Secretaries 2

by: David R. Dorrycott

Nancy & Alpha Rote, Bethany Cartwright copyright Mr. Simon Barber.

Alpha Rote, the Cranium Island born shrew/minx, watched with carefully suppressed envy as the love of her life, the squirrel Nancy Rote greeted her racoon friend Bethany. Strangely, after a few moments of rapid, excited talk Nancy then turned to her parents, after accepting an envelope from the plump raccoon. Alpha herself had no surviving girlfriends on Cranium Island, as the last had vanished within her own laboratory. She had gone to find something she wanted to show Alpha, and a simple turned corner had sent her into another reality. One where all angles were wrong. Alpha vividly remembered that year of desperate searching for her last friend. Breaking into different realities with her fathers help. Yet in not one had she located her friend, for in every reality that they had located, not one had the strange corners or pastel colors her friend had managed to report before her voice faded forever. That her Nance still had friends such as the raccoon caused the young shrews heart to ache.

Watching Bethany abruptly hurry away, the shrew felt another sharp pain within her heart as memories welled up for no known reason. What had happened to her last, and best friend. Was she somehow still alive, or had she ended up a snack for some otherworldly creature. Unlike all the rest of Cranium Islands scientific establishment, Alpha still held out hope. Still wanted to find her friend. To introduce her to her wife if nothing else. Besides, she missed the long nights playing their memory game of match the chromosome. Unfortunately Nancy was absolutely unable to even accept the concept of that game, certainly not remember the pairs. Maybe the raccoon, as a third?

No, she was Nancy’s best friend Alpha reminded herself. Here in Creekside she must be Alpha, or Ally Zarahoff. As little as possible about the truth of her homeland, or the love of her soul must be acknowledged. It hurt the shrew to have to be this way, yet she understood. What on Cranium Island had been celebrated by a full Holiday, and on Spontoon Island accepted as a union of two in love. Here in Creekside would be seen as an evil aberration of what was acceptable. Still, she wondered at the tears that she had seen in the Raccoon’s eyes as she had turned away from Nancy. Did she suspect? Was she too in love with Nancy? What was the problem? Whatever it may be, the answer must be in that envelope that Bethany had given to Nancy.

“And this is Ally” Nancy was saying, breaking into the shrews running thoughts. “Her full name is Alpha Zarahoff, and she is my very best friend in Songmark. Ally, this is my Father. And my stepmother.”

Broken from her racing thoughts the shrew started to speak in her normal style. “Verypleased...” Abruptly realizing her error Alpha took a deep breath, hoping the standard headache would not come as quickly, while she slowed her minds sonic speed to the plodding walk of normal people. “I am very pleased to meet you” she managed. To the two facing her, barely an instant had passed between her first, and second attempt to speak. Neither noticed it. Nancy though did, and the smile that she gave her wife was all the reward Alpha needed. Nancy’s father though. Alpha slowed her heart. He was a very attractive squirrel. Then he would have to be, considering Nancy’s looks. Still did he have to be that tail breaking handsome?

“And how did you two meet” Mr. Rote asked, looking at Alpha as though she were the only creature in the universe besides himself.

Alpha felt like she was melting inside. ‘He’s married. He’s married. Nance will skin me alive and feed me my own brain’ she told herself. “By accident” she almost stuttered. Turning to Nancy she gave her love a ‘please get me out of this’ look, one that the mink standing beside Mr. Rote easily caught.

“Darling” Georgia Rote broke in. “They have just finished such a long, and very difficult trip. Why, they are still wearing their rumpled Songmark uniforms. They must have been wearing them since at least San Frisco. Can this not wait until they have changed, and refreshed themselves?”

“Of course” William Rote agreed. “How foolish of me. Neither is a tarmac the place to have pleasant social conversation. Please, where are your bags. I will arrange to have them taken to my car. Nancy. Your roadster is parked beside my car, here are the keys. Georgia, please walk them to the cars. I will be right there.”

All three women watched as the state Governor hurried off to preform a simple, and very mundane act. One that left them alone for a few minutes. “He is very handsome, isn’t he Miss Zarahoff” Georgia asked, as though commenting about the weather.

“Sorrysorrysorry” Alpha started, only to have the mink laugh.

“Oh my dear, you are not the first to be struck such. Nor do I believe that you will be the last. You must admit that your tail is very close to locking sideways after all. It is not good to allow a man to so easily realize how he affects you. At least, not upon the first meeting. Come, we will talk as we walk. It is but a short distance.” She turned away, walking towards a gate that led to the parking lot, still talking. “Why, when I first met my husband I was already involved with another young man. Miss Zarahoff, that involvement ended. It ended the moment that I discovered that not only was he available, but interested in me as well. Like his wonderful daughter Nancy here. There is something about him that cannot be denied. So I take no offense, as long as you remember that he is mine, and never available.”

“Yes Mrs. Rote” Alpha apologized again, aware of the soft giggle from beside her. Were they alone she would give Nancy something to giggle about, and moan as well. “Nancy is so beautiful. I should have known her father would be handsome too.”

“So is her new brother” Georgia laughed, then patted her lower abdomen. “And I have hopes for a daughter next.”

“Already” Nancy gasped in surprise. “But it has been such a short time. Isn’t another pregnancy this soon dangerous for you?”

“Were I not young and in good health. Yes Nancy” the mink agreed. “Then I did not have a certain someone to cool my passions, and your father was there. Plus. I very much wish to give your father three children before he is too busy with politics to assist in furthering my little family project.” She giggled, noting Alpha’s confused look. “Young Nancy and I were lovers, until her father took interest in me. Hasn’t she told you? No. From the redness of your cheeks I think not. Do you mean to tell that you two are not lovers? You are holding paws, and you constantly look at each other as those in love do.”

