| 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).
-
 The dwarf has tracked down
his "brother", and now Probe and Natthias stand between him and his quarry.
Go Back
|