CHALLENGE for the week of 05-21-01

TRIO CHALLENGE: musket ball, a rake, slippers

QUOTE: "It is a true saying that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him." Don Quixote. Part i. Book. iii. Chap. i.

QUOTE 2: "Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" John Milton

Authors: Jim, Jo, Lisa, Maril, Rodlox

By Jim
jimguy46@hotmail.com

RESPONSE TO CHALLENGE 18

CHARACTERS: T M CM G H
SYNOPSIS: Musket balls kill
DISCLAIMERS: Characters are Fireworks. The story is mine

~~~~~

It was early in the morning when Tessa straggled into the kitchen wearing her robe and slippers. Marta was busy fixing breakfast.

"Marta, I am going into town this morning."

"Tessa, we were there yesterday and bought all of our supplies. Are going to see a certain Englishman?"

"Marta! One of the team horses threw a shoe on the way home yesterday. Pablo showed me last night. The mare is saddle broken so I will ride her in and have the blacksmith replace it. Should I tell Vlad hello for you?"

"Tessa?"

"Marta?"

They both laughed.

"You are going to ride a horse without a shoe into town to have it replaced? Won't that hurt the horse?"

"Pablo fixed that. He padded the hoof and tied a piece of heavy leather around the leg. It will be fine as long as I take it easy."

"Well, yes, you can tell Vlad hello. Now finish your breakfast so I can clean up before I start working in the garden. By the way, I laid out your grey riding pants and dark blue blouse for you before you got up."

"You knew? What gitano tricks are you using now?"

"A gitano trick named Pablo. He told me last night before he told you."

Later in the morning, Tessa rode into Santa Helena. She saw Colonel Montoya and Captain Grisham walking across the square. Soldiers patrolled the town.

"I wonder what they plotting today?"

A new recruit came around the corner as Tessa rode in.

"The Queen of Swords!" He shouldered his rifle and fired.

Montoya and Grisham turned towards the shout and then looked at Tessa just as the musket ball struck its target and killed instantly.

Tessa was thrown from the horse as the animal fell from the bullet, which has struck it in the head. The animal pinned Tessa's leg as they landed on the ground.

Montoya, Grisham ran towards Tessa. Grisham grabbed a nearby soldier.

"Arrest that idiot."

Doctor Helm had heard the shot, looked out the door of his office and ran to Tessa.

The three men used their combined strength to lift the horse as a soldier pulled Tessa free. Doctor Helm picked Tessa up and carried her to his office.

"Can I help, Doctor."

"You have helped enough, Colonel by employing trigger happy recruits. Is this how you plan on taking over the territory? Kill off the Dons or Donas?"

A few hours later, Doctor Helm and Tessa drove a carriage to the Alvarado Hacienda. Marta was in the garden and saw them. She ran to the carriage, still holding the rake she had been using.

"I'm fine Marta, nothing broken."

"It's a good thing that Montoya's men are lousy shots. A little higher and Tessa would be dead. Marta, I think Tessa could use something to drink and not lemonade."

Helm refused to allow Tessa to walk, so he carried her into the house.

"My how romantic Doctor Helm, you are carrying me over the threshold to my home."

Doctor Helm, turning a crimson color, mumbled something.

Marta appeared with three Margaritas, one for each. The glasses covered with salt.

Tessa picked up her glass and took a sip. "It is a true saying, Doctor that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him. The same goes for a woman."

"Ah yes Don Quixote, It doesn't surprise me that you have read that story."

"Really Doctor Helm, you of all people reading Don Quixote. What windmills are you chasing?"

"Mine are all tilted. Since you are in Marta's capable hands, I will take my leave."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Colonel Montoya was ushered in.

"My pardons, Senorita Alvarado for this unfortunate accident. He says that the sun was in his eyes and all he saw was a woman with dark hair and dark blouse on a horse."

"Many women in this area have dark hair and ride horses. They also wear blue blouses. By the way Colonel, I rode in from the west this morning and it was only Nine o'clock. The last I heard, the sun rises in the East."

"He obviously was lying, Senorita, the man will be severely punished."

"Accident, he could have killed me. I suggest you not let him play with guns anymore. You owe me more than an apology. He killed one of my horse teams."

"Quite true, and because of that, I have brought you compensation. Two horses to replace the one. Someone might think I had ordered that soldier to kill you."

"Colonel, even you would not do that in broad daylight with witnesses. I am tired now, Colonel, thank you for the horses. I will let you see yourself out as my leg hurts. Doctor Helm has told me to stay off of it."

Helm did not say a word.

"Doctor Helm, I believe that I need to rest. Will you please carry me to my bed?"

Helm's face was perfectly blank, but the Doctor and the Senorita made eye contact as he easily picked her up and carried her away.

END

By JoLayne
enyajo@aol.com

Since that boy just won't stop speaking to me, I'm continuing with my Grisham theme here:

TRIO CHALLENGE: musket ball, a rake, slippers
QUOTE: "It is a true saying that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him." Cervantes Don Quixote.

