Stranded Angel

17: A New Portfolio

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Songmark & Songmark Characters copyright Mr. Simon Barber, used with permission.

When the two Songmark girls walked into Great Stone Glen Spontoons Priestess Oharu Wei looked up from her stone carving. One was Prudence Akroyd, the other Belle Laoinssen though she remembered only the attractive rabbits first name at this moment. That they had come to this place interested the mouse priestess, for they had never come here before. Nor were either of their religious paths of a like that would normally bring them here. Setting aside her second-paw hammer and stone chisel she stood, brushing stone chips off her lavalava before approaching the two. “How may I serve you” she asked, her standard question to all who visited here.

“That” Prudence noted dryly as she approached. “Is a very open line.”

“Yet none step into it” the mouse agreed. “While only one other commented upon it before. You have needs?”

“We do” the canine admitted. “May we speak?”

“Yes. If you will sit there I return.” Waving towards her small seating place Oharu turned to get water. It was a common matter for her, a form of welcoming. One that their friend and classmate Ada Cronstein had warned the two to expect, and to know that if water was not offered it was probably best to leave as quickly as their tails could get them away. Thus when the mouse returned with a fresh container of water both graciously accepted, though neither were at this moment thirsty. “This is a really peaceful place” Prudence observed. “Ought to drop by more often.”

“All are welcome. Who come in peace” Oharu explained. She noted that Prudence’s tail kept fidgeting, though the rabbits tail was impossible for her to see at this angle. “You are upset?”

“Embarrassed” Belle admitted. “Prudence?”

“Go ahead” the canine assented.

“Very well” the rabbit agreed. “Your work for Ada and Angelica was much more popular than we could expect. It has been taken into a second printing, at the publishers expense. Though in truth we will pay for such publication through our profits of course.”

“That is good” Oharu agreed. “It mean that Ada, Amelia able to save aircraft yes?”

“Yes. That and more” Belle continued. “Your work was quite the success. So much so we would like to approach you regarding yet another such work.”

Oharu looked over to her partially carved stone, then down to the temple she was rebuilding. “I have other work” she answered. “Can not spare such time now and paws now hardening.” She opened her paws, allowing her two visitors to see the callouses that were beginning to build. “Is much hard work.”

Prudence spoke next. “I do not think it is more money you need” she said. “But more paws. Correct.”

Oharu nodded yes. “It is great puzzle I am working on. More eyes make less work of puzzle. If others play puzzle, can then spend more time on art. But still have other duties.”

“Huakava’s great book” Belle whispered. “Yes, even we have heard rumors of it.”

“Then you aware why I can not draw. No time remains in my day.”

“Oharu. If, say we helped. Along with Ada and Carmen. Would you accept the commission then” Prudence asked.

Oharu stood, walking away from her two visitors to look down at the ruins a dozen or so meters below her. “I must ask. Please wait.” Walking away she left the two alone.

“Ask?” Belle repeated.

“That rather large stone needle” Prudence explained. “I have spoken with Tatiana about this place, before we came. There is, as Tatiana explained to me, a spirit or Kama as Oharu calls them living within it. From what little I gathered from Tatiana it is from before. Long long ago.”

“A ghost?” Belle asked with a shiver of excitement.

“I think no more a ghost than you and I would consider an angel a ghost” Prudence corrected. “I have heard Oharu tell Amelia that there are no ghosts on Spontoon. That we carry our own ghosts with us, inside us. Its awfully complicated and to be honest Belle, I hardly begin to understand it.”

“But you speak almost perfect Spontoon” the rabbit corrected.

“Speaking a language and understand customs or rituals are an awful lot different. I think you ought to talk to Ada, or Tatiana, or better yet either Helen or Amelia than I about these things.”

“Perhaps I shall. I believe that, over the days we chatted while she drew our swim team that I have begun to like Oharu” Belle admitted.

Prudence stared at the rabbit. “She belongs to Molly. Don’t be a fool. Even if Molly dumps her you’ve not a chance with her. She’ll turn you away like she did that otter doctor on Meeting Island..”

Belle laughed. “Like is not love or lust my friend. I like her. I think I would like to be her friend. Nothing more.” ‘For now’ she finished in her mind. She really did like the mouse, scars and all.

A sigh of relief escaped the canines lips. “For a moment you had me worried. I wonder what her Kami will say anyway.”