Alpha dropped Nancy’s paw instantly, stepping away from her. “Is secret” she admitted. “Please.”

“Father should not know” Nancy agreed. “We hoped to keep it a secret.”

“From your father? Easily. From me? Oh please Nancy. You introduced me to the love of a woman. Do you not think that I would notice?” She giggled again, then became serious. “Nancy. Something is very wrong with your friend Bethany. And I do not mean simply the death of her other friend, though in all truth Miss Witherspoon’s abrupt passing was a staggering blow to Bethany. I believe that they, like you two, had become much more than simple friends. It is the way she holds herself, reacts. Avoids things. Nancy. You had best talk to her. Her actions lately are those of someone protecting herself from any injury or pain. It does bother me. I fear that she may be with pup.”

“I will speak with Bethany tomorrow morning mother. My word upon that” Nancy agreed. They stopped then, having arrived at Nancy’s blue roadster and the squirrels eyes were for it now. “See Alpha, I told you that it was a beautiful machine.”

“Can fly, float or tunnel” the shrew asked seriously.

Nancy laughed. “No dear Alpha. It is able only to drive upon roads. And no” she continued, her voice becoming stern. “You may not modify it.”

Alpha’s dismay was fully evident upon her face, causing both squirrel and mink to laugh. “She likes to tinker?” Georgia asked.

“Alpha is a fully accredited Mad Scientist from Cranium Island” Nancy explained. “Were I to allow her, I would be unsurprised to find myself returning to Spontoon in this vehicle, at several thousand feet of altitude. I find that I must keep a firm paw upon Alpha’s desires, lest I find myself above the clouds in a modified submarine one day.”

Georgia laughed with Nancy, but her eyes took in the two young women differently. One did not speak of a simple friend thus. Not in her experience. Not even ones closest friend. There was a secret here, and she intended to discover it. Quickly. For if it was dangerous to her husbands political career she must train the two to better cover themselves.

William Rote returned a moment later, all smiles and waving towards his touring car as two young foxes followed him, the girls four traveling cases in paw. In all it was a small load, though both would be stunned by what Alpha’s heaviest case actually contained. One must, as Alpha had explained to Nancy before they left Songmark, remain in contact with Cranium Island. With ones parents. At all times. With the cases safely packed into the larger touring car William and Georgia Rote headed home. Nancy though turned her roadster in another direction. “I want to show you Creekside” she explained to Alpha. “Before taking you to my home. The better parts that is.”

Thus it was that Alpha spent the next three hours studying Creekside, though she noted that Nancy kept away from what she called the Darkie side. “Nance” she finally said, catching her loves attention as the waited for a light to change. “We must go tochurch. I mustsee. In truth.”

“You are certain” Nancy asked. There was dread in the beautiful squirrels eyes the shrew noted. Not fear, but dread.

“Imustknow everything” she answered. “Must love allof NancyRote. Not just dayside.”

Nancy turned the car left as the light changed. “Very well. But only for you.”

“Nosecrets. Neveragain” Alpha agreed. “Neveragain.” She sat back, watching as the city’s architecture slowly changed. Remembering that night on Main Island, that altar. He near fatal mistake, the price a dear friend paid to save her Nancy. And those black arrows. Those impossible black arrows. She would never hide anything from her Nancy again. Not after that night, not after that judgement. To discover Miss Devinski’s secret. To stand, that strange mouse holding bow and black arrow, weapons that could end her in an instant, standing so silently. Without a breath of motion while Alpha was being judged. Life or death for her, Nancy and Katrina in the balance. Katrina being led off by that... creature. For the shrew had not been fooled by that ones physical body. That training she had been given. What had happened to Katrina Schmidt’s soul. That horrible horrible price the marsh rabbit had paid. All because Alpha had kept one secret. No, she would never, no matter the cost to herself, ever keep a secret from her Nance again.

They eventually arrived at a weathered church while Alpha was still deep in her thoughts, Nancy parking her roadster beside it. “Here” she whispered, looking at that building that held so much pain and horror for her.

“Igolook. You stay here” Alpha offered as she stepped from the car. Nancy though joined her, taking the shrews paw in her own. Blackfurs walking along looked at them strangely, until they realized who the squirrel was. Then their expressions changed. Mainly pity, though a few showed delight. A whitefur broken by one of their own some thought with glee. Exactly the reactions one would have expected had Nancy been blackfur, and they white. Quietly the two entered that small worn church, Alpha carefully in front. At the inner door they were met by an old wolf. He was the same one Nancy had stumbled upon in her escape.

“Children” the elderly blackfur asked, his voice deep, filled with power even now. Even though his once midnight black fur was now washed with the greys of age. His black preachers clothing made his age all the more obvious. His eyes though, even with spectacles helping them, were not blind. “Miss Rote. Child, you should not come here. It is not seen that...”

“I ask her” Alpha broke in, easing the shaking squirrel into a pew, then turning to face the much larger male before her. “I want see where. Now.”

“You are” the Priest asked, amused that this little shrew seemed to hold so much importance, when the squirrel who should be making that claim was still trying to bring her own emotions under control.

“Her wife” she shrew answered, her tail held up as if in challenge. “Alpha Rote, by legal marriage on Cranium Island. My homeland. Marriage acknowledged legal Spontoon Island. Several others.”

