Stranded Angel

Chapter 20

The Photograph

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Angelica & Alfred Silfverlindh, Marta Svensson copyright Mr. Fredrik k.T. Andersson

Songmark and many Songmark characters copyright Mr. Simon L. Barber.

All used with permission.

Alfred Silfverlindh hardly looked up when his butler placed the daily mail on his sideboard. Heavy winter rain was currently pounding on the roof two stories above his head, giving the day a heavy feel. He was as normal this time of year enthroned in his mainland home, winter weather being much too difficult for his preferred abode out on the island. Currently the elder feline was busy trying to slide his newly built ship model into its display bottle. Even with the masts down he was having trouble, as he had built the thing just a bit too wide. Finally, with a squeaking of abused wood he managed to get the thing in where it belonged. An hour for the glue to set, then he could pull the string to lift the masts... The string.. String. Where was the blasted string?

Looking at his desk he discovered that he had completely forgotten to place the string where it belonged. Oh well, he’d done it before, it would just take a bit more effort was all. But what else could go wrong today he wondered. Another dust generated sneeze caught him off guard, almost causing him to knock the freshly bottled model off his desk. His office was a bit dusty, and not for the first time he realized that sending his maid Marta off to bring his daughter home from Spontoon had been a mistake. Marta was a Demoness with a duster, the younger woman he had hired as her replacement until she returned was rather lax about her duties. Then, he admitted to himself, the little feline hadn’t been hired completely for her dusting abilities. She had been hired because she was pretty, and with his daughter and Marta gone Alfred Silfverlindh had to admit that he was lonely. Standing slowly, for the weather had inflamed his joints, the still slender feline made his way to the sideboard and his waiting mail.

Bills, magazine, monthly business report, several newspapers, bill and yet another bill. He carefully went through the rather large stack. There were four letters that he would read before addressing the bills, Business and bills could wait a day or four in this weather. There was also, of all things, a large brown envelope with the return address of Temple of the Sacred Femina Praeclarus. Ah, his latest issue of Hot Fur had finally arrived. After a careful reading it would join the rest of his secret collection currently hidden in, of all places, a covered and locked cedar trunk in his wine cellar. Taking the envelope and letters with him he returned to his desk, settling in for a wonderful hour or so of ‘reading.’

Yes, reading, that was what he had always called it. Since being rescued from the ship-wreak he had entered a period of grieving for his lost wife. Refusing all female companionship other than that of his daughter. That time had passed years ago, and though he still greatly loved his now dead wife, he did look. Even occasionally dabble, if the feline in question was intelligent and educated that was. He so disliked those who would not educate themselves.

In the last issue of Hot Fur the teaser had been female pilots. A certain Abysmal Sea aviation school had been mentioned as well. He always had a thing for female pilots. All right, since he had stopped grieving over his wife Josefina’s death he had at least started looking for a life companion again. He had, after all, a thing for all beautiful women. Especially the just over twenty crowd. That Marta had interest in him he was quite aware, but Marta had neither the intelligence that Alfred had demanded in a companion, nor the education or adventurism that his Josefina had used to capture his heart. He was though barely forty five. He had too many years ahead of him to spend alone, so he had started a search. Unfortunately at his age the field was very thin, most of those who fit his needs either already married or otherwise uninteresting.

Opening the magazine he was soon greeted by a most unexpected image. That being one of his own daughter. She was standing in front of a hangared biplane in nothing but her most delicate panties. Not only that, she had pulled them far aside so... A deep breath escaped the old feline. Physical interest in his own daughter he had never had, and even now did not, even if all her physical charms were open to his sight. But she was the spitting image of her mother at that age, though the background then had been their sailing boat. He still had, hidden away in that chest several dozen-dozen ‘exotic’ photographs of his wife. One could almost be a duplicate of this one. The only difference was Angelica’s mother had been in a boat house, and there were several following images he recalled. Ones much much bolder than even this one, for the panties had gone quickly. And Josefina had always been both very mischievous and playful.

There was the time in England during their honeymoon when Josefina had brought Harriet Quimby home for dinner, and the vixen had become desert. Then stayed to become breakfast and lunch. Something important had begun then, but was ended when her aircraft plunged into Dorchester Bay that July in 1912. It had put a damper on the rest of their honeymoon. For women like Harriet were as rare as women like Josefina.

“My dear daughter” he said to the image as he slid a paper to cover all but her shoulders and face. “You have a long way still to go before you equal your mother in boldness. But you are her image now. Whomever you have found to wake this in you, stay with them.” After running two fingers lovingly over the images face he carefully turned the page, to discover a very endowed rabbit looking at him. One who just might give his daughter a run for her money. On a good day that was. She though wore nothing but a tool belt, and that hid absolutely nothing.

Seven months earlier...

Angelica Silfverlindh stared in shock at the three young women sitting across Kama’s pool from her. “You want me to what?” she asked, still uncertain she had heard right. Or more to the point, afraid that she had heard right. At least Kama was outside with Marta, playing in the waves with her unnatural pet.

“A photo session” Prudance Akroyd repeated. Her soft British accent was well fitted for convincing the Swedish feline in this case. Running one hand through her own soft brown locks the canine leaned forward, aware that at this time of the month her body would have almost no effect upon the cursed feline. “Mainly for Ada” she continued. “It’s a special gift for her. We are having our own pictures taken, exactly the same way. An no Angelica. There won’t be any gripande.” She almost smiled at the reaction that word brought to Angelica’s face. It was a good bet that Angelica hadn’t any idea that the entire dorm had started learning Swedish not long after Ada’s special involvement began. Though the hound wasn’t quite ceratin she had selected the right word it did seem to get the idea across.

“A fun, special time, with a female photographer and her assistant. You will have something to give her that that Ada will have the rest of her life.” She continued as she leaned back against one of the long houses support posts. This conversation was only a few minutes old, but Angelica was already wavering. It showed the hound that their feline friend did have real feelings for the Jewish canine, who had almost ruined her own life to help her. “To remember you by. You won’t even have to take your panties off. I assume that you still have a pair?”

“Uh...” Angelica’s ear tips reddened. “No. I never had the free money to buy clothing, all mine were lost when the curse was given me. After a while, what with Kama and all. You see the money was needed elsewhere and anyway, its such a long walk to Main Village. Besides...” She smiled mischievously, unaware that she was mirroring her own mothers habits from long ago. “After a while, well I really only need them a short time each month right? A cloth belt is just as useful, and easier to clean.”

“Money same with us” the Mextixa anteater Carmen V. added, a blush growing along her pronounced muzzle as she realized that the only thing between her and Angelica’s treasures was a tapa cloth skirt, and it held on by only a single easily opened knot. The Swedish feline had apparently gone completely native while in North Village. “The supercharger.” she continued, at the same time mentally burning in an image of that short bark-cloth skirt. It had been woven by a master, a gift no doubt to Kama’s mother, not the Angelica herself. It left little of the now well developed, well muscled woman to the imagination.

Angelica’s face fell a bit upon being reminded of that none-too little disaster. Part of the deal where her beautiful Silfer Angel was given a cut rate on hanger fees was that Songmark students could fly it. As much as she dearly loved the aircraft, it was she was realizing now, only a beautiful machine. Machines had occasional problems and this time, somehow the superchargers mounting plate had cracked. Its failure had confused even the Songmark Instructors. Flying straight and level at normal cruising speed the thick magnesium mount had simply cracked. This required the aircraft to return for a dead stick landing in order to save the engine from further harm. It had been a challenging time for the students flying at the time, Angelica understood that they received high marks for their actions during that un-planned emergency.

