06: Alliances
"Sure, allying with Germany is a great idea, why do you ask."
Italy, early '40
Geegaw was awakened to the sound of giggling. He turned over in a vein attempted at falling asleep again. His eyes opened. Above him were three faces, two were very familiar, and the other was new face. He decided it was to early in the morning to try to remember names.
Magnolia was on the ceiling, making faces at him, while Jennifer and Brook were giggling like schoolgirls at the sight. They were laughing so hard that they didn't notice that he was awake.
"Are you quite done yet?" he stated in a testy manner. This caused a louder round of giggling that over shadowed anything he said. Finally he marched into the kitchen to get away from the laughing hyenas in the living room.
Agnes was putting some walnut pancakes batter on the skillet; while Tammy was going over maps with Zipper. She looked up as Geegaw walked in.
"So what's the plan?" The squirrel asked. Geegaw looked confused. "You do have a plan, right?"
He collected his thoughts. "I'd thought we'd go into town to get the lay of the land, stock up on supplies, and get some questions answered."
Tammy shook her head in approval. "Sounds like a good idea." Then changing speeds, "The girls giving you any trouble?"
"A little." He lied, and she knew it.
"Don't worry, the more they bug you, the less they quarrel between them selves."
Geegaw didn't find much comfort in her statement, but let the matter rest.
She continued, "Boy, can they talk up a storm. I forgot what happens when more than one girl their age gets together, and Maggie joining us at two in the morning was like throwing gasoline on a fire." She sighed, "Alas, the recliner was comfortable. By the way, did you know that you snore?"
Zipper laughed at this question.
She turned her attention to the fly. "Don't laugh, your even worse. You snore, and buzz."
Zipper blushed, and then went back to looking over some maps.
Geegaw thought it wise to change the subject. "Do we know exactly what were going to need when we go to town?"
Tammy contemplated the inquiry for a moment. "Jen might need some items form the hardware store, other than that, just some extra clothing. Every thing should be ready after breakfast."
"Good to hear you say that dear," Agnes broke in, "because its ready now."
* * * *
The trip over was uneventful. Magnolia had flown beside 'Jen's Dream', as the plane was being referred to now. When she got tired, for she had only been flying as a hobby, not as a way of life unlike her mother, she found that the motors were warm and inviting. She also practiced her echolocation, knowing that it might come in handy. She found that snow was a hard subject to locate. It never returned any of her pulses she emitted.
The center of town was nothing more than a main street and a hand full of businesses. The town was an old fishing community that had fallen on some hard times. Half the store windows were vacant, but the people that were out on this cold morning seemed to know one another, and tipped there hats or waved as they passed each other.
Tammy and Jennifer had set out with Agnes to find what they needed.
Geegaw, Brook, Magnolia and Zipper went over to O'Malley's, to question the owner/Barkeep.
The bar was in the far corner of the surprisingly well lit establishment. Tables littered the area in between the booths and the bar; their chairs sitting on top. Photos of ships and sailors littered the walls along with other items that had a nautical theme. A door was on the far wall, its surface worn with age. The walls were a light wood grain with dark accents. Every one noted the light smell of brewers yeast in the air.
As to be expected, the bartender was behind the bar. "Were closed at the moment, try back after six." The owner's said, his eyes never wavering from their position as he cleaned a glass. He lacked the Irish accent Geegaw had expected the owner of O'Malley's to carry. He was a round mouse, with a light yellow tint to his fur and lacked any noticeable manners.
The door on the far wall swung open, revealing an attractive young mouse silloetted by the sun. She entered, the door closing behind her, shutting out the day. She looked to be around sixteen, though her mannerisms told of a maturity far beyond her years. Her yellow fur glistened, and her blue eyes pierced into the soul. "Brook, lass, what brings you here, and with guests none the less?" She had a heavy Irish accent, that stood out in contrast to the older barkeep.
"Fiona, It's been awhile, almost a week. Oh, were are my manners? Forgive me. These are some friends of mine. They're currently staying as houseguests. Starting on my right is Magnolia, Zipper, and Geegaw. They're here to, retrieve... OUCH."
A quick jolt to Brook's foot brought her to an abrupt end. Geegaw wasn't sure he wanted what they were doing public knowledge yet.
"I'm sorry, I missed the last part." Fiona said tilting her head to one side.
"We've here to... um..." Geegaw didn't anticipate needing a cover story when they left that morning, and was unprepared.
Maggie stepped in, "Were here to study the sudden warming trend and how it affects the marine life."
The mousemaid brightened. "That's good to hear. You see, Magnolia is it, do you mind if I call you Maggie?" the bat responded that she didn't and Fiona continued. "You see, the lack of fishing has hit the town hard. We depend on the sea, and the fish it provides. If the fish dry up, so does the town."
Magnolia shook her head in acknowledgement. "Yes and that's why were here miss...?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I've forgotten to introduce my self. My brain must be thicker than petemoss. My name is Fiona O'Malley, and this is my brother, Patrick O'Malley."