“Alpha” Nancy gasped in shock, her right paw reaching out to the shrew, only to be hushed by the Cranium Island Mad Scientist.

“No secrets here Nance. Secrets only hurt. Truth is strength. Here.” She turned back to the amused Priest. “Will show?”

“Her wife, well then, of course. Mrs Nancy Rote? Will you come with us?”

“I have seen enough” Nancy admitted. “I will wait, here.”

“Very well then, be at peace Mrs. Rote. This is Gods house still. The evil that once thrived in hiding, through your sacrifice has been expunged. You will always be welcome here my child.” He next turned his attention on the strange little shrew standing beside him. “Mrs. Alpha Rote, please follow me.” He turned away, leading the shrew to a cloak closet, one currently holding nothing but brass hooks. Walking steadily, for he was amused as well and impressed by the shrew, he led Alpha through the hidden entrance, down recently repaired stairs to what had once been the caretakers rooms in the basement.

“You must be a strong woman, to have made Miss Rote marry you” he commented as they reached the first steps end. “Yet you took her name? Was your own so hateful to you?”

“I not as strong as you think” Alpha answered. These chambers reminded her of a place on Cranium Island, where a nosey reporter from Chicago had forced her, at gunpoint, to take him while looking for a missing friend. She well remembered what had happened to him, and how close she herself had come to joining him. At least he had found his friend in the end. “Zarahoff” she continued. “Mothers family name. Father took it, both thought that Burghenolbit simply did not fit mothers looks. Guess it is family tradition to take brides name as own. Nance ask me to marry her, not other way. Where this hateful place?”

“This way my child. Are you really in love. The two of you?”

“I love Nancy all myself” Alpha admitted. “Nancy still not strong enough to decide if she really loves me or not. I wait for her to heal.”

“My child. What if, in her healing, she discovers that she does not love you?”

Alpha shrugged. “Then divorce. I not to keep heart of one who does not share my heart. Nancy is strong. She will heal. In time. She is better now than when we first meet.” Alpha rubbed her aching forehead. “Apologize. It is painful to talk so slowly.”

“Slowly” the Preacher asked as they reached a band new iron door, one with a very heavy bar lock. “You speak quickly. Very quickly. What then is normal for you my young visitor.”

“IprefertospeakasquicklyasIcanthink” Alpha answered at her normal speed, the doing so reducing that pain building in her head. “EvensosometimesIamunabletospeakasquicklyasIcanthink.”

“I.. See” the Preacher half whispered. He knew better than to pretend that he had understood this shrews full answer. She was, to his mind, like a bonfire in a fireplace. “You have about you a great deal of energy” he admitted.

“More than think. This is door?”

“Yes, it is sealed now. There is no way to enter that place of evil beyond. I asked that it be made so.”

Alpha walked up to what was obviously a brand new iron door. Where a gap would normally be between door and framework a thick weld ran. One meant to seal forever the door from opening. Reaching into her carry bag the shrew pulled out one item, discarded it, removed another and nodded. “I open, for me only” she warned. “This attuned I only. S = k. Log W, old theory. I find new way. Caloric theory. This contain Caloric gas under extreme pressure. Will be hot in here very soon. Very short time.” She pressed the device against the iron door, triggering something.

Heat abruptly radiated from the great iron door, soaking quickly into the dense earth and stone wall around it. Then almost instantly cold came, ice crystals blooming upon iron only moments before near red hot. In a very few moments the iron door failed, its great weld shattered by the temperature extremes forced between the door and earthen mounted frame. As soon as the door fell the cold began to subside, as apparently the device had shut itself off. “I pay repair door” the shrew offered, withdrawing three gold coins from her pocket. Coins marked that strange way of all Cranium Island money. “Now I see.”

Stunned by what had just happened, the priest could only watch as Alpha eased around the ice cold iron door, pulled out a tiny electric torch and began exploring. He looked down at the coins in his paws, any one easily three times the value of any repairs. His eyes wanted to turn away from the coins reverse sides though, the angles embossed upon them seemed... wrong somehow. Looking up again he could see the shrew looking into one of the many chambers that bled off from the main tunnel. It was, he knew from personal experience, the one Nancy Rote had been held in. Then, squaring her shoulders the shrew marched in, her electric torch abruptly cutting off.

He had no idea how long he stared into that darkness. Only that eventually he could hear the dripping of water as ice roses melted from his shattered iron door. Then, as if by magic, the shrew was walking towards him from the darkness. “You cleanse very well” Alpha noted as she kneeled down, recovering her strange device. “It is clean. Thank you.” Then she walked past him, returning to the church, and the light of day that awaited them both.

“Your curiosity is filled” Nancy was asking Alpha as the Priest returned.

“Withyou? Never” Alpha answered, reaching over to take the taller squirrels paws into her own. “You heal moreeachday. Oneday, you will notneed me. You will needyour God. You will be great woman Nancy Rote. I will always be proud of you. Always.”

“And you?” the squirrel asked as she stood from the pew.

“Will have mylove for you, and the Great Tesla.” 

Nancy laughed at those words, pulling the shrew against her. “You will have me, always. Now may we go home?” There was a lightness in her voice that Alpha had not heard before. Perhaps bringing her here had been the catharses she needed. In any case, it had been what Alpha needed.

“We go... home” Alpha agreed, lifting her face to meet the squirrels as Nancy made to kiss her lightly. Then turning to the priest Alpha bowed. It as something she rarely did, and in this case it was a first. “You save myladies life. Ican never thankyou enough” she told the aging wolf. Then following the squirrels lead she walked towards a door out of the church.