A detailed investigation had given evidence that the casting had been faulty. Externally the mounting plate appeared perfect, but internally the crack, which had started as a small casting flaw, had grown until it failed. Prudence’s dorm had dealt with Superior Engineering, first by having an expensive mold machined to match the original casting. Then a new part poured. It had taken almost a week, as Superior rejected casting after casting with no test other than placing the handle of a tuning fork against the part while listening to the new plate vibrate. Oddly, upon examination, every one of the rejected castings proved to have a flaw or crack in it.

All this had been expensive, the money coming from Prudance’s dorms funds. Funds made possible by the two very erotic portfolios Bride of the Fire Queen (now in its fifth printing) and their own portfolio (now in its third printing.) That money had been intended to seed their future. Now it was badly depleted. A part here, a part there, fuel, hanger fees. All nibbled away in order to keep Angelica’s baby in the air.

“There is much more to this than just Ada, isn’t it” the Swedish feline asked. “You want to replenish your funds at the same time. Who is it?”

Prudence laughed. “Ada warned me that you are the great business woman” she said. “I guess you would have to be, in order to sell so well a product that you truly hated. It’s Hot Fur.”

“Hot Fur” Angelica repeated. “My father has a lifetime subscription to that rag.” She noted the surprised looks on her friends faces. “Oh please. What young girl hasn’t dug through her fathers things. I was looking for photos, letters from mother. He has special hiding places. One is in the wine cellar in our Winter home. I just found things that I hadn’t expected. Like a rather large collection of my mothers photos. Photos taken before I was born. Did you know she was in issue three of Exotic Fjords? Four photographs. All very, very well done.”

Angelica smiled then, more to the memory of her mother’s own adventurism than anything else. Many of the photo’s she had stumbled on as a teenager had first shocked her. Her mother with Aunt Tilda? Her fathers older sister was Sapphic, that was an open secret in the family. But with her mother too? It had taken her months to work the meaning of those five snaps through her own mind, and morals. Mother had simply enjoyed what life had offered her. When the shipwreck came, it was long after her parents had settled down to raise a family. Her mother had a rich life, maybe it would be a good idea for her to follow some of her mothers footsteps. It was for a good cause after all.

“All right” she decided. “This once Prudance. But anyone other than Ada touches me and I return home.”

She thought a moment longer. “Ada isn’t here because she didn’t want to sway me one way or another. Correct?”

“More like frightened make you the mad at her” Carmen admitted. “Supercharger, that take huge bite from saving. Ada afraid you mistake. Think you owe her. Angelica, one thing I know. Ada love you like I love Alexia. She never hurt you. Never take.”

“I know that” Angelica agreed. “I’m just. Oh, if it were not for this horrid curse I would not be hurting Ada. She is such a great friend most of the time.”

“Ah ah hell of ah lover tha other” the rabbit Belle laughed. “Darlin, affor you came by. Me ahn Ada. Lets just say yum yum.”

Angelica blushed from her ear tips to her cheeks. “There is that” she agreed in a husky voice as her fingers unconsciously grasped her recently renewed tailfast ring. “There is most certainly that. Were only she were male, oh I would bear her dozens of kittens if she wished.”

Her visitors held their own council at the sound of those words. Too many times in the last three years they had been forced to watch a Songmark girl destroy herself, or another. All because of love, or the absolute lack of it. Carefully Prudance continued the conversation. “Tomorrow, Sunday. The old blue and green hanger on Eastern Island. It is number seventeen. Just after sunrise, if you can make it. The photographer and her assistant have promised complete paws off.”

“Very well then. You have done so much for me for so little. I will be there” Angelica agreed. “Just remember Ladies. Any Hanky-Panky and I will bail out on you. No signed release, no useable photos. I just go home. Now I promised Kama and Marta a swim in Vikingtown’s heated pool. So, if you do not mind? Or if you desire, you may join us.”

They in fact did not mind, unknown to Angelica they were very delighted. Having seen the Fire Queen portfolio Hot Fur had offered a great deal more if ‘those two models’ could be a part of the photo shoot. They had feared that it would be impossible. Or so expensive as to be near so. That Angelica understood, the reason for this income and agreed meant a lot to them all. It also told them that the Swedish feline had grown a great deal since arriving on Spontoon Island nearly a year ago. There was also this, school was almost over for Prudance’s dorm. When it was, the Silfer Angel’s daily expenses were going to almost triple.

Late that night the Swedish maid Marta lay uncomfortably on her pallet, thinking over the day. Angelica had taken her and the strange kitten known only as Kama to a Scandinavian village known as Vikingstown. Supposable it had been to treat Kama to a hot pool where they could swim. That Miss Silfverlindh had slipped into one of those native sheets they called dresses had eased the maids mind. It was bad enough that her employers young daughter wandered around in her ‘home village’ in nothing more than a skirt, but to walk among civilized Scandinavians that way would have invited her ravishing by every male in the town.

Vikingstown turned out to be not much more ‘civilized’ than North Village. Oh yes, the towns citizens walked around fully clothed. But almost all of those costumes must have come from the eighth to eleventh century. Not that, to her knowledge, there was much difference in Scandinavian clothing styles in those three hundred years. Instead of Angelica and her friends looking out of place among civilized Europeans, it was Marta. In her starched maids uniform she felt as though she were an object on display. She heard no off colour remarks about herself, but every male must have undressed her with his eyes at least once during her visit. After a while she had gotten used to the stares, but then Angelica had the temerity to take her to that bath house.

At least it had been separated males from females, though by only a six foot wooden wall. Though the water was warm, almost hot, she had been stunned to discover that her last years woolen swimming costume was completely unacceptable. Thus she had found herself sharing the water with a dozen or more women of different ages and species in nothing but her fur, and with the waters effects, that had left absolutely everything exposed.

Prudance and her three friends were roughhousing, though the hound Ada was keeping an eye on Angelica. Angelica and Kama had stayed near Marta, not so near as to appear to be protecting her even though they were. The little kitten swam like a fish, she obviously enjoyed the rare pleasure of hot water surrounding her. Perhaps, Marta thought, returned to Sweden and a proper education, Kama could be cured of the pagan influences of North Village. Of Spontoon itself. Angelica had obviously fallen in with the wrong crowd. Why, if her mother could see her now she would be most disappointed. As would any proper Swedish mother. Angelica though was an adult, it was obvious to the maid that her father had failed completely to train her in proper manners. Yes then she had been thinking. Tomorrow she would begin to instruct the little kitten in...

Someone had fallen against her at that moment, forcing her underwater while arms and legs flailed. She had grabbed the first thing that she could, only to discover that it was a rabbits short tail. That didn’t help, as her other hand had enveloped what could only have been the rabbits left breast. Shocked, not only at what she had done, but at the feelings she was abruptly having, Marta had broken to the surface. To find herself facing Belle, the Songmark girl. She was so stunned by events that she forgot where her hands were.

Belle though was very aware. “Whell darlin, if yah want” she had husked, then wrapped her arms around the overwhelmed housecat, thus pinning her arms where they were. The kiss that followed had lit a fire within Marta’s belly that she hadn’t felt since her only boyfriend had left her for the Navy. Toresten kissed exactly like Belle, only he didn’t put anywhere near the amount of tongue into play.

“Belle. Marta. Quit this instant” Angelica had called. “This is a social bath during the daytime. There are children present. You will most assuredly get us all thrown out.”

