Following the road almost to the sea, she turned left just before the end, parking on an incline just on the right hand side before making her way on foot back along the path and onto the seafront, pausing briefly to look up at the park that towered over her off to her right. It was the same one the three friends had used in the middle of the night to gain access to the dragon domain, the secret entrance ingrained in her eidetic memory, should she ever need to use it. With the wind whipping her hair frantically across her face, she stopped and gazed across at the young human children, toddlers and babies currently playing there.
Something inside her stirred. Something primitive, something unbridled, something forbidden. It was overwhelming, washing over her body in a wave that nearly rendered her unconscious. Recovering almost immediately, she gave a little look around to see if anyone had noticed her momentary wobble. If they had, it didn't show. Slowly exhaling, she set off purposefully towards the venue for their clandestine meeting, glancing at her watch to make sure she was going to be punctual, which to her meant about five minutes after the prearranged time. Well... she was a female dragon, after all, and five minutes was about enough of a delay to make her... fashionably late.
Having mooched along the seafront, taking in the beach, the arcades and everything that was going on, she wandered slowly up the main street browsing in the windows of some of the shops. Again, checking her watch, she decided to put Tim out of his misery, so she strolled swiftly into Swanage railway station, the home of the famed steam railway. During the brief walk of only a few hundred yards, she thought about the lies she'd woven for Peter, Tank and Flash. Feeling a little guilty, she reached out instinctively to brush her hand against the alea that Peter had given her. At the end of the day, she thought, they just simply wouldn't understand. Well... Peter might, since he was heading on the same rollercoaster journey of his own with Janice, but just didn't realise it yet and was only just boarding the ride, so to speak. The other two, well... it was her life, and she should be allowed to live it as she saw fit. And no dragon or human was going to dictate how that would be, now or at any time in the future.
Entering the far end of the terminus, she glanced down the length of the platform. There, towards the end stood Tim, confident, aware and just a little in awe, Richie could tell. Strolling right up to him, she kissed him passionately, full on the lips, much to the surprise of the other passengers on the platform. Tim was neither surprised nor intimidated by this... something that Richie really, really liked about him. Producing two tickets from his back trouser pocket, he grabbed hold of her left hand and led her towards the waiting Wessex Belle service that would allow them to take the train and dine in style all at the same time. Ironic really, that they'd both driven all this way for a train trip, but what a train trip it was... one of the most scenic, beautiful and enjoyable ways to spend an evening, the two of them had decided earlier on in the week. They weren't disappointed. The food was magnificent and fit for a king, another irony considering what the king would do if he had any idea where Richie was, or just who she was with. Tim, had the carrot soup with coriander oil for a starter, followed by roasted, stuffed butternut squash for a main course, with the fruit salad for pudding. Richie, being a dragon (you can count the number of vegetarian dragons on the whole of the planet on one hand) went all out. To start with she had the duck and orange pâté, followed by lamb shank for a main course, which was simply superb. All this was followed by her manically devouring the chocolate challenge which was simply pleasure personified. The two, very different (in more ways than one) love birds had just the best time and, more importantly for Richie, not a single prying eye, dragon or otherwise, spotted them on their illicit evening out.
20
The Sorcerer's App... Friend
Thick, dark charcoal dissolved into the swirling, steamy water. A worn metal spoon that had seen better days pushed the drink around the mug at speed, creating a raging whirlpool at its centre. With the hot charcoal made, Tank tossed the dirty spoon into the sink where it rattled against half a dozen others just like it, grabbed both mugs and headed towards the very back of the workshop, where Gee Tee had ensconced himself all morning... up to goodness knows what. Tank knew better than to disrupt the master mantra maker without good reason when things were like this. But it was now nearly lunch time and he figured a good time for them both to have a break, hence the steaming hot offering he held in his hands. Weaving in and out of the huge bookcases, he slipped through the gap in the front desk and stealthily made his way into the workshop. After five minutes of standing very still, smouldering with impatience, the old shopkeeper closed the book he'd been immersed in.
Placing the mug on the desk, Tank slid into the nearest oversized chair, as his employer took a giant slurp of his drink. Knowing better than to jump in, Tank waited, his patience bristling, for the old dragon to open the conversation.
"I think I may have something."
Puzzled, Tank racked his brains, trying to work out just what the master mantra maker was referring to. Gee Tee squinted, studying Tank from just out of reach. He continued where he left off.
"Your friend... Flash!"
"What about him?" asked Tank, bewildered.
"His condition... I think I understand a little more about it."
Putting down his mug, Tank scooted his chair across the grubby floor, ending up right next to the old dragon.
"You have a cure?"
"No... listen! I didn't say I had a cure, or even that he can be cured, what I said was that I know a little more about his affliction."
Tank nodded.
"So?"
"The naga poison used on Flash is a combination of toxins... one part venomous sea snake, one part lion fish, which used in conjunction with the magical power of the mantra I used to save his life, locked his DNA into place. I think that now I know the type of poison used, it may be possible to follow the trail back and work out which of his building blocks was affected first. If we can do that and find out where the reaction started, it just may be possible to undo it. And I must stress the 'MAY' part of what I've just said."
"Can I tell him?"
"I don't really know how to answer that app... Tank. Only you can decide. I don't know if we can find a cure or even, if we can, how long it might take. Years or even decades might be a real possibility."
Tank's forehead creased as he thought about his friend's situation. Would it be wrong to get Flash's hopes up? How would he feel in those circumstances? Would he want to be told, or would he rather be blissfully unaware of what others were doing for him?
Gee Tee started rummaging around in one of the few remaining filing cabinets, looking for what, only he knew. When his giant head popped up, Tank cleared his throat and promptly announced,
"I can't really decide what to do. I need to give it some more consideration."
Not knowing what to expect from the old shopkeeper, he watched as the master mantra maker pushed his glasses right to the top of his nose and turned to face his friend. This was a realisation that struck the old dragon like a wrecking ball demolishing a building. He now thought of Tank as his friend rather than his employee or apprentice. This was most certainly something he was going to have to give more consideration to.