He watched in silence as the two departed, then turned around to walk to his churches altar after their departure. “It is as you told me Father” he prayed. “A testing. She is returning to you. And bringing one so strange I cannot even begin to understand.” He thought of that shattered iron door for a moment. “Binding the two, that the smaller will not become the danger to this world that she would have been. Love binds, and in that binding, grants a fulfillment no other power could hope to offer. I understand now.”  

Then he knelt and gave his afternoon prayers.

They arrived at the Rote family home some thirty minutes later, Nancy carefully parking her beloved blue roadster in the garage before shutting its engine off. “It is nicetown” Alpha commented as she opened her door, then hurried around to open Nancy’s before the squirrel could finish putting her keys away. “You come from wonderful place.”

“As do you Alpha” Nancy countered, stepping from her cooling machine. That Alpha had opened the door for her, why no one had done that since.. She pushed that memory away. He could not accept that ‘his Nancy’ had been so ‘ruined.’ To him the loss. Alpha on the other paw seemed delighted to simply be with Nancy. She was aware that the Cranium Island shrew often stayed up nights simply watching her breath. How long would this last no one knew, only that until meeting Nancy’s father, Alpha’s heart had shown absolutely no interest in anyone else. Not even Mr. Simmons.

They met Georgia at the garage door, the mink winking at Alpha as they approached. “To be careful my dear. My husband may be slow, but he is no fool. Seeing you open the door for his daughter, I fear he may discover your secret. You had a good day?”

“Wevisit church Nancy heldin” Alpha answered, short circuiting the squirrels reply. “Is a verynice place. I likerpreacher. He is honestwolf.”

“Yes, Father Williams is an honest man” Georgia Rote agreed. “He very much cares for all of his flock. It was a sad day when they discovered the evil that had hidden under their House of God.” Shaking her head the mink took Nancy’s paw in her own. “Come, your father is waiting. Alpha, I will show you’re your room while they get reacquainted. Is that all right?”

Alpha looked up into Nancy’s eyes, her own hunger just as obvious. “Isfine” she agreed, but the emotion in her voice spoke volumes in the other direction.

In response Nancy offered the thick, still sealed envelope to Alpha. “I will be with father simply hours” she explained. “When you have refreshed yourself, please look at this. Bethany seemed to think it very important.”

“Yes Nance” the shrew agreed, then following the two she entered Nancy Rotes home for the very first time.

Nancy went immediately to her father, who was waiting for her in his library. Georgia Rote led Alpha upstairs, down a long hall to a waiting bedroom. “We even have indoor plumbing” the mink announced in a stage whisper as the door shut behind them. “Bathroom in at the end of the hall. Nancy’s bedroom is down the other hall, where my husband and I also sleep.” She noted the shrews depressed look, made most obvious by her drooping tail. “Alpha. My husband is a light sleeper, but he must be in town many hours tomorrow on business. I am certain that Nancy will be happy to show you the house then.”

She took the time to sit in one of the rooms two chairs. “Or this bed.” It had the hoped for effect, as Alpha perked, then faltered. “It is very obvious to me that you two are lovers” Georgia continued. “The way you look at each other, automatically hold paws to start. That ring design you both share. Promise rings, or vows of love?”

“I...” Alpha sat in the rooms other chair, an over stuffed design that truly fit no one species. She found it uncomfortable. “You must ask Nancy.”

“I see. Well my dear little shrew. As I warned you, it was your Nancy who introduced me to the ways of women together. And her father? Oh my. When I first met him all I could think of was how fast I could undress and make myself available for him.” She giggled at the shrews look of surprise. “I was a Registered Nurse, I still am. I was Nancy’s nurse, and the young man I was currently involved with. Well he thought women were good for cooking his food, cleaning his home and warming his bed. William. Oh my dear William is from a much older time.” She paused to remember something, the expression on her face telling Alpha that it was a pleasant memory. “You are aware that Nancy and I are only a few years apart in age, yes? Other than my father, I had never really met a male who treated any woman as anything more than, well as a thing. I fear that I made my decision right then. I wanted that squirrel and gosh darn it, if I had to chase him across the state naked I was going too. I swear, it was so frustrating. Why it was the third date before he kissed my paw. I almost had to drag him into my bed on the fifth. By then my old flame was long gone, having picked up with a red fox or something. Why, no more that a day after I threw him out. “

Georgia Rote leaned forward, studying the Songmark girl in front of her. “Ally. How long after you met Nancy. How long did it take you to get her in your bed.”

“Lessthgan... Less than a week” Alpha admitted, abruptly ashamed for no real reason.

“My my, you left me in the dust. Well Ally, you may have Nancy, I will share her. But William. No. I just simply can not share him. I am sorry, your attraction to him was so painfully obvious. He probably never even noticed. He is a bit dense about such things. But he is the father of my children, I simply cannot chance losing him. Not after having given up everything to catch him.”

“Does. Does William know. About Nancy?” Alpha asked.

“He most certainly does” the mink admitted. “I decided not to have a single secret from him. I must tell you, when I speak of what we did together. Why, it seems to excite him even more. He has admitted that he likes it when I have encounters with other women, but never men. Just as his first wife did.” Georgia waved a paw in dismissal at the look on Alpha’s face. “Ally, he has no interest in his daughter. Why, when I eventually tell him what you and I will have done, I am certain it will excite him even the more. And we will play, yes?”

Alpha stood, abruptly a little off balance in the strangely open house. “Why.. Why would you want me? I am Cranium Island shrew. Not even pretty.”

