Gin and Tonic

[Gashrock]

?It is getting late,? said Noonahootin. ?Even a night owl must admit that going out at this hour would be ill-advised.?

?Aye, we should stay close tae the fire in this weather," Fern said.

?Very well. Tomorrow, we can search, but then we ought to be on the march.?

?Searchin' for what?? asked Gashrock.

?Cookie?er?Mister Risk?er?your friend has been gone quite a while.?

Gashrock sighed.  ?He?ain't comin' back. For the rest of our sakes, it's safer. Also he's got a plan for killin' molebeasts.?

?Wot? Ye sure?? asked Fern.

Gashrock glanced over at Poko. The ferret was hardly ignorant from death, having faced her parents' like a grown beast. And yet...Cookie had had too many contingency plans, was the problem, it was hardly fair to expect her to keep track.?Sure I'm sure. I mean, this is Cookie we're talkin' about, he could beat us all to Carrigul iffen he wanted. And if he does, well, I'll bray him, messin' up my ballad like that.? She nodded down at his hat, the knife gently stacked on top of it. ?Reckon we should bring these along.?

?What's that ye've got there?? asked Fern, nodding at the jar next to them.

?They ain't pro-vi-shuns for all of us, nor for me,? she said, ?They're?uh. Poko, Nyika??

?Yeah?? said Poko as she grabbed the hat and shoved it on, pulling the flaps down over her ears. She was followed soon after by a Nyika that looked none-too-thrilled about being called to the same conversation.

?These is from Cookie, for you. Dunno if he ever did cook them exactly, er...here.?

?What's that say?? Poko asked, glancing down at the lid. Gashrock half-remembered Raul bemoaning the lack of books he could use, to teach...

?Wait a tick,? said Nyika, ?that's not even??

?It says it's for you two,? Gashrock snapped again, reaching for the lid and quickly opening it. ?Now, either of you ever heard Sliteye's Riddle??

Blank stares.

?Don't matter. Point is, Poko, you split these up into two piles?even as can be, and then Nyika gets to choose which one she wants, you take the other. That way it's fair.?

?I hope there's some licorice,? said Nyika.

?Licorice? Ugh!? Poko gagged for effect. ?How could you like something so foul??

Nyika shrugged. ?It tastes like death.?

Poko shuddered as she began sorting the candies one by one.

Well, that was another way, Gashrock supposed. Sliteye's Riddle was really for dividing up loot, mixed piles of gold and jewels that were difficult to sort through. Right up there in the annals of vermin lore with ?iffen a searat and his father get shot and wounded and the healer says ?I ain't treatin' that 'un on account of he's my son,? how long do you have before the hares come back and shoot you again? and ?iffen you meets a couple mice, one who always lies and one who always tells the truth, how do you convince yer mate that yer dreamin' cause there ain't no such thing as a lyin' mouse, fool simplebeasts.?

The more common solution to the riddle, she remembered, was for one beast to kill the other and take the lot. It wasn't clear that Poko and Nyika wouldn't discover that, but she had to have hope.

?Are you?alright?? asked Noonahootin.

?Aye.?

?It's natural, to be worried about your friend.?

?I ain't worried, we can head out.?

?How's your leg??

?I can walk.?

?Might I have a look at it?? He waved her aside.

She took a quick step back, landing on the bad leg and trying not to wince. ?No.?

?Steady now, Missus Gashrock, I just thought I'd offer you a touch of the old sailor's brew. Some gin, girl, some gin! Alcohol helps fight off disease, don't you know.?

?Alcohol??

?It won't take much, don't worry.?

?I know, leg ain't big and the wound's smaller, you don't have to go on about it.?

?Well, all right, then.?

The owl reached into his robes, hastily covering over an array of meat that instilled no confidence whatsoever in Gashrock. But then he'd produced a small flask, and carefully, he dabbed a few drops on her leg. She turned away, staring at the others?surely he would not try something, with them right there?but just as quickly, he'd pulled back, and she found herself exhaling. It stung, but it could have been worse.

?There you are,? he said. Could beaks smile? ?How about a proper sip? For medicinal purposes, you know.?

She weighed the tin in her paw. It wasn't familiar grog, but it would be a nice comfort, a distraction from the pain, from Cookie, the ruddy moles, the uncertain march ahead. She thought of Nyika and Poko, who had treats to savor...and then of Istvan and his quiet conviction, that some things were just wrong, once and for all, and that was that. ?Ain't thirsty.?

?Don't you worry, it's my treat.?

