eto was on earth’s surface during a terrible thunderstorm which was the norm for earth these days. The earth was always either on fire, or thundering, or both. In this case it was both, the wood fires lingered in the air as lightning split the sky. She piled up all of her stuff in the small dorm style room that her parents had arranged, and put on her wind protective gear. Because of her GM modifications she did not need to wear a conventional raincoat and found them confining. But in this weather, she liked protect her gills from flapping about in the rain by wearing a turtleneck made for the purpose and a very light mechanically enhanced jacket, which should stop the wind from whipping against her skin. The outside was filled with street vendors selling food and artifacts from other worlds, all of them used to the weather. She walked with the crowds of people on the right side of the street, until she saw the place that she wanted to go in. It was an assuming store, with an outside that looked as if perhaps at one time was dark green. The outside said “valuables=money” and she hurriedly crossed the street to go inside. A fish head sat on the other side of the counter and regarded her through a monocle that was probably more for show than necessity. “I have an appointment in ten minutes” - the fish head said. “So if you have something to sell, let’s see it”
Ceto hesitated, but only for a second. She had determined, in this life, the one above ground, the one where she was alone, to act without regard to what she should do and just follow her instinct about what she wanted. She dug into her pocket and pulled out a small case. “It’s a very rare toad, she said, GM modified in both directions, over and under.” The fish head made little gaspy motions and nodded.
“And I assume you have the paperwork, and all of the vaccination records?” “Of course” replied Ceto fumbling in her pocket and producing a wrinkle group of documents. She placed them on the table and then awkwardly made an attempt to iron them with the backside of her forearm.
Thank you said the fish monger, taking the documents and waddling into the back area of the pawn shop where Ceto could see the big blinking machine in the back. A verifier. She saw the Fish Monger feed the papers and a series of green lights blinking back at her and then, at the end, one red. Ceto internally groaned What could be the problem? Had she somehow missed a vaccination for the toad? That would be a disaster because then she could neither sell him nor bring him to Mars. They would check that paperwork before she got on the interplanetary ship. The fish monger did not come back out immediately. Ceto began to think that maybe, they would take the toad in a place like this even without full vaccination. He was worth a lot of money, in some circles, the kind of circles that would be found on the surface of the earth. So, she would likely be ripped off, but at least she would be rid of the smelly toad and whoever ended up with him would look after him.
When the Fish Monger did come out he said the thing that people only seem to say in fictions, in other people’s lives. “The sale paper was not authenticated” Ceto could only stare at the fish monger mouth agape like his. “I took the liberty of looking on the comms and there was a call out for a stolen toad. “ “It’s not my toad!” protested Ceto “this toad was given to me three years ago by my little brother” I am afraid it is your toad, the fish head said calmly. “I checked the serial number and it matches” “Oh, come on!! Protested Ceto” “You forged that serial number and added to my toad!” He was never chipped! The vet never mentioned it!” The fish head gaped at her. “Well said fish head, the Prince of Earthside is on his way and you can explain it to him.” Ugh. Ceto put her ams up in the air. OK OK I am leaving. Normally, I would let you run away said the fish head, but stealing from such a prominent person makes me feel obligated to trap you in the store. The Prince had a very bad reputation for rash decision making a sheer stupidity. Ceto made a split second decision grabbed the toad in the case and through it as hard as she could towards the back of the store. The fish head wobbled after it. Ceto scaled up a bookshelf and forced her feet through a small window about eight feet up. She smashed through it and fell to the street out side. Bloody, but no broken bones. She got up and ran.
— 7Roses
Ceto hesitated, but only for a second. She had determined, in this life, the one above ground, the one where she was alone, to act without regard to what she should do and just follow her instinct about what she wanted. She dug into her pocket and pulled out a small case. “It’s a very rare toad, she said, GM modified in both directions, over and under.” The fish head made little gaspy motions and nodded.
“And I assume you have the paperwork, and all of the vaccination records?” “Of course” replied Ceto fumbling in her pocket and producing a wrinkle group of documents. She placed them on the table and then awkwardly made an attempt to iron them with the backside of her forearm.
Thank you said the fish monger, taking the documents and waddling into the back area of the pawn shop where Ceto could see the big blinking machine in the back. A verifier. She saw the Fish Monger feed the papers and a series of green lights blinking back at her and then, at the end, one red. Ceto internally groaned What could be the problem? Had she somehow missed a vaccination for the toad? That would be a disaster because then she could neither sell him nor bring him to Mars. They would check that paperwork before she got on the interplanetary ship. The fish monger did not come back out immediately. Ceto began to think that maybe, they would take the toad in a place like this even without full vaccination. He was worth a lot of money, in some circles, the kind of circles that would be found on the surface of the earth. So, she would likely be ripped off, but at least she would be rid of the smelly toad and whoever ended up with him would look after him.
When the Fish Monger did come out he said the thing that people only seem to say in fictions, in other people’s lives. “The sale paper was not authenticated” Ceto could only stare at the fish monger mouth agape like his. “I took the liberty of looking on the comms and there was a call out for a stolen toad. “ “It’s not my toad!” protested Ceto “this toad was given to me three years ago by my little brother” I am afraid it is your toad, the fish head said calmly. “I checked the serial number and it matches” “Oh, come on!! Protested Ceto” “You forged that serial number and added to my toad!” He was never chipped! The vet never mentioned it!” The fish head gaped at her. “Well said fish head, the Prince of Earthside is on his way and you can explain it to him.” Ugh. Ceto put her ams up in the air. OK OK I am leaving. Normally, I would let you run away said the fish head, but stealing from such a prominent person makes me feel obligated to trap you in the store. The Prince had a very bad reputation for rash decision making a sheer stupidity. Ceto made a split second decision grabbed the toad in the case and through it as hard as she could towards the back of the store. The fish head wobbled after it. Ceto scaled up a bookshelf and forced her feet through a small window about eight feet up. She smashed through it and fell to the street out side. Bloody, but no broken bones. She got up and ran.
— 7Roses
Oh, my goodness! What an imagination you have! Poor toad, but, we haven't really gotten to know it, so maybe it doesn't care. I like that Earth's surface is crowded and busy. People doing what they do despite the weather. COOOL stuff, 7Roses! ---Macoff
ReplyDelete