The Hare, the Bow and the Girl - Chapters 7 & 8

Hi
Two shortish chapters this week and probably not another chapter until after the new year. See you in 2015!

Seven  – Trouble Soon Enough

 

Jet and Walter took me to a large tent on the outskirts of the fair. I could hear loud voices, laughter, and sudden shouts coming from the tent. Inside it was decorated with lots of strung candle lit lanterns and there were groups of people sitting on bales of hay drinking from large mugs filled with spiced hard cider. In the middle of the tent a small band complete with an accordion, a fiddle and a man thumping a wooden box played what sounded like waltzes. Through the knots of people I could see large wooden barrels in the back on their side. Large, jolly women stood in front of each, filling mugs with the golden colored liquid.

A few people turned to look at us when we came in—it was difficult to miss Walter’s large body—but most people did not seem to care. We headed toward the side and found a small area away from the crowd. Even so, within moments one of the women came up with a handful of mugs.

“Cider’s all?” Walter asked, shouting to be heard above the din.

The woman shook her head yes. Jet put up three fingers, the woman put up five. Walter handed her some coins and she handed over three full mugs. The cider had a sharp crisp taste, flavored with some spice I couldn’t identify. It felt warm going down. I must have had a smile on my face.

“It is good, no?” Walter bellowed as he swigged the entire mug down and held up a paw for more. The serving maid frowned at him but soon returned with another. A band played somewhere in the crowd adding to the noise and chaos. I sat back and noticed that besides us, there were only people there. Just as I was about to ask Jet, who was next to me, where all the Lepus were a large grey bunny flopped down next to Walter.

“Ay! Path!” Jet called out.

The rabbit smiled in her direction and then began to earnestly chat with Walter. Walter and Path seemed oblivious. I t was fascinating to watch the two of them “talk.” For every sound they made they probably made three or four twitches of their noses or whiskers. Every so often, almost, it seemed, for emphasis, one of them would thump their foot rapidly. As I sipped my cider I began to notice that the thumps were not the same. Sometimes there would be one loud thump, other times a series of thumps, alternating loud and soft. At one point Walter let loose a rapid series of staccato thumps, all the same intensity and the two of them laughed uproariously.

After  a while Walter signaled for more cider. The server now had a very dour look on her face. I noticed a few other people nearby also staring at us; or more precisely, the two rabbits. To the man the people around us had sour looks on their face. A few even got up and moved away, sitting back down at tables across the tent.

“What’s their problem?” I asked Jet, jerking my head towards a table of particularly sour looking men.

Jet laughed and leaned in, “Lepus! Same as everyone else. One by himself is fine; get more than a couple in a room and people get nervous. Think they’re going to cause trouble. They never do, of course—the rabbits, that is. People are another thing. We’ll be fine with just the two of them; it’s when we get three that trouble starts. I just hope Nell doesn’t show.”

“Who’s Nell?”

“The third rabbit,” Jet said, with a look that asked if I were thick.

“Do you think, maybe sometime, you or anyone here could just explain to me what the hell is wrong with the rabbits?” I yelled, trying to get above the noise of the crowd.

“Nothing’s wrong with them!” Jet looked angrily.

I put up my hand flat. “Okay, I get that, but it seems like you and I are about the only ones.”

“Oh, that. Long story. People think they have foxes.”

“Foxes?”

“You know, after them.”

I am sure I looked totally lost.

Jet sighed and pulled closer. “People think the rabbits have foxes chasing after them.”

“Okay, so, people don’t like foxes? I didn’t like them in the chicken coups at home but they’re not gonna cause me any harm.”

“No, not those foxes. Big foxes. Bigger than the rabbits. A lot bigger. Or people say. Never seen one myself, but people think you get too many rabbits around and the foxes come. Load of crap I say.”

“Giant foxes? Wouldn’t they be hard to miss?”

“My point. Oh, no,” Jet looked concerned.

“What?”

“The third rabbit just arrived.”

“Should we go?”

“No, relax. It’s a big crowd. Three will push the limit but—never mind, we’re in trouble. We just got the fourth. Walter!” She shouted and held up her hand, flashing three then four fingers to him. “Eric, how are you with your fists?”

“Been in a couple of scuffles; I can hold my own,” I replied, trying to sound braver than I was beginning to feel.

“Good. Make your way out, and don’t let anyone stop you, clock ‘em if they do. Meet us outside by the large oak. And do not go for your bow. You’ll end up in the keep for sure that way. Just get out of the tent as fast as you can, understand?”

“Wait, Jet; I want to help.”

“Then get out and stay out of the way,” she yelled, maneuvering around the table to get in front of Walter and the three other rabbits. I noticed that the tent had fallen somewhat quiet. Even the band stopped playing. Jet stopped in front of the table and smiled grimly at the small knot of large men with angry faces in front of her. She put her hands up to the crowd.

“No need for such hostility, good people. My friends and I had a drink and now we’re off, we’ll be no bother to anyone if you please?” She motioned with her hand for the men to move aside, but they did not budge.

The smallest of the bunch, teetering on his feet, clearly way too deep in the drink, stepped forward half a step. “Look, little flea. Ain’t you we’re concerned ‘bout; it’s the filthy vermin behind ya. Step off.”

“Get your friend a seat before I do it myself,” Jet addressed the men behind the drunk through gritted teeth. Her voice had grown very cold and quiet, but there was no mistaking the message. “Now let us through and no one will get hurt.”

“Filthy little flea—ugh!”

