Does anyone besides me now want a pet mouse named Basil wearing a deerstalker???
Zany Things at 221B
Part II
"What…?"
"I tried to tell you, Holmes," murmured Watson as he fought of a bout of hysterics at seeing his friend's expression.
Holmes did not acknowledge him, as he stared wide-eyed at the thin, brown mouse sitting next to the candlestick. It looked almost as if the small animal was…grinning…?
"There is no reason to react so, Mr. Holmes," said another, soothing voice, and a second, more round mouse (also wearing a coat) scrambled clumsily up next to the first. "Everything is perfectly all right. We've got the button; you may certainly have it when we are through analysing it. 'T won't be long, I assure you."
"Watson…"
"Yes, Holmes?"
"I am begging of you - please tell me you also see the talking rats."
"Rats? I beg to differ, sir!" hissed the first with more force than it seemed his small body could contain, as he leapt to his feet. "My associate and I are most certainly not rats! And we will not be named among such vile, nasty little creatures of the sewers!"
Holmes blanched and stumbled backwards.
Watson mercifully took pity on his friend, and stepped over to his side, gently grabbing his elbow to steady him.
"It's all right, old fellow," he murmured. "You're not mad, I assure you. Yes, these good mice did speak. Basil was the thief who took the button from Scotland Yard."
"A…mouse? Named Basil?"
"That is more like it, Mr. Holmes," grumbled the first. "Yes, I am Sherrington Basil. I must say, despite your lapse just now, it is a keen honour to finally make your acquaintance - other than from a peeping crack in the wall, that is."
"And I am Doctor David Dawson," said the second, rounder one with a…mustache?!
"We are, like yourself and the good Dr. Watson, consulting detectives," stated Basil with some amount of pride. "As it came about, my client and yours represent the same case. I do apologise for any inconvenience I may have caused you by my removal of the button from Inspector Lestrade's desk, but you of all people must know how important my work is to me."
Sherlock Holmes took a breath, quickly resolved to move past the fact that he was speaking to a mouse (if he ever could, that is), and said slowly, "You and your…er, associate are on the same case as the doctor and myself."
The two small heads nodded.
"So then you have the button in your possession?"
"That is correct," replied Basil. "It was not quite all that difficult to swipe it from the Yard, especially given that matters of this type are among my area of expertise. Much like yourself, I presume."
"Well…I…"
"It is now in a secret place in our rooms, sir," said Dawson rather quietly. "We shall be more than happy to place it in your capable hands before the night is over."
"Thank you, friends," said Watson warmly. "I trust you shall have your affair concluded quite soon."
"Within thirty-seven hours, I daresay, Dr. Watson," replied Basil with an air of egotistic self-assurance.
"Very good. Thank you for letting us know about the button."
Holmes blinked, trying to ignore the alarming fact that his friend - a doctor! - was having a decent, pleasant conversation with a mouse wearing a tan-coloured coat.
"You're quite welcome, Doctor," said Basil brusquely. "Come, Dawson, we have quite a bit of work to do if we are to catch that silver-striped cat burglar before midnight on the morrow. Goodnight, Dr. Watson, Mr. Holmes."
"Oh! Uh, goodnight!" gasped out Dawson before his companion yanked him through a small hole in the wall under the painting of Reichenbach Falls.
"There are some rather zany things at 221B, wouldn't you agree, Holmes?" Watson chuckled.
"Holmes?" murmured Watson after a moment when the man made no movement. "Are you all right?"
Holmes turned his head, expressions of anger, bewilderment, shock, worry, and amusement playing out on his pale face. In an instant, each expression had melted away and the calm, calculating mask returned once again.
He spoke in his mildly curious, controlled voice,
"You know, Watson, there is something oddly familiar about those two; I cannot fathom what it could be."
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If anyone responds positively, and an idea strikes sometime, I just might bring our dear Basil and Dawson back into the picture. What do you think? I'll take whatever you have to say. :)
I just wanted to let everyone know also, that while I still have a few ideas for Tales of Random,
I ALSO TAKE REQUESTS. IF ANYONE HAS ANY TO OFFER ME AT ANY TIME, I'LL SURELY WORK HARD TO FULFILL IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY (weak as that may be). ;)