That had woken Marta up and she released Belle’s tail, using her now free hand to push at the slightly younger rabbit. It was like pushing at a stone wall. Belle though broke the kiss, letting go of Marta with one arm that made the embrace no less impossible to break. “Oh yeah. Yah taste just like Angelica. Must be tha Swedish waters. Promise, I’ll come for yah tahnight.” She had then pulled away, but not before her free hand had lit the fuze that was Marta’s body.

The rest of the day had been a blur for Marta. Certainly she never noticed the young eyes that watched her carefully. Watched her as one would watch a dangerous animal. An animal that needed training. Mama training.

Now it was late night, nearing midnight. Angelica was a night fisherwoman, thus she was gone. Kama and her strange, frightening pet were both well asleep. Marta was afraid to sleep because... A crunch of sand warned her. Looking to the doorway she saw the form of Belle standing there. “I’ve come” the rabbit whispered.

With a look to the sleeping child Marta swallowed. What would Belle do if she said no? How would she take revenge? Harm the child? Angelica? No. No the Swedish maid had been well trained about her responsibilities. Swallowing silently she stood, walking out of the long house with Belle.

Behind her Kama’s eyes opened ever so slightly. “Mama Marta” she whispered, still much asleep. Then, with that smile still on her angelic face she returned to sleep. Marta though would have no sleep that night.

Angelica returned very early from fishing tired but elated. Her boat had caught three tuna’s, a rare thing in these waters this time of year. The three fish had instantly overfilled their boat, so the Captain had called it a night and come in just after two am. ‘I’ll be able to sleep before the photo shoot’ she was thinking as she carried her share of the tuna catch into her long house. ‘Kama hasn’t had tuna, it is so rare. The spirits smiled upon us tonight. Each fish was nearly five hundred pounds. We barely managed to get them aboard.’

As a nightly catch was only around two hundred pounds for each ship, such a catch was a treasure. Angelica herself had almost ten pounds of fresh tuna in her basket, more than twice the weight of any previous share that she had ever brought home. She could have had fifteen, but had made arrangements to have five pounds of the fresh tuna delivered to the mouse living at Great Stone Glen. Angelica was still learning how deep the debt she was to that priestess was, and was trying to find ways to repay it.

As that oriental priestess had once told her, tuna could be eaten raw as well as friend or baked. Even poached, but one must be careful not to boil it as it would become tough and ruin the meat. Certainly the scent had overwhelmed the feline crew members, Angelica included. Honored Mother Oharu had been right, raw tuna was very tasty. They had each eaten a mouthful after the sharing was done, before going home.

Approaching her longhouse she noted the new tracks in the sand. There had been a light wind when she had left for work, so any tracks would have been fairly erased by now. What she saw was an adult rabbit had stopped at the doorway, then it and a adult feline had left. That would be Marta, but the rabbit? Angelica had learned to read tracks, but as to who’s. Well that was something for an expert. Marta though had obviously found a boyfriend. Good for her. Kama almost always slept alone when her mother was working, or with friends. In North Village she was safer alone in her long house than in a guarded compound anywhere else.

“Mama?” a sweet young voice called from within the long house.

With a welcoming smile on her face Angelica entered, to find Kama awake and waiting for her. “You should be asleep” she scolded her adopted daughter, but there was no strength in her scolding. It was just what was. Kama would always be awake when either of her adopted mothers came home.

“Fish” the kitten answered, and there were a thousand words held in that single sound. Good, yummie, hungry along with a plaintive request. Of course eating at night was never a good habit, but the tuna was fresh, and even stored in salt water until morning would have lost some of its taste.

Settling down beside her daughter Angelica took out her fishing knife. It was well honed, one of the many things she had been carefully instructed in as a fisherwoman. A dull knife could not cut a running line before it took a furson overboard and into rib crushing depth. She hadn’t been allowed to fish until she had mastered the art of keeping a keen edge. Opening the basket Angelica cut a kittens share from the rich pinkish flesh. A morsel that Kama quickly inhaled. Laughing in pleasure, Angelica cut another piece. For she had gone out into the darkness to support her family. She had helped catch this food. She had brought it home. Not simply sent some servant out to buy and prepare food. No, she had supplied her home with food by the actions of her own paws. It felt... Right

“Good” Kama managed around her second mouthful, chewing delightedly.

“Marta?” Angelica asked, wanting to know what had happened to her ‘maid.’ Kama would know of course. Marta still tried to be the proper Swedish Maid, but the black and white feline was confounded by the lack of cleaning and dusting that she could do. In desperation she had taken cooking chores away from Angelica. Proving herself a sightly better cook that the grounded aviatrix. That though had proven the only thing that Marta had done these last three weeks, other than harp about Sweden. As with many of Angelica’s meals, Kama had not liked some of the ‘traditional Swedish’ dishes and had gone elsewhere to eat. Nor had the maid ceased in her attempts to get Angelica to return to Sweden and her father. Still she was from home, and even if just a near uneducated maid she at least was something familiar.

“Belle” the kitten asked, holding her little hands out for another piece of the delicious flesh.

“Ah, I see. Okay, one last piece, then back to bed.” Feeding her adopted daughter was a great pleasure Angelica had discovered. Feeding her with food she had caught, or harvested with her own hands. Knowing exactly where the food had come from. How it had been prepared. ‘I will never have a cook of my own’ the feline decided. Though still only a fair cook, she had discovered the joy of making her own food. When Kama laid down again Angelica went out, filling her storage pot with fresh seawater which she then boiled. It would keep the tuna fresh until morning.

Morning brought a well used black and white feline back into the long house. Entering, Marta could smell the tuna, as even in the pot of cooled seawater its scent was everywhere. So was the scent of a certain rabbit. At least to her nose. There was a bemused look on the maids face, she had been frightened of Belle at first. Now they were friends. Certainly she much preferred a male. That Marta was certain of even though she had yet to have one in her bed. But the Songmark rabbit had scratched itches that Marta hadn’t even known existed. Strangely, she wasn’t even tired. “Tuna?” she asked softly as she entered, surprised to see Angelica in bed without her customary coat of salt. ‘Oh yes’ the black and white feline reminded herself. ‘She went completely native two weeks ago, it Is that horrid gunk the locals put on their fur. Its why her’s is so stuff.’

“Tuna” echoed Angelica from her pallet. She yawned, throwing off her thin blanket to show that she wore nothing underneath while she slept. “We had a lucky night. I came home early. How was Belle?”

“B... Belle?” Marta asked. “Uh, she is well, I think. She wanted to talk about you Miss. Silfverlindh.”

Angelica laughed lightly, shifting to her native language Swedish. “Really now Marta. You can’t think of a better story? I remember in Sweden that you had an answer for everything. Even though I did not much like those answers. From looking at your fur, it is obvious what part of you she was talking to the most.”

Marta blushed, the parts of her body where her white fur was thinnest turned a delicate shade of red. “Miss Silfverlindh” she finally managed to say. “Even though I am your fathers servant, my private life is still my own.”

Standing, Angelica stretched. An act that did amazing things to her body even under the thickly oiled fur. “I must correct you then Marta Svensson. Father never wrote a standard contract in his life” She continued her stretching, aware that the black and white housecat was watching her with some interest. It was a trick Ada had taught her, to keep your opponent off balance. In whatever way you could. “You would have found Miss Svensson, had you the ability to read that far, a clause in your contact that give full control of your life to father, or his designated agent. This to continue as long as you accept even so much as a single Ore from his pockets. I do believe that you will find your pay continuing to be deposited into your bank account. You chose Svenska Handelsbanken as I recall. For one of your limited education Marta, an excellent choice.”