Jet’s hands quickly boxed the man on his head, sending him down in a pile. It was about then that all hell broke loose. Walter and the three other rabbits made giant leaps for the tent opening, throwing aside several people in the way and a few others who were trying to stop the escaping rabbits. I had probably waited a few seconds too long to begin my escape. A fairly large guy stepped in front of my path. Remembering what Jet told me I wound my arm up and smashed my fist as hard as I could into his stomach. He made a loud noise but did not budge. So I wound my arm up again and this time aimed a bit lower. He doubled over and I darted around him.

Around me was complete chaos. Two burly guys had Walter by his long ears, with one of the men standing on Walter’s legs, the other holding one of Walter’s arms. Both were careful to avoid getting punched by Walter’s wildly swinging free paw.

 The other rabbits were nowhere to be seen; neither was Jet. Instinctively I grabbed a nearby stool and swung it as hard as I could against one of the men, causing him to yell and let go of Walter’s arm. Walter promptly boxed both men hard with his paws and they fell quickly.

“Get out!” Walter screamed, bounding ahead of me, disappearing into the tumult..

“I’m trying!” I yelled as I scrambled for the tent opening.

“Well, try harder!” Walter screamed as I lost him in the crowd.

 I was surrounded by people were yelling and fighting. Well, mostly barkeeps were yelling, trying to restore order before the tent was destroyed. In the confusion people seemed to have lost track of the fact that I was with the rabbits. As I got closer to the door I found myself being carried rather than blocked. I guess a lot of other people had the same idea and within seconds I spilled out onto the ground along with a dozen others.

I didn’t wait around to introduce myself. I bolted up and took off straight ahead into the mass of tents and booths set up in the fairground. I rounded several tents and finally arrived at a quiet and deserted area. Catching my breath I looked around and tried to get my bearings, scanning the horizon for a large oak. I had no idea where Jet and Walter had gone.

I heard voices coming closer. I ducked behind an empty booth to wait for the voices to pass. I could only hear a bit of the conversation.

“Ain’t it always like that? Them boys starting trouble with the rabbits. Why I ask you, why mess with ‘em?”

“Lord knows what them Lepus can do to you when you aren’t lookin’. I says we’d be better off ignoring ‘em.”

“Still, they always seem to find trouble.”

“Trouble finds them. I ain't never seen a rabbit start nothing.”

“We’d be better off without them.”

“And who’d haul your stones Gibson, from the quarry for so cheap?”

“I’d make do.” The man sounded less certain.  

The voices faded as they walked away and I came back out from behind the booth.  It took several minutes to locate the large tree off on the far edge of the fairground, well away from the beer and mead tents in the center. I saw only Jet at first, sitting with her back to the tree.

“Thought maybe you got the pulp beat out of you,” she said with nary a trace of a smile.

“No, I got away, no thanks to you lot.”

“I told you to clear out. Not my fault you stood there like a slack jawed-yokel.”

I ignored her sarcasm. “Where are Walter and company?”

“Down there talking and hiding. We should join ‘em until the commotion fades a little. I doubt anyone will worry too much; not worth the hassle, but you never know.”

I still didn’t see Walter until Jet got up and walked down a slope to where the three rabbits were laying down, murmuring to themselves. They blended very well into the hillside in the dark of the night.

I lay down next to an empty wagon parked at the bottom of the short hill. I was tired, but my mind was racing. Jet sat down next to me, making a small place to settle in directly under the wagon. It was almost like she was nesting for the night.

“You tired, Eric?” she asked.

“Yeah, but not going to go to sleep. My mind is wide awake.”

“I bet. We haven’t talked much since you got here. Must seem a little strange, huh?”

“Yeah, a little.” We both laughed. “It’s not too weird. I mean, it’s like I just crossed a stream, that’s all. But the rabbits do throw me off. What’s up with them really? Andrew didn’t tell me anything at all.”

“He’s good at that, not telling you much, he’s been in the employ of the king’s ministers too long. But yeah, the rabbits. It’s a long story.”

“I’ve got time.”

“Really? I mean, you seem to have fallen in here pretty easily, I would think you’d be eager to get back to where you’re from, especially after tonight.. No one to go back to over there?”

“Nope. No. My parents both died about six months ago. Not much work around those parts either. Seems nicer here, too.”

“Hmmph. Well, must be pretty bleak there if this looks nice.”

“Not so bad back home, but not better either. But anyways, you’re getting away from the story Jet, just like Andrew.”

“Sorry. Habit. So you want to know about the rabbits? The simple is that they showed up about oh, a hundred years ago. Came out of the mountains in the West.”

“You mean, my mountains?” I asked, having no idea what directions were what here.

“No. Well, not that I know of. The bamboo forest where you came from is down South, close to the Galyts desert. See, this land here, in the valley, is surrounded on all sides. Kind of pins us in.”

“What do you mean surrounded? I thought the rabbits came in. I came in.”

“Well, that’s the issue. We can’t figure out how to go beyond this vale. See, to the South is Early, to the East is the great ocean, and then to the North and West are the mountains.”

“So the rabbits came over the mountains?”

“Yes.”

“So why not go back over the way they came?”

“Well, they guard that passage and they’ve never allowed anyone back up. Say it’s too dangerous. But that’s what gets them in trouble.”

“Why?”

“People wanna know what’s over there. But for as long as we’ve had records no one has ever found a passage over the mountains. Some people say that other creatures come over from the mountain with the rabbits.”

“The foxes?”

“Exactly.”

“But no one’s ever seen them?”

“No. Well, no one reputable. And the rabbits aren’t telling. Most of the rabbits here today have never even been over the mountain. They’re called nats—naturalized rabbits. But at the passage you might run into to some overs.