"I don't mean to pry but, you speak with a heavy accent were your brother seems to have none." Magnolia inquired.
"Oh, that's simple. He's lost his accent after living in the states for to long. He's gone soft." Fiona said referring to more that his American accent. "I, on the other paw, have only recently moved here form a small island called Roan Inish. Ma, thought it best that I come live with Patrick for awhile."
"After you were expelled from school." He called out from behind the bar.
Fiona ignored the comment and continued undeterred. "So, Maggie, what brings you into this haven of depression, and sin?" Patrick shot Fiona a glare, but never missed a beat, the glass now cleaned for a few minuets.
Brook was treading on thin ice. On one paw she didn't want to lie to her friend, but on the other, she didn't want to blow her new friends cover. "These three are interested in some local foke-lore." She started after seeing the others story flounder. "Specifically about the plane, and were it could be found. I was wondering if you and Patrick could help them out, seeming as you're the closes to were the stories are spread."
Patrick spoke first. "I wouldn't put much stock in those stories. Just the babble of some drunk old rodents spreading gossip."
"I would'a be so sure," Fiona piped in, "most of them stories and tales have a thread of truth, how ever small, that their based on."
"Don't tell me you believe that load of moss!" Patrick scolded, his Irish roots starting to show in his voice.
"No, " Fiona shot back, "I'm just saying that there is probably some truth in the matter is all. We know that there is most likely a plane out in the snow. Form there, its all fluff."
Magnolia wasn't able to stand all the dancing about, weather it was true or not. What they needed was some answers. "Excuse me." She said quietly, but with force behind her voice. The two O'Malley's stop their skirmish and stared. She was starting to lose her nerve but pressed on, with a bit more caution.
"We have an interest in towns hear say. Also, if this plane exist, we need to know the general area were it would be... so our... um... readings would not be contaminated by an outside object."
Geegaw could see that their story was barely holding water. He was getting fidgety, and was ready to run, but Patrick shrugged and went to the wall behind him and pulled a piece of string that Geegaw hadn't noticed before.
The worn string went taught, and a map of the area around town unfolded. Little red dots could bee seen on its surface, and seemed to be prominent in an area close to the beach, starting about a quarter of a mile away, but were concentrated a mile and a half away almost due south.
"Each red dot represents were a sighting has been made. I started marking the locations after getting a few thrill seekers come through here. They, and their guides," he looked sympathetically at Brook, "never came back, and no trace of them could be found afterwards. Some say that the ghost had got them; others say that the freak winter storm had done the job. For about a year rodents came from all over the world looking for the haunted plane that had taken four lives. I humored them because it was good for business."
He changed gears. "I've told you what you wanted to know, now tell me why you're really here."
"What... what do you mean?" Geegaw stuttered in a startled voice.
"We both know that your not here doing research."
Geegaw sighed. "What gave it away?"
Patrick rubbed his chin. "Oh, little things. Clothing, nervousness, things like that."
Geegaw proceeded to tell the story about what really happened to the Eagle.
"So," Patrick concluded, "your saying that an experienced pilot would forget to use the proper landing equipment? That she just forgot?"
"As unbelievable as it sounds, yes, its true." Geegaw had worried that this story sounded even closer to a lie that the last yarn about just being curious researchers.
Patrick looked off into the distance as he started. "I've been around long enough to have heard a story that most people have forgotten. It's very close to the one you described. Four rodents and a fly chasing a jewel thief, and a crash landing because a mistake was made. Except in the version I heard, they all died trying to survive in the wilderness. I see that the spin had already started by the time it reached my ears. All I knew was that there wasn't hide nor hair left of any survivors when the search party got there a couple of days later. Oh, by the way, can you guys send me a photo when you get back? It will look great on my wall, and one of the Rangers also, you know, for celebrity statis."
Geegaw hesitated. "I guess, just don't let this get all over town, at least not until after its recovered."
Geegaw tried to continue, but Patrick was unresponsive. His jaw dropped, and his eyes glazed over.
Geegaw, Magnolia and Zipper, all turned to find what had disarmed the Barkeep so easily. There in the door stood a lone figure. Its shape was definitely that of a mouse, and definitely that of an attractive female. Light streamed through her yellow hair, and the shadow that she wore like a cloak gave little detail.
Fiona had been cleaning tables, and setting up chairs. She was listening carefully to the account and looked up to see why every once stopped.
She snorted and went back to setting up chairs. 'I wish I could make an entrance like that.' She thought to her self.
Geegaw was the first to recover. "I see the Hackwrench conversation stopper worked again."
Though the figures face couldn't be seen, every one could tell a glare was directed to Geegaw.
The 'Conversation stopper' comment was a long-standing joke between the twins.