“Shrew and Mink Ally” Georgia reminded Alpha. “I can see the mink.” She stood, almost of equal height with Alpha. “Now, you must refresh yourself before dinner. As I said, the bath is to your right and at the end of the hall. We have both hot and cold running water in the daytime, only cold from ten pm to six am. The coal is rather expensive to use when you do not need too. Now tonight’s dinner is informal. I will give you a days warning of any formal dinner. There will be at least two while you are here. Both political events. The first is Thursday. I believe that Tuesday next is the other. Wear something comfortable tonight, and remember that Nancy will probably be visiting her friend tomorrow morning. Ally, between you, Nancy and I. I think that Bethany may be with pup. In our society that is a terrible thing, especially at our social position. You see dear Bethany is unmarried. She hasn’t even a caller at the moment.”

Beginning to untie her Songmark tie Alpha paused. “That means I stay here then. Yes?”

“It would be best. Until Bethany knows you better my dear.”

“Okay. I have things Nance wants me to study. Dinner is?”

“In one hour, three minutes. You will hear a gong five minutes before you should be at the table.” Georgia stepped forward, taking the loose ties two ends in her paws. “And I can think of something much more fun tomorrow while Nancy and my husband are away than studying” she continued. “You see, Nancy has written a great deal about you Ally. A very great deal. And I really want to find out just how much is nothing more that wild stories,” Releasing Alpha’s school tie the mink kissed her on the nose, only then stepping away from her guest. “I hope she’s told you as much about me. We will have fun talking about our wilder days, shall we?”

Completely out of her element Alpha Rote watched in silence as her mink hostess walked out the door. “Nance” she finally whispered to no one. “You tell me nothing. Her everything? We must talk.”

Dinner turned out to be anything but entertaining. Mr. Rote spoke little of his political work, mainly asking the two girls about their Songmark classes, how they met and what they wanted to do once they left Songmark. Mrs. Rote meanwhile spoke mainly of Creekside’s social life, her child and how Nancy’s older brother was doing. Nancy and Alpha found themselves sitting across from each other, the table just wide enough that they were unable even to touch feet. The food though was excellent, exactly as Nancy remembered it. Then charcoaled walnuts dipped in ancient motor oil would have been a treat after a year of poi and tasteless fish. Fresh sweet potato pie, real mashed potatoes, ham and fresh snap beans were a luxury for both girls. When the ice cream that arrived as desert had both nearly over the moon with joy. It was the first ice cream that either had had since a certain, very private day off together months ago.

Finally it was over, the table was cleared by Mr. Rotes two servants while Georgia took Nancy’s younger brother to bed, and begging off coming back down. A long day and her pregnancy were enough excuse for William Rote. He had no intention of being a widow twice in his life. Not after stumbling across Georgia. Thus they were all three soon settled in the library, or at least Mr. Rote and his daughter were. Alpha was openly drooling over so many books. Almost none of which had she ever seen before. Much less read.

“Oh go ahead Miss Zarahoff” William near laughed. “Look all you want, read what you want. All I ask is you not abuse or mark the books, and that when you are done with one, you replace it before picking another.”

“Ally, please” Alpha reminded him as she nearly dove into the shelves. Behind her she could hear Nancy laughing.

“Father. Ally loves books. Unless we are attacked, she would remain in here until she has read everything.”

“Really? Well then, at least there is something about this house that she likes.” He winked at his daughter, having finally picked up, (with his wifes gentle hints,) that there was something special between his daughter and this stranger from another nation.

“Yes father. Ally is a full fledged Cranium Island Mad Scientist. Why, she repaired the third years water heater with nothing more than bits of glass and other odds and ends. You do remember the purple goo I shipped to you? She created that on a whimsey.”

“Yes, I do remember it. My own scientists used up half of what you sent trying to prove that it could not exist. Even with a copy of the formula in front of them. Nor could they at first believe that it could do what you claimed it could do. Armitage, the poor owl. His plumage was bright purple for days until he acceded that yes, it was real and yes, the cleanser was that simple.”

“Now what are they doing” Nancy asked as she sipped her coffee.

“Finding uses for it, playing with the formula. If they can find one that is not affected by water it will make an excellent form fitting insulation. Why, it may even help keep ships from sinking.”

“I much doubt that father” the young girl countered. “Unless one were to fill the majority of useful hull space with it. No ship would be useful with such cargo or passenger restrictions. Perhaps a small pleasure boat yes. Simply not something as large as say, a freighter.”

Alpha though was in heaven. Though a part of her brain was keeping track of the father daughter conversation, and would alert her should further attention be needed, the majority of her brain was currently devouring a brand new book titled Airplane Maintenance. Published not a month ago, its dark green somber cover was spotless. Filled with photos, tables and charts Alpha was absorbing every page at the rate of one every half minute. The 332 page book, not counting appendix and index, took her exactly two point seven six hours to memorize. When she turned to face Nancy and her father, who were by now simply watching their guest she smiled. “Must read this Nance. Much useful information” she announced.

“By all means” William Rote agreed. “Feel free to borrow it Ally.”

“Have finished read” the shrew admitted. “Nance must read. Important book. Bet Instructors have copies next semester. You be ahead for once.”

“You have been having trouble with your education” Mr. Rote asked his daughter. In answer, Nancy softly admitted the truth of her first year. Her distractions, Beryl’s plots and Alpha’s hard work keeping her in school. It took her a full half hour, by which time Alpha had discovered Burton Holmes Travelogues, the 1920 edition, and was busy making her way through all thirteen volumes.