She gave the maid a predator’s look. Marta was simply an uneducated, though pretty Swedish girl. It wasn’t as though she were royalty after all. “Of course” the beautiful Swedish feline continued. “You may present me with your resignation right now. I will give you ten minutes to gather your rather extensive clothing. Even though it is all paid for from my fathers pocket, and get out.” She bent backwards, her paws touching the sandy floor behind her as she continued talking. “I could of course” she mused, lifting into a handstand as one of the local girls had taught her. “Simply take everything that father paid for.” Dropping back on her feet she shook her head, getting her hair to fall into place. “You would leave North Village dressed exactly as I am now. How was Belle?”

Ice water poured down Marta’s spine like a waterfall. Angelica’s movements had mesmerized her. Yes, she would have a male in her bed, but Belle had woken up another hunger within her. One that would remain, limited yes, but remain. She had indeed read that clause, two years after signing the thing. It was a complex contract after all. It had stressed her fifth grade education to the maximum to understand even a third of it. That his daughter had also read the same contract was a shocking surprise. It was true, she could end her employment at any time that she wished. But here? In North Village? On a island over six thousand miles from home... No. She hadn’t the knowledge of how to even get to the other side of Main Island as yet. Other than vaguely knowing that ‘one of the larger trails leads to Main Village. Eventually.’ Then there was the fact that her employable skills were absolutely limited. Even if they were in Sweden, without a letter of recommendation employment in a good household would be impossible.

“She was unexpected Miss Silfverlindh” Marta admitted, broken. Her voice, her entire manner had returned to that of an obedient servant. Angelica Silfverlindh had changed she realized. Not in just her style of clothing, or her taste in lovers. She had become harder. More willing to press when needed. ‘She will be an excellent replacement for her father, upon his retirement’ the feline maid realized. “She found ways of pleasing me that I was unaware existed.”

“Yes. Belle is very educated in the ways of a woman’s body” Angelica agreed. “I know this from experience. But Ada is much better. Much much better. I also know that you have your eyes set upon my father.” She held up two fingers to stop the automatic protest. “Please Marta. I lived with you for six years. I know how a civilized woman flirts, when she wants a mans eyes to follow her body. You never missed a chance to try and ensnare my father. It is simply not going to happen. Father will never marry a woman less intelligent, less educated than himself.”

She bent down and grabbed her fur-brush. “You were born to be a servant Marta, you will die as a servant. Your only hope is to marry another servant, a military man or as here in the Spontoon’s, someone to whom your social rank means nothing.”

“Like with you and Ada Miss Silfverlindh?” Marta asked, her paw reaching up to close her mouth much too late.

Stopping her brushing, Angelica had just begun on her left arm, the cat forced herself not to fire this upstart servant here and now. Maybe tomorrow, there was always tomorrow. But not today. “Can you read these markings?” she ask pointedly, brushing her fingers over the patterns carefully combed into her fur before the oil gelled. Combed by herself the last time. “You have been here three weeks Marta, have you at least learned how to read any of these? The markings that your employer proudly bears? Or have you just spent the time hiding in my home, eating the food that I catch with my own paws, that I bring home. Doing no more than poor cooking in repayment.”

“I have been caring for the kitten” Marta answered in her defense.

“Who has a rather extended family that does that already” Angelica snapped. She was aware that Kama was awake, watching in silence. How much of this conversation the adopted kitten understood she wasn’t sure, they were speaking in Swedish. But a lot more than the average child of her years was certain. “You, Marta Svensson, have done nothing but berate my chosen lifestyle while primping up the advantages of return to Sweden and home. All the while sitting in hiding in my home, eating my food. You only leave when nature calls, then only so long as you need. Scurrying back like some frightened child among bullies waiting for you.”

She pointed at one of the markings on her chest. “This says I am a member of the Popoluma family. Just as if I had been born from Mama Popoluma’s womb. That makes me a full Spontoon Citizen, with all the rights, and more importantly the responsibilities of any Spontoon Citizen. This one says I am Kama’s mother. That is a marking I take great pride in. Kama could have chosen anyone, she chose Ada and I. This one says I am an honest pearl fisherwoman. I had to do something that hurt me a great deal at the time to earn this. But it woke me up, the doing of such. This one says I am a trusted night fisherwoman. One who can work nets, pikes or simply dive after a fish by myself. That was very, very hard to earn. I am still trying to earn the two slashes that say I am a harpooner.“

She took a breath, noting the surprised expression on Marta’s face. “This says that I an a citizen of North Village and yes, this one says that I am tailfast to Ada. Marry her? Maybe. If she were a male I would already happily be carrying her first kitten, or pup depending upon what the Gods decided. Certainly under an old law of Spontoon we are already married, you see I gave her my name. She is as much Cronstein as she is Popoluma as she is Silfverlindh. But to stand before a Priestess and take her for life? I... I don’t know Marta. That I honestly do not know. Yet. Sometimes oh yes, so very much yes. Other times I shiver in fright of the idea. She is a great friend, a wonderful lover but more importantly. She is intelligent, self assured and takes no crap from anyone. So the answer is yes, were she male I would already be happily married and converted to her religion. But as she is a woman, more than likely not. Does that answer your question Maid Marta Svensson.”

“Yes Mam” the beaten down housecat answered. She had not been so spoken too since her first month at Maid School. To discover that her employers daughter, a girl that she had looked down upon since their first meeting, was able to do the same thing was soul shaking. She would have to revert to plan B then.

“Very good. Today you will go with me. I will arrange for one of my sisters to care for Kama and cook what is left of the tuna, after breakfast. We are going to Eastern Island, where I have agreed to a project that will help me pay a debt to Prudance’s dorm. It is my decision that you shall join me as my chaperone. Or you can resign here and now.”

“I understand Miss Silfverlindh” Marta answered. There was still spirit in her voice. She was not so weak as to be broken by one simply raging tyrant of words. But her world view had been shifted, and she needed time to work through all these new revelations. “I will go with you.”

“Good, and tomorrow you start earning your keep. I will arrange for you to help with the fishing fleet. On the shore of course. At least until you learn how to swim well enough to join me on the boats.” Angelica glanced down at Kama, noting the kitten trying to hide giggles. ‘Good’ she thought. ‘I’m doing this right.’ “Only after you are helping the village may you return to reminding me of all the delights of Sweden. Marta... I will return home. I miss home. I miss Sweden. I miss the winter storms, the sound of heavy snow whispering across the window glass. I miss the sharp taste of our foods. But this is now home for me too. I have friends here Marta. Real friends. Not hanger on’s that know I am rich and simply want me to pick up the bill for their own good time. I can go to any firepit and be welcome. Before we return to Sweden, I want you to be able to do the same. Now, do you prefer boys or girls?”

The last question caught Marta completely off guard. It took her a minute to form a truthful answer. “Men” she answered finally. “I have never more than kissed a male” she admitted. “But my dreams are of them. Belle was delightful, fun. She was so many things. But... I felt no strong attraction to her. Not one that would keep me going to her.”

“Good.” Angelica thought a few longs seconds before continuing. “There is a great deal of prime steak in North Village. I’m certain that we can find a rich sausage meal to fill your belly.”

“MISS SILFVERLINDH” Marta gasped, nearly screaming. “I am a proper Swedish woman. Servant I may be, I am not yours to farm out to any male you may desire. Employment contract or not.”

Angelica laughed, returning to her brushing. “Yes, Good. Marta still lives. Trust me my servant, I am not going to sell you to Krupmark. Just keep your eyes open. You never know. And should you find someone be certain that I will release you from your contract if you wish. With full pay. Now, please prepare breakfast for three. Then brush yourself and dress lightly. Remember, we are walking several miles in the jungle, so do not overdress and do wear your walking shoes. I don’t want to have to carry you down the mountain.”