They started to notice the affect Gadget had on male rodents when she entered a room, after a few parties thrown to support the school. Gadget had worn the same red sequence dress to both parties. When she entered a room every conversation would stop. When complimented on the dress, she would shrug the question off. "Oh, this old thing? I've had it for years." When asked were she got it, she would politely redirect the conversation, and for some strange reason, Chip would always make a joke about the mob and Gadget would blush.
The truth is she had worn the dress to go under cover to penetrate a new mob that had formed. She had kept it around for sentimental value, and had worn it because Chip had requested it over her coveralls, which she was most comfortable with.
Jennifer stepped into the warmth of the room. Though it wasn't to cold outside, it was nice to warm her ears once in awhile. If anything, the looks she received could of heated the room by ten degrees.
A small, round mouse walked over to her. "Welcome to O'Malley's, my name is Patrick, if theirs anything I can do for you, just let me know." He said bringing her hand up for a delicate kiss.
She was very uncomfortable, and looked to Geegaw for help. He spoke up reluctantly. "Umm... Patrick, could you fill us in more on the terrain were facing."
"Snow... Ice... Cold." The Barkeeper said in a rough incomplete sentence, still holding the hand of the new mouse that walked in.
"Patrick, lay off. You'll scare the customers away." Fiona stated with an air of authority. Patrick slumped back to the bar to dry the same glass he's been drying for the past twenty minuets.
'Do I have to hose you down?' Fiona muttered under her breath, then out loud. "I'm sorry, how can we serve you."
"Actually, I'm here to meet up with my brother, whom I see you've already met." Jennifer said gesturing toward Geegaw.
"Ah, so you're the genies I've heard about, and a beauty only nature could produce to boot." Patrick called from behind the bar.
Fiona knew that even though he had lost his accent, Patrick still had the Irish charm that gave him a reputation as a ladies man about town. She decided to 'save' this poor girl who, by dumb luck, happened to be the first thing female, that is not to be related to him and the same species, to come into view. However, to Fiona's satisfaction, Jennifer didn't have to be rescued.
Jennifer blushed slightly at the compliment, but politely switched the on comers attention. "I see you have a map of the surrounding area, but what are the red dots scattered around the southern area of the map?"
Patrick was still smothering the young mouse, but decided to go about it less aggressively. "Those red dots, my dear, happen to be were you're objective has been sighted."
"The search area is to wide, but this map could be useful." Jennifer half muttered to her self.
"Glad you fill that way, why don't you makes this your head of operations." Patrick said, in a grand voice.
Jennifer was dumb founded, 'How could he of heard me. Even Maggie couldn't have heard that.' she thought to her self.
"Great," Geegaw said, cutting off Jennifer before she could refuse, "we'll come by tonight."
* * * *
The bar was busy that night. It always was on ladies night. Sure more women showed up, but they were looking for a free meal and a night on the town, that meant a trip to the nickel arcade and the Cineplex and not much else. What was the real moneymaker on ladies night were the guys. All the bachelors would sit around and hope to be able to ask a girl out. Most of the people who showed up were under age, so O'Malley's always had a large amount of sodas on tap. Sure, some of the local high school seniors would try to pull a fast one on Pat, but living in a small town had its disadvantages, namely, every one knew you're face.
Tonight was no different, thought Mike. The brown mouse, with deep piercing brown eyes, was working on his third Dr Pib, and not one girl had walked through the double doors. The music was loud, the talking was louder, everything was loud tonight, and yet empty. His friends had copped out, leaving him to mope the night away. 'Tonight's a washout.' He thought to himself.
The doors opened, everything stopped, a chipmunk and fly walked in. He didn't recognize the two, but new comers were not new around here, being a port town, and since every one here was looking for a date, the two were ignored.
Only Mike, who was curious, watch the two hold the door open for four girls. One was an attractive field mouse, another a striking bat, the third a stunning squirrel, that had to be at least in her mid-thirties, but just as eye-catching as the other two, and Brook, the familiar, yet jest as mind blowing as the other three.
He sat across from her in chemistry and biology, and he had been unsuccessfully trying to get a date with her for the last month. He was shy and afraid of rejection from her, though he didn't know why.
The group made there way, almost unnoticed, to the back room, were Patrick, hurried them in the closed the door.
'That's odd,' Mike thought to himself, 'Pat never lets anyone in there. It's, like, his private lounge. The only other person aloud in there was Fiona, and the occasional ghost hunter. But they didn't look like the "thrill seeker" type, and Fiona was probably upstairs.'
Mike crept up to the secluded door, and peered in through the keyhole.
* * * *
"I can't stay for long, I do have a bar to attend, but this is the privet room, were I bring anyone searching for the plane. Most of them are just here for a thrill, so I usually charge a small fee, but in you're case, its been waved. Oh, I forgot to tell you, use the back door, on Saturday nights. It's ladies night, and on the rare occasion, like tonight, were no galls show up, you'll be the star attractions."
