thinking of expanding the hatchery, you know. Francine says that the surrounding towns are going to expand thier crop production, and that means many more new workers; and that can only mean many more new hatchlings!"
"I didn't know that!", Richard said. "You know, you might have to take on more apprentices - more trained hatchery workers..."
"More work to do!...", Anna chuckled.
"And things were going so well...", Richard added, ears perked. "I better go check the Jinka...", off he went.
He soon came back with two mugs. "So, anything new happen?", Richard continued as he sat.
"What do you mean?", Anna returned.
"You know...!", Richard made indicating gestures of her and himself, and she got it.
"Oh, that!...", she chuckled, reguarding her mug. "Well,... you see, things have been really busy lately... You know, it is almost time for Christopher to roll out of the nest. He'll be eighteen in a couple of years, and he's deciding what to do for the rest of his life. He was thinking on being something other than a hatchery worker; but I can't interfere with what he wants to do."
"There are planty of job opportunities out there, some he can apprentice and become good at... Maybe he can apprentice at the Trilobite Shipping company...", Richard paused. "But what's that have to do with anything."
"As you say, things have been real busy lately.", she got honest. "I have so many things to do and so many things to think about, I don't know if I can get serious with you at the moment...", she saw his face blanch slightly. "Don't get me wrong!... I like you a lot,... really. It's just that there is so many things going on, so many things to take care of and so many things to worry about;... I don't think I can handle all that, plus a romantic attatchment as well...", she bowed.
"I see...", Richard sadly replied. "But I suppose we can at least still stay friends..."
"Oh, definitely!", she blurted. "And you know, maybe in a while, when things cool down somewhat, I may want to consider it.", she bent to kiss him.
"That would be good,... and I'll always be around if my luck holds out...!", he reminded himself that he still was a fugitive. He got serious. "You know, Anna. When I first came here, I lost everything I held dear: my home, family and friends, my way of making a living, my entire way of life...", he made sure to lower his voice in case he was heard. "I had to completely start over. When I was out on the road before I got here, I had in my backpack everything I thought I would need. I found things along the way, and use them because they were good. I put them in my backpack, and they are still in there today... Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"You mean that your backpack is where you keep everything useful... memories and talents. treasured things...", then she realised. "A metaphor for life! Brilliant!"
"Anyway, your life is so full that you can't fit another thing in your backpack.", he went on. "No matter how hard you try, there's not enough room. When something comes along that might be the best thing in the world for you, you have to leave it by the wayside.". he looked serious at her. "You know, every once in a while there comes a time to clean out your backpack. Sometimes you have to leave a few of your prized posessions behind to make room for newer and better things.", he smiled. "I know it might take a while for you to have room for me in your life, Anna; and I'll wait for you to make up your mind about me, and I hope things go favorabally for the both of us..."
"I hope so too...!", she breathed. "For you to be so concerned with me like that, I'll definitely get busy with it... And I guess the first thing I got to look at is my husband..."
"A sad thing...", Richard said again.
"He was the love of my past.", she said. "He was really good to me, and gave me a wonderful family; but it was his occupation that did him in, and that makes me angry at him!...", she paused in thought. "I suppose that would be one of the first things to consider discarding..."
"Well, keep the good memories!...", Richard jokingly said, grasping her hand. "It's OK to keep those!..."
"I know...", she chuckled. "Just lose the bad ones... Then there's his kids. I get so busy with them sometimes!..."
"I could help with that, I guess.", offered Richard. "I'm good with kids!... And yours just loves the stuffing out of me!..."
"Good point!", she said, drinking her Jinka before it got ice cold. "Now, what are the next things..."
They chatted some more, but the conversation turned into subjects of the more mundane. Soon it was time to make thier rounds, and soon that was over; followed by many more all through the night. Even though they were as friendly as could be toward each other all night long, thier demeanor remained casual and talk of thier relationship remained at the barest of minimums. At the end of the shift they kissed before anybody else was up, and concluded thier shift like nothing amiss was going on... _
Many days passed thusly for Richard Dennison, but things that seemed normal to native born Dinotopians were all but that for him; and such was the case when he suddenly noticed that Costello had been acting growingly strange of late. He didn't mind his gruff demeanor, which seemed natural for his carnivore heritage; but the beast was acting more and more like his charnal self, and it was beginning to unnerve the people around him. He would throw fits and get angry over the least little things, yell at someone, something or nothing at all, then he would storm off somewhere to sulk; and nearly all of them thought it may have something to do with females! Soon his behavior became more and more intense, and his moods became more and more sullen. Even though everyone knew to respect his privacy, Richard was so concerned with him that he asked him about it one day - and almost regretted it!
"Hey Costello...", Richard greeted one day as he was grooming Flatbottom, Costello in an adjoining stall doing the same to Cordial. "Some rain last night..."
"It rains, then it's sunny.", Costello snapped. "Both help crops grow...", he applied more pressure to his brushing.
"Yeah, rain sometimes makes me feel low...", Richard commented, polishing a facehorn. "Does it do that to you?"
"No and yes...", Costello whined. "Makes no difference...", more pressure.
"Hey!... Careful there!...", Cordial complained.
"Sorry...", Costello gasped. "Guess I'm on edge..."
"Why?", Richard asked.
"You feelin' sick?", Flatbottom added.
"NO!...", winced Costello. "I mean, no."
"Well, it has to be something...", Cordial said. "My back plates can't take this much punishment!"
"Well...", Costello said slowly, pausing his grooming. "You see, it's my tooth..."
"I told you not to crack open nuts with your teeth!", Cordial told him. "Now look!..."
"You what?!", Richard said. "No wonder you're on the warpath!", he left Flatbottom's paddock and came near. "Here,... let me see..."
"No!...", Costello protested, trying to hide behind Cordial.
"Let him look or I'll sit on you!...", Cordial warned.
Costello reluctantly came out of hiding and followed Richard to the nearest oil lamp, and in the illumination opened up and let the human take a look. Richard knew that carnivore teeth were serrated and almost self-sharpening, and if one broke off another one would grow to replace it. All of Costello's teeth were warn smooth and no serrations were seen, probably due to his diet of protein rich foods like beans, lentils, nuts and other things - but no meat.
It was obvious that the poor beast didn't take care of his teeth properly, and the smell that wafted to his nostrils was noxious! All were yellowed and a build up of tartar coated the gumline. A moment later he found the errant tooth, or what was left of it; for the tooth was broken almost completely to the gumline, in a place that would have been the left third lower molar on a human. It was nearly black in the center, and the surrounding gum was bloated and infected. Richard tisked and had him close his mouth.
"Well guy... The tooth is completely gone...", said Richard.
"Can't you do ANYTHING?", Costello wailed. "It's killing me!"
"It's broken so bad that I can't do anything for it right now...", Richard told him. "If there was more of it, I could take a pair of pliers to it - or do the old 'doorknob and string' trick."
"Better tell mister Mallone...", Flatbottom suggested.
"Good idea...", Richard said, leading Costello away. "Follow me..."
Croaker, overhearing what was going on, offered his services to take Richard to the hatchery if necesary, and had Hannibal help her put on his Hadrosaur saddle. Malachi was in his stall near by and rumbled his concern while Emily Freedom, Gill the Troodon and Dulock the Struthie, recently hired by the company; continued the work around the barn. As they entered the office, Richard told mister Mallone everything that happened.
"He did, hey?...", Sidney Mallone said after he heard what happened. "What can we do?"
"My medical skills aren't good enough. It'll take surgery to remove it.", Richard said. "The only ones good enough are in the hatchery... Maybe Francine Rivers or Anna Forsythe could do it."
"What about the pain?...", Costello whined.
"Not to worry, my fine saurian!", Mallone told him. "I got some stuff saved away for just such emergencies!", he pulled out a bottle of amber liquid. "Helps me sleep..."
"What is it?", Richard asked, taking the bottle and uncorking it. It was some kind of homemade alchoholic beverage, smelling like no liquor Richard had ever smelled, but was super potent! "Woah!... With that stuff, the tooth will come out on its' own!..."
"I figure it'll kill the pain for him...", Mallone reached for a glass.
"Just so long it doesn't kill HIM!", Richard said. "I think you should be up in bed, buddy...", he said to Costello.
"Yes, I'm a little frazzled at that...", Costello slowly obeyed, Mallone following him to the barn.
By this time Croaker was ready for riding, and came out of the barn as Richard came out of the office. The short rope ladder along side the saddle made for an easy climb up to it, and Croaker took off at a trot as soon as Richard was situated. He had never been riding an animal as high off the ground as this, but he figured that it was as safe as being up on a horse; and just like at summer camp as a kid, he soon found the rythim of the bipedal gait and flowed along with it. The people below gave Croaker a casual berth as he wove his way through town, and picked up a bit of speed at the outskirts; and came to a halt at the hatchery enclave less than an hour later.
Richard got off and rushed inside, and found Francine Rivers a few minutes later. She was in the middle of giving a Lambeosaur mother a Cesearian section, and said she couldn't be disturbed after he told her what was happening; then suggested that Anna could do it if she wasn't busy herself. When Anna heard this, she was very sad to hear it; so she halted the story she was telling the hatchlings and prepared things right away, and Richard helped.
She went to a little used hutch in a corner room and took out instruments reminiscent of a dentist's office at the turn of the century, instructing Richard to put them in a valise for travel, then she had him fill another sack with linens, operating attire and plenty of gauze. She then went to prepare the medications she might need: a concentrated Trilobar mixture for infection and another mixture that was a combination of herbs with Jinka as the main ingredient for an anti-inflamatory; and since Costello was far stronger than any humanan where pain reaction was involved, she would need something to completely anesthesize him, so she prepared a supply of Arctus Listus in a small crockery jar.
Croaker expressed his concern for Costello's condition as Anna climbed aboard his back, and Anna was telling him that it was his own fault for not taking care of his teeth as Richard hopped aboard after securing the several satchels of operating supplies. They left the hatchery enclave and arrived in the town proper as Anna finished telling Richard what procedures she would likely have to do to extract costello's tooth. The main danger was the infection already there, which could spread to the blood when she began to extract the tooth; and that meant that several doses of Trilobar and Jinka would need to be given before the operation could take place.
"How's he taking the pain?", Anna asked as they traveled.
"Well, mister Mallone has some liquor, ans was going to give him some...", Richard replied offhandedly. "From the smell of the stuff, I'd say that Costello won't be feeling too much pain!"
"WHAT?!", Assa looked over her shoulder at him. "Saurian physiology can't handle alchohol as well as humans!... It may get him sick!"
"Oh...", Richard didn't know this! "Well, I hope Mallone knows, and only gives him a little..."
"A little should be all right.", Anna conceeded. "Maybe if he just applys it to his tooth..."
Soon they stop at the entrance to the shipping company, and both humans climbed down after offloading thier supplies. Emily Freedom led them to the loft in the barn, where mister Mallone was swabbing the moonshine into Costello's mouth; and the Dromeosaur had the look of dejected misery on his face, and he looked up to ass Richard and Anna climb to the loft. Immediately Anna came over to give Costello's mouth a cursory inspection, gently coaxing his mouth open.
"I heard you're having the darndest time, fine saurian...", she smiled at him, raising his spirits a bit. "Well, I'm here to fix it..."
"The poor thing...", Mallone said. "I tried to soothe him..."
"I see you've just been swabbing the area with that alchohol.", Anna said. "Did he swallow any?"
"A little...", Costello slurred, her fingers in his mouth.
"That shouldn't matter much...", Anna turned to him. "And now let's see what I can do for you..."
Anna noticed the condition of the saurian's teeth overall, and tisked more briskly than Richard did. She scraped some tartar off a tooth on the other side and gently poked at the diseased tooth, causing Costello to struggle slightly. Within a moment she had her diagnosis. "First thing is you should take better care of your teeth!...", she pulled away and continued. "After I finish here and the tooth heals, I want you to brush your teeth daily; and I will make up a mixture for youto use while brushing."
"What do I do now?", Costello asked groggily.
"Rest... That's all you should do...", Anna told him, he slumped in bed.
"What of my job?", he asked.
"Don't worry.", Mallone told him. "I'll have Dulock take over your runs. Cordial will teach him.", Dulock had yet to go on a delivery, but made a great stableboy.
"Now rest, buddy...", Richard got near. "We'll handle things...!"
Anna got up and went to her medicine bag. Borrowing cups and bowls, she mixed up the trilobar and Jinka mixtures in lukewarm water; then she returned and had Costello drink both in quick succession. Soon that medicine began to take hold, and his extreme discomfort lessened somewhat; and with that and many swabbings of the liquor, Costello seemed to be in very little pain at all. After another hour Anna prepared her dentistry instruments as Richard helped arrange the tools on the table that was pulled to the dinosaur's bed.
The Arctus Listus had to be prepared quickly, for it had to be taken fresh for it to be completely effective; and once Costello drank the mixture, he slowly became drowsey. Both Anna and Richard dressed in operating garb, clean white tunics and aprons with bandannas over thier faces; and then waited for the Arctus Listus to take hold. Once Costello was completely asleep, they placed clean linens under his head and washed thier hands thouroughly before beginning. Everyone wanted to witness the operation, but Anna shooed them out of the area after they arranged every oil lamp in the area near; and once they had the area clear, Anna and Richard began.
Using curly pinpoint picks, Anna probed the rotted tooth; and Richard assisted by sponging away any blood with cotton, this done quickly at every one of her requests. She cut the gum slightly to expose below the root, and pried up with many styles of metal picks and needle-fine pliers. The tooth was so bad that the crown split at the roots, and she had to extract each root offshoot seperately. The blood Richard soaked up was substantial, but was loaded with decay; and when Anna finished, she had him pack the socket with cotton. She also had him tie his jaw closed with a linen strip so the wadding in the socket would stay, and then they called everyone up and waited for Costello to come to.
Anna was not idle as she waited for the results, for she sat at the table and beghan to write down what Costello should do during recovery and beyond. He was to drink a glass of the jinka mixture every four hours for a twoday, he was to eat only soft foods for a week to a fortnight as pain persisted, and chew on the other side of his face during that time. He was to clean his teeth every day from that point on, and no hard foods. He was never to crack open nuts with his teeth ever again, rather using a nutcracker or other device. She made clear warning that he had only so many sets of replacement teeth left, and should take care of them better (She counted only three rows of tooth nodes, places within the jaw where new teeth are formed before emergence.); for he only had enough teeth to last until he was sixty or there abouts.
Gradually Costello groaned to conciouseness, aware of the pain in his teeth that was somehow a bit different than when he fell asleep; fumbling at his face when he found he couldn't open his jaws for the linen strip keeping it closed. He slowly rose, looking around and not knowing what happened. Richard saw him rouse first, and came over to see how he was doing; and soon the rest that waited for him came by as well.
"How you feeling, buddy?", asked Richard.
"Lousey...", Costello mumbled through the bandage. "It over?"
"Yup... Things should be better in no time!", Richard told him. "Um,... Anna made up a list of things you can do until it heals; but that can come later."
"Richard...", anna came over. "I got to leave soon. Could you come help me clean things up?"
"Sure...", he turned. "See you!", Costello waved weakly.
"How did you like your first time in surgery?", Anna asked as they packed the operasting paraphanalia away.
"Not as hard as I thought...", Richard smiled. "But I only assisted!" "You'll make a fine healer one day!", she said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
_
Soon Costello got better, and his spirits lifted save for the fact that he now had to take better care of his teeth; but kept his promise never to crack open nuts with his teeth never the less! Many days after his replacement tooth broke through the gumline, Richard was off doing other things for both the hatchery as well as the shipping company, and Dulock had decided to leave Baz, along with his mate, Selma and thier new family of seven. Time went on normally for all the rest in the town of Baz, but what was normal for them did not seem that way for Richard; evident in what happened next to him.
He was at the hatchery, performing an afternoon shift and would go back to the shipping company as soon as the newest batch of hatchlings were tucked into bed. His songs ended and so did the meal, and it was Samantha's turn to tell them the story; and when all that was done, the hatchlings dutifully trooped to thier room. However, before these events happened, something touching and yet highly predictable happened between Richard and Anna's children. He was down gathering the linens to be washed the next morning when he turned to see all three staring from the doorway at him.
"Hi kids...", Richard greeted as he set his huge armload of clothing into a large wicker bin. "What's wrong...?", he asked when they neither moved or spoke.
"Um,... Uncle Richard.", Samantha started. "We got something to ask you...", she shuffled. "What is it?", Richard turned and crouched.
"It's about mom...", James stammered and became silent.
"You see, we seen how you and mom carry on...", said Christopher. "We know she likes you, and we know you like her."
"What we want to know is this...", Samantha took up the speech.
"Are you going to be our new daddy?...", James blurted suddenly.
Needless to say that the question took Richard aback, for how do you tell a child about an adult institution like love and marrage? He found it extremely difficult the day he had to tell his son back home about his and Samantha's divorce! Richard paused for many moments, gathering the replies he was going to give; and trying to word it in a way these children could understand. Next he gathered them all near and began to explain himself.
"You know kids...", Richard began. "It's true that I like your mom; and it is also true that your mom likes me... We like each other so much that we just might become married one day.", he smiled. "This means that I might become your father one day... There is only one thing."
"What's that?", Samantha asked, smiling back.
"Things have been so busy lately that me and your mom haven't talked about getting married yet.", Richard told her. "We like each other enough to, but haven't found the time!", he looked at the boys. "The only thing I can say for sure is that I definitely MIGHT be your father one day!..."
"Oh,...", James said and the rest nodded acknowledgement.
"What do you guys think about that?", Richard asked them lovingly but ernestly.
"Well, you're definitely not like our real dad...", Christopher said. "But if mom chooses you, then I guess I could get used to someone different..."
"Well, I think he'll make a swell daddy!...", Samantha gave him a hug.
"I was only a little baby when dad went away...", James said. "I don't really know what a daddy is like; but if a daddy is anything like you, then they can't be all that bad!...", Richard got another hug.
"You know, your mom has some fine children here...!", Richard gladly returned the hugs, even getting a small one from christopher. "And you know something else?... If everything turns out well, I will try my best to live up to what you expect of me..."
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Post by thundertail on Nov 29, 2008 16:11:59 GMT -5
TWENTY-TWO:
As life went on for Richard Dennison, he slowly found himself in a sense of normalcy in the town of Baz; performing the tasks he was doing drawing him into a routine that was both grueling and fulfilling. The many visits at the Baz hatchery was gaining him an intimate knowledge of rearing and taking care of all types of dinosaurs, as well as all walks of human children and thier medical care; and the experiences at the Trilobite Shipping company were making him an old hand at the trade. All around town he was extremely popular, and many would halt him to chat nearly everywhere he went; and many truely apreciated the tasks he would perform for them all.
So far nothing much came up concerning his fugitive status, and his cousin Elana Dennison only visited the town on other business just a handful of times; and any casual chats with her only revealed how the search for him had simply fell by the wayside of late. This bit of news was a good thing, or so he thought as he prepared Flatbottom and his cart for another journey across the land; this he also thought as his mood was turning to the melodramatic of late! He whistled a tune as he groomed and fed his friend, waiting for the loaders to finish filling thier cart outside; which was thier heaviest load yet, and would be one of thier longest journeys.
Hervest time had come to the Northern Plains, and the bounty coming from that area was unsurpassed in recent memory; so droves of carts were about transporting the various crop to where they were supposed to go. Richard's load had a vast mixture of fruits and vegetables, placed in at least a hundred wicker and wooden baskets, barrels and other containers; and destined to go to several places along the way. Thier turnaround point was Chipacharool, and they were to stop at every town and outpost along the way; dropping off and picking up the goods that were assigned to those places.
"... So this means we're going to be out for at least a fortnight...", Flatbottom was saying as Richard absently finished up putting the harnesses on him. "That is if we take the usual ways.", he chuckled. "Good thing I know some shortcuts!..."
"What?...", Richard said as his attention was drawn.
"I was just rattling off all the destinations...", Flatbottom said, then got sarcastic. "Where were you?"
"Oh, just back up the path again...", Richard said. "Just thinking of where I been..."
"You came a long way.", Flatbottom said. "You should be proud!... I mean, from being - what you once was - to getting what you got here. Like being my best buddy and the thing with miss Forsythe and everything...!"
"All that,... all that!", Richard chuckled. "But now I should be thinking of the path ahead!", he turned. "Where are we going again?" Flatbottom groaned.
"Just kidding, my friend!", Richard chuckled. "Just kidding!..."
He led his friend out of the paddock and to thier cart out in front of the barn, then backed him into the yokes; and after hitching him to thet, Richard went into the office and collected thier paperwork. Thier trip would start from Baz, then go to Doondawdle to pick up two baskets of fish and take it to Alveria, several stops down the line. From Doondawdle they were to go to Sparklebrook to drop off some peaches and bananas and pick up a hundredweight of nails to go to Durnsmoor. From Sparklebrook they were to take a ferry up Stillwater Creek to Fireside to drop off three baskets of beans and lentils, and pick up a barrel of tomatoes to take to Chipcharool. They were to make many stops, picking up and dropping off many things along the way; from Plovine to Wimple Springs to Birolage to Gambrel to Alveria and all the aforementioned spots. It was clear that the both of them would have an extremely busy time of it! It was not a comfort of thought to think that everyone in the Trilobite Shipping company were to have trips that were just as difficult; for everyone in ALL shipping companies in northern Dinotopia were going to be just as busy since the harvest was at hand. Another factor to consider was that they were not the only ones to know this, and if they did Richard and flatbottom would not have made this run!
"Wow!... Big itinerary!", said Richard as he came out of the office, showing the papers to Flatbottom. "Looks like we got to travel all over the island!"
"Yeah, and bring along everything on the island with us!...", added the beast. "And you know? The sooner we get going, the sooner we'll get it done!... Hop aboard already!"
"Yes, boss...", Richard mimicked his usual response and did as was told.
As soon as all was clear, Flatbottom got the nearly overloaded cart moving; and they proceeded down the street at a sedate pace for your average Triceratops, but the look of determination on Flatbottom's face betrayed the heaviness of the load. As they passed out of the town of Baz proper and into the outskirts where field met up with field, the cobbles gave way to hardpacked dirt road; and the going got steadily slower for the poor beast, and Richard was silently wondering if his Partner would be able to make the trip! For many long miles Flatbottom slogged along at this pace, showing his nearly endless reserves of strength and stamina; slowly dissipating Richards fears of him as the miles passed under the carts' wheels.
Roughly eastward they traveled, and by midmorning Doondawdle came into view, which was just a small farming enclave in the middle of the jungles; But the fish they picked up there, which was transferred to there from Irenic reminded Richard of his first few weeks of recovery on Dinotopia. After a small session of massage to Flatbottom's lumbago, they soon left there, Richard picking away slightly on his Zithar as they turned northward to thier next destination of Sparklebrook; which was a junction point from land travel to travel by river, dropping off the peaches assigned to be dropped off there and picking up the hundredweight of nails. Then Flatbottom took the ferry up Stillwater Creek that flowed roughly southeast to thier next destination of Fireside.