?I ain't,? she repeated, ?besides, it's good enough for my leg, innit? Didn't know it could do that. Could be the real prack-tick-al advantages are for puttin' it just on your skin, see, I'll 'appen that's it.?

?Well, all right.?

?Thank you. For, y'know, the leg.? And not eating me.

Testing the weight, pleasantly surprised, Gashrock backed away from him only to find Nyika, food at the ready. ?You divide those spices up??

?Yes,? said Nyika.

?That's good.?

?Er?I was wonderin'?I'm a fortune teller, you see??

?That's what I heard, aye.?

?So?maybe?once we make it back to Carrigul?could I join the troupe??

Gashrock blinked. ?What troupe??

?The Dewhurst??

?There ain't no Dewhurst troupe! On account of Dewhurst is dead! And Cookie is off, and Poko?you want to be in a troupe with Poko, oh aye??

?It wouldn't have to be just Poko. The others could come! I bet you Zevka could walk on the wires, Goragula could hold up hoops for little jumpin' grasshoppers, Noonahootin could lift beasts right up into the sky, Istvan could be a clown. Nessa could get...er...?

?Sawed in half by a blade? Iffen I wanted a bunch of ruddy old otters to do my work I'd go and comm?un?deer a slave ship.?

?Well...maybe we could be in a play??

?Good 'un. I'll write it. About a cat who doesn't eat the rats she knows. You'll be brill-yent. Or at least, ain't no typecastin'.?

?It'll be all right,? Nyika offered.

Well, maybe it would be. Nyika would be perfectly suited for Cat On A Cold Stone Roof. Or, better, Noonahootin would do Gashrock a favor and leave her alone. Then he could star in Farewell Farewell Fowl!

Although that, alas, might be too implausible.

?Er, wait a tick.? Gashrock paced over to find the knife, offering it to Nyika. ?Cookie wanted me to give this to you.?

?Why??

?Like I know.? It was all well and good to arrange props, but really, having to arm a cat was a new low.

Nyika stared down at the blade, finally saying ?He killed my mother with this knife.?

?Well, it's got some...sen-ti-men-tal values??

The wildcat stiffened. ?I don't want it.?

?What'm I supposed to do? Give it to Poko? Hardly seems fair.? She could always find something to do with it, really. If she had to stack one more log of firewood?which wasn't unlikely?there was always the chance she'd be moved to chuck it in. Melt down the knife of Risk the Cutter into a charming little bracelet, to match her fine new necklace.

At that, Nyika reached out and took the knife, holding it awkwardly. She fumbled for a grip, then paced away. Gashrock turned and walked on, the last drop of gin trickling down to her footpaw as she shivered.

?You have a moment?? called Blackbriar.

Gashrock glanced at her, Risk's warning echoing through her mind. ?What do you want??

?Easy, now. I wanted to talk about Poko.?

?What about her??

?You know her as well as anyone here. Without her parents or Risk to look out for her, you should?keep an eye on her. The last thing we need is Istvan giving her any more trouble.?

So much for the growing up quickly notion. ?She's not a kit, she can take care of herself or live with the con-see-kwences. Why is she my problem??

?Istvan is dangerous and crazy, and Poko is not used to being all alone!?

?I know her better than you do, she's used to being alone?on her own and causing trouble, is what. And that otter ain't mad, he's talkin' sense every now and then. Ain't the kind of sense I'm used to, but every beast for himself, eh??

?What do you mean?? Blackbriar asked, with a hint of trepidation.

?Meant what I said, didn't I? Poko's had seasons to learn how to pick pockets. And Istvan?he thinks?rules is rules, same for everybeast, past and present. I ain't about to start slicin' anybody up out of the blue, least of alls dumb ferrets, but that's hardly all rubbish.?

?So, maybe that part isn't,? the marteness conceded. ?Still, you weren't there when he grabbed Poko before?I'm convinced that he would have seriously hurt her. Not to mention that his knife is probably a septic infection waiting to happen.?

?What's a septic in-fecshin??

?It's where your wound starts rotting, and then the rot gets into your blood and starts eating you alive. It's a horrible way to go, and I don't happen to think that it's a good punishment for a hungry kit!?

?All right, already, I'll keep my eye out for Poko.? Blackbriar did have a point, although it wouldn't help to tell her as much. ?Just?don't be slow, iffen I needs a favor down the line, right??

?Deal. What kinds of things might you need??

?I dunno, do I? I'll think of summat.? Blackbriar was one to talk, really?going on about potential luxuries in the desolation of the mountains, and look how far that had gotten either of them.

Gashrock nodded and yawned. It would be easy enough to keep an eye on everyone, she supposed, once their eyes were closed in sleep...