[A little light relief]
- Keep it quiet back there!
- Isn't it my turn to steer? I never seem to get a go these days.
- You know SHE always steers whenever SHE's on board. And anyway SHE's
better than you.
- Oh yeah - did you see the way SHE took that last corner? At least two
initiates fell off!
- That wasn't her fault. There's no discipline back there. They were
playing Tick Ball!
- (shouting) Your dipping to the left again dear. For Bat's sake
straighten up.
- Keep your voice down! You know how tetchy she gets just before the
moon's full red.
- It's the way she flies that bothers me. She doesn't *feel* the
controls. She might have got it bound but she doesn't empathise with it.
- Yes, well, I preferred her in her last phase. [sigh] You felt she
*listened* to you back then.
- I tell you one day she's going to get Gemima hurt.
- Gemima !?
Sizzling sound from rear. Strange smell wafts forward.
- What are they doing now !?
- I expect the barby's on the go. Fancy something?
The Crimson Bat swoops. Curses from its back. Down below a few
over-cooked saussages land around the tents and wagons of Biturian
Varosh.
- Bloody daft idea this bat anyway if you ask me. One descent silence
spell and we'd be into the next mountain.
- What about all them eyes all over the place.
- We keep most of them closed to stop it getting a headache. For all
its size its no cleverer than you or I - we don't reckon it can handle
the extra input. Besides, it's probably short sighted.
- I notice it's always peering up between HER legs whenever SHE's on
board.
- Can't be too hard on it, can you? After all, where are all the lady
Crimson Bats?
- You mean it's a HE?
- Of course it's a he. Haven't you seen the way the steering works. All
that time grooming it and you never noticed.
- I suppose I'll have to call him Jeremy now.
- Of course if a lady bat ever did show up we could be in a lot of
trouble.
- I suppose so.
- Hardly bears thinking about, does it. Actually I think it's got HER
worried too, which is why we've decided not to take any chances.
- I don't follow.
- Oh, you will, you will. You see we've noticed how familiar you've
been getting with, er, Jeremy. I think he really likes you.
- Yes?
- When we get home, my lad, there's a little job we'd like you to do.
Any good with a poleaxe?
Richard
- --
Richard Develyn Tel: (UK)-1732-743591
Principal Architect / Development Manager Fax: (UK)-1732-743597
Network People International http://www.nwpeople.com
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