Thier pick ups and droppings off were made by early evening, and they traveled roughly north from there to the nearby small city of Diploville; and since night time had followed them most of the mid evening, they decided to find rooms there for the night. Flatbottom got another rubdown by an attendant as he chewed his fodder after Richard saw he was goiung to be bedded down properly. In the morning they once again traveled north to the outpost of Wimple Springs, picking up and dropping off the things assigned there before heading out once again. The Northeast road took them to the small enclave of Briolage, and they made thier deliveries there within an hour; and the eastern road they took next led them to another small enclave of Gambrel by noon time. Through the vast forest leading south, they eventually came to the very small town of Durnsmoor near dusk; and they had to spend the night there as well.
In the morning they set out once again, traveling east for many miles as the vast forest gave way to first conifer foliage and then vast scrubland; marking the very outskirts of the small town of Goombadel. Thier goods were delivered and the things they were assigned to pick up were loaded and they were on thier way by early afternoon, taking an easterly route. They only stayed in Alveria for less than a half hour, having to deliver and pick up only a crate or two of cargo there and dropped off a small basket of asparagus; and soon were traveling east once again, to thier outermost destination of this trip, the great trade city of Chipcharool.
Chipcharool was the main trading nexxus of this part of the Northern Plains, nearly twice as big or famous as Baz for trading, and there were many trading companies stationed out of the town. It took Flatbottom the better part of the rest of the day to locate the companies they were supposed to deliver thier varied goods, and the remainder to locate the companies they were supposed to pick up thier goods for the trip west. This forced them to stay the night in town, and Flatbottom was gratiousely offered a paddock in the last shipping company they ended up at, getting a rubdown by thier fulltime Strutheomimus stableboy; but Richard had to sleep in an upper room of a taylor shop next door, and they charged him far too much for it, if you asked him!
"All rested up, buddy?", Richard asked Flatbottom in the morning as thier attendants fed him. "We should be going by Morningmeal or the traffic around here will be unbearable!"
"Almost finished...", Flatbottom said around a mouth of fodder.
"A word of warning, friends...", said one of the Strutheomimus attendant. "Pirate activities have increased this past twoday. Stay clear of all roads that are more than a day away from a town."
"We saw no pirates.", Richard told him. "Are you sure you weren't misinformed?"
"I took shortcuts. Remember?", Flatbottom said.
"My advice is to take the well-traveled paths from now on, noble saurian.", the attendant said. "I heard that three caravans were raided over this past fortnight, and they took the least traveled roads."
"We'll be careful.", Richard told the attendant, then turned to his friend. "You heard him...", he led him to the cart. "No joyrides!"
"Awwwww...!", Flatbottom grumbled jokingly.
Presently the cart rolled west, out past the outskirts of Chipcharool; and they tried to follow the same route they did on the way there, only taking the main roads as per the paddock attendants' advice. They visited every town previousely visited, only in reverse order; and they were less than half way home when something unexpected happened. A person at the ferry at Fireside told them that the ferry was damaged somehow, and would not come; and he said to take an alternate route to Sparklebrook, and so they did, not wishing to argue with someone in guard uniform.
"I don't like this...", Flatbottom moaned. "Did you see the face on that guard?"
"A guard's a guard.", Richard told him. "So what if he was a little frazzled... He was probably on the road a long time... If a human doesn't shave regularly, they grow beards like that too."
"I mean the way he acted.", the beast said. "Usually guards are all business. That one looked like a rolled up scroll... He was really antsy!"
"Maybe you scared him...", Richard said.
"Aw...! Drive the cart or I'll scare YOU!", Flatbottom huffed, looking left and right through the trees. "These woods give me the creeps..."
The detour path went on for more miles than was comfortable to them, and it seemed that they were traveling steadily southward instead of west like they wanted. To top it all off, the forest was beginning to sprout rocky knolls and pillar-like mounds of soil and forest debris; looking like a blasted land just now returning to the pristine place it once was, evidence of stone ruins jutting up from the tormented forest litter. A saurian call wafted through the trees to thier right, and many moments later another call came from thier left. Now even Richard was getting afraid of how eerie everything was becoming!
The road, now merely pressed down ruts between the trees, passed by a cluster of uneven rocks that seemed to belong to the ruins of what might have been a castle or other stronghold; for crumbled portals led to more forest beyond, and the eroded walls of the structure this area once was could hide anything behind them. Before they passed what might have been the main gate of the structure, a human strolled casually from behind a wall and stood there, blocking Flatbottom's path; disheveled trifold hat shadowing a face only a mother of another species could love, and he was dressed in something that might have been some kind of uniform in another iteration.
"Greetings, mate!", said the man, spitting. "Out for a ride?"
"Hello, fellow traveler!", Richard returned. "What news?"
"The news is nobody travels this road.", the man said. "Not without my say-so."
"What ever for?", Richard asked. "All may travel any road on Dinotopia without anybody's say."
"That's what everyone thinks.", he returned. "But not here, and not with me."
"My name is Richard, and my friend is Flatbottom.", Richard told him. "With whom am I speaking?"
"Oh!... My manners!...", the man bowed slightly, not taking his eyes off the cart. "Name's J.B.", he smiled. "Commander J.B., as I am called. I am a person of fortune by trade, you see..."
"A pleasure...", rumbled Flatbottom. "Now step aside! We are late!..."
"Yes, we must be going...", Richard added, rattling the reigns. "Have a wonderful day..."
"I can tell that there's a slight misunderstanding.", J.B. said at last. "It is plain to me that you do not know what's going on before 'ye!... How do you like that, everyone?", this he yelled into the woods!
That was answered by many humans, laughing meanly and making lewd comments as they made thier way out from hiding in the forest and behind the stones to surround the cart. There was roughly a dozen of them from all walks of life, both male and female; and dressed in either stolen finery or nearly complete rags. Some wore hats, but those that didn't had unkempt or balding hair, all were unwashed, and many had missing and filthy teeth. All bore weapons of differing types and lethality, from clubs and sticks to knives and swords, from spears to bows of strange design. All were drueling with thier eyes at the potential riches that were aboard Richard's and Flatbottom's cart, but were waiting for thier leader to give the go-ahead to pillage the cart.
"Now do you understand, my boy? You are about to be robbed.", this J.B. said to Richard. "You really don't have a choice in the matter."
"Whot's 'e got?", one said.
"Let's fillet 'em!", another said.
"The human's cute...", one female said.
"You'd prefer the threehorn!", another female said, making the third chuckle.
"No flirtin' love...", J.B. told them. "Bidness afore pleasure!...", all chuckled.
"I meant business...", the third female said.
"Enough, you nits!", J.B. shouted. "Now, announce yourselves!... Where's your manners?"
"Right, boss.", the closest one said. Name's Slike..."
"Javies over here.", he was nearest Flatbottom, pointing his bow at an eye.
"You got Runner here.", panted another with a quazi-guard's uniform on, the one who told them to take the detour!
"I'm Galleywench...", flirted a fat female in housemaids' garb, wielding a dagger.
"Name's Scum.", blurted an equally fat man, no place on him was clean.
"Well, you see, they call me m-m-Mouth, but they won't tell me w-w-why...", this skinny lady spoke with thin, greasy hair, leaning on her scimitar. "I was j-j-just telling them the other day that I don't t-t-talk t-t-too much; but they won't listen. They just..."
"ZIP IT!...", J,B. shouted.
"S-see?...", Mouth defended.
"Don't worry, sugar. I'll take care of 'em...", the other girl said, jet black hair and more ornamentation then all the rest combined, a loaded crossbow at port arms. "Name's Yes-Dear; cause if I don't get my way, you get one of these in the chest!", she pointed it at Richard.
"Name's Longbow.", a blonde fellow hopped off a rock knoll next to the cart. "I could've skewered you fifty strides ago.
"I'm Slasher...!", Leered another one, wild look and fingering a huge Bowie-type knife. "I like knives...", he fondled his lovingly. The rest there remained silent, glaring at the scene before them.
"Now sir...", he coughed. "What things do you have for us?", he put a boot on a wagon wheel.
"Well, let me see..", Richard reached for the invoices on thier clipboard. "We have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables..."
"No booty?", a different pirate asked.
"No treasure?", another asked.
"Pipe down!...", J.B. yelled. "Continue..."
"We got khale...", Richard got up and went to the assigned basket, lifting out a sample. "Papaya...", he performed the same procedure, as with all the rest he described. "Oranges,... peaches,... grapes,... lemons,... limes...!", he continued on the other side of the cart, idea forming as he went on. "We have corn,... beans,... peas,... lettuce,... rice,... wheat,..."
"And Tomatoes!...", he lifted the wooden cover on the barrel. "Look at these! Fresh as a twoday ago... Try one!", Richard tossed one to every pirate, some fumbling with it as well as thier weapons, like he hoped!... "Go ahead, taste them!...", they did.
"Good...", J.B. said after a bite. "Now hand them over!"
"They're good, right? Try another.", Richard tossed them all another one, harder this time; and the pirates were even clumsier this time! He tossed them all another before they were ready. "Have some more!...", more tosses, this time aiming! "Have another!...", this time they were landing on faces and torsos, making a gloppy mess!
"That's enough, mug!...", J.B. shouted, fending off a face shot. "Stop!!!"
Richard would not stop, and soon he was bombarding them with nearly all the tomatoes in the barrel! Yes dear got one down her front and she yelped disgustedly, Scum's chest began to live up to his name as he was dripping with offal, Slike got one in the eye and knocked him back slightly, Runner was staggered by a tomato off the ear and Galleywench's hair was splotched with juice. Richard's Little League pitching as a kid was coming into play, and onward he tossed. As soon as the tomatoes were too low to grab, he moved on to the papayas, and then the other fruits; but he was hoping that Flatbottom would get the hint and get them out of there! J.B. was startled as a banana skittered across his eyes, Longbow got his aim deflected as a papaya bounced off his hand, Mouth stammered as another banana slammed into her throat, Slasher got his dagger knocked from his hand and javies skidded on the mango that bounced into his path. Richard looked down at the the still immoble Flatbottom as one of them shot a crossbow at him, and Richard used the barrel cover as a shield just in the nick of time!
"Don't just stand there, Flatbottom!...", he yelled in saurian. "RUN!!!!"
The beast slowly moved the cart forward, and knocked the pirate in front of him aside with his nosehorn; sending the man many paces into the woods in a daze. He was barely at a walk when an arrow skittered along his tough back.
"YEOW!...", Flatbottom bellowed, and he was quickly spurred into frenzied pulling!
As the pirates began to get out of range of Richard's bombardment, they started chasing after the cart, yelling and cursing as they slid on the fruity mess at thier feet. Some got off crossbow or arrow shots, but thier aim was thwarted by the sticky goo on thier fingers or the slippery ground below. Still some shots found thier mark, and Richard got many bolts stuck in his barrel lid shield; and the back of the cart began to bristle with arrows. Flatbottom stretched the distance between the pirates and the cart by the minute; and even though they chased the cart for nearly a mile, they soon gave up in exhaustion!
"What do we do now, boss?", Scum gasped.
"We go home, what else?", J.B. spat. He turned and walked back into the ruins, his gang dejectedly following. "I hate that man!..."
Flatbottom ran and continued to run, cart wobbling and shaking over every rut and root in the highly disheveled road. Many miles later, as Richard at last was able to regain the driver's seat, he slowed to a near walk, panting and moaning the whole way. Soon they came to a highly camoflagued crossroads, and the beast knew where he was at last. It was fortunate that Naranda was only two miles to the southwest from there, but poor Flatbottom had to stop and rest.
"You jollyhead!...", panted Flatbottom as he finally stopped. "You nearly got me killed!"
"You should've gotten the hint two minutes sooner!..", Richard returned, then deflated. "Oh look,... I'm sorry...", he got down and placed a hand on Flatbottom's frill. "Just a situation that couldn't be helped, is all...", he bowed. "I disobeyed the rules, resisting the pirates..."
"It was kind of fun, though...!", the beast pantingly winked. "Most fun I've had squashing humans in a while!...", he caught a breath. "Only let's not do it no more, ok?..."
"You're right, boss...", Richard hugged. "It was dangerous and stupid."
"And it aggrivated my lumbago again...!", Flatbottom winced slightly. "If you would?..."
"Ooh!... Right...", Richard Dennison immediately got to work on the poor beast, beginning just behind his frill; and doing as good a job as the harnesses would allow.
Soon relief spread across Flatbottom's body, more due to the short restbit than the massage; and before too long he had the human cease his administerings, getting under way not long after that. It was not long before they began to see the fields and graineries of Naranda, and Richard remembered the time he had there; and worried slightly about those who would remember his true identity there, and hoping they would keep it a secret!
All too soon the Wild West-style town came into view, and Richard noticed the usual bustle he remembered when he first came here; and even though Flatbottom had his own memories of the place, both seemed to be looking for the same place. There was only one major shipping company in the town, and the town's human second in command owned it; but when they got there they found nobody there, and not even thier stableboys were present. Richard remembered the tavern most of the townspeople frequented, and suggested to Flatbottom that they should go there; and sure enough, many of the patrons of the shipping companies were present, seeking shelter from the heat of the day. Many saurians were tethered out front, some just stayed there while others sported carts; each were chattering softly to each other, waiting for thier counterparts to emerge from the tavern.
"Hello...", Richard said to the barkeep after he hitched Flatbottom to the rail outside and walked into the dimly lit space. "I wonder if anybody from the shipping company is here..."
"Want anything?", the barkeep turned and said. "That information isn't for free."
"Cold Jinka.", Richard said exasperatedly after a moment. "Now, is there anybody from the shipping company here?"
"Over there, by th' mayor...", the barkeep barked, shoving the Jinka in front of him and snatching the Drach coin Richard dropped on the bar.
The Barkeep then pointed to a pair of humans at a table by the unlit fireplace - one was kind of skinny and young while the other was older and more portly. Richard grabbed his mug and made his way over, weaving in and out of the other people and smaller saurians milling about the palce. Before Richard had gotten to within five feet of the table, both paused what they were talking about and reguarded him warilly. At just another step and the skinny one addressed him, face not looking older than just above adulthood.
"Can I help you?", he said.
"Perhaps. I'm looking for the owner of the shipping company.", Richard told him. "Something happened on the road today that I think he should know of."
"I'm the boss...", the other said.
"Well, I'm the mayor!", the kid shot back, then addressed Richard. "Hello stranger. I'm Irwin Hanson, mayor of Naranda; and this is Cassni Minnola, head of our shipping company."
"Nice to meet you both.", Richard said, indicating if he should sit, which was granted. "I am Richard. I am from the Trilobite shipping company out of Baz. I was going along on my run near here, and I was attacked by pirates."
"Are you OK?", Irwin asked. "I should requisition some guards..."
"Did they get anything?", Cassini asked at the same time. "I hate those scalliwags!..."
"Both me and my puller are all right.", Richard tried to calm them. "And they didn't take anything per-se...", he told them of the tale, from briefly describibng his run to the detour at Fireside. He described being detained by them, and the way he tried to escape them. He told of thier flight and his puller's aggrivated injury; and ended with them finding thier way here."So, as you can see, I had a bad day..."
Irwin Hanson took a drink before speaking. "You mean you resisted those pirates?", he shook his head. "You are either a very brave man, or a very stupid one!"
"Do you realise what they'll do, friend?", Cassini Minolla set his drink down. "Pirates, when they don't get what they want, will be all the meaner on thier next raid!"
"Sir, we have a policy around here; where we give the pirates what they want.", Irwin said. "That way they are happy, and no one gets injured."
"One time about a hundred years ago, my papa told me about some that resisted pirates.", Cassini said. "The pirates ended up burning down thier town!..."
"We have no way to confirm that!", Irwin told him, then turned to Richard. "But it is true that they get meaner if they do not get what they want."
"So, what do I do now?", Richard asked.
"Go home, tell your boss and NEVER do that again.", Irwin told him. "With luck the pirates will have forgotten all about it..."
"If I were your boss, I'd fire you for this!...", Cassini commented. "Now off with you!..."
At mayor Hanson's nod, Richard grabbed his Jinka and returned to the bar. The barkeep eyed him suspiciousely as he wiped the counter, and Richard downed his drink as quickly as possible. He scanned the other patrons of the bar, and saw nearly every eye upon him; giving him looks like they had overheard, and now he was some kind of criminal to them. As cool as was possible for him, he got up and casually left the pub; noticing how the volume of the people talking behind him suddenly increased in volume, and the subjects spoken of before had turned to what he had been discussing with the mayor and shipping boss! As he stepped out onto the street the talk turned to laughter, making him wonder if they were really worried aboiut what happened at all; and scanned the street for his Partner, who was nowhere to be found!
"Flatbottom...! Where are you...?", Richard called, seeking the most likely route the beast could have gone.
Richard wandered down the street, seeing a myriad of tracks in the dust, and some of them being ceratopsian; but this gave him little clue, so he searched down the other side of the street, looking down every alleyway and side street. Through the crowds he saw many of his Partner's kin, but only two of them pulled a similar cart; and eventually giving up, he slowly walked back to the pub.
"Where is that hornhead...", this he moaned.
Just as he was about to step back inside to ask if anybody saw him, a faint bellowing chuckle that sounded like Flatbottoms and another warbling chuckle could be heard to his left. The lumbering head of an Iguanodon swayed toward the frilled head of a Triceratops as they both walked up the street toward him. They both looked like they were having a good time, and Flatbottom was animatedly telling her some kind of story. As soon as he saw Richard, Flatbottom let off with a bellow and quickened his pace toward his friend.
"There you are, human!...", he bellowed. "Ah,... this is Shelly. She's the Partner of the mayor, and she showed me where I could stow the cart."
"Pleased to know you, ma'am.", Richard bowed. "I just got finished talking to your Partner inside."
"He's always in there...", Shelly said, then cocked her head a bit. "Don't I know you?... You look familiar... I never forget a face."
"Uh, well...", Richard stammered. "My name is Richard, and..."
"THE Richard?", Shelly's eyes widened. "I know you now, mister Dennison! I never forget people!...", Richard blanched.
"You know him?", Flatbottom blanched as well.
"When I first came here, I passed through thier town.", Richard explained, then turned to her. "Do you know what happened after I departed the last time?"
"Why, no.", she said. "We sent you on your way and hoped the best for you.", she smiled. "Flatbottom here tells me you had a run-in with pirates. What an injenius way of escaping them...!"
"Is there a place we can talk in private?", Richard asked. "What I'm going to tell you might be a little touchy..."
"Sure... Right this way...", Shelly turned and led them back down the street, back where they had put the cart; and a Pachycephalosaur was busy pulling out the arrows and crossbow bolts that stuck out of the back of the cart!
"Boyo! Those guys were sure mad at you!", the beast said as he yanked. "Nice arrows..."
"Caleb. Could you continue that later?", Shelly requested. "We need to be alone for a bit."
"Sure, miss...", Caleb said.
"Could you save those arrows?", Richard asked. "I might need them as evidence."
"I tossed 'em all in back...", Caleb indicated the cart, then scrambled out at Shelly's glare.
"Now, mister Dennison...", Shelly said after making sure they were alone with her ears. "What is it that you have to tell me?"
"Well, ma'am...", Richard began. "You see, I'm not supposed to be here..."
"Spit it out, Richard!", nudged Flatbottom.
"Hush...!", Shelly shushed. "Please, continue..."
"See, I ws sent to Waterfall City for training.", began Richard anew, Shelly nodding at every point made. "I did really well, and surpassed thier training. They liked my skills at deciphering the saurian texts and things. They reccommended that I become an Archaeologist, and go to Carnask for apprenticeship.", he bowed. "I didn't want to do that, so I ran away.", she blanched this time. "I traveled for days until I got to Baz. I liked it there, and got jobs both at thier hatchery and the shipping company. I started a new life there, and things couldn't be better..."
"I'm very glad to hear that...", Shelly thought. "But there is that dilemma at Waterfall City to consider..."
"They still don't know where I am.", said Richard.
"And this pirate thing might complicate matters...", Shelly considered. "Did you tell anyone?"
"Only your Partner at the bar, and the shipping boss.", Richard told her. "I think the rest at the pub overheard too..."
"Those nosey...!", Flatbottom commented.
"Anyway,", Shelly interrupted. "I don't think you should say a word of this to anyone. Don't even tell your boss!"
"What about the others?", asked Richard.
"I'll have a word with Irwin, tell him who you are and tell him not to mention it.", shelly told them. "I'll tell him to say that you were never here if anybody inquires about you.", she looked around. "In the mean time, I think you should make all haste and get back to Baz."... _
Richard Dennison and Flatbottom took Shelly's advice and got out of town after finishing up pulling the arrows out of the cart; and they continued thier run as planned. They ended up being a bit later than usual, but they agreed to say that Flatbottom had taken a wrong turn and got lost for a while. They told no one about the pirate incident, and the arrows were hidden in Flatbottom's secret hiding place where he keeps his money. However, even with all this secrecy, rumors about what they did spread; and within days a tale of how a brave unknown cargo driver fended off a band of fierce pirate cutthroats. Of course the tale grew with the telling, as all tales do about ordinary people doing brave deeds!
"Who ever this guy was, he sure did us all in!", Sidney Mallone was saying as Richard was busy with the books. "Those pirates are sure wreaking havock around here. The Dinothunder Shipping company had both a puller and driver injured!"
"Well, maybe it wasn't all like that.", Richard considered in a diplomatic way. "Maybe they let him go.", he turned. "You can't believe everything you hear..."
"Why would folks lie?", mallone said. "Besides, the guy broke the rules!"
"Is it such a crime to defend oneself?", Richard asked. "I think he did a brave thing."
"Richard. By endangering his own life, the guy endangered the lives of everyone those pirates meet with!", Mallone told him. "You sound like a person that would do just that!"
"I didn't mean to make you think so.", Richard renegged. "It's just that those pirates are criminals, and something should be done about it."
"Solving a violent situation with violence is not the Dinotopian way. You should know this!", Mallone told him. "It is more civilized to solve it diplomatically."
"Then maybe a treaty or something should be proposed to them...", Richard thought. "Make it say that we give them what they want if they don't rob us..."
"Do you think those people would honor that?", Mallone shook his head. "Not a ghost of a chance!"
"Well, you never know.", Richard said. "Everyone on this island is honorable at heart. Maybe even them!", he smiled. "I'm sure they would go for a deal that is both beneficial to them and perfectly legal for a change."
"If you are thinking of what I think you're thinking, then stop thinking of it!", Mallone told him. "Those pirates will eat you alive!"
"But I got to do something!", Richard said, and instantly wished he didn't!
"Why do you have to do something about this?", Mallone asked, knowing hands on hips.
"Because...", Richard eventually confessed. "Because the guy that resisted the pirates was me...", he wanted to hide.