Less than an hour later, having found one of her sisters willing to both care for Kama and the remaining tuna, Angelica was leading Marta up the trail towards Main Island’s spine. For Angelica the walk was an easy one, Marta though was having trouble. Trouble that Angelica would have had during her first two months on Spontoon. Not now though. Yet instead of lording over her out of shape servant Angelica made several resting stops. Using excuses like ‘I stepped on a stone wrong’ or ‘The view from here is amazing.’

None of these excuses fooled the feline maid, but she wasn’t about to prove ungrateful for them. Somewhere Angelica Silfverlindh had learned to value others. Certainly her time on Spontoon had been an educational one for the feline. Marta though could not help but notice how the thin native cloth clung to the younger cats body. Having just spent a night with a certain rabbit her eyes had been opened. Though she had no hunger for her employers body, she could now understand how Angelica’s dress would make her the target for every male and many females who saw her. Only the carefully re-combed markings on Angelica’s visible fur would turn away suitors. Why bother, when you could see in advance that she had no interest in you. Marta herself now carried a single combed marking. It was almost a duplicate of Angelica’s ‘North Village’ marking, telling anyone who wanted to know, and who could read it, where she lived. It felt strange to carry such a statement on her normally carefully coffered fur. Marta constantly felt as though it were a brand slowly burning its way into her flesh.

Finally they reached the spine, and a place that was obviously both for resting and a cross roads for many trails. Stone and split log benches were all around, as well as a discrete sign announcing where ‘rest places’ could be found. Walking carefully to one of the worked stone walls at the edges, where she could overlook the landscape Marta noticed a depression in the forest. A near circular opening where stonework could just be seen on one side. “Miss Angelica” she asked politely, “What is that?”

Looking towards the place her servant was pointing to Angelica patted Marta’s upper back. “Great Stone Glen” she answered. “Very very difficult to find, unless you know the Priestess. She is a Cipangu mouse, transplanted to Spontoon. Both a Shinto Priestess and a Spontoon Priestess. One day we will visit, she is a friend of mine.”

“You can go there?” Marta asked, surprised.

“Marta, I am a good God Fearing Lutheran” Angelica reminded her two tone companion. “But I also am a thinking woman. That mouse helped me, even when I laughed at her. If you make her your friend you could find no better. If you make her your enemy. Well, I will release you from your contract and arrange first class passage back to Sweden. Perhaps the Priests at home would be able to help you.”

“She is a witch then” Marta decided.

“As much as Miss Klara is a witch.”

Marta thought for a moment. Miss Klara, even at nearly ninety three was the sweetest, kindest woman she had ever met. Though she could, and would quote from either version of the bible at any moment. Completely from memory. “So then, she is like a nun?”

“She is like a priestess” Angelica corrected. “The only nun’s on Spontoon Island are Christian ones. It’s a long story, so I will tell it to you as we walk to Main Village. It will shorten the path for both of us. We can catch a water taxi to Eastern Island from there. After the photographs, I will take you to Song Sodas and treat you to an iced cream. Then I promised Kama to take her to Casino Island again for sweets and shopping. I will be busy today I fear.”

And so it went, as they made their way down the well traveled trail, making way as larger groups either overtook them, or came up from below them. Their time improved as well because Marta did not need as many rest stops. During the walk, Angelica explained Spontoon’s convoluted religious establishment as best as she herself understood it.

“So do not preach Christian ways openly except upon Casino Island” Angelica finished as they turned onto yet another unmarked trail. “You would be lucky only to be shaved and coated with tar and feathers. The Church is all powerful in Sweden. Here it has no existence outside of Casino Island. Then only with a very small number of natives.”

“I understand Miss Silfverlindh” the black and white feline agreed, taking care to try and memorize their path. “It is hard to remember that only in Europe and the America’s is the Holy Church strong. That it is unknown in places, that is a shock. I think that I have a great deal as yet to understand. But should I bother? We are returning to Sweden are we not?’

“Eventually” Angelica agreed. “But not this week, not even this month. Perhaps not this year. We will return, you have my word upon that. I have many things yet I must do before I can fly home. One it to find my mother. Ada has promised to do that, so I must wait for her.”

They broke out of the jungle then and stepped onto one of Main Villages pathways. A road was visible ahead, and as the two women approached a large truck carrying various natives trundled across their sight.

“That looks dangerous” Marta noted as the near overloaded truck vanished from sight.

“It probably is” Angelica admitted. “I haven’t had a chance to ride it yet. Public transportation doesn’t exist here. Its all privately owned. I am assured that the Government inspects each private vehicle at least twice a year. Ah, there is the nearest water taxi. Shall we board?”

Marta took the time their trip across the harbor required to rest. Rest and work over what she had learned. Angelica was in love with this land, that was now obvious. But she was as in love with Sweden. Apparently her Employers daughter would be doing a great deal of traveling between Sweden and Spontoon. But would it be as a God fearing Lutheran, or as a Jew? That did bother the God fearing maid.

Prudance met the two at the hangers door. “Problem” she announced after saying hello to Angelica. “Dorm that was supposed to help us with this got caught with alcohol. Their grounded this weekend.”

“So we have five, not eight” Angelica said more to herself than the others. “How to make up for the shortfall?” She followed Prudance into the hanger, quickly noting that though the huge doors were open, they were closed again by white canvas. “Canvas?” she asked, curious.

“It lets in the light” Prudance explained as she led the two towards a door marked by a page of paper with ‘Dressing Room’ written on it. “But the Canvas mutes the light. No harsh highlights or shadows.”

“Oh.” This was something new to Angelica, she knew almost nothing about photography other than to point her camera at an object, or person, and hope that the photo came out. “What about peeping Toms” she continued.

“Hired a second year dorm” Prudence answered. “No peeping Toms, or Tometts.” They entered the ‘dressing room, an unused office with two girls currently in various states of undress. “Carmen is with the Humber sisters, trying to convince them to join in.” Prudance grinned, “Since Carmen is going to marry one of them, it shouldn’t be that much of a problem. Best tha you undress now, the photographer wants everyone’s fur to relax before the shoot. “Cept your new panties” she continued, picking up a paper bag to offer it to Angelica. “Hope you like blood red, Ada bought them.”

Accepting the bag Angelica easily slipped out of her Lavalava. Getting the panties on though proved to be an experience. It had been almost a year since she had worn any, and truthfully she had forgotten how to most easily get them on. Finally Ada walked over, a flicker of her paw indicating the hounds offer to help. An offer the Swedish felina accepted gratefully. It was then that she realized she hadn’t unbuttoned the tail loop. Stepping over to an obviously temporary full length mirror Angelica looked at herself. Yes, she was a much more muscled woman now. A great many of her curves had changed, her body was more pronounced and though her bones still didn’t show, they were covered by muscle now. Not fat as they had been before. She really liked what she saw, and Ada had been right about the color.

“I cannot believe that you are doing this” Marta whispered into Angelica’s ear. “This isn’t right for a woman of your position.” Secretly though the black and whits feline was delighted. This would give her really useful blackmail material over Angelica in the future. “Think of your father, and what this will do to his social position.”

“I don’t know Marta. As you apparently already have experience in these things, what would it do to fathers social position” Angelica asked sweetly.

