Various Conversations

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 4346

Fortunately, Natthias and Probe had intercepted Tarin before he could reach his home, and with considerable difficulty had managed to persuade him that he should be taken into custody for his own protection. It was only when Natthias mentioned that his analog might be in a berserker rage that Tarin had agreed to go with them, since he knew only too well what that state was like.

Probe and Tarin were now discussing metallurgy in Tarin's temporary accommodation in the jail. "Your Alliance techniques from what I've seen are far beyond anything that we have," said Tarin. "And by 'we' I mean specifically the dwarven metalsmiths, who are by far the best on Terra. I was wondering if, once things have settled down a bit, the Alliance would be willing to share its knowledge with us?" "I don't know, but will find out," Probe replied. "Thank you," Tarin said. "It might help to get me reaccepted by my people, since I am something of an outcast from them at the moment."

The talk turned to other things. "If I'm not prying," Tarin asked Natthias, "why do you remain in Walants, rather than go back home?" Natthias was silent for a moment, then said: "No, I don't mind. There are too many painful memories for me in Ethiopia, and I don't think of it as home any more. Besides, the nation has a new protector in Malachi, and my presence could make things awkward for her. All my family apart from Alicia are dead, and I can be in touch with her as easily from here as I could from there. Also sorting out things here keeps me busy and ensures that I don't have time to brood."


Meanwhile, demifox Fred and Astra 4, "their" Synizn, and assorted demifox cubs and mundane foxes, have now been joined in Ethiopia by Fred 5 and Astra 5 (also known as "Black Astra"). There is some unwelcome news for them. Moreau had not intended her demifox spell to be undone easily (indeed at all), and it will take a great effort from all the mages using all the Crystallics to undo it. Unfortunately, the mages still feel exhausted from their recent work in repairing as much as possible of the harm that the use of nuclear weapons had done to Terra. "I'm afraid it will be at least a couple of days, maybe as much as a week, before they will be able to attempt to restore you," Astra 3, who has taken responsibility for looking after the new arrivals whilst the mages recuperate, tells Fred and Astra 4.

Fred and Astra 4 naturally look unhappy. "Am I right in thinking that none of you want to keep any of the demifox cubs, apart from the original seven, who will of course also be restored to full humanity?" asks Astra 3. Fred and Astra 4 and Synizn all nod their agreement. Astra 3 goes on: "As the 'mundane' foxes could not possibly bring up demifox cubs - Rosepaw's enhanced intelligence was a very special case, and those circumstances do not apply here - the plan is to have the cubs adopted by members of the Pack, assuming you agree. There will, I'm assured, be plenty of volunteers. That might sound cruel on the mundane fox parents, but if released into the wild they will soon forget." So that is agreed upon.

Astra 3 turns to Astra 5: "Then I'm afraid the mages will need to recover from restoring Fred and Astra 4 and their children, which is again almost certain to be very draining, before they can do something for you. The plan is to turn you back temporarily to a demifox so you can handle the multiple pregnancy, greatly accelerate the pregnancy like Synizn did with me, and then when the babies are born turn you and them back to human. And somewhere along the way they'll also undo your skin coloration change." Astra 5 makes a face. "So I'll be waiting for up to two weeks? Just as long as it's not left too much beyond that. I reckon I'm at about the five month stage now, but with seven infants in here I'm growing very fast, and I'd not feel safe if there was much more delay." "Talk of growing reminds me," says Astra 3, "I must see about getting some more clothes for you." "That would be a relief," says Astra 5. She is so much taller than Para-Astra, that her trouser legs end well above her ankles. And the trousers are uncomfortably tight, of course. Also the top she is wearing keeps riding up to reveal an inch or so of swelling midriff.


Back in Walants, the insane Tarin has avoided the patrols outside the jail (he's good at that).

  1. The dwarf has tracked down his "brother", and now Probe and Natthias stand between him and his quarry.

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JH

9/24/1999 5:31:12 AM

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