"You...?", Mallone said, then raised his voice. "YOU?!!!... Oh! What a NIT you are!... I thought you had more brains than that!"
"I didn't know what else to do...", Richard said weakly.
"You know, Richard?", Mallone said, not calming down. "For a stunt like that, I should fire you right here and now!...", he got into his face. "But I won't this time; and you know why?", he walked away a few paces. "It's because of all the good stuff you do for the company. If I do, folks will wonder why.", he faced him. "I can't just say you did something stupid like that. People just wouldn't believe it!"
"But what's to become of it?", asked Richard meekly. "If those pirates are doing what you say, then they are even more dangerous than before."
"...Maybe they'll cool down after a while.", Mallone said finally. "That's all we can hope for.", he turned. "As for you; you're reduced to stableboy until further notice!", he thought. "And Flatbottom deserves the vacation for all the things you put him through!"
"Yes sir...", Richard dejectedly went back to the books, but another plan was forming in his brain to set things right.
Flatbottom was extremely dismayed when he went out and told him what went on in the office, berating both Richard and himself for the blockheaded thing they had done. Richard said that something had to be done about it, and roughly went over his plan; which was to propose a treaty to the pirates and see what they thought. Even though Flatbottom thought it was crazy, dealing with those murderous criminals; he said that it was a better plan than cowering under thier tyranny, and what ever Richard needed for him to do would be done. Once his shift was over at the shipping company, Richard had to go to the hatchery for yet another evening shift there.
Since he had been away a long time from Baz - almost a month by his reconing - Anna Forsythe was extra effectionate in her greeting; and her children as well as all in the hatchery gave him a warm welcome back.The usual occurances happened there, for things seldom changes at the Baz hatchery except the amount and species of hatchlings currently present. Richard finished up his Zithar entertainment and tucked each one into bed for the night, gathering up the satchel of writing paraphanailia he had brought with him; then he went to the table just inside the incubation room and set up the instruments to pen the proposal he had in mind.
Since the pirates were perhaps unschooled in reading saurian, or maybe even English, for that matter; he used his best penmanship and began wording the proposal in as simple a way as possible and still be a legal document. The word 'Treaty' was penned at the top in bold lettering, and the preamble of it would describe the main purpose of it in a noble way. It said that the purpose of it was to establish a peaceful relationship between traders in the Northern Plains and those entepreneurial types that choose an unethical way in gaining thier own sustanence. To bridge the gap of culture in an amicable way so all may be at harmony with one another; along with many colorful passages like that. Richard was just about done with the first draft whan Anna came over and looked over his shoulder.
"What are you doing, dear?", she asked, reading a few sentances. "Is this a treaty?"
"I'm doing this to see if we can make peace with the pirates.", Richard replied, lifting his stylus. "Those guys have ravaged every shipping company from here to the Amu canyon by now..."
"But why you?", Anna asked. "I'm sure some of the others could pen a treaty..."
"You see, this idea is totally my own.", Richard told her. "Nobody knows I'm doing this, but something has to be done."
"And who's going to deliver it to them?...", she asked, but secretly knew.
"Well, it IS my idea...", Richard said lamely.
"You can't do this!...", Anna raised her voice. "They will cut you to pieces!... I will not have this!"
"Please... It's for the best.", Richard tried to soothe. "Somebody has to do it..."
"But why you?...", she was nearly to tears. "Oh Richard!...This is just like my first husband... Rushing off into the teeth of danger...!"
"Please!... Try to understand...", Richard said.
"I mean, you are a smart person. You would not think of trying a stunt like this...", Anna went on, then had a thought. "Unless...", she looked into his eyes. "Richard!... Please tell me you didn't do that!"
"They surprised me...", said Richard, bowing.
"And now you feel you have to set things right.", she stated. "Well, that's just FINE!...", she stormed off.
Richard looked as she went, then continued with the proposal. Anna barely spoke to him all night except for the business at hand and such; and when it was time to go in the morning, she didn't even kiss him! As his morning stableboy chores came to a close, Richard told Flatbottom what he had planned to do; and when he heard this the beast bellowed his discontent!
"I don't like this one bit!", Flatbottom told him. "I mean, ones inclination is to get AWAY from pirates, not seek them out!"
"The only way to give them this treaty proposal is to find them first.", Richard said tutorially. "I'm sure that they won't hurt us when they hear what we got to offer; and if we give them a cart full of supplies, they'll leave us alone for sure!"
"Will they let us go?", Flatbottom huffed. "That's what I want to know!"
"I'm pretty sure they just want the things to keep them alive.", Richard told him. "They really don't want to hurt anyone."
"But what we did to them...", Flatbottom groaned.
"That could be a problem...", Richard thought, then grabbed his nosehorn. "Or it could prove we can handle them, and watch out!"
The first thing they were going to do was to buy up all the spare provisions and supplies around town, a whole cartload if they were lucky; and since Flatbottom was so reluctant to help out on this matter, Richard had to spend all the Drachs and other valuable things he had saved up during his stay here to purchase the items. It turned out that his savings was quite substantial, and he ended up having a tiny amount left over after he purchased all he could obtain; and this he placed in a small sack to sweeten the deal he had in mind for the pirates.
The next step was to ask mister Mallone if they could borrow the cart for a day or two, saying that they were planning another outing like last time; and though he agreed to lend them the cart, he secretly suspected what Richard had up his sleeve! As the pair prepared for thier covert operation, the others began noticing thier strange behavior as well; and made many unsuccessful inquiries on what they were doing, receiving noncommittal replies or downright rudeness for thier efforts. As soon as everything was all set, Richard and Flatbottom quietly got ready for thier mission; starting really early and quietly so as not to wake anybody around them.
They rolled out of the barn and out into the sleeping town, and was out past Baz's farthest fields before most of the early risers began stirring. The one fact that they didn't take into consideration was the fact that, when pirates do not want to be found, they generally stay that way; and it ended up taking well into the evening to find any sign of pirate activity at all, campfire remnants and tracks leading further into the trackless jungles. Even though Flatbottom could not follow them into the woods for his pulling of the cart, he managed to find paths suitable to the cart that came close to the general direction the pirates were going. It wasn't even certain that the pirates they were following were the pirates that accosted them those many days ago, but Richard reasoned that they might be the only ones canvassing this territory; and to just keep on looking!
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(Continued in next post.)
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Post by thundertail on Nov 29, 2008 16:23:12 GMT -5
TWENTY-TWO: (Continued)
Not since his first few days on Dinotopia was the night as eerie as the one Richard was currently experiencing, and the cloud covered night revealed not so much as a shadow; and the indiginous residents of the jungle mirrored the eeriness of the night, for not even the sound of crickets were heard the whole night long. Thusly it became a startling surprise to hear the cracking of twigs in the near distance as dawn began lightening the sky the following morning, sounds of which made the human and his Partner spring to full alertness. They both scanned the forested surroundings, looking for the maker of those sounds; and finally a movement in the lower foliage betrayed the presence of a stalker way out in the woods, them cringing as the stranger made his approach.
"Hello...", Richard called. "We know you're out there, so please show yourself."
"Are you friendly?", Flatbottom bellowed, but the pause in rustling betrayed the figure's confusion.
"We are looking for the pirates that frequent this territory.", Richard called. "Are you a member of they?..."
Instead of answering, the stranger in the forest sauntered out from behind the cover he had been using; large bow with a steel tipped arrow pointing straight for Richard's eyes, edging slowly onto the path with all the caution of a predator stalking prey. He lowered his weapon slightly as he made his way down it, and stopped many paces out of Flatbottom's reach. Then he took greater effort in aiming his weapon, and held it there as he said nothing. This one was the one that the pirates called Longbow, if Richard was not mistaken; and he noticed the nervous tick of a man made to do many stressful things, and he began wondering on the itchiness of the man's bowfinger! Just then another man emerged from the forest to thier right, a man with a forlorn captain's trifold hat and ghastly face; of whom Richard fondly remembered as J.B., whom smiled as he strolled purposefully to the side of the cart.
"Well well! Who did you catch this time, Longbow?", he spat. "More goods and more fun torturing folks, I'd wager!"
"Oh!... Mister J.B.! Glad I found you at long last!", Richard began. "I was scouring the entire forest looking for you!"
"Yeah?... Why?...", he scowled.
"Well, you see sir. I did a bad thing.", said Richard. "See, I was the one who threw that fruit at you a short while ago, and..."
"You're the scalliwag?!", J.B. bellowed. "I'll cut yer nose off for that!..."
"You see sir, I've been feeling just... awful... about it ever since...", Richard said in a pleading, theatrical voice. "I wanted to find some way to make it up to you..."
"And how were you plannin' that?", J.B. asked, spitting again.
"Well, you see, I took all my life savings and bought everything in this cart.", Richard told him. "I bought all the things I thought you'd need. I figured you folks spend a lot of time out of doors; so got things like provisions, pots and pans, camping gear, warm clothing, firestarting gear and lots of other stuff."
"Oh, no jewels?", Yes-Dear said as she came out of hiding, the rest on her heels. She sidled up to Flatbottom and slapped his frill. "What you say, threehorn?..."
"Howdy ma'am...", he rumbled nervousely.
"Hey!... He threw tomatoes at me!", Slike menaced.
"Look at this load!", Javies inspected. "All this stuff...!"
"And no booty?", Longbow groused.
"Pipe down!", J.B. yelled. "This young man has had a change o' heart!", all guffawed.
"You see, I'm new to the shipping business.", Richard continued his spiel. "Nobody told me what to do if I meet folks of your kind...", he noticed thier affront in thier eyes. "I thought my main job was to preserve the load.", he bowed in shame. "My boss was so mad at me he broke me down to stableboy..."
"Bum d-d-deal...", Mouth stated.
"I... I really didn't know I was to give it to you!", Richard whined. "Honest!..."
"But you didn't, did you!", Galleywench said. "It took three days to get the stains out of me clothes!"
"I brought along new clothes too.", Richard told her. "All sizes too, so some of it will fit all of you..."
"Enough!...", J.B. shouted. "So, you felt bad about this, and to make ammends you brought us all this stuff...", he considered. "We're fair people; so that means we won't kill you right now."
"Awwww!...", two of them groaned.
"I had a long time to think about this. I'm really sorry...", Richard went on. "I came up with a way to make sure this doesn't happen again." "How's that?", J.B. asked.
"Well, I was thinking that a way could be made to deliver cartloads of things to you.", Richard said tactfully. "You would get it all for free, right to your door."
"So, we get free stuff?", Slike said. "We get that anyway!"
"Yes, but you have to go out and actually do the robbing yourself.", said Richard. "This way you won't have to lift a finger. It will just arrive at your door!"
"No work?", Galleywench shouted.
"You're too lazy anyway!", said J.B. "So, we get that. And what would you get out of it?"
"Well, the only fair thing to ask is that we won't be robbed.", Richard told him. "You'll be getting everything you want without working anyway..."
"So, it's like a business deal.", he stated. "You give us everything we want and we don't rob you..."
"Something like that...", Richard said meekly.
The strange look that quickly formed on his deformed face seemed to transfer to all those around him, except for Richard and Flatbottom; whose look remained that of frightened bewilderment. The pirates' looks turned from that to, sadistic glee before all of them erupted in mean laughter at the thought. At this time they all withdrew thier weapons and surrounded the cart like they were at a casual meeting. J.B. wiped his face before he could stop laughing and respond to Richard's last comment.
"Oh, sir! that was funny!...", he chortled. "But you see, it's impossible for us to stop robbing folks.... Many of us have been doing this for many generations, and it would break our traditions!...", more laughter.
"There's no fun in being honest.", stated Grub.
"We're free, sweetie.", Yes-Dear told him. "We live by our own rules. By our own wits.", she stroked Richard's chin. "Ain't nobody going to take that away from us!..."
"Out there you break your back for others.", said Galleywench. "Here you're in things for yourself!"
"I can't show my face in any town on the island...", Slasher told them.
"They say weapons are enemies.", Javies said. "Well, here they are our tools and our friends."
"So you see, sir.", J.B. said after hushing the rest with his eyes. "We can't just up and stop our way of life at your say-so. But since you brought us all these gifts, we'll let you go this time.", he looked around. "So fellas, how d'you suppose we'll get this stuff back to camp?"
At a mutual look, they all pointed at the cart; but Flatbottom was the first to get the hint. "Now wait a minute!... You expect me to drag all this stuff to goodness-knows-where...?"
"Why not, threehorn?", Yes-Dear said sweetly, but the knife she pressed near his eye told otherwise. "A big, strong fella like you can do it easy!"
"Just do it...", Richard said dejectedly. "Pointless to argue..."
"That's right, threehorn.", J.B. said and rallied his people. "This way..."
The pirates led them down the path and through a swampy clearing to where another path forked away at the end. This one was just a footpath, jagged and broken roots causing many a delay along the way. Richard had to get off and help push the cart through these obstacles, and some of the lesser ranking pirates were ordered to help out as well. A handful of hours later, terrain changing from gnarled forest to deep jungle to craggy swamp in just as many hours; they came upon a slit of a cave entrance, one where many simple fortifications had been set in place. A one-eyed Pachycephalosaur was at a small campfire at the entrance, who gave the group a sneer as he stirred a large iron cauldron set atop the fire; and J.B. greeted him in like manner.
"Greach... Haven't you finished the laundry YET!?", he bellowed as he kicked the cauldron off the fire, chasing Greach away in the same manner.
"What'd ye' catch now...?", said Greach, retrieving the soaked clothing from the ground. "I hope it's tasty...!"
"Shaddup!", J.B. yelled. "Or I'll boil you in yer own cauldron!"
"Park it over there...", Slike was saying to Richard and Flatbottom, and they dared do anything but comply. "Mouth!... Scum!... Runner!... Unload that thing!..."
"Care to take a load off?", J.B. offered with his sword. "Not often we get company..."
"Ok...", Richard dismounted without much enthusiasm, loostening Flatbottom's rigging in case he wanted to mill about. "You said we were free to go..."
"Of course. Why would we lie to you about that.", J.B. told him. "Just that you might be tired from your trip.", he saw Richard's confusion. "We're not entirely uncivilized, you know...!"
"I never said you were,", Richard replied. "Just that your reputations suggest that you are. As for me, I don't make names for anyone..."
"So, you say that all folks are the same, eh?", J.B. chuckled as he inspected the cart. "Say, what's this?", he was holding the satchel that Richard had the written treaty in. "What's this say?"
"Oh, that.", said Richard as he came over. "Remember that treaty I told you about? I wrote it all out just in case."
"You're very thourough!", J.B. said. "But none of us can read!..."
"I-i-i can, boss...", Mouth mumbled, looking thier way.
"You?... You nit!", the pirate said and laughed. "Girl, all you are is a Mouth - an' a silly one at that!..."
"I CAN SO!...", Mouth said and frowned. "I-i mean... you n-never asked.", she smiled, nodding. "I did good in sc-school!..."
"I already decided no!", J,B, barked. "Now away with ye'!", he turned to Richard. "Now, you may refresh yerself, then be on your way."
"May I ask you something?", Richard replied.
"Shoot.", he barked.
"Well, now that I've made ammends, could you see it in your heart to be more lenienmt on the others you rob?", Richard asked in a pleading tone. "Rumors say that you are pretty rough on them."
"We wuz only doin' that cuz we wuz mad about your ambush.", J.B. told him. "Now that everything's forgiven on that, I don't see why not."
"Oh, thank you!", Richard beamed. "The others will be so thrilled!..."
"Awww!... Just rest and get outa here!...", J.B. got up and went to his people.
During the exchange, the other pirates were busy intermittently grudgingly going about thier chores and gleefully sorting out and dividing up the now unloaded contents of the cart. Many were choosing the best pieces and supplies, quarrels about who got what was being solved by mild fighting with or without weapons; and many a shout or insult wafted throughout the crowd, and the lesser things were grudgingly being taken by the losers. When J.B. sauntered into his crowd, he swatted many out of the way and claimed the best pieces for himself, threatening any complainer at knifepoint. Richard and Flatbottom looked on at this dangerous banter in distraught shock, but both were secretly glad the ruckus they were creating wasn't aimed at them!
"So Richard...", Flatbottom said softly so none of the pirates could overhear. "Is your plan going along like you wanted?"
"Not exactly, but it's fortunate we're still alive.", whispered Richard. "At least they are going to let up on future robberies..."
"Pirates have a habit of going back on thier word.", Flatbottom whispered. "Certainly you know we are still in grave danger!"
"I know, my Partner...", Richard said as he went to get some provisions and get them both a meager meal. "But the safest thing to do is to go along with them until it is prudent to go."
Soon the pirates were done dividing up the loot, and were grudgingly going about the procedures of getting themselves a meal; greach seemed to be the least ranked among them, and got that job under everyone's shouted culinary demands. During thier meal, J.B. had Mouth recite the treaty that Richard had penned as Richard stood off and let them discuss things on thier own. Each of them had thier own opinion about the treaty, and surprisingly, there were a few of them that actually had positive views about the deal! Both human and Triceratops stood silent and listened to them carry on.
"S-s-so, that's ab-about it...", Mouth concluded.
"Do you believe that garbage?", Slike said. "They want us to go out of business."
"We do fine as it is!", Slasher mumbled. They lobbed thier ideas around thier fire for a good part of the night, much to Flatbottom's and Richard's surprise. These people were seriousely considering the poroposal, even though it was in thier own uncouth, uncivilized way. Always arguments sprouted at the least little provocation, and J.B. had to shout many times to quell any possible wars between them; but quite a few times the pirates ran out of steam enough to voice one or two coherent comments or complaints.
"What do we need with a treaty?", Longbow agreed. "We get all we need the way we do it!"
"And if worst got to worse, we could rob towns instead.", J.B. added. "As you well know, our reputatiuons are so bad, we can't show our faces there."
Everyone had thier say many times, and pointed out any grievances they had with thier current situation. Runner complained about his role as messenger, and how he had to do all the dirty work; like sneaking into places and murdering folks and robbing them, stealthily delivering threat notes or other nefarious things. Mouth said that she was never appreciated around here, and her talents could get her a job anywhere. Galleywench made it known that she was fed up with how her living conditions are so bad. Scum berated every point in the treaty, saying that those things were the very same things he turned pirate to get away from. It went on for hours, and by nightfall everyone was too talked out to make any clear decisions. Even so the talk continued, and J.B. had to end it somehow.
"But as you well know, I only want the best.", Yes-Dear huffed. "The only places to get quality merchandise is in the city."
"You can get great spices in town.", Greach hissed. "I can't tell one herb from the other out here."
"I can't find any dresses that fit me on our raids.", Galleywench added. "Even the stuff we just got only had a few choices. We need to get to a decent taylor...!"
"You know how hard it is to get decent arrows around here?", Javies said. "None of us know how to make 'em; and the only ones that make 'em are in the citys!"
"Excuse me...", Richard cut in. "You know the arrows you guys shot at me? I saved them, and they're in the cart..."
"Bring 'em over!...", J.B. said. "Nice boy, eh?", then he went back to the issue at hand.
More shouts wafted through the group, and many took the opportunity to grieve about how they were treated around here: making other complaints about the way they lived thier lives.
"So, you guys say you need things you can't get by stealing.", J.B. continued as Richard returned with the arrows and crossbow bolts. "Ok guys. Claim your stuff..."
"There's this, too.", Richard handed him the small sack of Drachs and other trinkets. "It's all I had left from buying all this stuff..."
"Well, that's very honest of you!..." J.B. said. "But if we were to do it the honest way, would our lives get better, Richard?"
"Why yes!...", said Richard. "This could be the beginnings of an upstanding life...", the rest began to shout out once more, and J.B. yelled at them once more.
"It seems the best way to get our credibility back might be this here treaty, or so he says.", he announced finally. "Who wants to try it?..."
The first go-around was supposed to bna a vote, but everyone shouted thier opinions at the same time. J.B. tried for a show of hands, but half voted yes while the other half voted no. He tried drawing straws, and the same but opposite results happened. He had Richard point out certain advantages to agreeing to the treaty, and all the rest loudly pointed out all the disadvantages; and another vote resulted in yet another tie! Exasperated, J.B. told everyone to go to bed for the night; this was done with a wide smattering of curses and shoves. It ended up being so late at night before everyone was bedded down that J.B. insisted that Richard and Flatbottom stay the night!
In the morning both driver and puller woke to the rude sussurusses of the whole band of pirates in slumber, and looking at the sky through the trees that they figured it was about midmorning. At a soundless signal, they both decided to break camp, hitch up and leave the pirates lair before anybody woke up! The only pirate that seemed to be a lighter sleeper than the rest was Greach and his sensitive Pachycephalosaur earslits, and he rose with a start as he heard thier slight rustlings. He sprung up, grabbed a spear and slinked close enough to startle the both of them as he sprung from cover.
"Going somewhere, boyos?", he hissed.
"Just getting ready.", Richard said, hands poised in submission. "Your boss said we could go..."
"Didn't tell me!...", Greach said, licking his chops. "Hadn't had meat in a long time!..."
"GREACH!!!", J.B. moaned from his bedroll. "Let them alone!... Remember, I hadn't had meat in a while, either!... Wanna be it?!...", the boss of the pirates rose.
The rest of the pirates began to rouse at the commotion, but most were too groggy to mind what was going on; instead automatically beginning thier usual morning chores. greach backed down, set aside his spear and went back to his cookstove. J.B. came toward the cart as Richard slowly continued hitching up Flatbottom, and turned as the pirate got close enough for talk.
"So, any word on what you're going to do?", asked Richard.
"Well, like I said, you can go. We forgive you for resisting us, and thank you for the supplies.", said J.B. "We'll take it easier on our next raids."
"What about the treaty?", Richard asked.
"I don't know. We bickered over it all night, and can't seem to reach a decision.", J.B. shook his head. "Can't get a straight answer out of 'em anyway...!", he thought. "Look, we'll get back to you on it, ok?... You said you live in Baz, and work for the Trilobite Shipping company, right?", Richard nodded. "Ok, we'll find you..."
At the direction of the boss of the pirates, Richard mounted the cart and bade Flatbottom to get moving; an activity that the beast needed no coaxing to do! A short time later, which was not short enough for thier tastes, Richard and Flatbottom left the territory the pirates were staying in; and found a familiar road that led them both back to Baz in a roundabout way...
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Post by thundertail on Dec 25, 2008 9:20:46 GMT -5
TWENTY-THREE:
Nearly a day later Richard Dennison and Flatbottom came to the outskirts of Baz, and then the town proper. Right away they noticed something was wrong, for the town was usually abustle with activity; but today the streets were only occupied with a scant few carts and pedestrians, and all of them were going about thier business in an extra leary way. That was why it took no time at all to get to the Trilobite Shipping company, but things were extra quiet there as well; and neither of them could figure out why. Richard dismounted and immediately went into the office, and saw Sidney Mallone and Francine Rivers over at the desk referring to maps and charts, talking of some kind of strategy they were in the middle of. Both looked up with a start as they noticed Richard standing there, and wasted no time in thier greeting.