Patrick turned to leave, Mike scrambled into the bathroom, just able to make it before the door opened. Patrick looked at the men's room door as it swung back and forth on its hinges. He let out a grunt and headed to the bar to serve the ever-growing number of male guests looking for non-existent dates.
Mike peered around the door to see if the coast was clear. He was athletic, though his idea of a good time wasn't out on a field, but behind the computer. He only worked out to keep in shape, not to impress unlike some of the football players who thought they owned the world, and just let him live in it. Seeing that the hall was clear, he stepped up to his peephole again.
* * * *
The room was cast in a blue-white florescent light, the white walls seeming to amplify the light after a walk through the dark bar. There was a large map, identical to the one Pat kept behind the bar. A spool and two Lego style blocks, both had the smooth bricks added to the top to remove the uncomfortable bumps, were the only semblance of furniture. The walls ran undisturbed of decorations, except for the map, the door they entered, and a second door, that the group assumed went to the second story of the building.
"The weather tomorrow should be clear, I say we start in this area over here," Geegaw pointed to an area on the map, "and do sweeps of the area, square by square."
Mike sat watching as, what he assumed was the leader, pointed out areas on a map. He could not hear what was being said, because of the background noise. He was coming down with a cold, and his nose was clogged, but the bar noise had drowned out any of his sniffling. Then, without warning, all the soda he had drunk came back to haunt him. He held it back as best he could, but the burp was still audible over the background sound.
Taking time to make sure that no one noticed, mike placed his eye back to the keyhole. The occupants of the room had shifted, and as best as he could tell one was out of view. 'No matter, things seem to be proceeding as they had before.'
* * * *
The conversation continued, but Magnolia was preoccupied. She thought she had heard something on the other side of the door they had entered through. The sound had subsided, but she could still hear a steady beat, like breathing, over the music from out side. Then the spy, that she wasn't sure she was just imagining, made a mistake. A single burp was all that was needed to reveal his presents. Slowly she crept up to the door, making sure that she was out of its line of sight. She waited for the right moment, and then flung the door open, nearly throwing it off its hinges.
* * * *
Mike's eyes opened. It happened so fast that he had landed in his face, knocking the wind out of him. Before him was a foot, a small, yet powerful foot, capable of grabbing branches or a rock face.
"Ah another victim." Mike heard a strange demonic voice sound. He turned over to find four large fangs, and eyes as red as crimson above him. He could not make out much detail, but what he did see was convincing. Large, bony wings out spread, and two large ears that could pick up a fly at twenty paces like it was not more than an inch away. It was all some how familiar, yet scared him.
"Maggie, stop scaring the kid." Tammy said.
Magnolia had worked hard to put on that show and with one sentence it was gone. She returned to her normal stance. Wings on her hips, her deep blue innocent eyes shining for all the world to see. She backed up a few steps to allow a better view of the rest of the rag tag group.
"Mike, what are you doing here?" Every one turned to find Brook, her fists resting on her hips, giving him the 'look'.
The 'look' had been a woman's most potent weapon in her arsenal ever sense the first couple got together. When used properly, it can melt steel. Brook, however, wasn't a professional. That title comes with age and maturity. Her look was a combination between the 'Daddy please' look, and a tantrum about to be thrown but as young teens go, it had the desired affect. Mike's ears sagged, and he diverted his eyes in shame.
"You know this interloper?" Tammy questioned, verbalizing what everyone had been thinking.
"Yes," Brook replied flatly, her eyes never wavering from the mass of fur laying on the floor, "he sits beside me in a couple of classes, that's all." Mike's hart sank.
"I guess there is nothing left to do but introduce our self's, and close the door before we attract a crowd." Magnolia said closing the door behind her, then offered her wing in assistance. "I'm Magnolia, Maggie to my friends. That's Tammy, the responsible one, Zipper, the ambitious one, Jennifer, Jen for short, the inventor and resident genius, and Geegaw, or better known as Gee, our leader and adventurer type."
Mike took the wing, more out of a sign of friendship, then help. "Well Maggie, that looked just like a scene out of 'Vampire Bats from Mars'."
"You liked it? I've seen that movie at least ten times. It's my third favorite movie, right after 'The Princess Bride' and 'Monty Pythons 'Search for the Holy Grail'."
"I would of never of pictured you as a Python type." Mike inquired
"Looks can be deceiving. I love the scene with the killer rabbit. I can't believe that the Rabbit acting guild had boycotted the movie for just that one scene.
"I know. I've meet Charles before. Nice guy, as rabbits go, wouldn't hurt a flea, unless the flea started it." Mike quipped back.
Magnolia and Mike hit it off immediately, but Brook was seeing red. 'He's mine,' she thought to her self. 'I've been trying to have him ask me out for a month; now she waltzes in as steals him?' Then commonsense marched in to keep the hormones in check. 'Hold on girl, she couldn't of known all that, and now is not the time to lose your head.' With a spoon full of restraint, Brook politely held her tongue.