“We will soon know as she is returning” Belle observed. “And when you look past that terrible damage those.. Males did to her. She is sort of cute you know.”

Oharu returned, settling down on a stone before speaking. “It will be allowed” she reported. “And what art is this you desire?”

“Another twenty-four panel portfolio” Prudence answered quickly. “Would the cost remain as the first one?”

“Yes, I will do so for same amount. Will help many families in hard times. But you must know this. My time is drawn upon heavily. Even with extra paws, there are things I only may do. This will take longer. Now to reason why?”

Prudence and Belle looked to each other a moment before Prudence answered. “We could tell you money, that would be a lie. Mainly” she answered. “Belle can’t go home.”

“I most certainly can” the rabbit corrected.

“With your current hobby” Prudence asked.

“Well. No. Mercy. Mother and father would simply go mad.”

“My point” the canine announced in triumph. “And yah won’t drop that hobby either, so its no going home for you. Ever. Belle dear, you have a choice when you complete Songmark. Go home, be married and have many little furry feet running around you, or join the rest of us in adventure. That first is free, the other. Oh Belle that takes so much money simply to buy an aircraft. It will be months before we start earning real money after all.”

Belle blinked her dark brown eyes. “Me? Have pups? Are you bloody insane! Yes I am well aware that you, Tahni, Carmen and I have decided to explore the South Seas. All of them. Spontoon will be our base of operations, but we will only be here during tourist season after all. And no Oharu. We are not going pirate or spying. Just adventuring.”

“Ada?” Oharu asked.

“Has Amelia. She will never leave that cats side. If anyone was ever in love that’s Ada. We asked last night and she said no thank you. She fully intends to remain here until Amelia no longer needs her. Then she’s going home. With her new name of Silverndah or Popoluma. Either one and she’ll be an effective addition to her families business.”

“She may choose either, both” Oharu explained, her rough voice kept soft. “Popoluma her Spontoon name only should marry Amelia, which I fear will not happen. Silverndah she my use. For they married that night. Under eyes of their Gods. Love is love. Even if opened by curse, none may control for whom heart blossoms. Ada has hard problem. She is strong, so will adapt.”

“Like you” Belle blurted, slapping a paw over her own lips only after the words were out.

“As I” the mouse admitted. Belle noticed the mouse’s tail barely twitched at her words. Either this Priestess was a better actor than she suspected, or had already accepted her situation. “I not have Molly. One day have maybe another. Never as strong love as Molly, but maybe love.”

“We seem to have drifted from our conversation” Prudence observed. “Honored Mother Oharu. Please. Our reason for asking this is yes, to earn money. But that money is to be used as business seed. To allow us the purchase of a serviceable aircraft. To begin our own new lives. I will marry Tahni yes, I love her. Some people think Hyena’s are filthy but Tahni has shown me differently. She is kind, she is all I need in life. Belle can’t go home. One inkling of what she has become and they will burn her on a stake.”

“Not quite that bad” the rabbit laughed. “Stone me? Maybe. Make my life hell? Yes.”

“All right” the canine admitted, her tail swishing in exasperation. “You still cannot return home. Ada will be a lost child when Amelia no longer needs her. She truly loves that Swede. Carmen? I think that by now you are aware of how the Spanish treat us. So we become one, a family of our own. But money is really hard to earn though we are trying. Ada has repaid us the money we forwarded us and our share of the profits. She may be a fool in love, but she’s our fool and she’s honest. Please Honored Mother. Will you do this?”

Oharu stood, studying the two younger women before her. Their hearts were in the right place but to draw again a subject she was uncomfortable working in? “There are other artist” she reminded the two.

“None that we trust” Belle answered. “Certainly none as good as you are.”

“I see. So is trust. Belle, what kind subject?”

“Um...” Belle swallowed. Those eyes were on her and they seemed to burn right down into her soul. “Science fiction” she managed to get out. “Something like Flash Gordon?”

“Can not be others work. I not know much of science. Have someone can explain such to me?”

“There is that first year girl. Alpha Rote” Prudence reminded Belle. “If anyone could dream up a space set it would be her.”

“Know of her. She causes small problems” Oharu explained. “Walks blade edge good, bad. I not see her please. Is another?”

“Lucy Ullrich” Belle reminded her partner. “Texan wildcat who writes for Weird Tales. Would she do Oharu?”