~~~~~

Grisham walked into Montoya's office after being summoned. As soon as he entered, he knew he was in trouble. On the desk in front of the Colonel was a musket ball, Montoya's fingers were rolling it back and forth between them. "You called?" Grisham said as he stood at attention by the door.

"Yes," Montoya easily said, sitting back in his chair. An easy smile creased his face, which made Grisham nervous. "It took you over an hour to come to me after you were called. Would you like a pipe and slippers to make yourself more comfortable?"

"Well, if it's not too much trouble..."

Even though Grisham had said it with a killer smile, the joke hadn't worked. Grisham immediately explained, "I was late getting here because I had to ride in from the shore were I was in the midst of training the new recruits. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, Capitan," Montoya said, pointing at his desk. "That musket ball is the only piece of evidence found in the bank after the robbery last night. That is not much to go on."

"Okay..." Grisham didn't know why he had to ride in just for inventory of evidence. He asked that, knowing that there had to be. He did a mental list of everything he had done in the past 24 hours. He had beat another prisoner, but that was at the behest of the Colonel himself, so that wouldn't be it... He went out to the Hidalgo estate to look in a window at that Dona who shall remain nameless. The mere thought of her beauty as she brushed her long, blond hair while sitting at her vanity table almost made Grisham lose his train of thought, but not for long. Who needs her anyway? He had thought about crashing Señorita Alvarado's pig roast but decided against it because he might be spotted by that wise acre Marta. He woke up that morning determined to put his mind on work and had rounded up the new recruits to go through military drills, just after spotting Señorita Valdez at the cantina eating breakfast and asked her to dine with him that evening. Grisham hoped this wouldn't take long, he had to clean up, change and go over to her family's hacienda. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes," Montoya stood and said. He still had that smile on his face and Grisham was still nervous. "You will have dinner with me."

"Hm?"

"We need to have a discussion."

"Look, I know that I've been letting things slide lately and there is much to do and I've let you down, Colonel, but I'm back in the game and everything will--."

Montoya cut him off with the raise of his hand, as he opened the door to his private quarters. "You can lie to me over lamb. Come."

After Montoya entered his quarters, Grisham cautiously followed. The Colonel had already laid his napkin on his lap and had motioned for the cook to start serving. He said, "You do not want to eat cold lamb, do you?"

"There's nothing worse than cold lamb." Grisham took his place near Montoya, standing at his side, not sitting down. "Sir, I have a date tonight. As much as that lamb smells delectible--."

"You no longer have a date tonight, Grisham. I have spoken to her and she is no longer expecting you."

"Excuse me?"

"Sit. Cook will not serve us until you are seated."

Grisham slumped into the chair across from Montoya. "You spoke to Señorita Valdez?"

"Yes." Montoya waited until after their salads were placed in front of them and the cook had left the room before continuing. "The señorita had been looking forward to your 'date', and you may still have one in the future, but I find it my duty to have a talk with you first."

"I already know about the birds and the bees, Colonel."

