Fred on the Second Watch

Fred's attention wanders. He observes the wall of the ampitheater. Every three meters it contains niches where there may have been statues at one time, but now these lay empty. A more valuable veneer may have plated these at one time, as the crumbling exposed concrete rock of the recesses contrasts unfavorably with the polished marble of the tiers, the damaged, but still fine, granite of the rest of the walls, and the ruined mosaics in the great dome of the ceiling. Fred observes many exits. Some are blocked by debris, and others have plain, heavy doors that mar the design of the ampitheater. Fred can understand Checkers' gloom; he feels a touch of melencholy when he contrasts how the ampitheater must have looked in its glory with how it looked now. Leaving Checkers to sleep on the marble, Fred gingerly walks, with the aid of his crutch, towards the center of the ampitheather. He notices gaps in the center of an elevated circular stage. He is not sure if these were some underground passages, or whether time and vandalism had created these. Debris litters the stage. Some of the debris appears to be travertine that may have served as a veneer to the dome or to the low circular platform upon which the stage rests. Mixed in with the delicate lacework of the white or pale pastels of the rock were darker and smaller objects that he cannot classify. After shuffling down twenty-three rows, Fred turns back. He does not want to place too much stress on his healing foot, and also does not want to get too far from a defenseless Checkers, However, he is aware of a vague but powerful feeling that he did not yet want to face whatever was down there.

After Fred ascends to the top tier of the ampitheater, he sits on the marble, next to Checkers. From Fred's present position, she looks like a black cocoon, slowly and slightly expanding and contracting with each breath. Fred hears a slight growling in his stomach, and is aware that he is hungry again, and wants something heartier than wallhugger meat. After some time passes, the black cocoon begins to stir, and then splits open as Checkers stretches her arms and sits up on the marble.

"I am here." Fred declares. He wants to get Checkers out of this room and into a place where she could at least see. "I am packed and ready to go. Do you want me to lead you out?"

"Yes." She paused, and then asked, "But where should we go?"

"This may sound odd, but is there anything that looks like a kitchen on your map? I am tired of wallhugger meat. I would like more wholesome fare before taking on the dragon."

"How about boar?", she replied, with a slight smile and with a sparkle in her eyes. "My wing feels better. I think that I could fly a little now in an emergency, and in three or four days I should be ready. Between you and I, we should be able to spear at least one of the great pigs of the gullied lands. That would get us enough meat to last a while, and their tusks are valuable. It might give us something to barter with the mage."

"The great pigs are never hunted without a pack of dogs and a troop of hunters!" Fred thinks. " Checkers is overestimating herself, and me, for that matter. I do have to admit that her judgment has been good so far, though. And if this foot heals, a hunt would be a grand adventure."

1. The idea of a boar hunt appeals to Fred.
2. Staying in the caverns sounds more practical to Fred.

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