"Oh Richard!", Francine wailed. "There you are!..."
"They let you go!", Malllone said at the same time. "They hurt you?"
"We should call off the search right away.", Francine said after her hug and his handshake. "What happened?"
"What's this all about?",. Richard asked in shock. "What search party?"
"When you up and left, we didn't know where you went off to.", Mallone said. "Anna Forsythe told me you went to the pirates to make ammends with them.", Francine told him. "Knowing them, they would no doubt have abducted you."
"I'm all right, really!...", Richard reassured them. "So's Flatbottom."
"So what happened already?", Mallone bellowed.
"Well, you see, it went like this...", Richard began telling them everything that went on, and when he was done, he bowed and added. "I don't think they'll go for the treaty I suggested, but at least they will go easier on future raids."
"Perhaps that's the best you could have hoped for.", Francine told him. "It was very brave of you doing that."
"And stupid!", Mallone added. "They could have killed you!"
"What's past is past.", Francine said. "Now let's get those people back home. It's still dangerous out there!"
"You sent a search party?", asked Richard.
"We were worried about you.", Francine said. "You have been gone almost a week, you know..."
"That long...", he replied.
"Yes. And you got a lot of explaining to do around here, too!", said Mallone. "I think you should start with your co-workers."
"Ypu're right.", Richard said as he headed for the door. "I didn't tell anybody anything, did I?"
Out in the barn, Flatbottom was already in his stall, eating and telling his tale to Pinney, Malachi, Ctoaker and cordial; Emily Freedom, Hannibal Presha, Gill and Costello listening on as they went about thier work, the latter three had just returned from thier searching. When Richard entered the barn proper, they all either cheered or babbled animatedly; asking about where he was and what had happened to them all this time. Mallone silenced them all with a yell as he and Francine entered the barn.
"Fellas, I got a few things to tell you.", began Richard. "First thing, the one who fought against the pirates was me...", groans. "The reason why I left was I wanted to make ammends with them, so I bought a load of supplies and gave it to them; hoping that when they got it, they would forgive me and stop hurting anybody while robbing them."
"Did they acccept it?", asked Emily.
"Yes, they won't hurt anybody any more.", said Richard, followed by cheers. "I also had a plan to make a treaty with them so they wouldn't rob shipments again."
"Did they accept that?", asked Costello. "They couldn't decide on that.", Richard shrugged. "They argued about it for a whole night, and couldn't do better than a stalemate.", he shrugged. "They said they'd think about it..."
At thier insistence, Richard told them all his version of thier encounter with the pirates; which coincided somewhat with the tale Flatbottom had told them. After this and thier many questions about the demeanor of each pirate they encountered, along with many concerning thier general whereabouts and such; Richard told them every gory detail of each person, and stressed that they tend to stay at many places at irregular intervals, no two being the same. Once all this was done, Francine Rivers bid her leave and left; off to call off the search and alert the other shipping companies in town that it was now safer to go about thier business, Richard and everyone there went about thier normal tasks for the day. Richard was still reduced to stableboy, and went about that chore like nothing much happened. Then he went to the hatchery and got several reactions to his return that he wasn't expecting at all!
"RICHARD!!... You're back!...", Anna Forsythe ran up to him and nearly picked him up in her arms. She kissed him passionately for many moments, much to Richard's pleasant surprise.
"Y-yes..., I guess I am...", Richard stammered, stepping back as she let go.
Anna stepped back, smile not leaving her face as she lowered her arms; then raised one in a great arc. She slapped him square on the jaw, sending his head turning slightly. "And that's for pulling such a boneheaded stunt!...", Anna yelled. "And the next time you try that, pirates won't be the only thing you will need to watch out for!..."
"Yes, ma'am...", Richard barely spoke, holding his jaw. "I'm sorry, dear..."
Richard shuffled to the kitchen and out to where the assignments were kept, secretly hoping he would not be working with Anna. While he was waiting, he prepared the ingredients for the hatchling's dinner; and that's why he didn't notice James coming in and running back out, alerting his siblings energetically.
"Come on!...", James beckoned as he located his sister. "He's back!..."
"Oh, goody!...", Samantha said, following him. "I missed him!... He's back...!", she said to Christopher in passing.
"All right!...", Christopher put the Chasmosaur hatchling he was tending to down and ran off behind them.
"RICHARD...!!!", all three shouted as they skidded to a stop at the kitchen doorway.
Samantha wasted no time and rushed to him to hug a leg, and James was hot on her heels and grabbed his other leg; both not letting go for the longest time, mumbling how badly they missed him through his trousers. He reached down to caress both thier heads, and both let go at about the same time; and this was Christopher's turn to step in and give him a more manly one of his own. Once the emotion of the moment was spent, all three looked at him with rapt concern and longing.
"Well!... What's THAT all about?...", Richard hitched, knowing all along.
"We missed you...", James said simply. "We didn't know if you were coming back."
"Mom told us you had to go away for a while.", Christopher told him. "We asked and asked, and finally she said you went to see the pirates."
"See, guys. I had to.", Richard told them. "I made them mad by not letting them rob me, and had to make ammends.", he smiled. "It's a good thing that all people have at least a little bit of good in them. It was nice of them to forgive me..."
"That was too dangerous!", Samantha said. "Please don't do that again!... We were worried sick!"
"I won't, dear...", Richard replied. "I promise!..."
"You know sir...", Christopher said. "Facing the pirates and coming back alive is the bravest thing I ever heard of...!", he came near and shook his hand. "That is even braver than anything my father could have done..."
He went about his shift like he was walking on the eggs he was assigned to attend, and returned to the shipping company by late evening; being treated like a cross between a local hero and a common criminal when he got there! He really couldn't blame them for acting the way they were. After all, because of his rash behavior, many of his friends had suffered needlessly; and for this he was feeling extremely guilty. A musical selection was in order, but all he could play for them was slow and sedate music.
As all bedded down for the night, Richard set down his Zithar and turned in himself; but sleep was eluding him this night for some strange reason. It could be because of what the boss of the pirates said: that they would get ahold of him when they reached a decision concerning the treaty. A pirate could do all sorts of things when they want to find someone, and this was beginning to eat away at his resolve. At long last his eyes closed on darkness, and drifted off until morning.
As the days passed, all seemed to be getting back to normal around Baz and all the towns surrounding it. Business went on like usual and the search parties had all come back days ago, many hatchlings were born at the hatchery and many hatchlings went home to thier parents. Pretty soon the matter of what Richard and Flatbottom had done had begun to fade into events of the past, and even Richard began to forget what he had done.
His sleep cycles slowly turned into ones of normalcy: and that was why he was taken completely by surprise when his slumber was disturbed rather abruptly very early one morning. It was not the slight shuffling in the loft that woke him, nor was it the almost inaudible snuffling going on around the loft; but it was the dagger at his throat preceeded by the saurian hand that clasped across his mouth rather tightly! He woke with a start and began struggling until he could get his eyes open and focus on the face inches above him, then wished he could shut them again as he gazed upon the hideous saurian face leering at him from above! He stilled as the domed Pachycephalosaurus head, patch over one eye, rumbled softly before speaking.
"Quiet!", Greach ordered in a whisper. "I've come from my boss... We have reached a decision about yer treaty...", he placed a thick scroll that contained many pages onto Richard's gut.
"But...", Richard grunted.
"I said Quiet!...", Greach said. "Fer yer info, they picked me for me nose... I tailed yer beast, then found you... Tell th' others aboot it and none of how ye got it!...", he looked around with his good eye. "I best be off...", with that he sheathed his dagger, scurried down the ladder and out the way he came, leaving Richard to complete the task of waking up... _
As Richard blearilly tried to comprehend what just happened, the window near by was just beginning to show light from the not yet risen sun. He looked at his covered chest where the scroll now lay, reached for it and tried to unroll it with sleep feebled hands; but reading it would be a problem best suited for a little while later, for his eyes still needed to adjust sufficiently to do so. Instead he rose and shuffled to the table at the far side of the loft, set the scroll there and prepared the pot for boiling in anticipation of the Jinka he was craving. As his mind began to wake fully, he wondered what was on the scroll, and what was so important to the pirates that they would send one of thier own to personally deliver it.
As he was waiting for the Jinka to boil he spread the scroll out, weighing down the corners with the condiment containers there, and tried to make sense of all this crudely drafted paperwork. The main sheet contained the treaty proposal he had penned himself, red marks denoting where they had issues. The next sheet down contained thier counter proposal, a list of things they wanted changed before they would agree; and other provisos they wanted. The next one down was a note from J.B., thier leader, addressed to Richard himself; which he placed aside to be read later.
The next sheet was a map of the Northern Plains, which had a myriad of small numbers spaced throughout the regon in no particular order; of which many were hospice houses that travelers could frequent for the night, many of them were not occupied, which Richard would later find out. The next sheet explained the numbers, which was a system they devised to get thier booty delivered to them; the goods were to be dropped off at a place pre-designated by number and picked up by them later. The last page was a list of the things they wanted, needed or otherwise desired. The list of things was long indeed; But they seemed to agree that getting the things they most needed for thier lifestyle was more wise than receiving treasure or other expensive loot, for thier list of items showed they wanted very little treasure.
Richard was just about to read J.B.'s note when he heard stirring coming from the bunks along the wall of the loft, and saw that the window beyond was brightening to almost sunrise. Costello was up first, and shambled over to ther table; noticing the boiling kettle and the Jinka that was on his mind before acknowledging Richard or his load of papers on the table. He waved and nearly lowered his head onto the table in continued slumber before realising this and sitting bolt upright in the chair.
"Rough night?", Richard asked.
"No... What's that smell?", Costello sniffed. "Smells like rotting Pachy..."
"It was.", Richard said. "I had a visitor last night. One of the pirates delivered thier decision concerning my treaty proposal.", he wiped his neck. "Did it rather roughly, if you ask me!"
"I could have taken him!...", boasted Costello.
"Not this one, buddy.", said Richard. "Greach would have carved you up and served you for his dinner!"
"A Pachy?... I doubt it...", Costello snickered as his attention was turned to the table. "What's all this?"
"I was just about to take a look myself...", Richard said, spreading out the paperwork so the Dromeosaur could see. "This wasmy proposal, and this is the changes they want done.", he pointed at those pages.
"A map?", Costello said.
"Looks like they made up some drop points so they don't get caught.", Richard explained. "Pretty crafty, if you ask me..."
"What's that? A note?", Costello picked it up, and Richard took it. "It seems thier leader thought pretty highly of me.", said Richard after reading the first few lines. "It says that they finally agreed to try the treaty. That if the law ever trys to capture them, all bets are off and Baz gets burned to the ground!"
"They wouldn't!", Costello balked as Hannibal and Emily began waking up, Gill doing so more quietly. "That goes against everything Dinotopian!"
"I met them. They would!", Richard told him. "Anyway, he thinks it was brave of me for going to them - brave but stupid! It says they agree to the treaty only if I can get the others to agree with it... I suppose he thinks I have pull around here... Anyway, the points made on the other paper must be adhered to or the same thing will happen. And basically, that's about it.", he looked up at the now full table. "I think I better tell Mallone about this!...", he got up.
Richard gathered all the papers, stacking them on the largest one, which was the treaty, and rolled it all up in a close approximation of a scroll; then he went to the ladder and descended to the floor of the barn, leaving the door open as he walked to the street and directly into the front office. Sidney Mallone wasn't even up, but srambled downstairs in his pyjamas at the sound; then threw off his sleeping cap as he saw who it was. He guffawed as Richard told him what went on this morning, then pursed mightilly as he scanned the scroll and its' many pages; and at last told Richard what he was supposed to do, even though Richard knew what to do already.
"Francine aught to know about this...", Mallone said. "Go fetch her while I get the other shipping bosses.", then he stopped him. "This might be the breakthrough we're looking for!... Sorry for doubting you..."
"I guess it was more YOU doubting THEM!", said Richard as he trooped out the door.
He walked down the street, which was nearly deserted for the early time it was, and he made it to the hatchery just as many of the early risers began to perform thier tasks for the day. As a Strutheomimus copro person pushed her way past the front entrance, Richard pardoned himself as he skirted around her and made his way up the steps to the front door. Other hatchery workers were tending the several eggs as he passed through that room, and Samantha and Christopher were tending the still sleeping hatchlings, waiting for them to waken; and he waved to them quietly as he made his way through to the kitchen. When no evidence of Anna or Francine were present there, he made his way upstairs to the hatchery leaders' office. When he got there he saw the door was half way open, and he could hear the conversation many paces from entering the room, so he slowed his pace to a halt just before entering the room.
"So you say it was him that defied the pirates?", the voice that said this was Elana Dennison! "And you did nothing?"
"I assure you that I concealed his participation adequately.", the voice of Francine Rivers replied. "It was his idea alone to return to them."
"And he returned. To what end?", Elana said. "It was by pure luck that no one else found out. He may not be so lucky in the future."
"I assure you that I will council him on this matter.", Francine told her. "He must realise that he must keep his activities at a minimum or else the high council will discover his whereabouts..."
"Miss Rivers?...", Richard entered just then, stifling both present. "I have some news from the pirates...", Richard then appeared to notice Elana. "Oh!... I didn't know you had company. Good morning, Elana..."
"Richard!... What are you doing here?", Francing Rivers blurted.
"Did you hear our conversation, Richard?", Elana asked from where she was sitting.
"Part of it...", Richard bowed. "Yes, I think I might have overdid it back there; but I'm sure you heard of the result."
"The result that you were lucky?", Elana said sarcastically.
"Well, in case miss Rivers hasn't told you, I went there to stop them from hurting other caravans...", Richard went on to describe his mission, with the cartload of goods as incentive. "So you see, they accepted the gesture, and will not hurt anybody on thier raids any more..."
"But still they raid.", Elana concluded.
"Not any more!...", Richard said triumphantly. "This morning I had a visitor. One of the pirates delivered thier reply to my treaty..."
"You proposed a treaty?!", Elana was shocked! "And did they accept the proposal?"
"Yes, but they have quite a few issues with the original.", Richard said. "Mister Mallone wants to notify the other shipping companies, and wishes the both of you to attend."
"Is he trying to steal the show again?", Francine commented. "I better get over there before he misinterprets everything!", she rose.
"I better go too.", Elana rose as well. "For security sake, you understand..."
All three left the office, went downstairs and exited the hatchery without preamble outside of Francine Rivers telling Anna Forsythe that she was in charge until her return; her eyes showing her confusion at such suddenness. Not too much was spoken between the three the whole trip into town, especially the foremost topics on thier minds at the time; and Richard was becoming concerned whether his recent actions would effect his stay in Baz, and hoped his growing fears were wrong! It took about twenty minutes to walk the distance to the street that the Trilobite shipping company abided on, and many moments more to work thier way through the crowd of humans and saurians that had gathered at mister Mallone's evident summoning. The crowd swallowed up the path they took to the sidewalk in front of the office, and many more moments passed as the crowd recognized who they were; and the cheering that resulted was a little less than deafening, so still they waited for that to subside as well. While they were waiting, Francine took Mallone's place in front of a table he had set up as a podium; and Elana joined her there as they both studied the contents of the papers before them. Thier expertise in legal documents scrutinized each paper, and when they were done Francine looked up to the crowd and prepared to speak to them.
"Ladies and gentilebeings.", began the leader of Baz. "I am sure you are all aware of the goings on around here, about the pirate situation and all the trouble they are causing. I am also sure that you are aware of the person that caused all this...", she couldn't continue for all the groaning and shouts that erupted.
"Please!... Everyone!... Quiet down!...", shouted Elana Dennison. Many in front saw her uniform and obeyed, but it took longer for those in back to follow suit. "This meeting will go a lot faster without all these outbursts!..."
"Now, Richard here has been feeling awful about what he did, and took steps to remedy the situation.", continued Francine Rivers as soon as she could be heard. "He has recently returned from a perilous mission to confront the pirates and make ammends with them. This he has done, and the raids on the convoys have taken a less violent tone...", cheers, but they subsided at Elana's acid stare.
"Richard has also proposed to them a treaty to completely do away with thier raids.", Francine looked around at the crowd's silence, then at Richard. "Today I have been informed that they have given Richard an answer to that treaty proposal...", she examined the page that told thier answer. "The pirates have accepted Richard's proposal;... BUT there are a few stipulations that they demand before the treaty is accepted."
"What are they?", one shouted.
"A treaty?... With PIRATES?!...", another shouted. "That's preposterous!..."
"They don't play fair!...", bellowed a saurian.
"Dealing with pirates is extortion!", said another saurian. "We will not have it!"
"Let's hear what they have to say!", said a human. "I'm tired of getting raided..."
"What IS this treaty anyway?...", said another human in back, who just got there.
"If you all remain quiet, miss Rivers will tell you!", snapped Elana, hands now on hips. "If you would..."
"Thank you...", Francine nodded. "Now, Richard's proposal goes as follows, composed in a simple dialect they were most likely to understand. It states that the pirates would get a load of provisions and supplies monthly or as requested in return for thier desisting thier practice of robbery and pillaging. He suggested certain places that could be used for dropping off the goods, and requested certain days for said drop offs. The preamble states the nobleness of said agreement, and the fact that it would be a legal contract and not subject to thier procecution."
"That sounds good and all...", someone shouted. "But do you think they can be trusted?"
"The rest of the papers that were sent indicated that they basically agree with the treaty.", Francine told him. "Truthfully, there is no way to be sure of that unless we give them the chance."
"Yeah!... The chance to pull another fast one!", that humans' comment got chuckles.
"But still, it may be the breakthrough we're looking for.", said Elana. "These pirates, and the bands of them all over, have been nothing but trouble for generations. Maybe this contract might be the beginning of a new way of interacting with them. It might even help them to turn over a new leaf!"
"People still feel that a plant eating Tyranosaur will also eat meat!...", bellowed a saurian. "Whose to say they will be trusted with this?"
"Isn't it part of our way of life to give everyone a second chance?", asked Francine. "Even if that one has wronged us many times? Would any of you wish to be forgiven if you did something wrong? These pirates are trying to seek a newer way of life, but are too proud and unruly to go the straight path. This treaty is but a first step for them, and Richard's idea might just work; so I'd like to see a show of forelimbs to see who is for this idea and who is against.", all seemed to agree with that idea, at least!
"All for this idea?...", many hands rose. "Against?...", even lesser hands rose. "Majority says we accept this treaty, and adhere to its' rules.", groans, mostly.
"Now, it seems the pirates have proposed a counter proposal.", she said as Elana handed her the document. "They want TWO cartloads of provisions every fortnight... They made a list of things they want, and should be on every load... They include a map, and on it are numbered spots where they want us to drop it off...", at each demand there were even more groans! "Any of you may deliver thier supplies, but they want Richard to deliver the first load... And, oh yes! Their leader has a personal message addressed to Richard...", she handed it over.
"Thank you...", said Richard, and read it out loud as soon as he saw it wasn't really personal. "Listen to this!... J.B. says that my idea was the best he ever heard; and he will try to convince the other bands of pirates in the Northern Plains to go along with this...", there was at least some cheering. "You know what this means?... Pretty soon there may no longer be any piracy anywhere on Dinotopia!..."
This convinced everybody there, and soon they all were talking about the details of this treaty; and even though hours passed working things out among everyone, they all unanimousely agreed to carry it out. Within days all pertainent supplies and logistics were worked out, and Richard and Flatbottom's cart was decked out with most of the requested supplies. The first drop-off point, designated by a '1' on the map, was soon reached; and Richard told them that the town of Baz agreed with thier terms, and surprisingly no undue behavior was performed by any of the pirates!
As time went by and everyone got used to this little deal, word spread through every town and village throughout the Northern Plains; and both pirate and traveler began co-operating with each other in this, what would soon become known as the Richard treaty. Word indeed spread, and it wasn't long before everyone on Dinotopia knew about it... _____
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Post by thundertail on Jan 9, 2009 6:39:42 GMT -5
TWENTY-FOUR:
As word of the peace treaty with the pirates spread throughout the Northern Plains, Richard Dennison began to be known in every town he went through as the hero that stood up to oppression. More often than not his deliveries were interrupted by people who wanted to talk to him, those in the various towns that had heard of a brave person from the Transportation Guild; and wished to chat with him in person, to hear first-hand just what happened. Flatbottom quickly became sick and tired of these interlopers, and would spur production in rather rash ways; like setting off all of a sudden even though Richard was in the middle of talking to someone, or completely drowning out all conversation with his loud and inscesent bellows! Richard couldn't blame the old Triceratops one bit, for they DID have thier duty to the company to perform after all; and such interruptions only slowed up progress.
Richard couldn't really blame these people for thier praise, After all he was the one who made the pirates listen to reason; and they believed he was the one who would bring ultimate peace throughout Dinotopia. No one knew that his sole intention at the time was to make it away from thier clutches without injury, and try to save as much of his load as he could; but it wasn't really his fault that things turned out the way it invariablly did. However, he became convinced that it was, indeed, all his fault; and to save face among the ones he now lived with, he had to do something to remedy it.
Of course it is a well known fact that people tended to exaggerate the facts, and overly exhonerate those who do an unexpected yet wonderful thing - if the prevention of undue mayhem could be considered a wonderful thing! Truth be known, things like this happened all the time in the outside world; and it generally took the efforts of the law enforcemrnt personnel to quell such violence. The way things happened here, there was practically no one who would stop crimes from happening; the society hoping the offending party would see thier wicked ways and turn themselves around. Richard knew that the mindset of such criminals rarely take the feelings of the people they offend into consideration, and would do the mayhem they would do anyway. At the time of the robbery, Richard felt it right to take the law into his own hands; which was an act of valor that he would forever pay for, it seemed!
One day he was out on the road with Flatbottom, delivering some hardware from Bent Root to Wimple Springs; and stopping in Spicer for a brief rest. They had just got to the stables of the only trading post in town, acquiring a small paddock for the Triceratops and a space in a tiny, rickety loft for Richard; and after both were settled and nearly ready to sleep, they took a brief stroll outside near the outpost, but there were shadows in the distance near some near by warehouses. A raggedy man with a guard's uniform came sauntering around like he was hiding, ducking behind posts and barrels at the least untoward noise; man being wary, but yet not seming to notice Richard or his Partner. Richard pretended not to notice this man as he wished to apprehend this shady character, but saw as the man got closer still that it was one of the band of pirates that he knew; the man was known as Runner, if he wasn't mistaken, and knew that he was one of thier most unpredictable lowlifes!
"The coast is clear...", whispered Richard, figuring the only reason why he was here was because of him. "Quick,... over here...", Runner ducked into the paddock area after a zigzag course through an exposed area.
"Quiet, mutt!", Runner barked. "Listen up.", he looked into the gloom of the barn. "Me boss say he talk to all pirates.", his eyes darted. "Many agree with treaty, but many do not."
"That's good...", Richard whispered. "That all you come here for?"