"Maybe," Montoya said, smiling. "In your warped sense of reasoning. But Don Valdez is an important member of this community and if you 'date' his daughter in same manner that you have 'dated' other señoritas since Doña Hidalgo dumped you, I will be quite busy fixing the mess. I have more important things to do than try to wrangle a rifle out of the hands of a father with a mission."

Grisham ate the salad and stewed over those words. Not only did Montoya know about him and Vera, but also about his other conquests. Suddenly, Montoya said, "Marcus. Rakes may seduce women, and enjoy the women they get, but they do not attain Doñas. Single ones, anyway. What is your purpose? I thought you were supposed to concentrate on Señorita Alvarado?"

"She's a cold fish. Why don't you date her? You have something in common. I don't even see you date."

"We are not talking about me, Marcus, we are talking about you."

"Colonel? Don't call me Marcus."

"Why not?"

"It's just... weird."

"Yes," Montoya agreed. "It is. I thought I would use your given name to offer an air of friendship to you."

"Friends?" That was the last thing Grisham had thought them to be.

"Yes. We have worked together for a while now and thought it would be time to get to know one another. It is a true saying that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him."

"A peck of salt?"

"It's Cervantes, Grisham."

"That's better. Call me Grisham. I'm more comfortable with that."

Cook and the staff came in with the lamb with all the fixings. After taking away the salad plates, Montoya and Grisham were both served. Grisham glared at the Colonel. Who does he think he is? A ruler?! Well... I guess he is, but not of my private life. How did he ever think he could interfere with my love life? I was sweet with her. I was charming. I about had a headache thinking of the right things to say to the señorita when I asked her out, and she was happy to have dinner with me...

The staff left after their plates were served. The lamb did smell and look delicious, but Grisham was too angry to eat. "Colonel, whatever gave you the idea that I would treat Señorita Valdez with anything but the upmost care and respect? I've had my eye on her for a long time."

"Your past record with women speaks for itself, Grisham," Montya stated before taking a forkful of lamb into his mouth. He sat back and seemed to let it dissolve in his mouth before swallowing it. "I do not mind that you have trysts with chambermaids and seamstresses, but Señorita Valdez is a member of society. We have to maintain the peace at any cost, Capitan."

Grisham hurriedly ate the lamb before saying, "I'm offended, Colonel," thinking that talking back to Montoya would only result in his being kicked out before getting to eat it.

Montoya licked some meat from his teeth and asked, "How so?"

"I know exactly how to treat a woman and of course I'm going to move very slowly with Señorita Valdez. I'm not an idiot."

That last line echoed in the air as Montoya took a forkful of roasted sweet potatoes into his mouth and again savored the taste and texture before swallowing it. Montoya lightly chuckled, and then reached for the wine bottle and poured them each a glass. "Here, Grisham. But do not drink too much. You really should not foster your delusion of grander with alcohol, so be careful."

~~~~~

My Grisham muse just stormed out of the room... I'll see next week if he'll talk some more. <g>

~Jo

By Lisa
lisa_weston@csufresno.edu

QUOTE CHALLENGE Montoya and Milton? A match made in ummm....

I couldn't help myself. So. Egregious quotation--all of it, like the challenge quote, from Satan's speeches in Book One of Paradise Lost--plus a little irony and some foreshadowing.

~~~~~

Colonel Montoya shielded his eyes with one raised hand and squinted through the heat haze leaching all color from the landscape. Below them the road from Monterey--El Camino Real,the Royal Road, they called it, though it was little better than a rutted cattle track--twisted down through a canyon and out across the plain. Off in the distance the brown desert shrub gave way to the first signs of the faded, struggling green fields of what would have to pass as civilization in this benighted place. A gust of wind tugged at his neatly bound hair and he passed his hand unconsciously over his brow to smooth it back into place. Even the wind brought no relief from the heat. He could feel the sweat trickling down the small of his back, the linen of his once crisp shirt growing limp, the serge of his uniform breeches sticking uncomfortably against the backs of his thighs. They had paused to rest and water the horses before beginning the final stretch of their journey. They would arrive soon. The moment seemed to call for some commemoration.