“Rabbits who have been there and back I’m guessing.”

“Yeah. It’s really not a big deal. The rabbits settled in nicely. Most of them live way out in the country in burrows, far from people. But some folks still get itchy about them. Trust issues, I guess. People don’t bother to get to know any of the rabbits and so they can’t trust them. ”

“And that’s why tonight—”

“Exactly.”

“And what was the deal with the flea remark, if you don’t mind me asking.”

Jet grunted and spat on the ground. “It’s crass. Ugly. Fleas are women who, uhm… live with rabbits.”

“Oh. And do you…I mean, are you and Walter…?”

“What?” Jet scowled and then her face softened and she laughed. “Well, okay, okay. I guess it would seem that way, but no. That’s another long story. You lost your parents right? I lost mine when I was eight. Walter took me in, trained me to be a shield—that means someone who travels with groups of people to protect them.”

“So do you have anyone then?”

“Naw, Eric, not really,” she smiled, then looked at me and she gasped and then hit me, “don’t you go thinking that, either!”

“What?” I asked, smiling.

“Not happening, solider. Plus you aren’t what I usually look for anyway. You’re not… soft enough.” she smiled again, this time I think from the look on my face.

“Sure. Okay.”

“Go to sleep, Eric.”

“Sure Jet. And thanks.”

“For what?”

“Everything. For not killing me the first time we met.”

“Sure, no problem. I have a soft spot for the lost,” she smiled.

 

 Eight – The Girl

 

The next day I got up early, leaving Jet and the rabbits still sleeping, to meet Karn outside the archery range. When I got there I was surprised to see her already waiting. Her eyes darted nervously, in a way they hadn’t the day before.

“Hey, ready to practice?”

“Sure. Listen Eric, would you mind if we took shots somewhere else?”

“I guess not. Why?”

“No reason. Look, too many people around here anyway. I want to take our time, not worry if people are waiting. I know of a glen over that hill about 10 minutes away. It’ll give us room. You can teach me your method. I can teach you how to draw a bow,” she smiled, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the range.

It was a short walk through the summer fields. With the grass waist high we soon lost sight of the fairgrounds. I could see the tension melt away from Karn’s face the further away we got. We eventually found ourselves in low ground beside a small brook. The trees were larger, the air cooler, and no one was around as far as I could see. Karn herself took a quick look too. “Everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes, sure. Sorry. I had a fight with my father today. He objects to me coming out here. He thinks I should stay at home.”

“Well, okay, I guess. You have chores?”

“What, are you taking his side now?” Karn asked with a smile but I could detect a real question in there.

“No, no. I didn’t grow up with any sisters or brothers. They’d all moved away. I had to do all the chores. But the way I figure it, if you do all the stuff you have to then you can do whatever you want.”

“Even if it isn’t proper for a lady?”

I laughed, maybe too loudly. “Well m’lady , I didn’t mean to offend. I figured you were just a regular ol’ gal. I didn’t realize I was dealin’ with royal town folk.”

“What do you mean?” her face darkened, but I still didn’t get it.

“Sorry, I was just joking. Back where I come from there are two types of folks: people on the mountain and town folk. It’s the town folk who always put on airs, talking about what girls ought to do or not do. But up on the mountain you just do what needs to be done. My momma did everything my daddy did—maybe more. Heck, if she could’ve voted she would have been there right off. She weren’t afraid of no one and was no one’s fool.”

I looked up to see Karn smiling broadly. “She sounds like a great lady, maybe one day I could meet her?”

“No, hardly, she’s um dead.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t know. I suppose there’s a lot of stuff you don’t know—about me, I mean.”

We stood there for a moment, the sounds of the summer day beginning to get louder as the sun rose in the sky. I stood there for a moment and stared at her, she stared back. I found myself tipping into her deep brown eyes. I felt a strange sensation on my skin, like putting your hand under running water and you get a charge all over your body.

Finally Karn broke the spell. “Are we going to sit around all day talking or are you going to show me how you shoot that bow so fast?”

We spent the morning taking turns, showing each other what we knew about the bow…

There was silence from the old man. Riley thought maybe he had forgotten where he was, but then saw it was more like he was lost in thought. Finally the old man coughed, shifted in his seat.

“Ever been in love Riley? Really in love?”

“Sure, I guess Paw Paw. There’s a girl, a senior. She makes me feel special, like I’m the only one in the world. She and got to know each other when I got them detentions in the spring. I guess she’s trouble too, but I can’t help myself.”

The old man laughed, “Exactly. You know. It was like that. Maybe it was because we were alone, but it really did seem like the world had suddenly become so small, just the two of us. I can recall every moment of that day. I know I can. I remember the way the tall grass tickled my hands as we walked to retrieve arrows, how the bird songs seemed so loud in the quiet of the glen, Karn’s brown hair in the sun, her smile, and her laugh. I was pretty sure, right then, that I could spend a million years with her and not feel closer to her. “

“Did you kiss her Paw Paw?”

The old man laughed again. His eyes sparkled. “Yes, Riley, we kissed. It was towards evening. The sun was low, the breeze had died down. The world stopped spinning there for a moment…”

“Eric, I have to go now,” Karn told me suddenly. “I have to be back in town before dark.”

“Go with me to the fair, Karn. Let’s look around, play some of the games.”

“I can’t. My father wouldn’t like it.”

“Come on, Karn. We can break the rules just once. I’ll go back with you and explain.”

“No! I mean, no. Anyway, you are awfully brave to say that without knowing my father but no.”

I started to protest again, but the look on her face told me it was useless. Karn was unlike the girls at home, who would laugh and giggle and act stupid even if they weren’t Karn’s whole demeanor let you know that she put up with no fools.