It was only when Nancy placed a warm paw on Alpha’s shoulder that the shrew closed her book, automatically laying her cheek against that sweet soft fur. “It is late. Time we went to our beds” Nancy advised Alpha. “I must visit Bethany tomorrow. Will you be all right here. Alone with mother?”

“In library? Yes Nance” the shrew agreed, having lifted her head from that sweet paw. She was at the Rotes home, she must not show her feelings. They had agreed.

“Very good. I will walk you to your room. Father has already gone to bed. We will see each other at breakfast. I would like you to read that material Bethany gave me, when you have time.”

At breakfast Alpha’s mind echoed. Not in the morning. No shared bed. No sweet smell of wanton squirrel filling her senses in the morning. With a sigh of regret she memorized the volume and page she was on, then stood, to follow her Nancy out of the library and to her borrowed room. It was a semi-chaste kiss goodnight, both afraid that mother or father would step into the hall, though both allowed the others paws to roam.

“I can’t wait until we are alone” Alpha whispered, fighting back a groan of desire.

“Nor I my love” Nancy agreed. Then she was gone, leaving Alpha alone in a very lonely, very sterile room.

Breakfast had proven to be another sterile lifeless meal, with the entire Rote family discussing today’s planned events. Mr. Rote had an appointment downtown with several business leaders, Mrs. Rote had a church function to attend to that morning and Nancy would be off to discover Bethany’s great secret. That left Alpha with the run of the library. Burton Holmes called, still she decided to study that sealed envelope first. When everyone was gone she took a glass of water upstairs to her room, opened a window (an act that still had her checking twice for incoming monsters) and setting at the desk provided.

It turned out to be filled with photographic copies of rather dry records, a much more interesting summery of what was there and a very interesting private letter. Both summery and letter were written in an excellent paw Alpha found pleasing to read. She chose to read the letter first.

“My dearest sweet Bethany;

Enclosed are all the records I promised you. There is a second package in my desk that I will be taking to Mr. Patterson this evening. To my eye, they do prove that in the least some fifteen young ladies have vanished, after contact with these offices. The first being Mr. Uriah Jenkins long time secretary. She did fail to come to work after the forth of July holidays. That was in 1933. Since then four other secretaries and a full measure of ten clients and appliers to employment have vanished. I look forward to spending this weekend with you working out the timelines, that we may inform your great friend Nancy. Perhaps she may discover the truth in this matter.

And, as always I will help instruct you in the ways of a good secretary, as long as you remember the instructions as you have promised me. My, I much look forward to exploring this venue the further, and those in the magazines you did bring that last night. I much fear that between your farmpaws and your own paws you have fully ruined me. Why, where oh where shall I find a husband so able to care for my new needs? Perhaps dear sweet Yanoff will be interested in a half-breed wife. Of course, only once you are finished with him. He is so very open minded for a mule. The two of us at the same time, yet he was so able to do further delights.

Well, enough of that (I am currently opening my blouse dear Bethany, so warm has it become in my room. Would it be you doing the opening, not my own too well known fingers)

I feel that we have advanced as far as we may with chapter seven of my study book. Therefore we will spend some time with chapter eight. This being Telegrams, Cables and Radio Messages. Of course in your present position I doubt that you will much need this. Yet, as your father mentioned two weeks ago. You are doing so well that he plans on moving you to another of his offices. Bethany, I am very aware that you will not spend your life as a secretary. In truth you are much too intelligent for such. However, when you have reached that place where you find need of your own Secretary, I wish to place my resume upon your desk. For you are a wonderful friend, a quick learner and I am certain that you will one day be a very important woman.

Bethany, it would make me most proud to serve that woman. In any manner you may need. At any time, in any place. I will even wear red for you.

                                                                Your second best friend

                                                                             Louise Witherspoon “

Alpha sat the letter aside, realizing that she too had warmed while reading it. So, Bethany and this Louise were much more than friends. Obviously not as much as she and Nancy, but enough that the insinuated actions has sent the shrews mind into overdrive (which for Alpha Rote, was very fast indeed.) Louise, Alpha remembered, had died suddenly. Of a heart attack. Very unusual for a woman so young, and so obviously full of life. A thought came to the shrew and grabbing the envelope she checked its cancellation date against her own memory. That exact same date. Louise had died after lunch. This was canceled at 2PM. Thus Louise had posted this just before dying. How tragic.

Memories of stories she had carefully studied for Nancy on Spontoon came to mind. How tragic, or how very close to what someone wanted. If someone had not wanted these pages to be seen, then they had missed their target by only what, two hours? Perhaps even less. As such did the greatest State Secrets fall. Louise Witherspoon, at the cost of her own life, had released the information Nancy would need to crack this case.

Turning to the second page, the summery, she found it to be two different lists. One that was certainly linked to the law firm, one that seemed only vaguely linked to the law firm. Perhaps this Louise had stumbled across two different groups. It would then be nearly impossible to determine which had killed the young secretary. For murder Alpha was now certain of. Removing a blank sheet of paper from the small stack on her desk Alpha Rote began doing one of the things that she excelled at. Correlating data.

It was dark outside when Alpha heard the door to her room creak open. She barely glanced up, having already noted that Nancy was near. Noted by the glow of her ring, and the impossible to forget scent. Her ring itself was, in its own way, rather useful. Even though she understood nothing about it. No one on Cranium Island did in fact. Looking up she started to smile, then washed that from her face. “Is a problem” she asked softly.

“Yes” the squirrel answered. “Bethany is with pup.” She sat on Alpha’s bed, looking at her wife a few minutes. “Her parents are sending her to New Mexico. Two Aunts live on a ranch and could use some help with their business. A perfect reason for Bethany to go. It appears that one of her mule friends... wasn’t quite a full mule.”