"No,... now SHADDUP!...", Runner produced a dagger. "He gave me the next drop off points,...", he rummaged under his filthy uniform. "Also, 'nother list of tings we wants...", a sheaf of parchment was slid into Richard's hand.
"I'll let everyone know...", Richard tried to back away. "Care to stay for dinner? We were just on our way..."
"I said SHUT... UP...!", Runner flung the knife, making Richard duck; and he was long gone before Richard stood upright again, dagger quivering inches from his ear.
"Boy, those guys are antsy...", Flatbottom, who hung back during the exchange, came up and said.
"Didn't do me any good, either!...", breathed Richard, looking at the note in his hand. "Well, guess we better get this to the higher-ups...", instead, they shakilly went into the barn and slept the night away.
There were many such encounters with the pirates, each encounter was met with decreasing danger for the message receiver; which was perhaps due to the pirates growing slightly more civilized, Richard could not really tell the reason. He had heard that when the pirates encountered thier assigned cargoes, they would sometimes merely wait for the caravaners to to unload thier booty; occasionally rudely egging them on, or impatiently prodding them into quicker action with thier weapons. Some of the gossip coming his way told of this, and praised the one who started this, a new era of relative peace now being enjoyed throughout the Northern Plains.
Being a modest person, he paid little attention to what he heard; for extremely little of what was bandied about at the local pubs was what Richard had actually done. Clearly he had heard his tale told a hundred times before already, and this was why he wasn't really listening to the Strutheomimus trader that shared his table at a pub in Azonthas; he merely sipped his Jinka tea and stared off into space, waiting for his meal and totally ignoring the poor beast.
"I say, kind sir...", the creature nearly shouted. "But where did you say you hail from?..."
"Um,... Baz...", Richard stammered. "I'm sorry for my rudeness, ignoring you and all; but I have a lot on my mind..."
"Ah!... Scale-gathering is a common pastime of mine as well!", said the Strutheomimus, chuckling then becoming serious. "Baz, you say? I hear that the human that set peace among us and the pirates hails from there. Do you know the man?"
"Yes, I do.", said Richard. "He hails from the Trilobite shipping company."
"He must be a noble man...", the Strut drank.
"Actually, he is pretty easy going.", said Richard. "His puller is a bit eccentric..."
"Such a noble beast? Absurd!...", the strut set his mug down. "I never got your name, sir."
"I never got yours, either.", Richard countered.
"My name is Alex, from the Pliosaur shipping company out of Bent Root.", said Alex.
"My name is Richard, from the Trilobite shipping company out of Baz.", Richard told him.
"Not THE Richard!", swooned Alex. "I am in the presence of royalty!..."
"I'm nobody, really.", Richard mumbled.
"And I hear you came up with those other ideas!", Alex went on. "Look respectable in front of customers. Keep your cart and puller clean. Organize yor runs... Oh! Such improvements!", he smiled as Richard blanched. "You are a true genious!..."
"Wasn't anything anybody could have thought up...", mouthed Richard. "Did you hear anything else about me?"
"Well, you're not eleven feet tall...", Alex finished his drink. "I guess I was misinformed about that..."
"Sometimes tales grow with the telling!", Richard finished his.
"My tail never grows...", Alex misunderstood as both laughed.
Unbeknownst to either of them, thier conversation drew stares from nearly everyone in the pub; but most were courteous enough not to disturb them. Thier food came and both ate in silence; and when thier meals ended and the bill paid by both, a tiny winged form fluttered into the pub. The Postal Bird circled the upper parts of the room before alighting onto the bar next to the barkeep, nearly getting swept off his feet by the barkeep's wipings; then inhaled with flourish and announced his message in a squawking way.
"I have a message for a mister Richard, the Trilobite Shipping company out of Baz; from the Transportation Guild out of Azonthas.", the bird said, and Richard slowly rose to receive the message.
"I am Richard.", he said, coming over. "What is the message?"
"You are compelled to go to the council offices of the Transportation Guild at the courthouse as soon as possible.", said the bird. "Issues to be disgussed are as follows: 1) Your account concerning your encounter with the pirates, and their eventual acceptance of your treaty. 2) A detailed report of your ideas concerning the efficiency of the trading companies. 3) They wish to discuss your origins and any other thing they wish to know about you.", the bird ruffled. "Signed, Sulimon Bajabas, speaker of the Azonthas Transportation Guild... End of message."
Well, that took Richard completely by surprise! To have the entire Transportation Guild interested in his ideas, his affront of thier policies concerning pirates as well as himself personally; all of which were not the things a person trying to hide from the government would try to achieve! He cleared his throat and asked a few questions. "When do they wish to see me?"
"As soon as possible.", said the bird. "They seemed most eager..."
"Do they require a reply?", he asked.
"Not unless you wish to.", the bird said. "All postal fees have been paid by them, at any rate..."
"Ok then...", Richard really wanted to stall for time, and said the only thing he hoped would give him that time: "Tell them that I will attend as soon as I clear it with my superiors at the Trilobite Shipping company."
"They seemed most eager.", the bird repeated. "Perhaps you could send a message to your boss by Postal bird..." , the bird said. "Flight from Azonthas to Baz and back takes only a day. I'm sure one of my cohorts will be glad to do it; and the fees are quite affordable..."
It would seem there was no way out of this one! "Ok, you do that...", Richard said at last. "I will have to tell my Partner, and postpone my run until then..."
"And you do that too, my fine human!", the Postal Bird bowed and flapped out of the pub.
"What was that all about?", Alex asked as Richard went to thier table to gather his things.
"I think it's time to pay the piper...", Richard said, then noticed his confusion. "I mean, it's time I make an account of my activities."
"I hope you aren't in trouble!", Alex called at his back.
"Me neither!...", Richard said as he rushed out the door.
Making his way through the bustling stone streets of Azonthas, Richard finally made it to the warehouses and shipping companies that made up the backbone of the trading and seaport city of Azonthas. There he left Flatbottom at the Tenticle Shipping company, where they were waiting for thier next load of cargo to arrive from the south; and he was acomodated at thier massive stable and paddock complex, like a fancy resort for saurians of all species. He found the surly Triceratops enjoying a mudbath out back in thier spa-like mudhole, only nosehorn and eyes sticking out of the grey ooze he was immersed in.
"Well!... Richard!...", rumbled Flatbottom in bliss. "You're here at last! Care to join me?..."
"Not right now, my friend.", Richard said sternly, and his friend knew something was up. "Can you cut your beauty treatment a little short? I got a problem..."
"What is it?...", asked Flatbottom as he wrenched his way out of the sticky muck. "Did someone find out about your other problem?"
"I don't think so...", Richard told him as he helped the beast wash off the mud. "The Transportation Guild wants to interview me about the pirates. They also want me to explain the improvements I made with the company...", he led the beast under the waterfall-like shower. "They also want to know where I came from."
"So, that's some bad news, a little good news and even worse news...", Flatbottom considered. "Boy, you sure have some strange talents!"
"Never mind that!", Richard scolded as he did his massage on the beast. "I think I'm in trouble here!... Our schedule is going to be messed up at any rate..."
"Well, if it's Guild business, Mister Mallone will certainly understand.", Flatbottom said.
"I had to stall them.", Richard said conspiratorially. "I sent a Postal Bird to tell Mallone, and and told them I would have to wait for the reply."
"Good boy...", said Flatbottom. "Gives you time to prepare what you're going to say!... What ARE you going to say, by the way?"
"I don't know. The pirate thing is pretty cut-and-dried.", Richard considered. "So is the other stuff; but I might have to do some tap-dancing to get around my origins..."
"They frown on entertainment during thier meetings.", stated the beast.
"No, you lug!", Richard rumpled a vertabra painfully. "It means I might have to lie a little."
"Maybe you could say you got hit on the head, and don't remember certain things too clearly...", Flatbottom suggested, wincing. "They might accept that... I can hit you in the head right now and show you!"
"Well, don't worry about that.", Richard ignored that comment. "I'll think things up as I go along..." _
The next twenty or so hours sped by for the both of them in the breezy city of Azonthas, mainly due to the fact that a lot of things went on for the both of them. Flatbottom got extra chances to visit the saurian spas, feasting on gourmet fare as well as his now mildly successful bank account would allow. Richard was too busy to relax, too much due to his thinking of answering the questions the councillers at the Transportation guild might ask of him, going over in his mind both the details of his encounter with the pirates; as well as the minutia of the terms of his peace treaty with them and the procedures involved in his job efficiency practices.
Richard had hoped that the council wouldn't get into his past history too much, for all he could really say with any measure of coaberation was the time he spent in Baz. However, he could possibly say that he had been out on the road most of his life, living for short periods in towns along the way and obtaining odd jobs to attain a living; and even though an account like that wasn't too far away from the truth, there was no way to prove any of that, and he hoped they would simply take his word for it. Maybe it WOULD be prudent to say he had gotten hit on the head, and most of his memory of the past was cloudy; just like what Flatbottom suggested - you never knew!
Shrugging all that off, he stopped fidjiting with his mug of Jinka and looked around the outdoor bistro, noticing the several tables there on the sidewalk were sparsely populated; and thier population consisted of mostly human of every creed and gender, only a handful being of the smaller saurian tribes. There were quite a few Postal Birds flitting by over head, this area being one of thier major flight patterns; and he barely noticed that at this time, one of them landed on his table, almost landing into the lentil soup the bearded and turbaned man next to him was eating! The bird made an evasive hop onto another table setting, fluttered and looked around until he spotted Richard.
"To mister Richard. From Sidney Mallone, Trilobite Shipping company, Baz.", the bird stated. "Also, reguards from miss Francine Rivers, leader of Baz."
"That is me.", the reply Richard was waiting for! "Please go on."
"Note from mister Mallone: Postponement of shipping schedule approved in this case. Good luck with them.", said the bird. "Message from miss Rivers: Please use diplomacy and disgression when talking to them. Best fortunes when among them. Return home soon."
"Thank you, kind flyer.", Richard told the bird. "Reply as follows: I will do as suggested, and return with all possible speed. Signed Richard."
"I will send it personally.", the bird bowed, lost a feather taking off and was soon out of sight as it rounded a building.
"I wish they wouldn't do that...", muttered the bearded man. "Nearly spoiled my soup..."
Richard laughed as he downed the rest of his Jinka, placed two Drachs on the table and got up. He wove his way around the tables and out onto the street, heading back to the stables where he had left Flatbottom. When he got there he saw the beast had acquired many pieces of Ceratopsian finery with his financial gains, Flatbottom was really living it up! He gathered to him, told him about the Postal Bird message and led him out of the stables. His own clothing would have to do, for the next scheduled open meeting with the Transportation Guild, so the plaque at the entrance had said, was a mere twenty minutes away; and that left little time to get there, let alone have time to make himself more presentable - Let Flatbottom represent them in that department!
They climbed the three wide stone steps to the double saurian-sized doors to the Azonthas council chambers, which all meetings of importance were held; and the doors opened for them, manned by unseen persons hired just for that purpose. The tiny foyer only had a desk to sign in on and a cloakroom before an equally large door opened up onto the council chamber proper. This chamber was vastly smaller than the council chambers at Waterfall City, only a wide round saurian sized table in the center and chairs and couches for every type of human and saurian surrounding it. Booths lined the round room, and Flatbottom was escorted to one nearest the door by the sole saurian guard assigned there while Richard was told to go to the only vacant human seat next to a thronelike human seat at the head of the table, which was also vacant.
The rest of the seating was sparsely populated with a collection of small to medium saurians and thier human counterparts, an odd translator or stenography saurian scurrying about dispersing paperwork or whispering messages to the council members. These members consisted of a collection of saurians and humans, berobed or helmeted and adorned of all the jewelry of thier ranks; and all of them wore the rank of thier superiority in the way they behaved with looks of stern boredom or mild complacity on thier faces.
A smaller door at the far end of the chamber opened to let in a rather skinny human in a gold clad robe, long white beard draping down in front of it, hood draped likewise so his craggy face was partially obscured. A Dromeosaur came into the chamber right behind him, jewels on her tunic and a large gold medallion dangling in front of that, silver wire tiara accentuating her stunning turquoise eyes, claws of all four appendages painted an almost blood red. Both took thier seats, he in the kingly chair at the head of the table and she in a saurian couch opposite Richard. After several moments preparing his place and organizing his thoughts, the human cleared his throat and spoke.
"Well, I think nearly everyone is here...", said the man, which quieted the soft murmurings in the room. "So let's start this session... Featherswift!... The minutes, if you please?..."
"Yes... yes!... They are right here...", said a small, bluish feathered dinosaur that half scurried and half glided across the table from his miniature stenography machine with a document. "Would you like for me to read them?"
"No, thank you for the offer; but I will do that in a minute.", Featherswift the Microraptor scurried back to his place as the man glanced at the page. "Now, most of you know who I am, but there are a few who do not.", the man continued. "My name is Sulimon Bajabas, speaker for the Northern Plains transportation Guild. ", he looked to his right, where the Dromeosaur squatted. "This is Whitetail, leader of Azonthas and my Partner. We have arranged this meeting in order to discuss some strange things going on in our sphere of influence, and to find out from the source just how these strange occurances came about..."
The murmurings returned, but was squelched as Sulimon looked around.
"We have invited a mister Richard here today because he seems to be the perpetrator of these strange tidings.", said Sulimon. "He and his Partner are most welcome.", both bowed. "They are both so because they had indeed quelled a scourge that has plagued caravans ever since trade was established in this great land. They are also responsable for our prosperity in other ways; for thier ideas into the inner workings of trading companies, thier personnel and thier appearnce have certainly escalated busines nearly twofold these past months..."
"Um,... excuse me, dear...", said Whitetail with perfect English. "What is your last name, lad?... Most humans take two names, but are generally known for thier first."
"Well, ma'am...", said Richard, pursing his lips to find the right thing to say. "It was so long ago that I have been referred to by my last name, I do not recall it."
"No?... Not the least little bit?", she smiled sweetly. "Oh well...", she said at last. "Richard it is until your memory returns!..."
"May I continue?...", Sulimon asked Whitetail softly, then continued as she remained silent. "Be that as it may, I'm sure you can remember things tyhat happened recently. Am I not right?"
"Oh, yes!", stated Richard. "So long as nobody asks of my childhood...", grunting comments of mirth followed that, along with the speraker's shushing gestures.
"Now, to continue.", Sulimon said finally. "Could you tell us just what brought you to become ascociated with the Transportation Guild? What led up to you being employed with the Trilobite Shipping company?"
"Well, your honor. I lived a terrible life. I kept on moving around, never a place to call home...", Richard went on. "Until one day I told myself I wasn't going to live like that any more. I was getting too old to act irresponsably and drift about so; so I decided I wanted to settle down in the very next town I came to, and it happened to be Baz."
"A commendable decision.", Whitetail commented. "Please continue."
Richard told them of how he found places to sleep, and the odd jobs he had done for a few days; finding out that none save the shipping companies in town might have permanent positions. He went on to tell them about the hatchery there, and how he became so attatched to the hatchlings there he eventually got a part time position there. He said the shipping companies there were full, but there was nobody at the Trilobite Shipping company; all were away on deliveries for a fortnight, and thier place seemed deserted.
To pass the time there, he told of how he organized the office and balanced thier books; and the job of cleaning the barn right after that. He told them that when they returned, they wanted to know who was responsible for doing all that; in an angry way as it disturbed mister Mallone's filing system, and the person originally responsible for cleaning the barn got into trouble! But since Richard was so conciencious in doing all of that, mister Mallone eventually hired him.
He helped mister Mallone with the books, and tutored him in mathematics so he could handle the books himself; said Richard, commenting that he was a bit of a dullard. The person whom he had upstaged with the barn cleaning held a grudge, and he described how the man attacked him; causing the man to be summarilly fired, and mitigated his conviction of charges of other acts of violence. The delegates at the meeting commended his resolution of that situation, and bade him to continue.
During that time Richard said he observed many elements of businessmanship that the company and crew were lacking, and told Mallone of them; which he had them all try out, and profits began to increase almost immediately. This clinched his job security from then on, Richard told them. He went on to tell of how his skills at the hatchery increased as well, and the budding friendship with one of the hatchery workers; and also with the friendship and subsequent Partnership with Flatbottom, of which Flatbottom groaned embarrassedly.
"A most wonderful story.", Sulimon said. "It looks like you have fulfilled your desire to change your ways.", he looked around. "So, now that we know a little bit about you, it is time you know a little bit about us... If you would introduce yourselves, councilmembers...?"
"My name is Gerard Bligh, boss of the Tenticle Shipping company of Azonthas.", said the rather youngish man with a black goatee, whom started the introductions counterclockwise around the table from Richard. "My partner's name is Hector the Stegosaur; but I left him in charge of the company until I return..."
"I am Sylvester Phinney.", said the older, skinnier man with an owlish face. "I own 'Phinney's Finast', the curio shop in the center of town."
"And I am DaVinci...", said the hooded Stenoychosaur right next to the man in a perfect Brittish accent. "His partner..."
"And I am jake McGrath.", said a portly man with long grey sideburns. "I run the fruitstand across the street from the Tenticle shipping company.", Flatbottom licked his chops, for he had visited that shop a couple of times.
"I am Hazel.", squawkewd the Ovaraptor next in line. "His Partner.", Flatbottom recognised her and nodded.
"As you know, my name is Featherswift.", the Microraptor at the stenography machine scoffed. "My Partner is Maybel Swift, and she is in charge of the library."
"I'm Pamela Hurd, sweetie.", the elderly, portly lady said. "I run the flower cart down in the courthouse square."
"I am Henna.", chirped the green Archaeopterex on her shoulder. "Her Partner."
"My name is Warren Grub.", said the beaproned man next in line. "I own the bakery down the street from the shipping companies.", Flatbottom visited there too and smiled.
"I am his Partner.", rumbled the Pachycephalosaur in a booth behind him. "Name's Herb."
"My name is Pinney.", chirped the Harpymimus next to the petite woman, who was seated at the table. "And my partner's name is Wanda Gripe."
"We run the laundry a few blocks over.", said Wanda.
"I'm Alan Bloon.", said a dark skinned man seated three quarters of the way around the table from Richard. "My Partner, Oscar and I run a bakery at the edge of town."
"Hello...", Oscar the Protoceratops rumbled from his booth.
"I am Robert Hawkes.", said a skittering man in robes, who came in from another room bearing several scrolls and a smallish wooden case. "I am major domo for the court of Azonthas..."
"And I am Newton.", said the equally skittery Compsagnathus right behind him. "I am the assistant librarian."
"My name is Ellen Taft.", said a bespectacled yet not too old lady opposite Whitetail said. "My Partner Daphnie and I run the hostel, and she's the Miasaurus you've met.", indeed Richard did, and he smiled.
"And there you have it...", said Sulimon. "A big, happy family!"
"Didn't you want details about his improvements in the shipping business?", asked Whitetail. "Or how about the pirate's treaty?"
"I think all those issues speak for themselves.", sulimon replied. "They are a matter of public record, and very commendable achievements."
"Thank you, sir.", Richard bowed.
"But being applauded for those achievements isn't the only reason why you were summoned.", he continued. "The reality of the situation is that we require the services of a person who can think on his feet. One that can decipher problems and work out thier solutions. A person that can infiltrate odd situations undetected, and make them turn out right.", he looked at the bewildered Richard before him and smiled. "We need a person like you, my dear boy; for an assignment and a title, a troubleshooter and inspector for the Northern Plains transoprtation Guild..."
"You want me to be... what?...", stammered Richard. "You want me to be your agent?"
"It's all quite simple.", said Sulimon. "You may return to your regular job, and every once in a while we will give you an assignment. You see, we have been having problems with honesty lately. A scant few persons have been reporting losses in the infrastructure of thier businesses.", he shifted his seating. "At times we have been seeing profit losses in certain areas of shipping, all due to neglegence or other irresponsable business practices. Unfortunately, many of the offenders know of us, and are wary."
"You are relatively unknown to them, and can infiltrate thier operations with little questions.", said Whitetail. "It would do the Guild a great service if you accept this position..."
"Well...!", Richard sounded surprised. "I don't know what to say...", he looked around. "May I discuss this in private with my partner?" "Why certainly, my boy.", said Sulimon. "The foyer is more private than here...", he pointed.
Richard bowed as he rose; and no words needed to be spoken as Flatbottom followed him out the door to the foyer. Both waited for the doors to swing fully closed before any of them made shocked eye contact, both begging for the other to speak.
"This is all going too fast!...", Richard said at a near whisper. "What do I do?"
"Something smells fishy to me.", rumbled Flatbottom softly. "I think they're on to you..."
"It can't be that...", said Richard. "I've been laying as low as I can.", he relaxed only one incriment. "Maybe it's what they say. Maybe this is like a reward for working through all that stuff. Maybe they think I can solve more problems for them."
"Well, certainly you know that, if you accept it; it will spoil your plan of laying low.", rumbled Flatbottom. "I, for one, think they are trying to pull something..."
"But think of the authority I'll have. No, WE'LL have!", Richard coaxed. "With this position we can get anything we want!"
"Having a position of power for personal gain is not the Dinotopian way.", Flatbottom reminded. "Any position of power has a ton of responsability attatched to it. With this position, neither of us would have much free time."
"Are you telling me you're afraid of the challenge?", Richard scoffed. "I thought you were braver than that!"
"Listen human!", Flatbottom nearly roared, but lowered his voice. "I'm sure you must know that I will be with you what ever you decide. I'm just saying that it might be more than either of us can handle... And bravery has nothing to do with it!", this he said louder.
"So, you think I shouldn't accept... And have them think I failed them...", said Richard.
"It's no failure to turn down a position.", Flatbottom looked sad. "Look. If you want to do it, who am I top stop you.", the beast smirked. "Maybe you're right after all... Maybe it will be fun!...", a silent chuckle.
"That's my favorite threehorn!...", Richard hugged his horn briefly, and then rose.
They both returned to the chamber as they had left, and shuffled to thier places. "Through careful consideration between my Partner and I, I have decided to accept your position.", said Richard after Sulimon's nod.
"That's very good!", the speaker said. "Truely you are a man of great character, as we all concluded."
"Now, with the position goes a title...", Whitetail interviened. "I was just getting to that!", Sulimon looked at her. "Now, There is a symbol of your position, to be worn when on duty, whether appointed or seen fit... Robert? The case..."
Robert Hawkes shuffled over with the wooden box, opening it so only the speaker could see. A golden medallion shone for an instant, swinging from a silver chain; and this was placed on the table before the speaker as Robert shuffled over to where Flatbottom waited. As all this was going on, Sulimon looked about at the other delegates fidjiting around on thier seats. When the clerk was in position, he smiled and continued.
"This symbol is worn by every Transportation Guild operative.", he continued. "It gives the wearer special permission to inspect or investigate anything having to do with Guild business. It also gives the wearer special authority over seperate shipping companies and livery businesses; for the wearer would act as supervisor to these businesses, and would only need answer to Guild officials.", he looked at Richard. "Is that fully understood?"