We stood there awkwardly for a moment, I wasn’t sure what to do next. Finally I spoke.

“Okay, but can meet again here tomorrow? The tournament is only two days away.”

She bit her lip and thought about it for a moment. “Yes, okay.”

“Good, first thing?”

She nodded. I still stood there, like the inexperienced boy I was.

Karn turned to leave but then suddenly turned back around and hooked her arm around my neck, pulling my face towards hers. Yes, that was the kiss. It was the kiss. I had kissed a few girls at church socials and such but never like this. It shot through me like electricity. If there ever was a kiss that changes your whole life this was it, and I knew it right then too, right then and there I felt everything change. Everything.

 I swear when she finally broke away it almost hurt. When I opened my eyes she was looking at me with the strangest mix of happiness and fear. I thought maybe I had done something wrong.

“Karn, I—”

“I have to go now Eric. Meet me back here, tomorrow. Right here!”

I tell you I wanted to run after her with all my might, but I didn’t. Looking back I guess I should have been more concerned about how all of this was unfolding, but when you’re young you don’t ask a lot of questions—at least I didn’t. I was letting life wash over me—had been since I got to this place. It was like one of those hot summer days when you feel almost weak; you just let life happen and worry about tomorrow some other day.

First few pages of "Levels"

Going through and revising/correcting my Crime Thriller Sci Fi thingy "Levels" (Working title) and thought I would share the first few pages of it.

The crime scene was pretty unremarkable. The dead man who lay behind the small counter, his neck blown off, blood splatter in an array behind him, had contracted with Talbot before, offered simple collection work for deadbeat credits. The store was a small shop in the jewelry district. It was not more than ten feet wide and, with the back room, only about twenty feet deep. Two beat cops milled nervously around the dead man. The family must have called him right after they called the cops Talbot thought as took in the scene. No sign of break in, the dead man knew the shooter, the glass cases intact, nothing was stolen. It looked like a hit. Talbot was about to ask one of the regular protocol  who was the detective assigned when she walked in the door.

Talbot knew she was a detective, you could always tell Protocol Dicks, they dressed better, had an air of simultaneous boredom and superiority about them. He could see right away she was not from level 29.. Her demeanor was all Protocol, she scanned the place and focused in on the beat Protocol. Behind trailed a tall thin man with a pencil moustache. The woman conferred with one of the beat guys quickly. Then she turned around, scanned the room again.

"Ricky,” she said, offhandedly to the thin man, “Go get the kit from officer Kindermans mobile."

"Uh, that's Kinderweiss…"

She did not register the man’s objection. "And also have him call coroner. And you, out, no civilians, this is a sealed area." The woman had turned to look at Talbot, who was standing to the left of the front door.

"I'm not a civilian Detective."

"Who are you then?"

"I represent the family of the, uh, deceased. I am here to make sure the department does its best to find the man’s kill-"

"You the polish eh?"

Talbot smiled a wide grin. The Polish was not a 29 term.

"You're not local department are you?" he said, trying to sound casual, but inwardly bracing himself for a fight. "Upper levels I would say… 35? 36?"

"34. How did you know?"

Talbot smiled again, he had overestimated the level on purpose. No sense starting off on the wrong foot with the woman. He had guessed 33 or even 32 really, but was glad he'd overshot a little. Nothing like a little compliment to start things off.

"Down here we're called the Assist, the ‘Polish’ is upper level. Also, the clothes you're wearing…"

"What about them?" The woman momentarily looked concerned. Talbot filed that away, she was concerned with her appearance, and not vain, just wanted to be sure she looked the part. Talbot looked the woman up and down briefly. She was small, but not especially short, five feet six or seven he figured. She had the trim look of a women in her early thirties, not young anymore, but still able to clean up well. Her brown hair had been colored, but in a way that spoke of a quality salon. Her suit was crisp, but close enough to show off the body but not too close to be suggestive or appear trampy. She was, in short, a study in control and precision, this was someone who did not leave much to chance.  This, he could work with.

"They're a couple credits above what the average person round here can afford."

"Look, Mr…"

"Singh, Talbot Singh." He smiled, offered his hand. She shook it perfunctorily.

"Mr. Singh, you need to leave. Or at least go onto the street. I can assure you this case is in good hands."

"No doubt Detective…"

"Detective Orson."

"Orson, but I insist. I promise to not interfere-"

"It's not a request Mr. Singh, out, now."

"Detective-"

"If you don’t go I will ask Officer Kinderbody to escort you out-"

"Kinderweiss can vouch for me."

"Mr. Singh" Any attempts at civility had left her voice now. "Now."

"Ok, leaving. Only, don't be mad at me when you realize the huge mistake you’re about to make."

She opened her mouth and then closed it, a looked crossed her eyes. He had guessed correctly. Here was someone who hated to make mistakes and the lack of control mistakes presumed.

"What mistake is that, exactly?"

"The victim." I nodded toward the man slumped on the wall behind the counter. She Turned to look at him too and then back to Talbot.

"Yes?"

"He's holding a playing card."

"OK."

"A gang hit."

"Which one? I thought 29 was pretty free of gang activity."

"Gangs, yes, activity, not so much. It's not this level, probably lower."

"Which one?"

Talbot smiled again, which drew a deep frown from the Detective.  "Ahhhh, well, you see that is where I can be of service. I have... I would not say friends, but people I know down in lower levels…"

"How low?"

"25, 24, 19 even."

“Great, thanks. I’ll take that into consideration. I can get our gang activity people to look it up-“

“How long will that take? A week, more?”