“I... I...” Marta stepped back, looking for an out. She had just been blind sided by her employers daughter. Yes, her Toresten had convinced her to let him take one snap topless, but she had her arm where nothing untoward showed. Angelica, and these... girls, were about to show all. Something the maid could never bring herself to do. No, never. Noticing the general filth of the room she grabbed a rag from a shelf and started dusting. “This place is so filthy” she said, aware that her cheeks were burning like fire. Behind her she could feel Angelica’s humor, though not even a giggle passed the girls lips.

With the others talking behind her Marta started searching the office, her actions covered well by her industrious cleaning efforts. She was looking for a small notebook and pencil. Certainly one had to be around somewhere. Though her memory was quite good, as any servants must be, written proof of times, dates and actions were more desirable when approached her employer with his daughters indiscretions. There was no other living siblings after all, and with Mr. Silfverlindh now in middle age he would have to start looking for a new wife. ‘Educated’ Marta thought as she straightened a line of books, appalled at the dead bugs she found behind them. ‘No man cars for a woman education when she makes herself completely available to anything he may dream of. I will show that Miss Know-it-all. I’ll take her father away, then abandon her to this little island in the middle of no-where. Her and her Sapphic lover. There will be no legal children from that union to make claim against my children, and I will have many children. The better to keep the old man amused, and bemused.’

A clink as she moved the next set of books caught her attention. It was, she saw, a little tin snuff bottle. Picking it up she studied the dull metal. No, not tin, good coin silver, as the American coins pattern had been kept. It took a moment to find the date, 1890-S. A very pretty image she thought, noting that where the bottle had been sitting had a vague imprint. It had been sitting there at least two months. Opening the bottle she sniffed it, only encountered snuff twice before she was interested in what the attraction was about it.

Marta Svensson may have encountered snuff before, but she had never encountered refined catnip oil. Oil saturated into a cotton pad that had been shoved into the silver bottle, for the express use of seducing young island females. Females that then found themselves in the slave trade, almost always as merchandise. It had been overlooked by the last inhibitor of this office, when she had been evicted by Superior Engineering for failing to pay her repair bills. The pilots aircraft was the very one that they would be using for a backdrop.

A tingle soon made itself felt in Marta’s fingers and toes. This she ignored, it had been a long walk from North Village to Main Village, one she was unused to. She incorrectly assumed that it was a result of her exhaustion from that walk. Closing the flask she slipped it into a ready pocket of her uniform. It had smelled nothing like snuff, and in fact had a pleasant scent. No one would miss it for the day. She looked at the spot she had found the flask, mentally insuring that she would be able to replace it when they left, then returned to her self-appointed work. But she found herself looking at Belle a little, remembering last night with pleasure. A hunger was building in her, one that she would be able to suppress. As long as she took no more doses from that silver bottle.

Carmen arrived forty minutes later with the Humber sisters. Tina and Alexia were minks, and their long hard work for the hospital had given them bodies close to what the Songmark girls considered normal. Alexia remained very close to the anteater Carmen, they were so obviously a couple. She was also the one to speak first. “We have agreed under one condition” she told the assembled women. “That we are given one third of the models pay we would normally earn.” She pointed at her well used purple jumpsuit. “These I fear are out best jumpsuits, and our clothing no longer fits correctly. We need replacements, the hospital pays slave wages.”

“Accepted” Prudance agreed almost immediately. Everyone of the Songmark girls knew exactly what Tina and Alexis made a week, and if the hospital hadn’t agreed to free docking for The Black Rose, a meal a day, free medical care and the ugly uniforms. Well the girls could make more a day selling beach shells to tourists. “When do you have to be back?”

“Not until late afternoon tomorrow” Tina answered, her bright cheerful voice a strong counter for her older sisters mellow, earthy tones. “Doctor Kiwi is at Two Shillings Island holding a medical clinic for the children.” She barely blushed as she continued. “He has a girlfriend there, and mentioned that he would be staying for dinner.”

“And breakfast I would wager” Ada added. She looked at Angelica. “Its called Two Shillings because the English Captain that landed there in 1873 claimed there was nothing worth two shillings on the entire island. That was of course, because he landed in mid-winter when the island is almost completely abandoned. It’s really good fishing there, but the fish are gone in winter which makes it very difficult to live.”

Angelica shook her head in disbelief. “Is there anything you don’t know about the islands around here” she asked.

It was Carmen who answered this time. “All the first year Songmark. Know even of the Little Peeper Island. Must know about everything two hundred mile from Songmark. It tested. Not know. Not get weekend pass.“

“And what” Angelica asked, actually interested, “It The Little Peeper.”

“Is tiny rock one hundred three mile North North-West Songmark. Is underwater except twice year. Made of basalt. Some thing it tip of pyramid. Too dangerous currents land near though. Rip hull, pontoon open easy. You sink, no other island twenty miles or more.” She grinned at the feline, pulling her mink the closer to her as she did. “I teach Alexia. She have hard hard time Songmark. So try help her.”

“Because she will be married to a Songmark graduate” Ada mused.

“Same yes. Miss Devinski. She say she try make Alexia quit.” Turning her head, her longer than normal muzzle coming very close to Alexa’s willing lips she continued. “Alexia fail. I make slave. So Alexia not fail. Yes?”

“I won’t fail my darling” Alexa assured her wife to be. Then she kissed Carmen.

It was an act that warmed a certain black and white housecat in a place she hadn’t expected.

“Ladies” a different voice announced. Looking over they all saw that the photographers assistant, a smartly dress vixen of less than average proportions (strange for a vixen they thought) had opened the door. “We start as soon as the first of you are ready. There are eight?” She counted quickly. “Yes eight. About thirty minutes each, or four hours and a bit. First?”

“I’ll go” Prudance announced. “Then Ada, Angelica, Belle and you can decide for yourselves.” She went out wearing nothing more than slippers (the concrete was cold, even for Spontoon) and her bathrobe.

“Eight?” Marta asked. She looked around, counting. Coming to the number she feared she walked over to her employer. “Not I. Surely Miss Silfverlindh” she asked.

“Certainly not, I don’t have that kind of authority over you Marta. There is a morals clause in your contract.” She pointed at Carman, who was dialing on the office phone. “See, Carmen is already hunting another girl. I can’t see any reason why I would even ask you to do such a thing. So relax and do what you want to until I am done here, then we will go get that ice cream I promised you.” Angelica managed to give the maid a smile, but it was an effort. She had brought Marta with her for several reasons. To get her away from the long house, to expose her to more of Spontoon and to be her companion on the trip. Spontoon was safe yes, still Angelica knew that there were people who wanted her. After Kama’s actions on Casino Island she was certain, but without proof she wouldn’t dare mention her fears even to Ada. Marta being a nude model was certainly not in Angelica’s plans. If she so much as suggested it Marta’s contract was null and void. Though Marts may not know the intricacies of her contract, Angelica was well versed in all her father contracts. Though she tried not to show it, certainly not with fathers favorite product, Angelica Silfverlindh truly enjoyed business. That she was talented as well with the complex maneuvers of International Business was simply a plus.

Marta, satisfied now that she wasn’t going to have to undress for the world, returned to her dusting. Again she took a sniff of that wonderfully scented bottle, and the more she dusted, the more she seemed to have to pull that bottle out.

Carmen sat the phone down in dispar. “No one” she admitted to the women waiting. It was almost her turn to face the camera and she had tried everyone she knew who might ow them a favor. She had even called Nikki, offering herself for a weekend of the mares pleasure. ‘Sorry hon, I’d love tah take yah up on it buh I’m flyin out in twenty minutes with ah bunch o’ tourists. Won be back fer four, five hours.’ the mare had explained. The black furred Filipinno mare had been Carmen’s last hope. She knew what she would have faced, had Nikki been available. But they really needed the money and the contract had been for eight girls, not seven.