"Yes.", said Richard.
"Good!... Now, official rules and regulations for your position will be sent to you in due time.", said Sulimon. "Let's make this official!...", he smiled as both he and Richard rose to face each other.
"I Sulimon Bajabas, speaker for the Northern Plains Transportation Guild, now hereby award a mister Richard and Flatbottom Triceratops, the positions of Guild Inspector and assistant, with all the privelages and responsabilities those offices hold...", intoned the speraker as he raised the coin-shaped medallion, Richard lowering his head to accept the honor.
Flatbottom was getting the same treatment by Robert Hawkes where he was, having his slightly larger medallion clasped behind his neck frill by a heavy metal chain; and everyone there seemed to know when the deeds were done, for the room erupted in polite applause. Sulimon let this go on for many minutes, letting Richard and Flatbottom get used to thier newly acquired jewelry; then quieted everyone down with hand gestures before speaking again.
"So my two new liasons.", he said with cheer. "What say you?"
"I don't know what to say...", said Flatbottom.
"I guess we will do your bidding to the best of our abilities.", stated Richard lamely.
"Fair enough.", said Sulimon. "And now, we would appreciate if you two regale us with your exploits in Baz. Say it any way you wish, for we are all brothers and sisters in council!..."
Sulimon snapped his fingers and Robert Hawkes and Newton scampered out of the room, and Richard cleared his throat before telling them what happened directly after he met the workers at the Trilobite Shipping company. He told of how he coached mister Mallone in math and organizational skills, and of how he observed many habits detromental to business being utilized at the company. He told them he suggested they wear clean and presentable clothes, and the saurians should be frequently washed and adorned accordingly. He told of how he had them paint thier carts and paint company logos onto them so others would know it was the Trilobiter Shipping company delivering thier goods. he said he had them curb thier language in public, and not to bad mouth thier jobs or anybody in it.
Robert and Newton returned just then carrying trays of refreshment: cold and hot Jinka drinks and light pastry fare; and Sulimon bade everyone to dig in if they wished. After a brief interlude of imbibing in the refreshments, Richard was bidden to conmtinue his story; and was told that so far, all the things he told were justifiable to them.
A thing Richard omitted until now was the time when Paul Grimes nearly knifed him, an act of jealousey that connected him to other violent actions around Baz; and thusly he was summarilly banished from Baz. The councillers marveled that he fended him off with a mere pillow until help could arrive, and he joked that he was good at pillow fights as a kid! They laughed and said at least some good came of it: that he took over Paul's position, and had Flatbottom be his Partner. He also mentioned his exploits at the hatchery, gaining skills there and assisting in hatching as well as entertaining the hatchlings with his Zithar. He also mentioned his interest in one of the workers there, and described Anna with a loving attention that pleased the female members there.
Both he and Flatbottom described thier first encounter with the pirates, and Richard's evident ignorance in what to do in that situation; but they commended his pluckiness in his efforts to escape thier clutches, fending them off by merely throwing fruit at them! The aftermath of the situation spurred him to do something to remedy the violence his escapades had made the pirates do; and he described his guilt when penning the treaty, Flatbottom voicing his refusal to encounter the pirates once again. Sulimon pulled out a copy of the treaty, and Richard confirmed every detail and when and why he penned it. Richard was about to go on to tell them of how the pirates received the treaty when the outer doors of the council building burst open, and a moment later the doors to the chamber proper did so as well; revealing a pair of humans that Richard would have recognized had the sun not been shining in from behind them like that!
"Hello everyone!", said the man in a familiar, gravelly voice. "Am I late?"
"Aw!" said the female. Richard knew that voice from somewhere too... "We missed the snack..."
"No, mister J.B.; you're right on time.", said Sulimon. "Ah, Yes-Dear...! Lovely as ever...!"
The PIRATES?... Here!? Richard knew that strange days were all around him; but he never thought he would be in the same room with these two - and they being accepted here! Flatbottom recognized them too, and brayed hopelessly, wishing to stomp them save for the formality of the situation! J.B. and Yes-Dear scanned the seating and all who sat there before taking a step into the room, smiling like a cat who had a mouse trapped; but there seemed to be something about them that said they were not here for mayhem, for they merely sauntered toward two of the vacant human seats. J.B. took one nearly opposite Richard, and Yes-Dear found one fairly close to Flatbottom's booth. J.B. made a toothless smile before exhaling and speaking.
"I just love making grand entrances...", said he.
"Oh!... Sweetie...", Yes-Dear cooed to Flatbottom in the mean time. "Won't you let bygones ber bygones?..."
"Now that you're here, Richard was just about to tell us how his little treaty with you was received.", Sulimon tried to break the tension.
"Well Mack, at first we thought he was joking.", said J.B. "We thought he just made it up so we would let him go.", he leaned back, creaking the chair as he did so. "But then me and the crew got to talkin' about it; and it slowly began to make sense... You know, piratin' is hard work..."
"And you accepted it.", stated Sulimon.
"Not right off.", was the reply. "That is until that scalliwag proposed some compromises.", he pointed with a thumb.
"Like these?", Sulimon handed him the treaty copy.
"Aye. We agreed to all those.", the former pirate confirmed. "That way we get more stuff for less work... An' you get the fact that we'll leave your caravans alone."
"Now we can go into towns and get the respect we deserve.", said Yes-Dear. "All the other pirates are just ravin' over it!"
"Aye, we're doin' reral good.", said J.B. "So good the other bands of pirates around wanted in on it."
"How so?", asked Whitetail.
"Well missy, we told them about the treaty; and they went and made treatys of thier own with other towns.", J.B. told them all. "Why, it won't be too long before ALL the pirates on th' island are doin' it!"
"Amazing!", Sulimon gasped amid gasps from all the delegates. "How many bands do you think are currently observing treatys?"
"Well, there's ours.", J.B. began. "The O'Donnel bunch. The Dead Boys tried it just last week. The band led by Leiutenant Grok that ambushes folks at Rocky Pass. Bill the Nimble's band.", he considered. "There's lot's more; and I heard many who reside down south have heard of it... Rumor says that even Torres LaSage has considered it!"
"She's the worst pirate of the lot!", said Whitetail.
"Aye, but you best watch out for her head goon, Quint!", warned J.B. "He'd skin you an' make a raincoat out of ya'!"
"Stop scarin' her!", Yes-Dear scolded. "We got to be nice now."
"Yes, dear...", he replied and chuckled.
It was strange for Richard to be having the casual conversation they were having, for seldom do natural enemies sit and converse with each other like these people were doing! In the outside world, such a thing just wasn't done; but here nobody was really the enemy to the other, just people living together in strange and wonderful ways. Each had to survive any way they could, and it seemed that all ways were accepted here; be it of a criminal nature or one of an upstanding citizen, nobody really seemed to blame the other for the way they lived.
The afternoon turned into evening, and Sulimon Bajabas invited all who attended the meeting to a grand feast at one of the many fancy eateries around town. There the many conversations continued, and happiness and merriment prevailed with all. Richard discovered that J.B. wasn't as bad as he first thought, and Yes-Dear turned out to be a fair dancer; and even Flatbottom nearly completely lost his trepidation among them, slowly calming down among them at thier somewhat gentle administerings.
It took almost another full day before it was prudent for Flatbottom and Richard to leave Azonthas, and it was a sad time indeed for both when the hour finally caught up with them. Thier medallions of office they received were put away in the case that came with them, and stowed under the seat of thier cart. The trip back to Baz took its' usual half fortnight, and it was not long before they were begged to tell the tale of thier adventure in Azonthas...
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Post by thundertail on Jan 11, 2009 21:01:18 GMT -5
TWENTY-FIVE:
The first thing both Richard and Flatbottom noticed when they returned to Baz and got back into the daily routine there was the almost total lack of curiosity about thier meeting with the Northern Plains Transportation Guild. In fact, nobody seemed to know of it but Sidney Mallone and Francine Rivers; and though both he and his Partner mentioned it to the shipping company staff, they wisely omitted what really went on in that meeting. It was all for the best, for they simply thought the council wanted a personal account about his encounter with the pirates or something. Thier peers never really pressed the issue save for the general personalities of the Guildmembers and how they dressed; and they figured that the Council often did that to make things official anyway!
Richard had told Anna about the meeting, omitting that he was now thier liason and troubleshooter; and she pretty much agreed about what had been said before on the subject!
"You fool!", Anna whispered when they were alone one time. "You should have never bothered those pirates!... Now look at all this trouble it caused!"
"I know, I know...", Richard replied as he helped her carry linens. "But the past is in the past, and the consequences of it has to be dealt with."
"But your...", Anna looked around. "Other problem... Don't you think that might attract attention?"
"Maybe...", said Richard. "I just hope it blows over pretty soon..."
Many days were spent at the hatchery, he getting back into the routine of entertaining the newest batch of hatchlings; and they seeing first hand this crazy human trying to make them laugh, a thing they had only heard of in stories! The leader of the hatchery was also aware of Richard's meeting, and she knew more about it than Anna did; a point she made him aware of as they walked out back of the hatchery that day, for she bade him to walk with her a while.
"I must say, you can sure foul things up for yourself...", Francine Rivers commented as he followed her down the path they were on.
"What do you mean?", Richard said. "I think this new position will be great for me. I can now make sure the other shipping companies are complying with Guild regulations..."
"I mean it threatens your very existence here!", she turned and snapped, an emotion he never knew she had! "If you are successful and word gets out, the Waterfall City council will find out and investigate what's going on. They will find out it is you, Richard Dennison, a person whom they have been looking for; and they will come and take you away from here!", she continued walking. "If you make a spectacle of yourself and stand out too much, I can not guarantee your anonymity here."
"Gosh!... I never thought of that!", Richard said. "So, do you think I shouldn't have taken the position?"
"I think that if you refused, they would want to know why.", she replied. "But I'm sure they would have accepted any explanation you gave them."
"I couldn't just refuse like that.", said Richard. "They saw that I could negotiate with the pirates. They saw I can organise the shipping business. They saw great potential in me. I didn't think it would be prudent to turn them down."
"Be that as it may, what has been done can not be undone.", Francine Rivers told him with authority. "My only advice to you is be extremely careful in what you do from now on. You will be expected to do great things; but temper those things with your desire to to keep on living in Baz.", she led them both back the way they came. Several more days went by, and then several more; and Richard began to think that the council would never send him on a mission, seeing as how nothing bad happens very much on Dinotopia. His fears and hopes of thier failed memory was dashed one day when a Skybax landed at the aerie, and a pilot courier stepped into the Trilobite Shipping company's barn and startled Richard as he was backing the wooden wheelbarrow out of Cordial's stall. He knew her in an instant, auburn hair drifting as she moved to him with purpose; Elana Dennison grasped his hand in a vicelike grip, and pumped it vigorousely, then watched Richard rub feeling back into it before smiling.
"Greetings...", Elana wanted to say 'cousin', but Costello slid down the ladder of the loft, stopping that thought. "I bring a parcel to you, mister Richard, from the Northern Plains Transportation Guild."
"Thank you, Skybax pilot Dennison.", he looked into the satchel he was given, all of the contents were for him.
"Before you read any of it, could we have a talk?", Elana asked.
"Of course.", Richard looked around for a secluded place, and found none."May I ask what it's about?"
"I think disgression is in order.", she looked around, then turned and stormed out of the barn. "Follow me, if you please..."
Richard did so, not knowing where she would take him; and she led the way down the street toward the outskirts of town. The buildings thinned out until there was merely scattered sheds and opening fields, the waterwheel connected to the town mill rotated in the distance. Her pace lessened, and Richard was now able to walk with her side by side.
"I'm sorry I could not be here for you these past few months.", Elana told him. "My squadron had been called to the Great desert to help locate a few caravans that got caught in the worst series of sandstorms in a century. We were on partrol for weeks, and our squadron found one caravan trapped in a remote oasis. Still, eight humans and six saurians died."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I see you were busy.", Richard replied.
"I see YOU have been busy too!", she winked. "I heard you confronted a band of pirates."
"Yeah, and caused a bunch of trouble for everyone else.", groused Richard.
"That's a Dennison for you!", she chuckled. "Then you turned around and made a treaty with them... I could expect no less from a cousin of mine!"
"But that's not the half of it.", said Richard. "Do you know what all this is?", he hefted the satchel.
"It's from the Transportation Guild...", she considered, finally shrugging.
"When I was in Azonthas a week or two ago, they called me to a meeting.", Richard told her. "I thought they wanted me to give them an account of the pirates; but they gave me and Flatbottom a little surprise.", he paused his walking. "They have appointed us as officiual council troubleshooters. We are to perform inspections and investigate shady operations; we are to make sure the shipping and livery companies adhere to Guild regulations."
"And this would give you authority to go where you please and do as you please.", she said. "Your reputation would be known all over the island!" her eyes suddenly widened! "Your whereabouts might even reach the ears of the High Council of Waterfall City!"
"Francine Rivers says that might not be the case if I do it wisely and discreetly.", Richard told her.
"Well Richard. You certainly know how to lie low!", Elana spun to him, becoming instantly wistful and chuckling. "You know, us Dennisons have a penchant for the overdramatic. We really know how to shake things up!... Welcome to the family!", this she said sarcastically!
"Look. I'll do the best I can with this...", he returned.
"And I'll do my best to cover for you.", she returned. "No matter how hard a job that is!"
"Well, there's far too much material here to carry...", Richard said after a moment, returning his attention to the satchel.
"Don't worry. Keep the bag for as long as you need it.", Elana said. "Don't forget to return it to the Skybax aerie when you're done with it."
"I'll do that...", he noticed that she was already trotting back to town.
"I got to get going...", she explained, trotting backwards to face him, he quickening his pace. "Bye now!...", she turned back and left him in the dust.
"Yeah, bye...", Richard struggled to catch up.
Richard was all alone when he finally trudged back to the barn of the Trilobite Shipping company, and at this time all of the pullers and drivers were back inside; all the paddocks were full, and the rest were up in the loft. Flatbottom was dutifully chewing his dinner as Richard opened his gate and slid himself inside, tapping the Triceratops' side in a friendly way. He went up beside the great besat's head and looked him in that eye; but Flatbottom beat him to the punch and spoke first.
"Hello, friend.", he said. "What's in the bag?"
"Stuff from the meeting...", Richard told him softly, silently pulling out the contents down low, away from prying eyes. "Looks like a lot of material to go over."
Inside were many sheafs of papers, thin tomes and many scrolls; all bearing the Transportation Guild shield andcalligraphed professionally. These consisted of official contracts, rules and regulations, thier legal powers as troubleshooters, procedures for basic operations, logbooks and progress report forms and so on. Richard set aside each document and took out the next in line as they inspected each one.
"You shouldn't take it out here.", softly rumbled Flatbottom. "Others will see..."
"We'll study this stuff later.", Richard told him. "When nobody's around..."
"We could take it with us on runs...", the beast suggested. "Study it then..."
"That's a good idea too...", Richard looked around. "In the mean time, we need a good place to stash this..."
"How about here...", Flatbottom suggested. "Safest place I know..."
Flatbottom went to the loose board in the corner of his stall, stepped and revealed the place where he hides his money. Richard smiled and stuffed the bag inside between the beams, noticing the contents of the cubby was already brimming with the lucky beast's fortunes; his Drachs had increased tenfold, and there were dozens of shipment vouchers, which could buy any number of specific cargo loads, the Dinotopian equivelent of stocks or bonds. Flatbottom released his foot and the loose board dropped back into place, then both got up and went about thier usual business.
For many weeks they both went about thier business, but receive no assignments from the Guild. They slowly begin to wonder if the guild had forgotten about them as the time went by, and they perform thier normal duties like none of that really happened. Both Richard and Flatbottom went on to study the texts the Guild had given them, Pursing over them either individually or together, excelling in those duties at least on paper; and soon began to know thier role with the Guild as well as they knew thier regular jobs.
Richard had time to schedule more sessions in the hatchery, much to the hatchling's delight as well as his own. He began thinking one late night shift that, if he didn't have such committments at the shipping company, this would be a delightful profession to settle down with. At any rate, the times were slow and peaceful here; and one didn't have to deal with the rigors of cart travel. More so the fact that the best woman he ever had the privelage of meeting worked here as well, and as the days fell into the realm of normalcy once again, his love for Anna Forsythe did nothing but increase. On more than one occasion thier normal work routine became became punctuated by many more romantic moments!
His rapport with Anna's children, Samantha, Christopher and James increased as well; for they were beginning to treat him like thier real father, confiding in him thier childlike problems and treating an occasional booboo and the like. Christopher was oldest, and thinking of going out on his own some day; but his dream of joining the Skybax was slowly turning into a desire to join a shipping company, decision no doubt influenced by Richard's job. Samantha was adept in the hatchery business, but really wished to be a healer; and all she really needed was apprenticeship in herbal remedies and general surgery to really be qualifyed one day. James was too yoiung to really have any desire to find a profession just yet, but his sessions playing with Richard and things showed he would be quite atheletic one day.
Before long the mamory of the meetimng wioth the Northern Plains Transportation Guild began to fade from Richard's and Flatbottom's memory, but it proved to be not long after that that they were reminded of that duty once again... _
"Profits for this season is up by two percent.", Richard was saying at the conclusion of the company inventory, an operation that lasted three days, and involved counting and evaluating every piece of property owned by the Trilobite Shipping company. "That's not as good as it was last season."
The inventory drew all the rest of the employees away from making thier deliveries, but there didn't seem to be that much of a demand for thier services; so most of them had a lot of time on thier hands anyway. The entire operation was not taken well with any of them, but Mallone deemed it mandatory that everybody help out with the operation.
"It's a slow time.", Sidney Mallone said. "Usually, during the mid-winter solstace, people tend to keep thier things put."
"Guess we shouldn't be too greedy...", Richard bent to complete the seemingly endless process of paperwork the inventory created. "But the seasons prior made up for it threefold!... You actually had enough profit to refurbish the barn and storage buildings!"
"What an expense...", Mallone scooted over to see how the figures were doing. "Put the warehouse out of action for a fortnight..."
"But now the roof don't leak any more!", commented Richard, showing him some indicated figures. A moment later the bell on the front door jingled, and Sidney Mallone went to see who it was. Through the open door Richard looked up and saw a Skybax pilot with shortcropped blonde hair, a scroll in his well chiseled hand. The kid looked real young, and his shoulder patch told of his cadet status. Mallone went around the counter and stared down at the young man, who showed no sign of being intimidated by the human mountain before him.
"Cadet Baker with a message for mister Richard.", said the lad stiffly. "From the Northern Plains Transportation Guild.", he handed the scroll to Mallone, then saluted and pivoted to the door, leaving as quickly as he arrived.
"Richard, do you know what this is all about?", Mallone came in and dropped the scroll before him. "Are those bookworms still bothering you about the pirates?"
"No, not really...", Richard untied the scroll and began to read. "I think I should tell you something. At that meeting in Azonthas, they appointed Flatbottom and me as agents. We are to handle rather touchy assignments for them."
"They're trying to steal you away from me?", Mallone accused.
"No, not really.", Richard looked up. "We are only supposed to act when they say so... And it looks like they found something for us to do!"
"But why didn't you tell me sooner?", Mallone gazed down on the scroll. "I would've helped if I knew..."
"I guess we were supposed to keep it as secret as we could.", Richard said. "I guess it's now time for you to know... The scroll says we have to leave soon...", he took on a pleading look. "Could me and Flatbottom have a few weeks off?"
"Well, um...", Mallone began. "If it's Guild business, I guess it's ok..."
"Thanks!", Richard rose. "By the way, the inventory shows we got everything we're supposed to have; and the books balance out fine!...", he worked his way around the desk and scooted out the door.
In the barn Richard confronted Flatbottom about the note, and he voiced his general reluctance to perform the task. The letter had said that the boss of the Bronto Shipping company out of Spicer had been reporting lost profits and lost goods. Many of the loads came up short, and the owner reported monitary losses that could not be explained. The owner suspected one of his employees, or perhaps a friend of one of them, but couldn't openly catch anybody at it. He wished something to be done about this, but to have it resolved as discreetly as possible.
Both quietly planned what they were to do all the rest of the evening, quietly going over the logistics of how they were going to proceed. They finally agreed on going to Spicer posing as drifters, then at seperate times of the day ask the boss for positions at the Bronto Shipping company. They prepared and set out, leaving thier cart behind proving they were mere drifters, and both got jobs there in short order. As thier positions became apparent, Richard got stableboy duty and Flatbottom got a huge hay cart driven by a surly Strutheomimus named Francis. They both spent less than a week establishing thier personas and getting the layout of the place.
The strangest part of the whole affair was the fact that all the employees seemed honest and fair, and not one thing turned up missing the whole time; and it was by later consensus that none of the employees was guilty of anything more than simple mistakes. Even so, the boss kept on grousing that he was losing money; worry lines were evident on the owner's brow, and the discrepencies showed up frequently on his paperwork the two times Richard snuck into the office to snoop. With the only one to really blame but the boss, both took turns trailing his activities; and what was witnessed incriminated him by the minute. At a pub in town, the boss was seen conversing with shady characters, passing notes and money to them for whispered promises. Flatbottom witnessed him fixing one of the loads with antiques and jewels, which was transported unwittingly and fenced at the other end of the run.
Richard had suspected such things, for the boss was tryint to hide his illicit activities by blaming his employees; which was a common practice in the outside world, but Dinotopians are too honest to keep things hidden for long! Many more such incidents were witnessed, and soon Richard sent a report to the Guild. Before long he was instructed to apprehend the boss and commandier his shipping company for the court; making sure to wait for the saurian guards they would have dispatched. Needless to say the boss looked like he was hit by a sack of copro when the raid on his place commenced; and his workers didn't know what to make of the situation, but were just told to keep on working for now. The shipping company was impounded and assetts were turned over to the other shipping companies in Spicer, the boss was summarilly tried by the Guild and sentanced to a year of 'training' at Sauropolis.
Richard and Flatbottom had to be present at the man's trial, and a report had to be filed with the Guild by the both of them before they were allowed to go back home. Many more weeks went by, and thier routine was broken abruptly once again; for there was trouble on the docks of Aftercastle, one of the central fishing and shipping centers of the northern Coast. It seemed that the workers there claimed that thier employers were gyping them out of thier fair share of profits thier bosses were collecting; and if something wasn't done about it, they would strike or revolt or something equally drastic and unDinotopian - or so rumors boiling out of the town threatened!
Richard and Flatbottom set out for there right away, and agreed to use the same tactic they first used by going there as drifters and seek employment at various companies. Flatbottom was hired by one of the major warehouses there, handling loads being offloaded from ships, pulling ships to thier berths by rope and other heavy tasks suitable to his large size. Richard got a job at another company that was in charge of offloading ships, or placing cargo into nets to be craned aboard ships by Bracheosaurs. Each took a few days to work up thier personas, just as mild mannered as the personas used in Spicer; and then set out getting the information needed to figure out why there was so much tension in Aftercastle.