“She does not want pup” Alpha asked, her paw unconsciously drifting down to her own lower abdomen. If only she could have Nancy’s child the shrew thought.

“It is different here Alpha. If she does not do this, her chances of a career are over. Her choices in life will be extremely limited. Nunnery, or the streets. So she leaves in the morning.”

“Then I wish her well.” Putting the other girl out of her mind the shrew pointed at her wall, and a rather large sheet of paper made of pasted together typewritten pages. “Nance, I havesomething to showyou.” Nearly dragging the squirrel with her Alpha hurried to the huge paper, which proved to be a tree with three starting points.

“Patterson, Jenkins, Davidson” Alpha explained, forcefully slowing her speech. “Fifteen names, three Patterson, four Jenkins, eight Davidson. Secretaries, one Jenkins, four Davidson. Not count girl that die. I believe her murdered. Ten girl, either apply position or need legal services. Mostly need legal services. Three want jobs, seven looking for lawyer.” She stepped aside, allowing Nancy to study the graph.

“Names, dates, reasons and whom they saw” the squirrel sleuth noted. “Patterson saw only those who were needing a lawyer. Jenkins first secretary, and all those applying for a position.” She paused, looking at the longer list. “Davidson. Too him the greater goods.” She started thinking, working out what she knew of criminals from before leaving Creekside, and what Mrs. Sapohatan had drummed into her head that week and a half, while she waited for Alpha to be released by the priestess.

Alpha though had returned to her papers, each now carefully marked, each numbered, codified and cross linked. It was Nancy who could make sense of the data. Alpha could only boil it down to its purest form. That this was an invaluable resource for the squirrel Alpha now knew. She only wished that she could do more, not knowing that what she did saved her love weeks, if not months of work.

“Alpha.”

“Yes Nance” the shrew answered, not turning from her work. Doing seven or eight things at one time was normal for the Cranium Island born woman.

“I believe that someone is salting the data.”

That stopped Alpha in her tracks. Salting the data? To do so would mean... “All work is useless?” She asked softly. She looked at her love, noting that Nancy was still studying the charts, and that her very delicious tail was held high. Very high in fact.

“No. No not at all” Nancy answered. “Check the original forms. How many of Mr. Davidson’s deposit receipts differ from his known signature.”

“Fifty-one donotmatch” Alpha answered almost instantly. “Noted. Didnot put on chart. Will rememeb...” the shrew closed her mouth, forcing herself to slow down again. “I will remember to do so from now on.”

“Alpha” Nancy laughed, walking over to kiss her love on the forehead. “I have learned how to understand your fast paced talk. You do not have to slow down for me. Honestly. Which fifty-one do not match?”

Alpha though took the opportunity to twist her head just so, catching those delicious squirrel lips against her own for a longed for kiss, her paws wandering through well known fur. When she pulled back it was with a sultry smile. “Soon” she whispered, before turning back to the desk. Picking up a rubber band wrapped stack she offered it to Nancy.

“Yes. Soon” the squirrel agreed, embarrassed because her rather bushy tail was now quite locked sideways. “Very soon. I just hope father does not walk in before I calm, you little minx you.” She spoiled the warning by kissing her love again, before carefully sitting on Alpha’s bed and opening that stack of papers.

Going through them carefully Nancy came to a conclusion. “All in a woman’s paw” she informed her shrew companion. “And all in the same paw, though each time the forgery is closer to the actual thing. Davidson is not our target. I will inform the Police Chief tomorrow, though it would be best to let the public believe otherwise for a while.”

“Whichwoman” Alpha asked, carefully remaining seated.

“A light paw this. We have examples of both. Mr. Jenkins secretary is older, so her paw writing will be more elegant. Mr. Patterson’s secretary is younger. She may have a bit deeper paw pressure. Let me get my magnifying glass and take examples of both womens paw writing. I will be certain in half an hour. Oh Alpha, how was my step-mother?”

“Fun” the shrew admitted, then turned back to her own work as Nancy left with the papers she wanted.

“You are certain” Mr. Rote asked that evening after dinner. “There is no mistake?”

“I am certain” Nancy answered, her rather fluffy tail twitching in annoyance at the question. “I even had Alpha do a blind testing. Her results were the same as my own.”

“So Mr. Davidson was not the one to sign those papers” the older squirrel decided. “It was Patterson’s secretary. But why? What could she possibly expect to obtain by creating such false records?”

“Exactly what she did obtain” Nancy told her father. “Time. Time for her employer to cover his tracks. That is the most important thing to criminals father. Time. How long will it take to get a warrant for Mr. Patterson, his secretary and to search his home?”

Nancy’s father looked over the papers in his paws. “Judge Rinner would never sign a warrant without better proof, and Judge Richardson won’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow evening at best, and you still have to convince the Sheriff dear.”

“All right. I’ll see the Sheriff first thing in the morning father. If I have your permission that is.”

“My dear Nancy. You have not required my permission to do something since you were eleven. Go, and give him my regards.” He looked up at the clock in his office and groaned. “I should have left for that meeting twenty minutes ago. Here are your papers, now I really must hurry. Please tell your mother I will be very late, its about the new highway.”

“Thank you father, I will.” Accepting her papers she gave her father a peck on his cheek and walked out.