“Perhaps- not that it-“

“I can get it to you… tomorrow morning, latest.”

“Mr. Singh, you need to leave. Kinder… Kinder guy!”

“No need to blow Detective. I’ll go. Just be careful. I know this looks like just another hit…”

“And why wouldn’t it be?” The detective held her hand up to stop the incoming beat cop. Kinderweiss looked annoyed and then looked at Talbot. He rolled his eyes.

“Well, it looks like one, that’s for sure. Sloppy work, they broke the window and the lock, the victim was going for a weapon, everything checks out pretty normal-like, right down to this.”

Talbot picked up the playing card, turning it over in his hand.

“That’s evidence-“

“Yes, sure, all pointing to a perfectly normal crime scene… except… except…”

“What? What is wrong Mr. singh?”

Talbot stopped looking at the card and looked up at the posh detective from level 34.

“You. You are Detective, all wrong.”

Detective Olsen tilted her head as if looking at a strange bird in a cage.

“Go on…” she smiled slightly.

“What are you doing here? My guy, he’s good people. Been running this store for twenty years, never any problems. Probably because what he sells is low rate junk, but still. And now he gets hit and instead of some third shift Decker, they send Ms. Uptown herself. I’m not trying to make trouble Detective, but so far this whole thing just reeks of something…”

Detective Olsen did not say anything, she just held out her hand to take back the card. Talbot began to give it to her and held it back, his eyes asking “So…?” She sighed.

The Hare, The Bow and the Girl - Chapter Six Archery

Six – Archery

 

The next night Riley’s mom was at work so he cooked up a pot of macaroni and cheese. He and the old man ate in silence in the kitchen. As the evening cooled off Riley and his great-grandfather went out to the porch. The old man settled into his chair. Riley sat down next to him, expectant. After composing himself for a moment the old man started talking again, as if he’d never stopped…

Walter and I met up with Jet halfway across the fairgrounds. She was watching an acrobat team performing. Walter slide up beside her and whispered something in her ear and she smiled. I stood off to the side, nervously shuffling from foot to foot. Walter turned back to me while Jet continued to watch the performers.

“Hungry yet, Eric?” Walter asked.

“Sure. Is there a food place?”

“I think over by the gate there were a bunch of stalls. Come on.”

I hurried to catch up to Walter and Jet, who had already headed off to find a bite to eat.

I tried to catch Jet’s eyes as they quickly walked along. “Look, uh Jet, I’m sorry…”

Jet glanced at me, rolled her eyes, and doubled her pace. I wasn’t sure, exactly, what I had done, but I thought it best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Once we got to the stalls Walter sniffed for a moment and then headed over to a particular stall that from my vantage looked like all the rest. Walter insisted that I try what looked like a soup made of grass.

“Leeks. You know of them?”

“Oh sure. We used to roast ‘em with potatoes.”

“Sounds nice, but taste this. It’s like my mother used to make,” he said with nary a smile.

I had to admit it was a wonderful soup, made with leeks, carrots, radishes, and a spice I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Anyway, it was a nice change from days of eating splints.

I was just about to ask about Walter’s mother when Jet sat bolt upright and looked out into the crowd. Walter saw the man well before I did, but I soon spotted what had gotten them so excited. It was the thief from the road. He looked sullen and beaten down but was walking free. He suddenly spotted the three of us and took off running the opposite direction. Walter started to get up but Jet put her hand out to block him.

“Just as well,” grumbled Walter and he sat back down on his haunches. “No sense causing trouble… not at least until we find Andrew and get paid.” He chuckled at his own joke. I busied myself mopping up my soup with a crust of bread that had come with the bowl.

“I just wish you hadn’t missed, Eric, and done his hand some harm” Walter said, his mouthful of bread.

“I didn’t miss, Walter” I protested.

“Come on now, sir! You got lucky is all. It was dark as the belly of a cat that night.”

“No it wasn’t. The moon had come out. You were asleep by then. If I had hit his hand all hell would have broken loose.”

“You’re telling me that wasn’t a lucky shot?”

“Been hunting with bow since I was five years old. Luck is for pennies and clovers.”

“Hmmph.”

“Okay, I’ll prove it. Name the target. I’ll hit it right now!” I had already gotten the bow off my shoulder.

Walter stood up and put his brown paw on my hand, “Easy, Eric. Remember what happened in the woods when you tried that?” He had a smile on his face but his hand was firm and insistent. “I don’t think folks would take too kindly to you losing an arrow in the middle of a fair.”

“Okay, okay. Fine. Smit said something about an archery competition?”

“Probably. Seems like there’s always one at least, at these things.”

Jet tugged Walter’s arm. She pointed to a field well off to the side of the main fairgrounds. “There,” she said and smiled at Eric. “Show us then.”

Multicolored banners sectioned off a large flat field apart from the rest of the fairgrounds. Set back and down the field were large bales of hay with bits of colored paper attached. These were not the bull’s-eyes I was used to, but it was clear enough they were targets. Several dozen people milled around, either sitting on the grass or standing under the shade of nearby large oak tree. Behind a small, narrow trench dug the length of the field stood about 20 archers. All had long bows, which I learned were the most popular kind although some folks did use crossbows and bolts sometimes but not, it seemed, in this competition.

There did not seem to be much organization. People were taking shots at the targets. After a few minutes one of the archers called out and the others put their bows down and walked to retrieve their arrows.

Meanwhile the spectators were more interested in looking at our party of three. Walter hung back. I looked at him with a question.

“It’s me, Eric,” he explained somberly. “Us rabbits aren’t known as good shots. We’re a little clumsy with the bow.”