Many rumors had been spreading, some blaming the greed of the bosses for all the trouble; and others claiming the workers were growing lax in thier tasks, both resulting in both lack of profit and lost wages. A week went by, and they both had heard all the rumors; but then it was time to get down to facts, and both did so like the detectives their job as troubleshooters had made them. Going through the records of many companies along the piers, Richard discovered that there was indeed shifty operations going on in many of them; and Flatbottom discovered there was indeed an inside organization among the workers, rumored to protest the work and wages. The thing was the workers were slacking off until their employers would pay them better, but the employers were holding off wages until the workers showed better production; and both were too stubborn to give in to the other, and this was causing a growing rift between the two factions.
The ruling power of Aftercastle was too ingrained and baised in these disputes to be of any help in solving this dilemma, for even thier local constabulatory and hired saurian guards proved to be on the take one way or another, and were of little help to them; so Richard and Flatbottom had to send for help by Postal Bird through the near by town of Esplanade. When it arrived, it came in the form of two squads of saurian and human guards, an equal army of accountants and negotiators and legal help from Sulimon Bajabas himself; and between all this help, for there were hundreds of grievances to hear and find resolution for; this massive trouble in Aftercastle was gradually resolved.
Again they were relieved of this duty for a while and sent back home to Baz, thanking all thier luck that that fiasco was over as they both had done more than thier part to quell that revolt. A twoday recovery was all they required, and soon thier home routine took up most of thier time and thinking. Winter turned into spring and the barren ground gave way to fresh growths, and still there was no word from the Northern Plains Transportation Guild; for not a lot of bad things happen on Dinotopia. All too soon thier peace would be dashed, all on the fateful day another Skybax courier came to deliver news; and this was the kind of news that would start a chain of events that would change the lives of everyone around them as well as themselves forever!... _____
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Post by thundertail on Jan 14, 2009 19:08:43 GMT -5
TWENTY-SIX: The shadow of the wings of yet another Skybax darkened the skies over the town of Baz, this one bearing news of an extrordinary sort for two unsuspecting citizens. The auburn haired rider looking this way and that, her head obscured by her hawklike helmet, gigantic steed calling down to his comrades already on the ground. He swooped to a landing a moment later and cried at his neighbor before settling down enough for Elana Dennison to slide off his back. Cirrus offered his beak to her as she passed, but she merely paused to grab the satchel from the saddle before sliding down the stairs to the ground below.
Elana knew the way she was to go well, for her cousin, Richard lived here; and worked at the Trilobite Shipping company, her destination for this stop. The satchel she carried had correspondance for her cousin, for he had been getting a lot of that lately; and if anybody knew the fact that he was indeed her cousin, he would surely be in a world of trouble! She left the aerie, which was near the Brach bus depot and walked at a brisk pace down the path toward the center of town. Elana paid no mind of the human and saurian traffic, only barely veering to avoid the clattering carts that passed by from all directions.
Knowing it was late in the morning and everyone would be in the middle of doing thier jobs here, Elana Dennison avoided the main office of the Trilobite Shipping company and went directly to the barn; where Richard would no doubt be, tending to his chores, she guessed. Sure enough, there he was scooping out the third stall in on the left; heaving Copro into thier wooden wheelbarrow. At his latest pitch he turned and saw her smirking there in the aisle between stalls, and he dropped the pitchfork into the wheelbarrow and stopped.
"Hello Elana...", he panted and wiped sweat off his cheek. "Judging from your bag, I got more mail."
"Yes, and it's from the Transportation Guild again.", Elana said, leaning against the side of the paddock. "You're getting to be quite a celebrity with them..."
"You do a good job and better things are expected...", Richard said. "What do you suppose it is this time?"
"Why don't you read it and find out...", she saw his Partner in the stall opposite them and smiuled. "Hello, Flatbottom. He treating you good?"
"Pretty good...", the Triceratops rumbled. "But today he was late feeding me!..."
"Well!... I didn't know we had company!", Sidney Mallone said as he came into the barn. "To what do we owe the pleasure this time?..."
"Business, I'm afraid...", Elana replied.
"Guild business...", Richard said as he began to read. "And what business...!"
"What is it this time?", groused Flatbottom.
"They want us to represent the Nortnern Plains Transportation Guild at an island-wide Transportation Guild meeting in waterfall City.", Richard recited. "It's an annual meeting, and all the regions are to relate the changes going on in each area. Since the Northern Plains sector went through the most changes over the year, and we were the ones that mitigated those changes, we are to go and explain them all to the entire Transportation Guild!"
"Francine Rivers must know about this!", Elana Dennison said. "This is an honor not for her to miss!...", that was what she said, but her eyes told Richard of her fears of possible exposure.
"Yes..., I think you're right.", Richard said warilly, for mister Mallone didn't know about his other problem. "She should know right away, I guess... Miss Dennison, would you care to join me?"
"I'll go too...", Mallone offered.
"I don't think that will be necesary, kind sir.", Elana said.
"We should prepare to leave right away...", Richard added.
"Ok then, I'll go hitch up Flatbottom...", Mallone shrugged.
"Buddy boy, when you get back, we got a lot to talk about!...", was all Flatbottom had time to say to Richard as both Dennisons hurriedly left the barn.
All the workers there knew something important was going on when the two entered the hatchery, and so did Francine Rivers when she saw the looks of concern on Richard and Elana's faces; for she said not a word as she quickly led them up to her office in back, closing the door behind them after making sure the hallway was empty. It was only after she sat at the desk inside and the pair took seats before the desk did any of them spoke.
"There is something amiss...", Francine stated the obvoius. "May I find out what it is?"
"Just this...", Richard handed over the entire satchel.
"I see...", Francine breathed after reading the document within. "I must say that this is, indeed, a problem."
"What am I to do?", Richard nearly pleaded. "I can't go there for the risk of being found out by the council, and I must go to represent the Transportation Guild..."
"The council has discontinued the search for you.", Elana reminded him. "Maybe you can go and still be unnoticed."
"His contributions to the area are no doubt well known to them.", Francine said. "However, they do not know precisely who did them."
"I never used my full real name.", contributed Richard.
"But still, his face is highly recognisable.", Elana said. "Maybe he could go using a disguise."
"I got just the thing!", Francine said after a moment. "My husband used to love tending court in elaborate robes. When he passed on, I saved a few of his outfits. Perhaps there are some that fit...", she got up and bade them to remain with her eyes; and nearly twenty minutes later returned with a white silken toga affair with gold and purple lacings and borders, complete with a hood that could obscure the face.
"What a fine garment...", Richard commented as he was bade to pose with it in front of him.
"It cost a fortune when new...", Francine smiled. " He looked so dashing in it...!"
"Here's a thought:", Elana cut in. "How long does it take for you to grow a beard?"
"About two or three weeks before it stops looking scruffy. Why?", he replied.
"Just a thought.", Elana said. "No doubt they want you to get there soon, and that might take too long."
"Oh...", Richard replied. "I think just the robe and Guild medallion should be sufficient."
"Remember, Richard.", Francine said as she loosely folded the robe. "Do nothing to make them think you're a Dennison. Just go there, make the speech and leave as soon as you can." "I will meet you there just in case.", Elana made moves to get off her chair. "If something happens, I'll get back here right away."
"If the worst happens, I'll call in all the contacts I have." Francine said. "I'm sure we'll think of something."... _
Richard prepared well for going to Waterfall City, and Flatbottom got similar treatment. Along with thier Transportation Guild amulets and Richard's borrowed robes, Flatbottom was bedecked with jeweled finery and saurian clothing befitting a Ceratopsian representitive of the Transportation Guild. However, he being little used to raiments of such finery; he complained at every step of the bedecking operation! As preparations wer made, thier usual cart was cleaned spotless; and overhauled and repainted to look as good as new. Everyone in the Trilobite Shipping company helped out in these operations, for they knew that Richard andf Flatbottom was to represent them, and they wished them to put on a good show.
They left the shipping company and Baz under a pall of fanfare befitting a hero, and after more then an hour the crowds thinned enough for normal travel at the outskirts of town. The road ahead was surprisingly devoid of traffic, and the towns they passed through seemed nearly deserted as they were allowed to pass through unmolested. Richard found out later that Francine Rivers contacted the leaders of these towns via Postal Bird, asking that they receive smooth passage through thier towns; as well as they being representitives of the regon, and thier urgent journey to Waterfall City.
"Now that we're alone, we can talk...", Flatbottom said as some miles passed under the wheels of the cart he was pulling. "Do you realise the amount of trouble you'll be in if you're caught?"
"Yes, I know I'm going into the lion's den...", Richard commented as he stroked his way too short, yet perfectly barbered beard - the best he could do on such short notice - and it itched like the dickens! "But if I don't attend, I'll lose face with the Transportation Guild."
"You mean WE would.", Flatbottom replied. "You and me are a team, you know."
"And I appreciate that, buddy.", Richard said, looking ahead at the small caravan of tall Bracheosaurs coming the other way in the distance. "But at least you don't have to look behind you every minute..."
"It must be hard for you.", the beast slowed, preparing to pull over to let the caravan pass. "Not being able to be completely honest with folks..."
"I hear that's not the Dinotopian way.", said Richard.
"You're learning, my friend...", Flatbottom said as he smiled up at the lead Bracheosaur. You're learning..."
They eventuaslly passed over the great stone bridge that connected that part of the island with Waterfall City, and into the city proper after scrutiny from the guards at the gate. The place was abustle with all sorts of footed and cart traffic, and very little attention was paid to them at first; if you do not count the sidelong stares from some who might be offended by thier finery! At many stops for directions they came to the Hall of Ceratopsians and Hadrosaurs; which was where the representitives of all the Transportation Guild delegates were to be housed, where thier quarters were assigned and they got news on where the meeting was to be held.
After a greeting to all for coming by the speaker of the Dinotopia Transportation Guild, all were invited to a great feast; where all the delegates got acquainted with each other, both human and saurian alike soon became fast comrades there. As festivities wound down at nearly midnight, each were escorted to thier quarters by an army of valets and waitstaff. The morning came for Richard by the soft calling of his Harpymimus maid, and he went down to Flatbottom's luxurious paddock; where he was being dressed by professional majordomos, and looking like a groom the morning of his wedding with wide, mistrusting eyes.
Within the hour, Richard and Flatbottom, along with every Transportation Guild delegate; were led to Commerce Way by many personal guides. A great meeting place was set up in the street where vendor's kiosks would have been set up, and a stout podium built for human as well as saurian occuation was erected in the midst of hundreds of chairs and saurian seating. As the area began to fill, the rush of whispered talk soon sounded like the waves in an ever increasing storm; and that storm was of people of all sizes, makes and models, dressed in the finest garb Richard had ever seen. With the conclusion of a fanfare played from an unseen band, the Creatopsian speaker for the Dinotopian Transportation Guild and his aged human Partner stepped up amid rousing cheer and began to speak... _
The mayor of Waterfall City sat at his desk filling out the paperwork ascociated with his high status, and that paperwork was an enormous daily task; one that occupied most of his morning, and interfered with most of his nights! He toiled over form after form, signing on the dotted line or placing his seal over this or that piece of correspondance; coming in endlessly in a stream by his assistant and runner, Manford.
The gent scurried this way and that, placing or picking up this or that paper so the desk would not seem so cluttered; then scurried away again to drop them into thier proper spots for delivery, and come right back with an armload of new things for the mayor to tend to. Amid all this chaos, Manford tried to strike up a conversation through the softly barked orders of his superior; but this was difficult at best as he simply acknowledged the orders being softly barked to him, even though the news he wished to tell might be of utmost importance to his mayor.
"Um, sir...", Manford stammered. "The Transportation Guild has petitioned for a meeting in Commerce Square..."
"I know that!", mayor Edward Reynolds snapped. "The issue has been on the court docket for a month."
"The meeting is scheduled for today, sir.", Manford told him.
"I know that!", repeated the mayor. "It should have already started by now...", he handed him another paper.
"Yes it has.", Manford confirmed. "Have you read the roster of delegastes?"
"Many old names, I know them well...", the mayor noncommittally said. "A few new names... What's your point?"
"A delegate from the Northern Plains sect.", Manford began. "Until recently he was an unknown. He himself has single handedly quelled an uprising of pirates, and formed a treaty of alliance with them. He has also established business practices that are strange indeed."
"Who is this person?", mayor Reynolds asked.
"A mister Richard.", Manford told him, picking up a roster on a sideboard in the corner. "No last name was mentioned. His Parttner, Flatbottom is a rather boorish Triceratops..."
"Has anyone seen this man?", the mayor asked. "What does he look like?"
"I'm certain a valet or someone has seen him.", Manford told him. "Would you like me to locate one?"
"Please do so.", mayor Reynolds said absently. "I'll finish up here...", he went back to his paperwork.
Manford bowed respectfully and turned to leave the room, scurrying down the hallway beyond and out the labrynthine back ways through the courthouse to the side street beyond. Manford was a professional at getting things done, and knew nearly all of Waterfall City's citizens on an intimate basis; and this was why it took little time at all for him to find some of the servants tending to the delegates of the Transportation Guild, and he inquired all around for any who saw the Northern Plains delegates. Many had seen them in and around the area, and describing the delegate's Triceratops Partner was easy as most of those saurians look somewhat alike; but Manford could not get corresponding descriptions of the man representing the Northern Plains Transportation Guild.
Seething in silent failure, Manford resolved to actually go to Commerce Square and see for himself what was going on, and try to locate and identify mister Richard for himself. This was a task that was extremely difficult to do in a stealthy state, for he was well known to all; and many times during his investigation was stopped and greeted, attracting too much attention for this mission and for his tastes! He eventually succeeded in melting into the crowd of onlookers and worked his way around until he could see where the delegates that were to make speeches were seated, and many had told him that the Northern Plains delegate would make the most special speech of all; but when the man was pointed out to him, he could not believe his eyes!
Sitting there unaware he was being watched was a man that could have been the spittiong image of the famous Will Dennison, provided he had lived over a hundred years ago; and if Will had sported that scraggly full-face beard, and wasn't partially obscured by that hooded robe. It was a striking resemblance to the lad of many generations ago, and Manford would be able to easily describe this man to mayor Reynolds; so he politely made his way out of the area and headed back through the streets of waterfall City to the council chambers, locating his leader at his desk where he left him, sound asleep!
"Lord mayor...!", Manford called softly, then repeated a bit louder. "Sir, I have returned..."
"Wh,...? From where?...", mayor Reynolds lifted his head.
"Why, from identifying who the Northern Plains delegate is, of course.", he replied. "Do you remember?"
"Yes, I guess so.", the mayor looked around at the rays of light that took a more upright stance than when he remembered. "How long was I out?"
"I have been gone no more than two hours, sir.", Manford stated. "You must have fallen asleep shortly thereafter."
"Oh...", the mayor collected his thoughts. "So, have you found out who he is?"
"Indeed I did, sir!", Manford announced loudly.
"Who, then?", mayor Reynolds did not appreciate being left in suspense! "Spit it out, man!"
Instead of saying a word, Manford nearly danced to the other side of the room, where paintings of many famous Dinotopians were kept in sort of a miniature museum. They were meant for the inspiration of the mayor and other officials that visited here, the mayor's private office. A short hop to one of the ones painted over a hundred years ago brought him to a picture of Will Dennison in full Skybax garb of the time, looking out proudly with the natural spires of Canyon City in the distance. He plucked the painting down from its' hook and regally walked over with it, only displaying it to the mayor when he stood directly in front of the desk. Manford smiled as the light of recognition hit the mayor's features, and the leader of Dinotopia stood involuntarilly as his single name was shouted by him.
"Richard Dennison...!", the mayor announced with triumph. "It is him...!"
"If I remember correctly, he ran away from Waterfall City almost a year ago.", stated Manford. "That disappointed the Archaeological Guild."
"And went against court decree...", the mayor agreed. "But why is he here now?"
"Perhaps he forgot...?", suggested Manford. "Or perhaps he has gotten so important in the Northern Plains, they made him thier speaker...?"
"Either way, we have him now!...", mayor Reynolds said with triumph.
"Shall I dispatch some saurian guards and arrest him, sir?", Manford offered.
"No, don't do that.", the mayor returned. "That would cause undue disturbance."
"Then what, sir?", asked Manford. "He is no doubt due to make a speech before the rest some time today."
"How about we invite him to repeat that speech at the council chambers?", the mayor said, thinking. "When he comes, we will subject him to a board of inquiry. Then put him under house arrest until all evidence in his case is heard.", he smiled. "The Archaeological Guild will get thier apprentice yet!...", mayor Reynolds reached under his robes and drew out his Postal Bird whistle... _____
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Post by thundertail on Jan 16, 2009 20:42:03 GMT -5
TWENTY-SEVEN:
The delegates applauded enthusiastically as the speaker for the Dinotopian transportation Guild concluded his speech, and he announced the next speaker as soon as the din simmered down somewhat. Drake Simmons and his Partner, Jamby the Strutheomimus came to the podium and took thier bows amid thier polite applause.
The delegate from the Amu Canyon Transportation guild spoke of all the safety regulations that they employed over the past year. Thier precarious city used rope bridges and narrow trails to get from one section of the city to another, and many of thier smaller saurian workers had fallen or were severely injured from accidents; and as safety measures like handrails and safety harnesses were put into place, injuries and death were reduced by a phenomonal margin. At the conclusion of thier speech, and a short session to answer questions, the speaker returned to announce the next speakers.
Amy Franks and Tipper the Ankylosaur were the delegates for the Great Desert Transportation Guild, and they said that thier routes were the most dangerous of all; and with the great sandstorms they had this year, many of thier caravans were lost. They praised the Skybax corps for thier help in rescue, and petitioned for suggestions to make thier routes safer. The Stony Pass Transportation Guild delegates, Wanda Grogan and Forrest the Montanoceratops told of thier work stopping robbers from anbushing thier caravans, and told of the strange way they suddenly stopped. When the other delegates told them who was responsable for this, Richard and Flatbottom was asked to speak next, which was out of turn for this meeting!
Richard and Flatbottom got in front of the podium after many embarassing moments and began thier speech, beginning with how they formed a treaty with the pirates and how that spread throughout the region; and they told every little detail of the tale including how they defended themselves at first by throwing fruit! After applause died down for that, they told of how they employed many business practices that would increase profit and productivity; and this got them the remainder of thier applause. They hurriedly stepped down as the speaker announced the rest of the delegates who were to make speeches.
There was Paul Moblie and Firewalker the Lambeosaur, delegates of the Rainy Basin Transportaion Guild, who told of the improvements in saurian armor that would make things safer; and the Cosatal Road Transportation Guild, Gia Bombast, Rachael and Rodney Dimetrodons who told of thier efforts to track storms at sea and make sure no traveler was out in them. There were several more speakers from several more regions, and all were allowed thier chance; but as Richard and Flatbottom were watching them, a Postal bird fluttered up and landed on Flatbottom's nosehorn.
"For a mister Richard and Flatbottom Triceratops, from the high council of waterfall City...", the bird said.
"That's us...", Flatbottom answered for them both.
"For superior changes experienced by your region, the high council of Waterfall City wish to extend to you an invitation to relate your efforts in thier court.", said the bird. "Meeting will be held after Noonmeal today.", he flapped. "Do you wish to make a reply?"
After making eye contact with his Partner, whose expression warned extreme caution, Richard replied. "Tell them that I would be glad to attend.", then turned to Flatbottom. "I can't exactly turn down an official invitation from the court, you know!", the bird nodded and flew off. "That would be rude."
"But Richard...!", Flatbottom protested... _
'This is wrong... so wrong...!', Flatbottom thought as they walked side by side after the meeting and feast right after that. The rest of the delegates had thier chance to speak, and pertainent points of all thier speeches were considered for the permanent instillment in official Transportation Guild policies, and many of Richard's points were seriousely considered. What pleased him more than anything was his policies with the pirates, for it would now be standard procedure to offer this treaty to all other pirate groups that might still have want to pillage convoys.
Thier feast was abundant and satisfying, but this did nothing to brighten Flatbottom's mood about where they were to go next, for something important was nagging at him; and it had something to do with the way most humans act, that they could never be completely trusted - Dinotopian or no! Most humans were all right, but those that held high offices were the worst of the lot! Flatbottom suspected that the court had something else up thier sleeves besides the simple desire to congratulate his Partner, but his Partner seemed to have another trait that wasn't too healthy for him either; for Richard was acting too naiive and trusting these days, and acting too bold about it due to his newly found fame! Finally Flatbottom could not stay silent about it any more, and looked up to his Partner as Richard's line of vision turned his way.
"So, what do you think the council REALLY wants?", he asked. "Do you think that they simply want to see the speakers for the Northern Plains Transportation Guild?"
"What are you so worried about?", Richard chortled. "Everything will be all right."
"I got a bad feeling about this...", the Triceratops rumbled.
"It must have been all that rich food...", Richard told him jokingly. "Besides, with my beard and these robes, they won't recognise me.", he paused his pace. "Look pal, just relax. Everything will be ok..."
In very little time at all they came onto the sprawling avenue that led to the waterfall City courthouse, archetecture that of a combination of designs; which was mostly of Greek and Roman styles and mixed with every style of human designs, plus saurian designs totally foriegn to human endeavors. besides the regular foot traffic allowed on this section of street, many humans and saurians strolled by in garb befitting high royalty, or that of the extremely wealthy. At the wide stone steps of the gigantic courthouse edifice both paused to take the entire building in, Richard craning his head until his neck became sore and Flatbottom looking only half way up as his frill allowed. No one was there to greet them on the outside, but there must have been someone watching thier progress up the steps; for the tall set of double doors opened as they reached the top landing. Inside knots of delegates stood and quietly conversed with each other along the sides of the great reception hall they found themselves in; Flatbottom looking around in almost awe, but Richard merely looked around at the persons trying to act nonchalont. By the time they reached a third of the way across the foyer, the inner doors to the delegation chambers opened, and the delegates outside politely filed into the chamber at a slightly faster pace than Richard and Flatbottom; most of which made it inside the chamber beyond before they did.
They were escorted to thier seating by court ushers, Richard down the middle to the left in the center aisle and Flatbottom off to the left of the main doors in back in a visitor's booth. the chamber began to fill up with humans and saurians alike, upper booths filling with saurian dignitaries of all kinds; and the soft murmuring in the chamber grew as its' population did. Pretty soon the doors at the rear closed, and four saurian court guards stood to either side of them; crowd becoming hushed as the time for the days' meeting to commence neared. At the head of the chamber, above the main floor a group of wizened humans gathered and took thier places; and not long after that the mayor of Waterfall City took his place at the ships' bow podium above and amongst them.