The next morning Alpha wasn’t certain what to do. With Nancy gone, and her work complete she felt like a fast car spinning its wheels in the mud. She wanted to do something, anything. Looking out the window she thought about the Rotes large property. Maybe doing some mapping and study would take the edge off her. She knew what she really needed, but Nancy had no challenges for her. As she gathered a notebook and magnifying glass the little shrew knew that she had a real problem. On Cranium Island there was always something to challenge her mind. Even at Songmark the constant work kept her on her toes. Math was child’s play, but there were always challenges. It seemed that the third years lived to do nothing but create puzzles for first and second years to work out. But here in Creekside, there really was nothing.

‘If I cannot find control for my mind’ she thought, slipping out the back door with a friendly wave to the Rote’s cook, ‘How can I be of any use to anyone. But everything seems so simple to me.’ Hours later, while studying sea shell fossils on a bank of a creek far from the Rote home, property, excitement was exactly what the Cranium Island shrew found.

“Well lookie what we got here” a young male voice called, bringing Alpha out of her puzzle. “Ah rit perddy little shrew. Ain’t nerver got me no shrew. You boys ever got ah shrew?”

Half a dozen male voices answered in the negative as Alpha turned around, finding herself facing seven teenage boys of various species, along with four females as well. None seemed to be of middle class, as Nancy had explained society in Creekside. In fact two of the girls were bare chested, male paws holding them possessively. The other two seemed about the same, though their clothing was still on. For now.

“Whell little girl. Looks like yew jus got inducted inta our little party.” The bear who was speaking held up a brown and white jug that sloshed. He took a drink of the contents, staggering a bit as he did so.

Even from her place below them Alpha could smell the sharp scent of raw alcohol. Its scent explained all ten of the teenagers condition. They were flat drunk. “I am Alpha Zarahoff, Scientist. I am guest of Nancy Rote. Please go away.”

“Ah, them rich fokes?” a vixen, one of the less intoxicated girls laughed. “Why der house is a miles away. Common. Lets party.” She stumbled down the bank, staggering towards Alpha. “Common. Bert yah never kissed ah girl before.”

“Leavemealone... Please” Alpha begged as she backed away.

In answer the vixen simply laughed, dragging her blouse off as she approached the smaller shrew. “Boys. Comon ahn help. We ah gonna hava ah show.”

It was near sundown when Alpha returned to the Rotes home. Her clothing was muddy, torn in places and to the cook it was obvious that she had been in a scuffle. Alpha simply lifted a finger to her lips, then took the back staircase up to her room. By the time supper was ready a prim and proper shrew joined Nancy and her family. Now cleaned up, and in clean clothing there was no evidence of her adventure. But as Alpha ate silently, the family conversation rolling around her, she thought of the teenagers.

A Songmark girl, even a first year, was not one to attack while drunk. Not even with ten to one odds. After all, it had been a tight location, there had been room for only one to approach at a time and Alpha had decided that she really needed the exercise. They had fled after their encounter. All but the vixen. After all, she had offered in the first place. Silently Alpha wondered how long the vixen would take to get out of her bindings. After all, they were her own clothes.

“And how was your day Alpha” Mr. Rote asked politely.

“Interesting. Found sea shells. Had good exercise” she answered. “I think I sleep early tonight.” She listened as the conversation flowed away from her, looking into the eyes of a very beautiful squirrel across from her. Her eyes told the other all she needed to know. For now.

Alpha found herself in a courtroom late the next afternoon. Before her was Judge Richardson, a grey furred hound who had the habit of smoking a pipe, and an accent only a mother could love. “Ahn little Alphee” he was saying. “Yew are fully certain oh yer facts here?”

“Yes, your Honor” the shrew answered. “Have gone over all data five times. Always same answer.”

“Ahn it says here yer ah Certified Mad Scientist. Cranium Island. Um, missee, being certified mad is bad news here in tha states.”

“I have been made aware you Honor” Alpha agreed. “Is difference in word usage. In England, they saw bonnet. Here you say hood. When talking of car. Is same difference Cranium Island. Sane is bad word there. Insane. If break word up. In, being within or part of something. Sane is society normal for sanity. So Insane is good.”

The hound guffawed, a deep heavy laugh. “Turn words like ah Lawyer yah do Alliee. Yer not one, is yah?”

“We feed lawyers to carnivorous plants” Alpha replied. “Sometimes make sick, but only use we find for them.”

This elected another laugh from the aged hound. “Rote, You got you ah good little girl there. Better keep ‘er outta tha capital, or yer gonna be looking for ah new job.”

“Quite right Your Honor. Which is why I have ordered my daughter to keep her close at all times. Why, if she were to be allowed to roam alone, I truly believe that we would lose half the state within a month.”

“Four days” Alpha corrected.

“Four?” Shaking his head, which caused the bloodhounds large ears to flap, Judge Richardson    snickered. “Most fun ah had in months. Look Governor. I gotta read all this junk. Can yah lown that little shrew tah me so I can get it all righty? Else it could take days.”

“Your Honor” Mr. Rote remarked. “As you can see, Alpha is married.”

Leaning over his massive desk the judge squinted his eyes. “Ah yep. Real perrtie. Ah I’m way tah old fer such things. Truth is, ah don’t unnerstand these here facts. But I wanna. So iffing that littel lady chan stay?”

“I stay” Alpha agreed. Thus much of the rest of that day Alpha spent trying to teach a man with a seventh grade education higher mathematics. It was, she quickly discovered, the very first challenged that she could not meet. By the time Judge Richardson finally admitted that she just might be right it was very late in the evening. When she stepped out of the Judges chambers with a signed search warrant it was to find long faces waiting for her.

“Patterson’s house is a bonfire” Mr. Rote announced.