"'Hail, horrors,'" he began with an expansive, theatrical gesture. "'Hail, infernal world, and thou, profoundest Hell, receive thy new possessor.'"

"Shakespeare, Sir?"

Montoya grimaced. "No, Grisham. Not Shakespeare this time. Milton. Yet another treasure of your English literature of whom you seem completely oblivious."

"Yeah, well, I'm not English, and I never had much time for poetry."

"No, I suppose not," Montoya murmured, turning back to his coach. It wasn't, after all, culture and sophistication that had recommended the American to him. He had hardly expected a soul mate. No, the man's dubious past, those crimes that had driven him friendless and fortuneless so far from home, and his consequent necessary reliance on a master's favor: these, his venal amorality and his brutality would make the new Capitan the perfect instrument of the Colonel's will. Poetry and art and music would most likely have to remain solitary pleasures. He had been so lucky to find amid the desolation of war and the wilderness of the Cordillera one comrade with whom he could share such private joys. He treasured his memories, but did not look for similar luck in this place. English gentlemen spies schooled to saffron a deadly ruthlessness with urbanity and charm were really too much to hope for here.

He remounted the carriage and settled back as it jerked and rattled back into motion. The interior was dim and stuffy, but to open the curtains any further was to invite the choking dust inside.

The Colonel had few illusions about Alta California. Even in Spain they told the story of how the place had driven its first master mad. The gallant and ambitious Visitador-general Jose de Galvez, they said, had imported Guatemalan apes and dressed them as soldiers. Of course, from what he had seen of the local troops so far he wondered whether the plan had been so mad after all. California. Ha! The place had nothing beside the name to link it to the island the Exploits of Esplandin placed so close to the terrestrial paradise. He would hardly find here an Amazon Califia, a dark-haired and sultry Queen.

But California had some commercial and strategic importance, nevertheless. Especially now. Spain was losing control of her colonies, despite the way that after years of benign neglect she was reasserting her firm hand, her claim upon resources so badly needed in the wake of war. Besides, what better opportunity, what better prize could she offer the heroes who had fought for her so valiantly? Santa Helena. Montoya could remember the blatant, patronizing smirk on the Minister's face as he offered the posting. Oh, yes. The Emperor's exile was quite fresh enough to make clear exactly what this command meant: ironic reward for his presumption, punishment for his embarrassing efficiency. A younger Lieutenant Montoya had been among the first to join the revolt against French occupation in '08. It was not entirely zeal and idealism that had driven him even then, of course. He had learned early how little he might expect in the normal course of advancement. His family was not quite noble enough, his fortune not large enough. And he had committed the unforgivable sin of showing himself more clever than his "betters." As he could have predicted, the Spanish army had offered little enough threat on the field of war. The less regular, more improvisational and on occasion far more brutal guerrilla (for that was the word they had coined, "little war") had won more success but less admiration. Its heroes were men to be reckoned with, no doubt, but not to be glorified. Men to be employed at a distance, where their grasp of the expedient would profit Madrid without requiring Royal complicity or approval.

Be it so. Montoya smiled grimly to himself as his coach rumbled through the dust and heat toward his new command. He would be damned if he let this place defeat--if he would let this opportunity escape him. For opportunity it could be if he were strong enough to seize it. All is not lost, he reminded himself. The unconquerable will--how did the poet put it?--and courage never to submit or yield, and what is else not to be overcome? There had been enough time to plan on the long voyage to Vera Cruz and then overland to Mexico City, to San Blas, and the dispatch ship up the coast to Monterey. There had been enough information to be drawn out of the fool of a local viceroy and his ignorant, petty courtiers. There would be a moment to act, to make his move. Until then he would marshal his forces, consolidate his control. With patience and discipline--and the good gardener's ruthless resolve to prune where pruning was needed--he would make roses bloom in this desert. "'To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell,'" he quoted into the dimness. "'Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.'"