“Well, I wished I knew that when we met!” I teased. That got a smile from him.

“Eric, go up to the man who called and ask him what’s going on. Jet and I will recline near the tree, maybe take a nap. Tell us when you hit something—on purpose.”

I had to laugh and made a rude gesture back to Walter and Jet as I walked over.

“Excuse me?” I asked the man as he came back to the trench. His clothes were decidedly a step up from mine, the cloth a nice shade of green trimmed with yellow.

“What ho?”

“Is this a competition?”

“No, we’re just practicing today, lad. You’re welcome to fit a slot towards the other end. Mind yourself and your arrows and it’ll be fine. If yer wanting to compete, that starts in the morning two days from now. Four crown to get in, 100 crown purse. You from a ways away I take it? Get a sight on who’s around. If you feel like you can carry your weight then by all means come back. I gotta warn you though: we take the bow very seriously in these parts. If ya been training with the likes of that,” he gestured over at Walter and Jet, “then you’re in for a world of hurt.”

To be honest, the truth of the place had not hit me yet, although I guess it should have by then. I was still trying to get the lay of the land as it were, but I could hear problems in the man’s voice. Walter, Jet, Andrew—even the somewhat sneaky Smith and Rake—had all been better than kind to me since I had gotten here. I am generally the congenial type, but people like me who lived up the mountain, were not too tolerant of snide comments about our company.

“I’d rather train for a hundred years with those types than suffer an hour with an idiot…,” I stopped short, suddenly aware that a few other of the people around us were listening in. “I am from a ways, mister. And where I come from we get to know a man before we judge him. Unless you got more advice I’ll be going off to shoot then.”

I know I was red from being steamed. I was confused, angry, embarrassed, and a little scared. I never was that good at reading people, not being around many growing up. I clearly had ignored a lot of signs and signals, but was not sure what to do. I was worried if I asked Walter about what had happened just then, the large grey rabbit would want to go rough up the guy. I decided to just let loose a few arrows and then go ask Walter to help me find Andrew. Maybe he could answer some of the questions that were bubbling up in my mind.

I found my way to the far end of the trench, about 20 people down from the man in green. As I laid my knapsack behind me an older man’s voice came from my left. I turned to see a fairly short man, almost as wide as he was tall, with, sure enough, a full set of whiskers. His grey beard ran down to this belt.

“Ignore him, boy. Reginald is a clown, a pompous ass who is mostly worried that people will find out he is the son of a tanner. Name’s Whisk,” he held out his hand. I smiled and shook it.

“Eric.”

“Pleased to meet you. Where you from?”

“Long story but not around here.”

“I suspected not. It’s a shame really, but most people around here don’t think twice about people like him. Heck, many folks around here think like him.”

“And how is that, exactly? Sorry to be blunt, but I can’t figure out what the deal is? I was kinda freaked out when I met the Lepus, but a lot of people here seem to be…”

“Resentful, scared, untrusting?”

“Yes, all those. Why?”

“That too is a long story. Just watch how you step, young master Eric, and you’ll be fine. Times are different now. Things are changing and people like Reginald think they have the upper hand. Now, you came to shoot, no? That’s a mighty fine bow you have. You any good?”

I smiled. You know I had not been boasting. I had been using a bow since I was five—heck, probably before that. There was something about setting up an arrow and then pulling back the string and letting the arrow fly. For the first time in days I felt calm and in control, especially after my run-in just moments before. I knew my bow and my arrows. It felt right.

I scanned the targets out at the other end of the field. I fixed on a small triangle of red on the bale nearest to where I stood. I turned to Whisk.  “After you, sir!”

He smiled. Despite his stature his bow was full sized. He smoothly pulled the bow back and let loose the arrow. It flew with a slight wobble and hit the bale of hay, just not a target.

I put my arrow in the rest of the bow and pulled back. I breathed in and let my thumb loose ever so slightly. The arrow, eager to fly, leapt from the rest, pushed by the string. It whistled cleanly in the air, gently curving as it fell back to earth, but not before coming to rest squarely in the middle of the red triangle.

Whisk let out a low whistle, “Not bad, Mr. Eric.”

I turned and bowed with a smile.

As the afternoon wore on I felt all the fear and strangeness of the past week melt away. Whisk left after a while. From time to time I would catch others in the line watching me as I shot. In turn I watched them to see, if as the man in green had noted, there was good competition. I was impressed with the others, but I felt that I had something they did not seem to have: instinct or walking aim. Hunting in the woods for my meals back on the mountain lets you develop a walking aim. It’s different from standing aim.

I took a break, going over to Walter and Jet. Walter was snoring gently while Jet sat beside him. She was carving on a stick.

“How long has he been out?”

“Too long. You finished playing yet?”

“About. I just want to try a few more rounds. I think I can do pretty well tomorrow. Say, you wouldn’t have four crown I could borrow? There’s a 100 crown purse. I know I can win enough to pay you back.”

Jet smiled, “Sure. Look, if you ever get done we can go find Andrew. You seem like a decent enough shot. I’ll spot you the four if he doesn’t.”

“Okay, let me go practice for another half an hour. Maybe by then sleepyhead will be awake.”

I had lost my place in the lineup and had to move toward the middle. I nodded hello to the man on my left and the one on my right. It took me a moment to realize the person on my left was actually a young girl. She seemed a couple of years younger than me. Like Jet she was wearing more of a man’s outfit instead of the large dresses with puffed sleeves many of the women had on. Her jacket cut tight on the arm, less likely to catch the string loosed from the bow. She was serious and focused as she pulled up her bow. Her hand and arm were steady as she focused on the target down field. I watched as she let go the arrow in a very fluid motion. The arrow landed on a green circle, finding the exact middle of her target. Only then did she turn my direction and kind of smirk.