“No go” Belle asked, resting her impressive chest upon the anteaters head.

“Not the one” Carmen answered. “We are the doomed. No pay lest eight she say.” She was about to start crying when the Swedish maid Marta sauntered up. Sauntered Carmen noted. As though she had no bones at all. What was the feline up too she wondered.

“Belle’e has a problem” the maid asked, leaning up against Belle. A finger of one hand began tracing fur patterns into the rabbits left breast. “Maybe Marta can makie it go away?”

“Drunk” Carmen noted, though there was no scent of alcohol. There was though something else. Abruptly she realized what it was. Catnip” she gasped, moving her head so that Bell had no more free support. But where did Angelica’s maid get hold of catnip? While Belle found herself fending off a rather aggressive feline Carmen stood, making her way to Ada and Angelica.

“Marta” the anteater whispered to the two. “She has the catnip. But from where?”

“Marta? Catnip?” Angelica stared at her maid, who was now busy smothering a surprised rabbit with kisses. “I do not think she has ever encountered catnip” the feline admitted. “Certainly not between home and here. And if she has, I must fire her. It is a violation of her employment contract.”

“Then here somewhere” Ada decided, quickly rejecting a dozen other possibilities. “She’s been cleaning, maybe she found someone’s forgotten stash. There is one way to find out.” She made her way quickly to the black and white feline, a feline who had already both managed to get the larger, confused rabbit in a corner but slip her own blouse off as well.

“Where is it Marta” Ada demanded. “I left it over there where your cleaning and now its gone. Where is it?”

“It?” Marta asked, pulling her befuddled mind away from her prize for a moment. She fumbled around, finally realizing that her blouse was one the floor. She was certainly intoxicated, that was a given. With a flourish she swung one arm up, the other down as she bent over, snagging the errant clothing from its place on the floor. A moments more fumbling and she had the silver bottle out. Offering it to Ada she stood with her back to Belle, her paws behind her back. Paws that were doing their uneducated best to entertain the rabbit while Ada opened the bottle. A single sniff was enough. Not top grade catnip oil, but the original preparation had to have cost its owner a great deal of money. A addict the hound wondered, or worse? This really needed looking into. “Not this one” she said, apparently returning the bottle to Marta’s blouse pocket. “The other one. The green one.”

“Have... have...” Marta took a deep breath, held it, then spoke again. “Mrs Silfverlindh. I can honest.. Honestly tell you that I have not locccc.. Finded... diss diss discovered any green anything. Except for a few books. Shall I help you search for it?”

“No, we still need to find another girl for the camera. You and Belle have fun.” She tossed the blouse on one of the two desks, making her way quickly to Angelica. “Catnip oil” she reported, giving the bottle to her love. “Expensive stuff. Maybe even refined but certainly not top of the line.”

“And you would know how?” Angelica asked, carefully sniffing the now closed bottle. Yes, it was catnip oil, she was certain of that by the way even so little quickly affected her.

“One of my uncles sells the stuff. Under the table of course. Only to respected and trusted customers. Always to very rich feline women married to men that really did not love. Some who could not stand the touch of their arranged husbands. For a feline, it’s the best way to be amorous with a male you cannot stand. Marriages of social status you understand.” She accepted the bottle from Angelica, looking at it ruefully. “I will boil this out. The bottle is too pretty to destroy. And why did she call me Mrs Silfverlindh my dear sweet?”

Angelica did giggle this time. “Old Spontoon law, where there were only a dozen or so Priestess’s and the priests had vanished. You announce to someone of authority that you are married to me, I do not disagree. We are married. I think that Miss Devinski counted there.”

“And that Priestess Oharu. Well, we’ll get a divorce this afternoon. You don’t want me and I’m not going to try to keep you.”

Angelica lifted a paw to Ada’s face, gently pressing on her nose with one finger. “No. I gave you my name. Its an old law not enforced. Besides Ada, I refuse to make a final decision regarding you and I until you bring my mother back to me. Or her bones. Too very much water has gone under that bridge for me to make a snap decision now. Oh dear...”

Adad turned around, to find Belle holding a very enamored feline away with both arms. “I’m not gonna take yah to a hotel” the rabbit was saying.

“Then the beach. It was good enough last night” Marta almost wailed.

“Give me the bottle back” Angelica whispered, “I have to fire her anyway. I might as well make this dramatic.” She made her way to her servant, tapping her on the shoulder. “Marta.”

Marta turned around too quickly and swooned. Angelica noted that Belle had no problem catching the unconscious feline as she fell. “Belle, ask if she will sign the photo contract, but make certain that she understands.. If you can, then get her out there, we promised eight. Well. Maybe we will give her eight. Maybe not. What I have to do now is highly distasteful to me, but she did sign fathers employment contract.” She looked down at the obviously inebriated cat, who had managed to wake up a little. “Marta Svensson” Angelica announced in her Most Serious voice. She tossed the silver bottle into Marta’s lap, a bottle the feline grasped as though a drowning person. “You have violated your employment contract by getting involved with illegal drugs. You are fired. Remove that uniform and return it to me. Now.”

“Nooo...” Marta gasped. She looked straight up at Belle. “Belle?”

Belle stepped away, and by removing her legs as a support caused the black and white cat to fall on her back. “Your cute kid, ahn tasty. But yer just too stuck up ahn your not my type when it comes tah long term relationships. Sorry..”

“I can be better” Marta promised. “You need another woman for pictures. I’ll be that woman.” She turned to Angelica. “Please, please Mrs. Silfverlindh. Don’t fire me. I.. I need the employment. I can’t... I don’t... Oh dear what shall I do?”

Angelica kneeled down, speaking softly to the confused maid. “Marta Svensson. You may come to my home tomorrow at noon if you wish to reapply for employment. But as a proven drug user, I warn you that your contract. Should I decide to hire you. Your contract will be most severe. You will have very few of the freedoms you once enjoyed.”

“What... What do I do until then” Marta asked in a thin voice.

“That, Miss Svensson, is not my problem. You are no longer my employee, are you? Now get out of that uniform. My father paid for it, it was loaned to you as long as you were an employee. Since you are no longer a Silfverlindh employee, you have no legal right to wear Silfverlindh property.”

“Yes Mam” Marta agreed, staggering to her feet to finish undressing. When she had, and Angelica was holding her clothing, the black and white feline abruptly realized three things. She was unemployed. She had no money. She was naked in front of six other women. With an -EEK- of shock she surprised many of those present by hiding behind Belle, who was wearing nothing but a bathrobe herself.

“Being a bit harsh on her love, aren’t you?” Ada asked softly from behind Angelica.

“It’s the catnip” the Swedish beauty admitted, having turned to speak quietly to her best friend. “I can’t help it, it makes me aggressive, which is why I hate it. There is a serious clause in Fathers contracts. I really don’t have a choice. I can get around it by hiring her back tomorrow, but by Swedish law I am forced to discharge her upon discovering her using any illegal drug. And father listed six, from Opium to Catnip. Ada, my paws are tied. Even if she didn’t know what it was, she is smart enough to know that she should have asked.”

Angelica looked over to her embarrassed, and devastated ex-employee, then back to Ada. “Can Belle take care of her until she can return to North Village?”

“We have until Sundown Sunday. Tomorrow.” Ada answered. “I can ask her.”

Angelica went to her carefully folded dress, taking out the small stringed purse she, as well as most native women used. Carefully removing one paper bill and a little change she returned to her hound. “Give Belle this, its all I can afford. Kama will just have to wait until next weekend to see Casino island again. Tell Belle to buy her something to wear. Dammit Ada, Father bound my paws with throttle cable here. I can’t re-employee Marta until she has been off the catnip twenty-four hours. She has to be able to understand her new contract.”