"Sure, allying with Germany is a great idea, why do you ask."
Italy, early '40
Geegaw was awakened to the sound of giggling. He turned over in a vein attempted at falling asleep again. His eyes opened. Above him were three faces, two were very familiar, and the other was new face. He decided it was to early in the morning to try to remember names.
Magnolia was on the ceiling, making faces at him, while Jennifer and Brook were giggling like schoolgirls at the sight. They were laughing so hard that they didn't notice that he was awake.
"Are you quite done yet?" he stated in a testy manner. This caused a louder round of giggling that over shadowed anything he said. Finally he marched into the kitchen to get away from the laughing hyenas in the living room.
Agnes was putting some walnut pancakes batter on the skillet; while Tammy was going over maps with Zipper. She looked up as Geegaw walked in.
"So what's the plan?" The squirrel asked. Geegaw looked confused. "You do have a plan, right?"
He collected his thoughts. "I'd thought we'd go into town to get the lay of the land, stock up on supplies, and get some questions answered."
Tammy shook her head in approval. "Sounds like a good idea." Then changing speeds, "The girls giving you any trouble?"
"A little." He lied, and she knew it.
"Don't worry, the more they bug you, the less they quarrel between them selves."
Geegaw didn't find much comfort in her statement, but let the matter rest.
She continued, "Boy, can they talk up a storm. I forgot what happens when more than one girl their age gets together, and Maggie joining us at two in the morning was like throwing gasoline on a fire." She sighed, "Alas, the recliner was comfortable. By the way, did you know that you snore?"
Zipper laughed at this question.
She turned her attention to the fly. "Don't laugh, your even worse. You snore, and buzz."
Zipper blushed, and then went back to looking over some maps.
Geegaw thought it wise to change the subject. "Do we know exactly what were going to need when we go to town?"
Tammy contemplated the inquiry for a moment. "Jen might need some items form the hardware store, other than that, just some extra clothing. Every thing should be ready after breakfast."
"Good to hear you say that dear," Agnes broke in, "because its ready now."
* * * *
The trip over was uneventful. Magnolia had flown beside 'Jen's Dream', as the plane was being referred to now. When she got tired, for she had only been flying as a hobby, not as a way of life unlike her mother, she found that the motors were warm and inviting. She also practiced her echolocation, knowing that it might come in handy. She found that snow was a hard subject to locate. It never returned any of her pulses she emitted.
The center of town was nothing more than a main street and a hand full of businesses. The town was an old fishing community that had fallen on some hard times. Half the store windows were vacant, but the people that were out on this cold morning seemed to know one another, and tipped there hats or waved as they passed each other.
Tammy and Jennifer had set out with Agnes to find what they needed.
Geegaw, Brook, Magnolia and Zipper went over to O'Malley's, to question the owner/Barkeep.
The bar was in the far corner of the surprisingly well lit establishment. Tables littered the area in between the booths and the bar; their chairs sitting on top. Photos of ships and sailors littered the walls along with other items that had a nautical theme. A door was on the far wall, its surface worn with age. The walls were a light wood grain with dark accents. Every one noted the light smell of brewers yeast in the air.
As to be expected, the bartender was behind the bar. "Were closed at the moment, try back after six." The owner's said, his eyes never wavering from their position as he cleaned a glass. He lacked the Irish accent Geegaw had expected the owner of O'Malley's to carry. He was a round mouse, with a light yellow tint to his fur and lacked any noticeable manners.
The door on the far wall swung open, revealing an attractive young mouse silloetted by the sun. She entered, the door closing behind her, shutting out the day. She looked to be around sixteen, though her mannerisms told of a maturity far beyond her years. Her yellow fur glistened, and her blue eyes pierced into the soul. "Brook, lass, what brings you here, and with guests none the less?" She had a heavy Irish accent, that stood out in contrast to the older barkeep.
"Fiona, It's been awhile, almost a week. Oh, were are my manners? Forgive me. These are some friends of mine. They're currently staying as houseguests. Starting on my right is Magnolia, Zipper, and Geegaw. They're here to, retrieve... OUCH."
A quick jolt to Brook's foot brought her to an abrupt end. Geegaw wasn't sure he wanted what they were doing public knowledge yet.
"I'm sorry, I missed the last part." Fiona said tilting her head to one side.
"We've here to... um..." Geegaw didn't anticipate needing a cover story when they left that morning, and was unprepared.
Maggie stepped in, "Were here to study the sudden warming trend and how it affects the marine life."
The mousemaid brightened. "That's good to hear. You see, Magnolia is it, do you mind if I call you Maggie?" the bat responded that she didn't and Fiona continued. "You see, the lack of fishing has hit the town hard. We depend on the sea, and the fish it provides. If the fish dry up, so does the town."
Magnolia shook her head in acknowledgement. "Yes and that's why were here miss...?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I've forgotten to introduce my self. My brain must be thicker than petemoss. My name is Fiona O'Malley, and this is my brother, Patrick O'Malley."