Again, I bowed then turned back to my practice. I was aware she was watching me and for some reason her demeanor made me slightly nervous. Unlike the girls I had met at the campground she had a mature, serious air about her despite appearing to be a little younger. From her clothing to her bow, everything about her was nondescript but she stood out despite her plainness.

Her stare was a little unnerving. I let the shot go but it went wide. I put the bow down as I heard the field manager call all clear.

“Eric.” I held out my hand.

She took it and gave it a firm quick shake and then started down the field to retrieve her arrow. “Karn,” she said as she walked. “Your shot was wide?”

I ran to catch up her. “Uh, yes.”

“Sorry. Did I distract you?”

“Well, yes, sort of. But I guess that’s what I get for staring at you. You have really good form.”

She smiled as she pulled her arrow out of the target.

“I mean, you shoot well,” I stumbled.

“For a girl, you mean.”

“No, that’s not what I meant at all. I mean, you shoot well. And it seems like you have decent aim.”

She stopped on her way back and pointed to the target. “Decent aim? Did you see where that hit?”

“Well, sure, but you too long to aim.”

“Really? Too long? How long should I have taken?”

“No offense meant, but if you were hunting or trying to defend yourself you can’t stand around all day making perfect aim.”

We were back at the line. She laughed.

“I’ll be glad to take advice if you’d show me you can even put an arrow in the hay, Mr. Eric.”

I was still nervous. For some reason she was making the sweat drip from my brow. It was like when I was at a church social and spied one of the girls from down on the flats in their best Sunday dresses. But this girl, Karn, wasn’t like them. Those girls were silly; always laughing, trying to catch a fella’s eye. Karn had a confidence that was magnetic. Still, it was a mystery why she made me so self-aware.

I took a deep breath. Then I fluidly picked up the bow, unsheathed the arrow, loaded it, and let it fly. The arrow landed with a sharp thwap on the outer edge of a red square in the center of the bale of hay.

I turned to look at the girl. She gave another laugh that made me feel suddenly overheated.

“Well, okay, points for speed, but your aim is lacking.”

“True, but it would still have hit the deer.”

“Perhaps, or just glanced off of it; or worse, wounded it. You seem to be somewhat out of it I’d say. Why don’t we warm up a bit and then have a spot of a contest. I’d say you’re a little rusty after your trip.”

“Okay, sure. What makes you think I am not from here?”

She just smiled, gestured towards my entire body, and turned to take another shot.

I gradually become more myself as we took several rounds of practice. We did not talk much. She seemed focused and I was unwilling to break her mood. After a while Jet and Walter came up behind us.

“Eric, you done?” Walter asked between shots, sounding as if he’d just woken up.

“Just about.” I stepped back towards the two.

Karn turned around and smiled at Walter. “He’ll be done in a moment. I have to show him once and for all I am the better shot.”

“Really?” Walter laughed. “Eric, you still trying to convince people you know how to work that thing? Miss, I tell you he’s gotten off a lucky shot and thinks he’s the ace. If I were you I’d bet a little on the side, make a little extra.”

“Thank you, good sir” Karn answered all smiles. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

I noticed right away that Karn did not seem bothered by Walter’s sudden appearance, even as a few others beyond her gave the large rabbit second and thirds looks.

“Mind you, he’s broke… for now. Tell you what Eric: Jet and I will hop off to find Andrew and our reward. We’ll be back here to fetch you later. Of course, I am sure we will more than likely have to pay the lass a handsome sum.”

“Not likely”

Walter and Jet were already walking away. Walter shouted back, “You missed!”

“No, I didn’t, ” I shouted, half laughing. “Besides, your furry tail slept all afternoon; how would you know?” Walter made what seemed to be a rude gesture with his paw.

“Friends?” Karn asked, a smile on her face.

It struck me that I wasn’t really sure how to answer. Finally I decided, “Yes. I sort of fell in with them.”

 “Lucky. Not many people fall in with Lepus, you know.”

“Tell me about it. Walter only tried to kill me about a dozen times and not many were in jest.”

She started to laugh until she saw I was serious. “You are getting stranger by the minute, Mr. Eric.”

“Good. Perhaps I’ll match you eventually then.”

She seemed taken back somewhat. Although I said it as a joke I also half meant it. Maybe I sounded too harsh.

“How am I strange?”

My face grew hot. Karn huffed out a small puff of air.

“Look, let’s just do this, okay?” I said, to cover my impudence. “A point for each target hit; the one closest to the center gets another point. First one to…let’s say ten, wins.”

I let Karn go first and she let loose three arrows, all packed tightly around the middle of a green square.

“Not much room for me there,” I said as I loaded up an arrow. She smiled and held her hand out towards the target. With just a skip pause in between I let loose my three. There was a reason for the pause.

“So a point each then? How much for the leaf?”

“What leaf?” Karn asked, squinting at the target.

“One just floated in front of the target, so I stuck it to the top right corner.”

“How did you…?Ahhh, but it’s not on the target, so it’s three to two then, isn’t it? Plus I got closest to the middle so it’s four – two. The leaf is just luck,” she laughed as she went to the target.

“Oh Lord, not you too?” I said with a laugh. “Look, it isn’t luck.”

“Sure it is. You hit a leaf accidently. There’s no way you could have seen the leaf and aimed and hit it.”

“There is if you stop thinking when you aim.”

