Half A Pound Of Tuppeny Rice

---*---

"Sister?"

"Yes Sister.."

"Sister.. The time.."

"Time is near. Yes I.."

"I can hear it on.."

"On the wind. Sister.."

"Sister.. Yes.."

"Yes Sister it.."

"It was good, Sister."

---*---

"Three days.", Cola thought to herself. "Three days and we still don't know his name." She shook her head, "Who is that ferret?

"And Gorden had hardly said a word."

The river was still to their left, they walked north. Gorden led the way despondently, followed by the ferret-with-no-name, followed by Cola with Plessey bringing up the rear.

They still had to find a way across the river, but they were still a couple of days walk south of the warren.

All in all the river journey had not saved them much time.

Gorden put his foot down and picked up a burr. Stuck to his foot it began to aggravate him as soon as he took his next step.

So, the step after that he raised his paw and shook it to try to loosen the burr. It stayed resolutely stuck to his back paw.

He got into a rhythm, one step with his left foot, raise the right foot and shake it to try to lose the burr, then another step with his left foot and so on.

Step, wave foot.

Step, wave foot.

Step, wave foot.

The ferret didn't notice the burr, he just saw Gorden stepping along and waving his foot about. Shrugging his shoulders the ferret copied Gorden, walking in step with him and shaking his right foot every time he lifted it.

Cola stifled a giggle and decided to join the dance. She could tell what Gorden was trying to do, but even so, she joined in the movements.

Step, wave foot.

Step, wave foot.

Step, wave foot.

Bringing up the rear, Plessey wasn't sure what to do, not having any feet to wave as such. He decided just to rock from side to side as he floated along.

Beat, rock to the left, rock back.

Beat, rock to the left, rock back.

Beat, rock to the left, rock back.

A sound in the bushes to their right caused Gorden to spin round, this was at exactly the same moment that everyone was waving their right foot.

His mouth dropped open as if to speak. Cola laughed out loud at the "what the hell is going on" expression on his face.

Gorden's face cracked in a smile as he realised what had been going on behind him. He was about to say something when the noise in the bushes became something more.

Two weasels jumped out of the bushes and lunged towards the ferret. The poor toothless creature whimpered and cowered.

Quick as a flash they were at the ferret. Their hands were on his shoulders.

One faced towards Gorden, he'd never seen an animal move so fast.

"This is none of your business, buckie." The weasel said with a sneer.

The other weasel turned to Cola, "Keep out of the way, Bright Eyes, and you won't get hurt."

Cola's lip raised in a sneer. That these weasels would blaspheme like that!

The forest was suddenly silent.

The first weasel turned to the ferret. "Louis sent us."

The ferret looked down. Hs shoulders shook and he sobbed.

Gorden had been walking with his staff like a walking staff, he shifted his grip ever so slightly

The ferret looked up at Gorden, smiled, then winked. He threw himself at the ground as Gorden swung his staff at the weasels. The first weasel was too near Gorden and got the staff in his neck. The second was quicker and ducked out of the way. Remembering his job the weasel dug his claws into the ferret and raked them down his shoulder. Cola aimed a kick at the weasel but he dodged her and kicked his downed comrade as he "floated like a butterfly" away from Gorden, whom was attempting to get another swipe of his staff in. The downed weasel got up on all fours and started to shuffle away from Gorden and Cola. Plessey threw a magic spark at the second weasel, which burnt on his nose. Helping his compatriot up he snarled at the party and backed away.

Gorden waved his staff as menacingly as he could.

The two weasels were out of range now and leaving fast.

"Well be back, buddy!" The second weasel shouted as they melted into the forest.

Gorden watched them go then turned back to his friends. Cola was bent over the ferret, trying to staunch the flow of lifeblood from the weasels claw marks.

Cola rummaged through her pack but couldn't find anything of use.

"Vicious pair, weren't they?" Gorden said. Cola nodded and the ferret just moaned in pain.

"Gorden," Cola asked, "Could you look for some Doc leaves please?" He nodded and padded off.

"You could have sparked earlier." Cola reprimanded Plessey.

"I've never seen anyone put up any fight after Gorden's waved his staff before." Plessey explained. "I was confused."

"What did you do?" Cola said quietly to herself, shaking her head at the violence of the weasels.

Gorden crashed back through the woods.

"Got Some!" He shouted, virtually throwing the doc leaves at Cola. She nodded a thank you and then concentrated on her first aid.

---*---

"He's not eaten properly for a week and a half." Cola and Gorden were sat down a little way a ways from the ferret, whom was being told a, probably, tall tail by a small snail. "I can cook him things he can eat, but he's a carnivore. He can't survive for long on carrot stew."

"That weasel *really* hurt him." Gorden said, "I'm sure they'll be back again." Cola nodded at that.

"They don't seem the kind to start this sort of thing and then back off at the first sign of trouble."

"I'll ask Plessey what spells he can prepare, my staff didn't look like much of a deterrent."

Cola rested her head on Gorden's shoulder with a sigh. "And we're so close to home as well."

---*---

"I've got a spell that should protect us tonight." Plessey began, "I think we should all try to get a full night's sleep. Then we can make as good a time as possible tomorrow."

Gorden looked up from his work. "I should have this stretcher ready soon." He frowned. "Trouble is, if I'm carrying one end of this stretcher with the ferret on it, I can't carry the staff as well." He took a deep breath.

"We'll be defenceless if they attack again."

---*---