"I don't mean to pry but, you speak with a heavy accent were your brother seems to have none." Magnolia inquired.
"Oh, that's simple. He's lost his accent after living in the states for to long. He's gone soft." Fiona said referring to more that his American accent. "I, on the other paw, have only recently moved here form a small island called Roan Inish. Ma, thought it best that I come live with Patrick for awhile."
"After you were expelled from school." He called out from behind the bar.
Fiona ignored the comment and continued undeterred. "So, Maggie, what brings you into this haven of depression, and sin?" Patrick shot Fiona a glare, but never missed a beat, the glass now cleaned for a few minuets.
Brook was treading on thin ice. On one paw she didn't want to lie to her friend, but on the other, she didn't want to blow her new friends cover. "These three are interested in some local foke-lore." She started after seeing the others story flounder. "Specifically about the plane, and were it could be found. I was wondering if you and Patrick could help them out, seeming as you're the closes to were the stories are spread."
Patrick spoke first. "I wouldn't put much stock in those stories. Just the babble of some drunk old rodents spreading gossip."
"I would'a be so sure," Fiona piped in, "most of them stories and tales have a thread of truth, how ever small, that their based on."
"Don't tell me you believe that load of moss!" Patrick scolded, his Irish roots starting to show in his voice.
"No, " Fiona shot back, "I'm just saying that there is probably some truth in the matter is all. We know that there is most likely a plane out in the snow. Form there, its all fluff."
Magnolia wasn't able to stand all the dancing about, weather it was true or not. What they needed was some answers. "Excuse me." She said quietly, but with force behind her voice. The two O'Malley's stop their skirmish and stared. She was starting to lose her nerve but pressed on, with a bit more caution.
"We have an interest in towns hear say. Also, if this plane exist, we need to know the general area were it would be... so our... um... readings would not be contaminated by an outside object."
Geegaw could see that their story was barely holding water. He was getting fidgety, and was ready to run, but Patrick shrugged and went to the wall behind him and pulled a piece of string that Geegaw hadn't noticed before.
The worn string went taught, and a map of the area around town unfolded. Little red dots could bee seen on its surface, and seemed to be prominent in an area close to the beach, starting about a quarter of a mile away, but were concentrated a mile and a half away almost due south.
"Each red dot represents were a sighting has been made. I started marking the locations after getting a few thrill seekers come through here. They, and their guides," he looked sympathetically at Brook, "never came back, and no trace of them could be found afterwards. Some say that the ghost had got them; others say that the freak winter storm had done the job. For about a year rodents came from all over the world looking for the haunted plane that had taken four lives. I humored them because it was good for business."
He changed gears. "I've told you what you wanted to know, now tell me why you're really here."
"What... what do you mean?" Geegaw stuttered in a startled voice.
"We both know that your not here doing research."
Geegaw sighed. "What gave it away?"
Patrick rubbed his chin. "Oh, little things. Clothing, nervousness, things like that."
Geegaw proceeded to tell the story about what really happened to the Eagle.
"So," Patrick concluded, "your saying that an experienced pilot would forget to use the proper landing equipment? That she just forgot?"
"As unbelievable as it sounds, yes, its true." Geegaw had worried that this story sounded even closer to a lie that the last yarn about just being curious researchers.
Patrick looked off into the distance as he started. "I've been around long enough to have heard a story that most people have forgotten. It's very close to the one you described. Four rodents and a fly chasing a jewel thief, and a crash landing because a mistake was made. Except in the version I heard, they all died trying to survive in the wilderness. I see that the spin had already started by the time it reached my ears. All I knew was that there wasn't hide nor hair left of any survivors when the search party got there a couple of days later. Oh, by the way, can you guys send me a photo when you get back? It will look great on my wall, and one of the Rangers also, you know, for celebrity statis."
Geegaw hesitated. "I guess, just don't let this get all over town, at least not until after its recovered."
Geegaw tried to continue, but Patrick was unresponsive. His jaw dropped, and his eyes glazed over.
Geegaw, Magnolia and Zipper, all turned to find what had disarmed the Barkeep so easily. There in the door stood a lone figure. Its shape was definitely that of a mouse, and definitely that of an attractive female. Light streamed through her yellow hair, and the shadow that she wore like a cloak gave little detail.
Fiona had been cleaning tables, and setting up chairs. She was listening carefully to the account and looked up to see why every once stopped.
She snorted and went back to setting up chairs. 'I wish I could make an entrance like that.' She thought to her self.
Geegaw was the first to recover. "I see the Hackwrench conversation stopper worked again."
Though the figures face couldn't be seen, every one could tell a glare was directed to Geegaw.
The 'Conversation stopper' comment was a long-standing joke between the twins.