A slight change in momentum drew his attention away from his rambling meditations. They were entering the pueblo. They drew to a halt, and as the dust settled and his aide dismounted to open his door, Montoya adjusted the cuffs on his uniform tunic and prepared to meet his new subjects. A small and relatively well-dressed group stood in the shade of a building he assumed to be his headquarters. The one in front, a distinguished, greying gentleman with the confident pride of a nobleman, would be the most prominent landowner, their spokesman. Montoya noted with brief, speculative appreciation the envious glances the man's companions, his erstwhile friends, cast upon him. Oh yes, there would be much to work with here.

"Colonel Montoya," the don bowed formally in greeting. "I am Rafael Alvarado. Welcome to Santa Helena."

END

By Maril
maril.swan@sympatico.ca

RATING: G
FEEDBACK: ? wait until you read it <g>
DISCLAIMERS: Fireworks has the copyrights, I'm just giving them some exercise.

"Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven" -- Milton

Musket ball, Slippers, Rake

~~~~~

The sounds of animated conversation and guitar music drifted over the walls of the Rose Courtyard as the two women approached. The younger woman squared her shoulders and drew in a deep breath. "I guess I can't put it off any longer, Marta. We're already late as it is. But at least, the torment of Montoya's party won't last so long tonight." She smiled wryly at her friend and walked through the gate into the brilliantly lit courtyard.

A very large crowd milled in small groups throughout the garden. A larger crowd than usual, Tessa noted. Who were these other people? She had never seen them before.

Colonel Montoya spotted his late-arriving guests and strode over to greet them. "Señorita Alvarado. I was beginning to fear you would not attend this evening's gala." He bent gracefully in a courtly bow, then took up her hand and kissed it, smiling intently into her eyes. His grey eyes coolly glanced over Marta, and he nodded curtly.

"You know I would never miss one of your social events, Colonel. I was delayed by business at my hacienda." Gesturing to the strangers among the usual assemblage of local gentry, she asked, "You seem to have some new guests here tonight. I don't believe I've met them."

"Their ship put into our little harbour today for repairs. Naturally, I had to extend my Spanish hospitality to them."

"You mean you put them in your jail, Colonel?" Marta remarked dryly. His cold glance made the corners of her mouth quirk as she tried to smother a smile.

Ignoring Marta's wry comment, Montoya took Tessa's arm and began to lead her toward a group of strangers. Three men in sombreros leaned against the courtyard wall, strumming their guitars.

"Señorita Alvarado, may I present, Jim, Rodlox and Neil, who called themselves 'The Three Amigos'. They have graciously offered to entertain us this evening." The three men bowed, giving Tessa such warm looks that she felt her cheeks colouring.

"Señores," she said coolly, fluttering her fan. The Colonel led her across the courtyard to another group. In their midst, she could see Dr. Helm, almost completely surrounded by women. Her face grew warmer still as she noted his seeming pleasure at being the centre of attention in this group of adoring women. She could hear his laugh rising above their animated chatter. Her blood began to boil.

"Ah, Dr. Helm," the colonel laughed, "I almost didn't see you in that crowd." He turned to Tessa and said, "These ladies found themselves beached upon our shores, and the good doctor has been kind enough to show them the town and its many attractions."

"Of which, he is obviously the main one," Tessa remarked under her breath. She heard Marta chuckle maddeningly beside her.

"Let me introduce you to Jo, Dea, Eliza, Maril, MnD, Margie, Li, Julie, ...."

Montoya continued to roll off the names but Tessa's attention had wandered. "Excuse me, Colonel. I think I will circulate a bit and greet some of my friends. It was a pleasure meeting you all," she added tersely, lifting her chin and then turning abruptly.

Montoya smirked at her hasty departure. The woman wears her heart on her sleeve, he thought in amusement. A hand on his arm captured his attention. He raised his eyebrows in sudden recognition, then his face fell. "I'm sorry. For a moment, you looked like someone I knew."

"I'm brig," she said brightly. "People are always saying I resemble someone else -- someone named Lucy."