“Keep your money baby” Ada responded, pushing the felines paw away from her. “I’ll talk to Belle. Just calm down off that catnip. Didn’t know you were a nipper anyway.”

“I’m not” the feline admitted. “One of my sisters asked why I was using catnip, when I could get any male I wanted. I had been to Casino island that night. I was illegally selling that pearl I found. I guess I got what I deserved, I guess they were trying to sell me and the pearl. So no Ada, I am not a nipper.” She looked down at her paws a moment. “Unless, maybe, you want me to be. Sorry, I get so confused. I just need time by myself to understand the truth. By myself, and free of this damn curse.”

Ada gave Angelica a quick kiss, surprising the Swedish feline out of her funk. Then she walked over to Belle, who had put her own robe over the now in her fur maid. “Need to talk, outside” the hound said.

Belle nodded, pushed the black and white cat into one of the few chairs then none to gently took that silver bottle away from her. “No more. Ever” she ordered Marta.

“Okay” Marta answered in a husky voice, though she looked hungrily at that bottle. “You’ll be back?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right back” the rabbit promised, moving to follow Ada.

Outside the office, standing behind the dusty aircraft Ada turned to speak with her friend. She quickly filled the Southern rabbit in on Angelica’s legal problems. “Will you take care of Marta for us?” the hound asked.

“Cost” Belle answered. “Ah had plans tahnoght, now I gotta call her and break them. Plus a room ahn meals at Mahanish’s. How longs catnip gonna take to clear out?”

Looking at the silver bottle in her paw Ada tried to remember what Mrs. Oelabe had taught her about catnip when she became so closely involved with Angelica. “Depends on the physical activity, dosage and health of the user” she finally answered. “Walk her around Eastern Island a couple of times, she’s been sniffing not ingesting. That should clear her out completely. Or about an hour, if you can get enough caffeine in her.”

“Coffee is easy” Belle agreed. “What about tha bottle?”

Ada hefted the bottle, looking out at the harbor. But the thing was light, it might float. That, and it was really beautifully made after all. “I’ll get it steam cleaned by Superior.” she decided. “Angelica might like it. But why was it left behind. By whom and were they a nipper, or were they using it for something else? This isn’t enough to sell, its personal use. But personal use can work too many ways.”

“Marta found it” Belle reminded her classmate. “Makes tha bottle hers.”

“And look what she did with it. No, I’ll take care of this things nasty cargo. A nice perfume would be a lot better. Will ten shells be enough for you?”

Belle laughed. “Changing subjects. Just like a woman.” She held her paws up, “I know I know. You’re a woman and yer allowed. Pay me after we get the money from this photographer. Now we better get in, Tina’s taking her turn at the camera.”

“Right, and doing well. You do realize that your doe naked.”

“Yeah,. And no ones seeing nothing I don’t want them too. Lets go. Some of those first years are really tasty looking. Especially that Estland vixen. Maybe I’ll let her ‘find’ a snapshot hey?””

They returned to find Marta listening very carefully as Alexia explained the photo contract. “You are aware than your parents may discover your photographs” she was asking.

“My parents haven’t the money to afford something like Wet Fur.”

“Hot Fur” Alexia corrected.

“Hot Fur” Marta echoed. “I am an unemployed woman in a nation I know nothing about. I have no funds, not even any clothing. Miss Humber, if I do not do this, where will I find the money to survive until I am employed again? Not even Belle wants me now.” Marta it appeared was coming out of her catnip fog, but still had a ways to go. “I would have to sell my body, and that would make my parents turn me out. Photographs. A lark. I can explain such. But selling myself no. And I have never.... Never...” She yawned. “Never lied to my parents or employer. I never will.”

“No one to care for you?” the rabbit asked from behind the feline.

Marta jumped as though electrically shocked. “You won’t touch me now” she said as she turned around. “You took what you wanted last night. Now your happy, you don’t want me at all.”

Belle reached out, grabbing the felines shoulders and pulled them together. “I don’t want you if your drugged er drunk. Thas not right. But if your still interested, I’m free tonight. Soon as I make a call.”

Marta licked her lips, a movement not seen by anyone as her face was jammed between Belle breasts. “Call?” she asked.

“Double Lotus girl, we had a sort-of date.”

“I’ve never been with two” Marta said hopefully. Just then the vixen came in. “Who’s number eight” she asked, looking around. Everyone but Marta and Belle was in various states of dress, and Belle had already been photographed. “Ah, the cute kitten. Brush our fur and come on out. Then Miss Lancaster would like to take some couples photos. There are two couples here yes?”

“Three” Marta corrected. “At the moment.” She reached for a brush, only to discover that Belle already had it. In moments her purr was filling the room.

Just before noon Ada was in a water taxi with Angelica, headed for North Village and a waiting Kama. “She’ll be upset, won’t she” Ada asked.

“Marta?” the feline asked.

“Kama” the hound corrected.

“Ada, what would happen if you were caught using Opium? At Songmark I mean.”

“Thrown out. It’s in the... ahh. I see. No more choice that what you had. Your fathers a hard man my pretty kitty.”

“My father was robbed by two trusted employees. Employees who had become addicted to hashish. They had become exposed to it while in Iran while attempting to open further markets for his horrid bananas. They took him for almost eleven thousand Kronar before he could stem to loss. It is not a mistake he will allow ever again. Every employee had to sign a revised employment contract.” She looked out to approaching Main Island. “He even changed his will. Should I become a drug addict, I am not to receive a single penny. It will all go to mothers family. He made certain that I read his will.”

She reached out, taking Ada’s paws into her own. “Should he die, I must marry before I am twenty-five. Else my inheritance is greatly reduced. Father believes in commitment. He just didn’t say I had to marry a male.”

Ada laughed gently. Sometimes it seemed like Angelica was a certain thing, sometimes. Like now, a maybe. Other times completely untouchable. Certainly the couples session, to which they had been paid a great deal extra for ‘Romantic shots’ Angelica had been quite playful. At one point pulling her new red underwear aside until the tail loop came unbuttoned, causing her to quickly become quite undressed as the cloth quickly failed. It just was so difficult. “And us?” she asked, prodding.

“I don’t know Ada. Please don’t push. I just don’t know. As I said before, just like Marta and the catnip. I need to be free of this curse and away from you long enough to make a decision. I will promise you nothing. Other that I will always be your friend. And that you may have my name as long as you desire. Other than that...” The beautiful feline locked her eyes on the approaching dock. “Please. Let us take it one day at a time. This day, let it be a fun day with Kama and the two of us. Nothing more.”

Seven months later Alfred Silfverlindh finished his latest edition of Hot Fur. Setting the magazine down he gave it a smile. There had been three photographs of his darling daughter within its covers, the last in the arms of an attractive hound. “So” he whispered before opening his letters. “She is the one who captured your heart. Bravo Ada, whoever you are. Bravo.” And Marta had proven quite enjoyable to view as well. Her he hadn’t covered with his sheet of writing paper, as he had his daughter. Such smoldering eyes. Ah, had she been educated and had she shown as this much adventurism, he may have chosen her. Social status meant little to Alfred Silfverlindh. With his wife lost, though he still held out some hope, his daughter and his business were all that mattered to him. That little hope. Perhaps that was why he had never had his wife declared dead, only missing. Setting back in the overstuffed chair the middle aged feline opened his first letter. From Paris, perhaps it held a pleasant message.