They started to notice the affect Gadget had on male rodents when she entered a room, after a few parties thrown to support the school. Gadget had worn the same red sequence dress to both parties. When she entered a room every conversation would stop. When complimented on the dress, she would shrug the question off. "Oh, this old thing? I've had it for years." When asked were she got it, she would politely redirect the conversation, and for some strange reason, Chip would always make a joke about the mob and Gadget would blush.
The truth is she had worn the dress to go under cover to penetrate a new mob that had formed. She had kept it around for sentimental value, and had worn it because Chip had requested it over her coveralls, which she was most comfortable with.
Jennifer stepped into the warmth of the room. Though it wasn't to cold outside, it was nice to warm her ears once in awhile. If anything, the looks she received could of heated the room by ten degrees.
A small, round mouse walked over to her. "Welcome to O'Malley's, my name is Patrick, if theirs anything I can do for you, just let me know." He said bringing her hand up for a delicate kiss.
She was very uncomfortable, and looked to Geegaw for help. He spoke up reluctantly. "Umm... Patrick, could you fill us in more on the terrain were facing."
"Snow... Ice... Cold." The Barkeeper said in a rough incomplete sentence, still holding the hand of the new mouse that walked in.
"Patrick, lay off. You'll scare the customers away." Fiona stated with an air of authority. Patrick slumped back to the bar to dry the same glass he's been drying for the past twenty minuets.
'Do I have to hose you down?' Fiona muttered under her breath, then out loud. "I'm sorry, how can we serve you."
"Actually, I'm here to meet up with my brother, whom I see you've already met." Jennifer said gesturing toward Geegaw.
"Ah, so you're the genies I've heard about, and a beauty only nature could produce to boot." Patrick called from behind the bar.
Fiona knew that even though he had lost his accent, Patrick still had the Irish charm that gave him a reputation as a ladies man about town. She decided to 'save' this poor girl who, by dumb luck, happened to be the first thing female, that is not to be related to him and the same species, to come into view. However, to Fiona's satisfaction, Jennifer didn't have to be rescued.
Jennifer blushed slightly at the compliment, but politely switched the on comers attention. "I see you have a map of the surrounding area, but what are the red dots scattered around the southern area of the map?"
Patrick was still smothering the young mouse, but decided to go about it less aggressively. "Those red dots, my dear, happen to be were you're objective has been sighted."
"The search area is to wide, but this map could be useful." Jennifer half muttered to her self.
"Glad you fill that way, why don't you makes this your head of operations." Patrick said, in a grand voice.
Jennifer was dumb founded, 'How could he of heard me. Even Maggie couldn't have heard that.' she thought to her self.
"Great," Geegaw said, cutting off Jennifer before she could refuse, "we'll come by tonight."
* * * *
The bar was busy that night. It always was on ladies night. Sure more women showed up, but they were looking for a free meal and a night on the town, that meant a trip to the nickel arcade and the Cineplex and not much else. What was the real moneymaker on ladies night were the guys. All the bachelors would sit around and hope to be able to ask a girl out. Most of the people who showed up were under age, so O'Malley's always had a large amount of sodas on tap. Sure, some of the local high school seniors would try to pull a fast one on Pat, but living in a small town had its disadvantages, namely, every one knew you're face.
Tonight was no different, thought Mike. The brown mouse, with deep piercing brown eyes, was working on his third Dr Pib, and not one girl had walked through the double doors. The music was loud, the talking was louder, everything was loud tonight, and yet empty. His friends had copped out, leaving him to mope the night away. 'Tonight's a washout.' He thought to himself.
The doors opened, everything stopped, a chipmunk and fly walked in. He didn't recognize the two, but new comers were not new around here, being a port town, and since every one here was looking for a date, the two were ignored.
Only Mike, who was curious, watch the two hold the door open for four girls. One was an attractive field mouse, another a striking bat, the third a stunning squirrel, that had to be at least in her mid-thirties, but just as eye-catching as the other two, and Brook, the familiar, yet jest as mind blowing as the other three.
He sat across from her in chemistry and biology, and he had been unsuccessfully trying to get a date with her for the last month. He was shy and afraid of rejection from her, though he didn't know why.
The group made there way, almost unnoticed, to the back room, were Patrick, hurried them in the closed the door.
'That's odd,' Mike thought to himself, 'Pat never lets anyone in there. It's, like, his private lounge. The only other person aloud in there was Fiona, and the occasional ghost hunter. But they didn't look like the "thrill seeker" type, and Fiona was probably upstairs.'
Mike crept up to the secluded door, and peered in through the keyhole.
* * * *
"I can't stay for long, I do have a bar to attend, but this is the privet room, were I bring anyone searching for the plane. Most of them are just here for a thrill, so I usually charge a small fee, but in you're case, its been waved. Oh, I forgot to tell you, use the back door, on Saturday nights. It's ladies night, and on the rare occasion, like tonight, were no galls show up, you'll be the star attractions."