“Not know this Lucy. Will bring here, we talk?”

“First years are usually denied Main Island alone. Third years do not count as proper chaperones.” Prudence reminded the mouse.

“Unless Priestess ask to see same. Please wait.” Standing again Oharu left the two in order to return to her tiny hut.

“She’s going to do it” Belle whispered.

Prudence held back a sigh of relief, for the mouse had not yet said yes. “I just hope its as popular as the last one. It will make saving enough for the first year on our own easier.”

A moment later Oharu returned, a folded sheet of paper in her paw. “Give Miss Devinski. I be here until after sunrise song. Yes, I do. But who is Mad Scientist. Who is victim?”

“Carmen will be the mad scientist” Belle answered. “I of course am the victim and Prudence the dashing hero.”

“People will know who are” the mouse warned. “If get back to family. Be ruined.”

Belle giggled. “I’m already ruined Oharu. I’ll never marry a man or have pups. Not after...” She shrugged. “You know what its like to wake up and understand what you are, I don’t have to tell you.”

Oharu smiled. “No. Now is two hour to noon. Best hurry.”

Miss Devinski read the note Oharu had written, then looked at her two students. “What are you up to” she asked flatly.

“We asked Oharu for another portfolio” Belle answered.

Walking behind her desk the hound looked through an apparent rats nest of books, papers, magazines and other things that comprised her work for this year. Selecting something she withdrew a copy of the Fire Queens Slave Wife. “Like this” she asked, dropping it on her desk.

“It is true” Prudence sighed in defeat. “There is nothing we do they are not aware of. Yes Miss Devinski. Like that. Ours will be science fiction.”

“So you are drawing poor Lucy into this. Why not Alpha” the hound asked.

“Honored Mother will not meet with her” Prudence admitted.

“Which I fully understand. Very well. Carmen and Lucy will soon return from services. I will have passes ready when they arrive for Lucy. Services, something you two seem to have avoided today.” She held up a paw to stop any protest. “Visiting a Holy Place to hire its guardian for mundane tasks is not worship services. You will make this up, today. Very well. Gather your merry band. Sunset Song, remember that.”

“Yes Miss Devinski” the two agreed, turning and leaving the office quickly. After they had left the hound opened the portfolio to one certain page. “God girl, you are so in trouble when your father see’s this” she chuckled.

“Yer ah Priestess?” Lucy Ullrich asked when she met the mouse Oharu.

“Shinto, Spontoon yes” the mouse answered. “No other paths.”

“Interstin. These three, they say yah want some info.”

Turning to Prudence Oharu held her paws out in a universal signal of helplessness.

“She said Interesting, and that you desire information” the canine explained in Spontoon.

“Ah. Yes” Oharu exclaimed in English. “I am sorry. English is not best language for me. Prudence will translate when need. Yes. They wish science fiction art. Large portfolio. I know nothing of science. So background be impossible for me.”

Lucy looked at the three second years that had dragged her away from a promising poker game to this place. She was fully aware of their private lives so had some idea of what was wanted. “Ahn tha title” she asked Prudence.

“We have none. Just an idea at present.” Carefully she explained her idea and the why for this project, only to have the Texan giggle. “Hon, thas tha worse plot ah ever heard. Min iffin ah write yer story fer yah?”

“How much” Belle asked.

“Ah don need money” Lucy admitted. “Buh ah signed copy. Bah all involved. Noh tha’d be worth tha havin.”

“Done” Carmen announced before her friends could speak. “It is best we do this, it is cheap cost my friends. This Lucy is published writer.” With a shiver the anteater reached out to touch Belle. “Is very good horror writer. I be happy to be evil villainess for this story.”

“How long will it take you to write something” Belle asked.

Lucy shrugged. “I’ve mah tavel book here, ahn ah pencil. Couple hours worst.”

“It is a deal then, if Oharu agrees?”

“I will sign such” the mouse agreed. “Still need background.”

“Can do” Lucy replied. “Yah two better start playin tha puzzle game. With Prudence actin as translator this here Lady ahn I, we gonna start writtin a good yarn.”

Thus came into being a second portfolio. One that would soon be known by certain collectors as the red cover. Titled Martian Slave it too became a best seller, though never quite as popular as the Fire Queens Slave Wife.