By now we had walked up to the target to retrieve our arrows.

“And how am I supposed to hit anything if I don’t think about it.”

“Instinct.”

“Instinct. Really? What about skill, precision, practice?”

“All important for the foundation, Karn,” I agreed. “Look, I know I said you were strange—”

“Forget it.”

“No, listen: I meant…I mean, I see something in you. You have remarkable skill with the bow. But you’re too formal, too stiff. You don’t hunt for food do you? You shoot for pleasure, not to survive.”

Karn stopped and looked at me. The day was getting longer in the field. A small breeze was picking up. She was used to dealing with people, reading them rather than listening to their words. She started to say something then stopped. Started again, then again a stop. Finally she said, “If you can stick another leaf then I will listen to you. If not, then you’ll shut up and watch me win at the tourney.”

“Deal.”

They walked back to the trench. Karn unshouldered her bow and quiver. She looked down at her bow, fiddling with the string where it attached to the top of the bow “It’s getting late and I have to be back within the town before evening bells, so if you don’t—”

“Done,” I smiled.

Karn stared with a kind of dumb expression at the target where my arrow had stuck another leaf, this time closer to the middle, but still shy of the red square.

“How did, I mean, when—?”

“Well, you said you were in a hurry and I saw the leaf falling. This is what I mean, Karn: I lack your grace and finesse, but I can hit the target even when I don’t have time to think about it. Tell you what: you teach me style and I can teach you instinct.”

A wide smile spread over Karn’s face. “Acceptable. Be here tomorrow at daybreak. I can’t teach you everything I know and I doubt you can teach me either, but we’ll try for a bit and then be ready for the competition. “

“Deal.”

“It was a pleasure meeting your, Mister Eric.”

“Likewise. Miss Karn,” She reached out her hand I shook it, and then I bowed again.

Watching Karn walking away from the field back towards town, I realized the evening was creeping up on me quickly and there still was no sign of Walter and Jet. I sat under the large oak tree to wait, thinking about Karn. I had never been in love before. I’d had crushes, sure, but never anything deeper than a chance to dance at a social. So I wasn’t sure exactly what I was feeling as I sat under that tree. I suddenly felt… possibilities. I felt them in a way I had never felt before. It was weird. It wasn’t a hot flush but really more of a cool breeze.

I was so deep in thought I didn’t even notice the two men who walked up to me.

“Well, living star…look at this, Rake!”

I snapped out of my daydream pretty quickly, “Smit, Rake.” I stood up, smiled, but decided it was best to remain on the defensive. I could smell their breath even from a few feet away. “Found Andrew I see.”

“Yeah. We did our part ‘n now we’re going to have a little fun. No harm in that, boy. You found a contest I see. You in, kid?”

“Sure, Smit. Why not?”

“Right, kid, don’t listen to the damn rabbits. You got a good shot there. “

I suppose he meant to make me feel better, but instead I just felt hot under my collar. Even in his state I guess he could sense my tension.

“Come on, kid. Rake ‘n I’ll show you the town, or fair, or whatever. Really, the best part is down that way. They have delicious cider ‘n some lovely ladies, if you ask me… or Rake.”

“Thanks, Smit; I’m waiting for Walter and Jet.”

“Think he’s her type, Rake?”

Rake let out a laugh and then coughed. His head bobbed like it was about to slip off.

“Listen bunny boy: those goddamn rabbits…you don’t know a horses ass about them, do you?”

“Look Smit, I think maybe you could go now, before—”

“Shut up, boy. I’m trying to save you a little…trouble. Least you can do is listen. Dem rabbits cause all sort of crap and trouble for the rest of us. They think they’re all high and mighty. They come in and take our jobs; worm their way into the courts and the councils and they ain’t done nothing to stop the stuff that came with them. Those monsters will end up destroying this place. They deny everything but you’ll see. You end up on their side and you’ll be on the wrong side. Save yourself a world of trouble n just back off” Smit had his finger stuck to my chest.

We all froze as we heard Walter loudly clear this throat.  “Smit, Rake…you found Eric. Good. Wishing him a good bye, I trust.”

Smit backed away, “Just some friendly advice and an invitation to have a little jig and a little jug, Mr. Walter.” Smit’s voice was laughing but his eyes, fixed on me, were hard. He turned around and gave a low, exaggerated bow to Walter, stood up and tipped his cap to Jet.

“So, we’re off then. Sure you won’t join us, Eric? Last chance. ”

The final words had an edge to them that made me more irritated than scared.

“No thanks,” I said as evenly as I could. As they left, going up the hill to find another pint, I turned to Walter and Jet. “What is his problem? He’s like some sort of Jekyll and Hyde.”

“Not sure who those two are,” Walter smiled, “but Smit’s problem is simple: he was born beneath his station in life—or so he believes. Never mind him. Here,” Walter handed me four coins, “we found Andrew. He sends you this for tomorrow.”

“Andrew did? Why would he??”

“He was very happy to hear you were entering the contest. Although I told him he was delusional, he seems to think you’re a good shot. He seems to think he’ll get his money back” Walter winked.

“I can’t take this. He’s done too much already: the clothes, food…besides, Jet said she would lend me the money.”

“Oh, that’s no good, Eric. Jet’s already blown her wages on dresses and tarot cards.”

Walter gave a slight oooof as Jet sharply elbowed him.

Jet smiled at me, I think for the first time since I had arrived. “ Take the money, Eric. Walter’s as blind as he is smelly. I know you’ll win first place. Then you can treat us all to a proper feast.”

“Thanks, Jet. A feast right now sounds wonderful. Point me to the food; I’m starving.”