Patrick turned to leave, Mike scrambled into the bathroom, just able to make it before the door opened. Patrick looked at the men's room door as it swung back and forth on its hinges. He let out a grunt and headed to the bar to serve the ever-growing number of male guests looking for non-existent dates.
Mike peered around the door to see if the coast was clear. He was athletic, though his idea of a good time wasn't out on a field, but behind the computer. He only worked out to keep in shape, not to impress unlike some of the football players who thought they owned the world, and just let him live in it. Seeing that the hall was clear, he stepped up to his peephole again.
* * * *
The room was cast in a blue-white florescent light, the white walls seeming to amplify the light after a walk through the dark bar. There was a large map, identical to the one Pat kept behind the bar. A spool and two Lego style blocks, both had the smooth bricks added to the top to remove the uncomfortable bumps, were the only semblance of furniture. The walls ran undisturbed of decorations, except for the map, the door they entered, and a second door, that the group assumed went to the second story of the building.
"The weather tomorrow should be clear, I say we start in this area over here," Geegaw pointed to an area on the map, "and do sweeps of the area, square by square."
Mike sat watching as, what he assumed was the leader, pointed out areas on a map. He could not hear what was being said, because of the background noise. He was coming down with a cold, and his nose was clogged, but the bar noise had drowned out any of his sniffling. Then, without warning, all the soda he had drunk came back to haunt him. He held it back as best he could, but the burp was still audible over the background sound.
Taking time to make sure that no one noticed, mike placed his eye back to the keyhole. The occupants of the room had shifted, and as best as he could tell one was out of view. 'No matter, things seem to be proceeding as they had before.'
* * * *
The conversation continued, but Magnolia was preoccupied. She thought she had heard something on the other side of the door they had entered through. The sound had subsided, but she could still hear a steady beat, like breathing, over the music from out side. Then the spy, that she wasn't sure she was just imagining, made a mistake. A single burp was all that was needed to reveal his presents. Slowly she crept up to the door, making sure that she was out of its line of sight. She waited for the right moment, and then flung the door open, nearly throwing it off its hinges.
* * * *
Mike's eyes opened. It happened so fast that he had landed in his face, knocking the wind out of him. Before him was a foot, a small, yet powerful foot, capable of grabbing branches or a rock face.
"Ah another victim." Mike heard a strange demonic voice sound. He turned over to find four large fangs, and eyes as red as crimson above him. He could not make out much detail, but what he did see was convincing. Large, bony wings out spread, and two large ears that could pick up a fly at twenty paces like it was not more than an inch away. It was all some how familiar, yet scared him.
"Maggie, stop scaring the kid." Tammy said.
Magnolia had worked hard to put on that show and with one sentence it was gone. She returned to her normal stance. Wings on her hips, her deep blue innocent eyes shining for all the world to see. She backed up a few steps to allow a better view of the rest of the rag tag group.
"Mike, what are you doing here?" Every one turned to find Brook, her fists resting on her hips, giving him the 'look'.
The 'look' had been a woman's most potent weapon in her arsenal ever sense the first couple got together. When used properly, it can melt steel. Brook, however, wasn't a professional. That title comes with age and maturity. Her look was a combination between the 'Daddy please' look, and a tantrum about to be thrown but as young teens go, it had the desired affect. Mike's ears sagged, and he diverted his eyes in shame.
"You know this interloper?" Tammy questioned, verbalizing what everyone had been thinking.
"Yes," Brook replied flatly, her eyes never wavering from the mass of fur laying on the floor, "he sits beside me in a couple of classes, that's all." Mike's hart sank.
"I guess there is nothing left to do but introduce our self's, and close the door before we attract a crowd." Magnolia said closing the door behind her, then offered her wing in assistance. "I'm Magnolia, Maggie to my friends. That's Tammy, the responsible one, Zipper, the ambitious one, Jennifer, Jen for short, the inventor and resident genius, and Geegaw, or better known as Gee, our leader and adventurer type."
Mike took the wing, more out of a sign of friendship, then help. "Well Maggie, that looked just like a scene out of 'Vampire Bats from Mars'."
"You liked it? I've seen that movie at least ten times. It's my third favorite movie, right after 'The Princess Bride' and 'Monty Pythons 'Search for the Holy Grail'."
"I would of never of pictured you as a Python type." Mike inquired
"Looks can be deceiving. I love the scene with the killer rabbit. I can't believe that the Rabbit acting guild had boycotted the movie for just that one scene.
"I know. I've meet Charles before. Nice guy, as rabbits go, wouldn't hurt a flea, unless the flea started it." Mike quipped back.
Magnolia and Mike hit it off immediately, but Brook was seeing red. 'He's mine,' she thought to her self. 'I've been trying to have him ask me out for a month; now she waltzes in as steals him?' Then commonsense marched in to keep the hormones in check. 'Hold on girl, she couldn't of known all that, and now is not the time to lose your head.' With a spoon full of restraint, Brook politely held her tongue.