Patchwork Universe

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

Trying to keep his expression of distaste to an absolute minimum, Daltrey clasped the boys moist palm with his own and shook it manfully.

By the looks of it, the child was a natural born assistant keeper. If he played his cards right, Daltrey's role in the recruitment might spare him the brunt of Trubshawe's wrath over yet another period of unauthorised absence...

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:07 pm Post subject:

"I'ts a deal then," the boy said, releasing Daltrey from his moist grasp. "The name's Specks, by the way."

Extending the bent bit of metal he offered it to Daltrey.
"Here you go, mate. That'll take the enamel right off your choppers."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

With unseemly haste Daltrey rushed across to the padlock and began to probe clumsily about in its keyhole with the length of wire, while Specks watched his efforts critically.

Five minutes and much colourful language later, he didn't seem to have made any progress.

Yarrow · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 5:52 pm Post subject:

Specks couldn't hold back his guffaws but at Daltrey's injured expression he reached out and took the piece of metal back. The assistant zookeeper was reluctant to release it but Specks regained control of the item with the words.
"Let the expert."

With a few expert twists he jimmied the lock so that the padlock snapped open and fell to the ground with a clang. As the cage door swung open with a screetch of hinges a wrinkled face appeared at the back window of the shop, followed by a shaking fist.
"That's ntorn it," Specks commented. "Time to be on our way, mate."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

"I should say so too," said Daltrey, casting a fearful backwards glance at the face in the window.

"I have no idea of the way out of here. Lead on, Specks!"

Yarrow · Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 3:54 pm Post subject:

Assistant Zookeeper and newly appointed Assistant's Assistant pelted out of the back of the junk yard and into the warren of cobbled streets.

Dodging past games of football, ducking under washing lines, using the shambled houses as shortcuts to his destination, Specks was in his element. For Daltrey much of their passage was seen only in brief flashes of scenes of interest to his profession eye: a donkey standing pateintly in a backyard, a goat eating washing from a wooden tub, a warehouse full of parrots in cages, squawking insults.

Their harum scarum progress had brought them through the streets in a southerly direction. Eventually Specks pointed ahead and up.
"Mist ahead," he said. "That means we're nearly out of here."

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

"Brilliant, Specks!" cried Daltrey joyfully. "You're an absolute bloody genius!"

Then, feeling the same mysterious Fear welling up inside him that had kept him stuck in Glade for so many weeks, he continued:

"Er... you wouldn't mind leading the way through those mists ahead, would you?"

Yarrow · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:17 pm Post subject:

Specks viewed the mist with some doubt. Like the other urchins he'd dared himself to run through them. But always before he'd found himself in a different part of the warren of cobbled streets. Still today had been a lucky one all around and he had a feeling that something would be different.

Darting forward he moved through the mists and vanished.

[ooc: Specks now moves to the Rose Garden: Pretty as a Pitcher]

Trubshawe · Good Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 351 Location: The Zoo

Well, if that grubby little urchin could do it, so could an Assistant Zookeeper First Class!

Taking a deep breath Daltrey plunged headlong into the mists...