"Delegates, guests, friends all...", mayor Edward Reynolds began as the applause ebbed and the room grew silent. "This meeting is a special one indeed, for many issues will be discussed; some new and some old.", he looked around. "Bailiff. What are the minutes for this meeting?"
Manford came close to the railing and read the docket; and throughout the list he recited, Richard got no indication as to why they were summoned. The court got down to business, and discussed many issues that were pertainent to Waterfall City, its' environs and Dinotopia in general. There were budgetary considerations for road repair for the Belt Road to Sauropolis, building restoration in Canyon City to approve, housing issues in bent Root and Cornucopia to resolve; and many other issues that were addressed, quite a few resolved right there and then. A few moments to catch up by the army of clerks and the meeting resumed a few moments later.
"Well friends, so much for current issues...", the mayor shuffled papers he had just signed, whispering to an assistant who gave him more paperwork. "And now on to other matters.", he looked out into the crowd. "Recently there has been great things happening in the Northern Plains. Not acts of bravery or courage or uprisings. This concerns business, more so its' integrity. One man single handedly created peace between the businessmen and the pirates plagueing the area, one who should be highly honored; and he is here today to receive everything he deserves.", Richard rose at his nod. "Please step to the desk..."
"Thank you for your consideration, your honor.", Richard said and bowed. "I did what I did for the good of all..."
"Care to relate the method of your success?...", mayor Reynolds requested, slight tone of triumph in his voice. "The rest of Dinotopia would like to hear..."
"It would be my pleasure...", Richard said. he then began to tell the court about his first encounter with the pirates, and many chuckled at his way of escaping them. He told of his guilt at the injuries and mayhem they created as a result, needless destruction because they were mad at him; and his resolution to remedy the situation, buying a cartload of supplies to appease them. His treaty idea was a spur of the moment thing, he told them; but said he was surprised by the fact that it was gradually accepted, and amazed at how far it spread among the other pirates in the region. He then went on about how he employed changes in the way his shipping company did business and conveyed themselves in front of thier customers, but the mayor halted him with a hand.
"If you would pardon me...", the mayor said. "This is all well and good, but our records show that you had not been born in Baz. In fact it indicates you had been a citizen there only recently.", he looked down at him. "Sir, may I ask where you were born, and where you hail from?"
"I,...", Richard rushed to find an answer. "Sir, it has been so long ago that I can not remember... I have a terrible time with my long-term memory..."
"I see...", the mayor leaned back and considered. "Let us just jog your memory then, hey?... Let's see...", a long pause. "Your name is Richard Dennison..., you were washed up on shore with a female over one year ago", he looked directly at him. "And you went against court order, ran away from your assigned duty and have been missing for nearly a year!..."
At first shocked silence prevaded the chambers of the high coucil of Waterfall City, then a growing wave of shocked incredulouseness built throughout the room as shocked delegates and thier guests and assistance realised the gravity of this revelation. Mayor Edward Reynolds stood above it all and gloated at his victory, for no decision of his ever went awry; and even though this one had when Richard ran away, he felt vindicated at his capture of him! Richard stood in shocked silence, for he had been found out at last; and Flatbottom sputtered and silently cursed at both the situation and his partner's foolishness. At long last the mayor broke the growing din with raised hands and spoke.
"These are most serious charges. Disobedience to court orders are considered treason.", said he to Richard. "How do you plead?"
"I,...", Richard began, but was cut off by the mayor.
"No need to plead now, my boy. You will get a fair trial, rest assured!", he looked at the guards in back, who slowly moved down the aisle to stand within reach of Richard. "Seize him!"
"Now hold on just a minute!!!...", Flatbottom could not stand it any more! "Your honor, ever since I knew this human, he has been nothing less than good. True he had a lot to learn, but he has learned these things. He doesn't deserve to be treated like this!", he huffed. "I WILL not stand this any more - this is an outrage!..."
Suddenly the extremely aged Triceratops in the upper galleries let off with a string of bellows, the High Language of all Ceratopsians. He berated Flatbottom for making a scene, and told him he was out of place. Now, any Ceratopsian worth his salt would be intimidated by this, the leader of all Ceratopsians and wisest of them all; but Flatbottom in his rage at the situation, would not be calmed down!
"I apologise for disturbing this court.", Flatbottom only backed down a little. "But my Partner did nothing wrong... I we'll see about all this. Rest assured!...", he bowed, then looked at Richard. "Don't worry, buddy!... I'll get help!...", with that he ploughed through the chamber doors, of which the handlers had no choice but to open; then rammed his way through the outer ones beyond!
Of course, every eye in the room watched Flatbottom as he disturbed the court, and gasped at this severe breach of ediquite; but mayor Reynolds simply observed it from where he stood, and cleared his throat as soon as the murmurings subsided.
"He is a bit of a rogue...", was all the mayor said.
"I like him...", Richard's voice was barely audible.
"You better hope he finds a good defense for you.", the mayor said sternly as he paid his attention to the members of the court.
"Now to continue,...", he shuffled papers. "You will be under house arrest until further notice. You will be quartered at the Arthur Dennison house. To prevent you running off again, there will be armed saurian guards at every conceivable point of escape.", he looked at the guards behind him. "You may take him away..."
Richard Dennison offered them no resistence whatsoever... _____
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Post by thundertail on Jan 18, 2009 18:35:36 GMT -5
TWENTY-EIGHT:
Flatbottom'e rage at what just went on in the courthouse of Waterfall City dissipated to confused terror the moment all of his four feet touched the pavers in front of the stone steps. What was he going to do now?! His Partner was held captive by the court, he was all alone in the big city with nobody to help; and worst of all, he couldn't think of the first thing to do to save Richard! He knew that there were people that could help in Baz, but that was at least two days away at a Triceratops run! He had heard that people sometimes used Postal Birds to quickly convey messages over vast distances, but he never used one before; but he searched the adjacent streets in search of one - if that was the right procedure to obtain one.
At a side street he found a Hadrosaur hitched to her cart, and she loked like a local resident; so he asked her where he could find a Postal Bird. All she did was squawk and point further down the street - and in a rather rude way at that! Flatbottom grunted and continued his search of the streets, and an ancient looking human came shambling by, back bent under the invisible burden of age; so he hooted at him and asked him the same question as he did the Hadrosaur.
"Why yes, kind saurian!", the man said. "It is yonder a twoblock, then left for four...", he looked uncertain. "You be looking for thier aerie, correct?"
"That will be perfect!", Flatbottom rumbled to him. "Thanks a lot!... Breathe deep!", he trundled off.
After an hour and three wrong turns the flutterings of many tiny wings got his attention, and he followed the course of these little flyers with his eyes. Down at the end of a seemingly dead end street sat a small and skinny building, tiny windows permeated the structure and perches at these windows sported many hundreds of these parrot-like creatures. In ordered cadence, these birds prepared for thier work with military precision; looking about before taking off in V-shaped waves, then the next wave began to prepare. Many of the incoming birds squawked thier warning to Flatbottom as he drew near to the avian structure, and the beast had to duck several times before he could look up at the main kiosk of the structure, where a wizened old bird was perched, seemingly asleep.
"Excuse me...", Flatbottom announced without result. He WAS asleep! "Pardon me?... Aw,... forget it!" He was about to leave when he saw a tiny desk bell on the kiosk, for customers with proper forelimbs to summon a Postal Bird. His anatomy was too large and cumbersome to push the bell - he could barely reach it, and couldn't ring the bell if he tried! Instead Flatbottom tried to make an immitation of a bell ringing with a resounding bellow.
"D-I-N-G...!!!", he called.
The old bird hiccupped and fluttered before opening his eyes. "Oh!... We seldom get one of your kind here...", this he croaked. "We seldom get any personal business here at all, as a matter of fact!...", clucking chuckles.
"Enough of that!", Flatbottom complained. "I have an urgent message to send!"
"Oh,...! Yes sir!...", the bird ruffled, snorting again. "Please state your destination, your receipient and your message in that order..."
"To a miss Francine Rivers in Baz.", Flatbottom said. "From Flatbottom Triceratops."
"You're doing it in the wrong order!", the bird snapped.
"I'm new at this!", Flatbottom barked. "Now. the message goes like this:... I regret to inform you that mister Richard Dennison has been captured by the High Council. He is being held pending trial in Waterfall City. Your wise council and rapid assistence would be gratefully appreciated."
"Message, destination, receipient and sender noted.", the bird told him. "Payent can be in Drachs, or other payments can be arranged at a later date."
"Oh, yeah. The payment.", Flatbottom thought a bit. "Look. There's a small pouch near the strapping of my clothing, near my middle... I just can't reach it!..."
"By all means...", the bird flapped onto Flatbottom's back, looked for the indicated pouch. He flipped the pouch onto the beast's back, worked the knot with his beak until the pouch was open; then he deftly plucked out two drach coins, then tied the bag just as deftly and shoved the pouch back into place with his feet. "This should do it...", the bird said after returning to his perch, dropping the coins beside the bell as he landed.
"Um,... my message was most urgent...", Flatbottom reminded.
"You think an old bird like me would take such a long flight? You must be daft!", he squawked. "No. I must wait for one of my younger cousins. Your message will get there, kind saurian; so have no fear. You may be about your business..."
"This IS my business!", Flatbottom bellowed exasperatedly, then gasped and turned around, walking dejectedly to the street proper. "Crazy things...!"
That done, Flatbottom hadn't a clue as to what to do next. He didn't even know where they would be holding Richard, so he could not go to him to give him comfort - and didn't know the city well enough to get there if he knew! He was thinking on going to the Transportation Guild headquarters in town to tell them, but only vaguely knew where Commerce Square was from where he was; and remembered even less vaguely where the hall of Hadrosaurs and Ceratopsians was, so he could not even go to his quarters, either! Sighing, he instead began to wander the streets, hoping against hope that he would meet with someone he knew; and hopefully tag along with them, for they would know the city better than he. After many hours, the skies began to dim, and he knew that he had better seek shelter soon; for it would no doubt be a chilly night. His hopes grew worse the darker it got, but near the end of that hope he saw a figure that seemed like a hallucination; for finding Elana Dennison in the crowded city just like that was like finding a needle in a pile of straw! He bellowed several times, getting the attention of many other bystanders before her head turned; and when she did so, came rushing over to this saurian that was ten times her size.
"Is that you, Flatbottom?", she said, auburn hair dangling in front of her. "Where's Richard?"
"Oh, miss Elana!...", Flatbottom wailed. "They have him!..."
"Who?", she asked.
"The high council!...", he said, then raggedly told her the whole story.
"I knew this would happen!", she stated. "I arrived in Waterfall City this morning, but I had so much Skybax business at our aerie at Aqua Stadium that I couldn't get away.", she stroked his nosehorn, trying to calm him. "By the time I got away, that meeting of yours was over."
"I haven't been here before...", Flatbottom told her. "I'm also lost."
"Well, don't worry about that!", Elana told him. "I've been here many times before, and know Waterfall City well."
"What should we do now?", asked Flatbottom after a relieved pause.
"The Matriarch's itinerary said that she was to visit Waterfall City today.", Elana told him. "The best thing to do concerning Richard is to locate her and tell her.", she smiled at the beast. "She'll know what to do!"
"I hope so...", said the beast. "I'm flabberghasted!"
Elana and Flatbottom continued down the street, people getting out of the way more for the sake of the Triceratops than the Skybax pilot; and began to chat as they went along. Neither knew much about each other, but were both glad they had something in common with Richard. She informed him that the Matriarch would be staying in the mayoral summer home at the Temple of Mystery near Seedpod street; and they headed for there at a pace set by those ahead of them and behind. Night grew and the Sunstone streetlamps were lit, illuminating both in a blue/white aura; while at last the Temple of Mystery rose up from between the buildings in the foreground.
The temple was actually a three-dimensional maze on the inside, but its' base was studded with many upper-class dwellings. The mayoral suites took up most of the southern face of the temple, guards at strategic spots all along the avenue the temple skirted. They were halted many times, the first being the gate that protected the whole compound; and then many more along the way, each time the guards gave them less and less scrutiny. Finally the main entrance to the summer home came up, and they were greeted by a wizened Stenoychosaur majordomo, bespectacled and prissy he led them inside to a waiting area to be properly addressed. A waiter soon came by offering refreshments, and left when none were requested; and then another servant came many moments later and told them that the Matriarch was not currently there. She said she would be back by Eveningmeal, which should be served in another hour or two; and the offer to join the matriarch at it was gratiousely accepted.
As the pair were left to thier devices for now, Elana Dennison resolved to sit in an overstuffed human chair; and Flatbottom simply laid down on the polished marble floor when no furniture for his stature was seen. They chatted sporatically about this and that, road conditions, weather patterns and the like; but both were reluctant to speak of the reason why they were there. Well over an hour later, bustling feet could be heard outside the waiting foyer they were in; and supplicant voices were heard, receiving orders in distant murmurs and acknowledging in turn. It wasn't too long before these footsteps got louder, sounding more like a human's shoed feet; and all of a sudden matriarch Elizabeth Reynolds was in thier midst, looking at them like she could guess what just happened!
"Greetings, Pilot Dennison, mister Flatbottom.", Elizabeth said more for decorum than anything. "What brings you to my summer home?"
"Richard Dennison has been taken prisoner by the high council.",Elana told her.
"What?!", Elizabeth asked sccusingly. "How?"
"Oh, it was just awful!", Flatbottom nearly wailed. "They pulled a fast one on us!...", he then related thier trip to Waterfall City, and Richard's eventual capture, telling all of what happened in between.
"That man of mine!...", groused Elizabeth, concerning the mayor, her husband. "Always trying to gain the upper hand!..."
"I didn't know what to do, so I sent a Postal Bird message to Baz.", Flatbottom continued. "I didn't know what else to do after that, and I was lost; and then I found miss Elana..."
"I thought it best to locate you and tell you.", Elana continued the explanation. "I knew you would know what to do."
"Well, you both did well.", Elizabeth told them. "It was wise to let Baz know, for Francine Rivers has all his records. She had been giving me reports on him ever since he arrived."
"No kidding?", Flatbottom said. "I thought it was a big secret."
"It was at my own disgression that Richard stay there at all.", Elizabeth told him. "I delegated the job of keeping an eye on him into her hands. So far he has been doing very well for himself.", she turned to Elana. "And you are right too. I know indeed what needs to be done.", she smiled. "But it's best to discuss this with a full stomach. Care to join me at Eveningmeal?"
They both joined her as she made a sweeping gesture and led the way through the rest of the dwelling, ornate and expensive things adorned every massive room they passed through; and out through a large but cozy dining area. A less than banquet-style table inlayed with plates of fine fare sat near an ornate fireplace, and a smaller saurian style table sat a few feet away from that piled with loads of saurian fare. The feast was fantastic, and not much conversation went on outside of how everything tasted; but near the end thier concerns for Richard made them have no choice but to breach the subject.
"So, there are many things to do before Richard goes on trial.", Elizabeth Reynolds said, wiping her mouth with a linen napkin. "Knowing the mayor like I do, I would say there's not much time."
"I should go to Baz and supervise thier preparations.", Elana feigned getting up.
"You can do that, but it's best you do it in the morning.", Elizabeth told her. "The Postal Bird Flatbottom dispatched would not be there until then. I will write up everything they would need to bring with them and give you that to deliver to them."
"What would they need to bring?", asked Flatbottom.
"The first thing would be all the records Francine had been keeping on Richard.", was the reply. "His records with the Trilobite Shipping company would be helpful, also his records at the hatchery. They might want to go through town and get testimonys from the townspeople; which would go to solidify his character, and show he is well liked. Francine told me he was recently appointed an agent for the Northern Plains Transportation Guild. We would need a deposition from that council as well...", she smiled. "But I will write all that down later!"
"What about me?... And what about Richard?...", Flatbottom asked.
"I will find out where he has been taken.", Elizabeth told him. "And I want you to come with me tomorrow and help me..."
"Me?!...", Flatbottom gushed. "What an honor!..."
"Now, if you do not have previous engagements, you may stay here for the night.", she continued.
"I have a bunk in the Skybax aerie at Aqua Stadium.", Elana Dennison said. "But if I must be ready early, I should stay here..."
"I have a stable at the Hall of Hadrosaurs and Ceratopsians.", dlatbottom told her. "But I'm new to the city, and forgot where it is..."
"Have no fear, kind saurian.", Elizabeth got up. "You may stay here for the duration, if you wish. I will have someone gather your things there tomorrow."
Marvelling at the hospitality of thier Matriarch, Flatbottom and Elana Dennison presently followed Elizabeth as she escorted them to thier rooms for the night... _
The morning breeze was good on her sleep softened face, so she left the window open in her office while she caught up on the paperwork so common in the administration of Baz. Francine Rivers leaned and grasped the next batch of paperwork, stylus at the ready to sign, initial or otherwise go over what she had meant to go over days ago; but the hatchery was busy with fifteen hatchings in as many hours. As she was deep in thought on how to reword a report, a soft knock rapped on her door; making her jump slightly before she straightened a lock of hair and spoke.
"Enter...", Francine called.
"Miss Rivers.", Anna Forsythe entered and said. "The Hadrosaur twins are about to hatch. Could you...?", but she was cut off.
"Wait please...", Francine finished writing her sentance, then looked at her. "Thank you. Now, you were saying?..."
"The Hadrosaur eggs are hatching...", Anna repeated.
"So soon?", she began to get up.
All of a suden a squawking was heard just outside the window, and a swooping shape fluttered inside a second later. The Postal Bird did a belly flop on the desk and struggled to right herself. She coughed and straightened her feathers before looking about at the two female humans in the room.
"A miss Francine Rivers?", she squawked, adjusting her bright orange birdsize scarf.
"I am she.", Francine said.
"I have a message from mister Flatbottom Triceratops for you.", the bird said, looking up at her.
"What is it?", the leader of Baz prompted.
"I regret to inform you that mister Richard Dennison has been captured by the High Council.", the bird recited. "He is being held pending trial in Waterfall City. Your wise council and rapid assistence would be gratefully appreciated.", the bird flapped. "End of message.", she concluded.
For a moment both Francine and Anna were shocked to silence, both looking at each other with the look of extreme dred. Anna's hands went to her mouth and Francine swung her vision around the room, lost in a tempest of thoughts, none being good. As Anna finally gasped, mouthing a curse, Francine got her wits about her enough to make an inquiry to the Postal Bird.
"Was there any more?...", she asked.
"That was all he said.", the bird said. "Do you wish to send a reply?"
"No... YES!", Francine's head swum. "Tell him that we will be there right away, that we will bring help and not to worry."
"The payment he made included a return reply.", the bird told him and turned. "I will send it right away...", she flapped off and out the window.
After both watched this display, Anna came to Francine and embraced her fondly yet respectfully. It was brief, but her look as she pulled away told of her deep concern; and Francine grasped her shoulders to steady her. After that she let go and spun with hands raised, thoughts spinning about what would be needed; and she rushed to the desk to locate the correspondance she had been sending to the matriarch, and Anna spoke while she was doing this.
"What are we going to do?", she asked, voice ragged with tears.
"I need to gather all the evidence Richard would need for his defense.", Francine Rivers said as she worked. "I want you to stay and run Baz and the hatchery while I'm away."
"Oh no you don't!", Anna told her. "I love Richard, and I want to help get him back!"
"You can help by staying here and taking charge.", Francine shot back, spinning from her work. "I can handle the Waterfall City council by myself."
"But Francine! I NEED to do this!", Anna pleaded. "One of the reasons why I lost my first husband was our interests didn't match. He was always out on his Skybax while I was here - miles away." she began to help her search. "This time I'm NOT letting this one out of my sight!..."
"Oh, very well!... You may help.", Francine knew it was pointless to argue with her any further. "I'm going to need an assistant anyway... Can you grab those two satchels over there?..."
Inside an hour they had collected all they would need from there, and left the hatchery and leaving Anna's son Christopher in charge of the hatchery. Forgoing any form of transportation since none was available there, they trotted off toward the center of town and made it to the office of the Trilobite Shipping company. Sidney Mallone would have to be told as well since Richard and Flatbottom were his employees, and searched for a little while before locating him.
"What's up, you two?", Mallone said as he crawled out from under the cart pulled by Malachi, whose axle had come loose from the undercarrage. "Say, you guys look like the dickens!... What's going on?"
"Richard has been taken prisoner by the high council of waterfall City...", Anna told him.
"Can we talk in your office?", Francine Rivers asked.
"Richard in the hoosgow?", Mallone said. "Why didn't you say so?... Let's go!"
Mallone led the way out to his office in the street, asking just what was going on all the way and receiving no response. They all rushed into the office of the Trilobite Shipping company and got settled in seating or stood as thier want before anything else was said. From the look on both thier faces mallone thought it was something really serious! The leader of Baz took several papers out of a satchel before speaking.
"Before anything else is said, mister mallone; I want you to know here and now that Richard is not who he seems to be.", said she. "Richard is really a mister Richard Dennison, a man washed up on shore, new to Dinotopia. He bears the name, and is the ancester of some of our most famous national heroes; for Will Dennison and his father Arthur are well known."
"You don't say!", mallone said. "If I known that, I'd been nicer to him!"
"Now, Richard had been put under arrest by the high council at Waterfall City.", francing continued. "There will no doubt be a trial involved, and a good case must be established for him. We are here to see that evidence is collected, and would appreciate your help."
"Why sure.", mallone said. "Anything you want."
"For your part, we'll need his working records.", Francine said. "Also, your workers' feelings about him will be helpful."
"You got it!...", Mallone was disturbed by a knock on his door. "Come in...?"
Everybody turned to see Elana Dennison enter the room, and was in thier midst within seconds; and her steed was perched right outside the door, squawking at the passers by who were too close.
"Greetings...", Elana said without preamble. "I assume you have received a message concerning Richard Dennison.", she set her satchel down beside Francine's. "I have been sent by Matriarch Elizabeth Reynolds to assist in co-ordinating the gathering of evidence for Richard's case.", she looked around. "Is there anything I missed...?"
"We were just about to discuss things.", Francine told her. "I have amassed my records and correspondance with the matriarch concerning Richard."
"You and her think much alike!", Elana stated. "Now, here is a list of things that should be collected...", she took out the paper. "Besides what has already been gathered, she thinks that written testimony from as many of his co-workers and townspeople as possible would be helpful. The records from the hatchery and this shipping company would also be useful. It was mentioned to her earlier that Richard recently was made an agent for the Northern Plains transportation Guild out of Azonthas. I will fly there and appraise them of the situation, and maybe they can be a help as well...", she went on. Anna, Francine and Sidney stood marveling both at how well organized the matriarch was and Elana Dennison's simplistic command of the situation. She rattled off the many reasons why those things would be helpful and where she thought they would come in for Richard's defense. Within another half hour or so a plan was arranged to gather this information, and who specifically was to do what. As Elana Dennison flew off on Cirrus toward Azonthas, Francine Rivers, Sidney Mallone and Anna Forsythe got to work digging up records and scouring the town for a kind word for the sake of Richard Dennison... _____
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