The colonel swallowed, his face paled, but he quickly recovered. "A passing resemblance only." He kissed her hand courteously. "The woman in question thinks I am the devil incarnate."

"Better to reign in Hell than to serve in heaven?" brig asked with a wry smile.

He frowned, his flinty eyes intense as they regarded her. "How well do you know Lucy?" he demanded.

"A passing acquaintance only," she replied.

Another voice spoke beside him, the woman he introduced as Eliza. "Who is that handsome soldier lounging against the wall, Colonel?"

"That's Captain Grisham, our local rake." Montoya said flatly.

The captain seemed unaware of their scrutiny as he eyed the women in the courtyard while abstractedly tossing a musket ball up and catching it in his hand. Montoya followed the captain's gaze and found it focussed on Tessa Alvarado. He nearly laughed aloud at her indignant return glare at the captain's lustful stare. He clenched his jaw to withhold the smile that threatened as he watched Grisham casually making his way toward the señorita, and her suddenly joining a couple of dons and their wives to avoid him.

"If you don't want to find your slippers under his bed, you would do well to steer clear of Grisham. He seems to have started on a campaign to seduce every woman in the pueblo since he..." The colonel paused, realizing he was retailing local gossip to these strangers. Their fascination with the topic almost made him continue. "If you wish, I could introduce you."

"No thanks, Colonel," Eliza replied. "I was just curious." With the other woman, she wandered back to the group with the doctor.

About an hour later, Tessa had had enough. She had not been able to get near Doctor Helm all evening, surrounded as he was by that bevy of women. And now Grisham seemed to be stalking her everywhere she went. She began to search for Marta and spied her with a small group of women, some of whom she had already met. She made her way to the little gathering and said, "Marta, I'd like to leave now. Let's go."

"I'm in the midst of a conversation, Tessa. A few more minutes, then we'll go." Returning her attention to the women, she said, "Now, where were we? Oh yes, Jo and Maril, I was telling you about my early life in Spain, and about Tessa as a little girl. She was quite a handful. I remember one time..."

Marta's voice broke off as Tessa grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet. "Oh no,'" she snapped, her face paling, "you're not telling stories about my childhood, Marta! We're leaving now."

With Marta in tow, Tessa strode toward the exit. Montoya intercepted her. "Not leaving already, Señorita Alvarado? The party has only just begun."

"Yes, Colonel, I must. But thank you. Your party was even more stimulating than usual." She turned quickly and went out the gate. And I think I will return later as the Queen to visit a certain doctor who shall be nameless and maybe other part-less, after I give a piece of my mind to a certain Gypsy woman, she fumed as she strode toward her wagon. I was wrong about this party. It wasn't just dull. It was a total disaster!

--Maril

By Rodlox
rodlox@hotmail.com

SPOILERS: The Dragon!!!!!
CHARACTERS: Montoya, Kami, minor dragon, Queen, other Montoyas.
NOTE: I put the Japanese last names first, then the personal names last. Thanks to Jim and Roanna for their help. All errorS are entirely my own.

~~~~~
"In my dreams I always see you soar above the sky." -song on radio {anyone know it?}.
~~~~~

They had said their goodbyes, and now Kami was leaving the Queen behind after giving her a dragon sword.

A massive head erupted from the surface of the bay, rocketting above the formerly tranquil water on a thick neck. While everyone else panicked and headed for shelter from the monster, the enormous head - easily as thick as Chico's torso - sinuously lowered itself, aiming for Kami and the Queen.

Lightly exhaling through it's nostrils, it spoke, "Child who assumes, why have you not completed your oath? The ancestors are not pleased.""She saved my life," Kami said humbly, bowing and keeping her head lowered. "I was mislead."

"Why?" it asked, the red bristles running along the top of it's neck quivering. "Her reasons are not what you think."

"Did Montoya send you?" the Queen asked, only then realizing how rediculous it sounded. What could he possibly hold over the head of a sea monster?

"Silence, you who wish to land the killing blow upon those in your way!" And, to exclamate this, it kept one nostril sealed, exhaling hard enough with the other one to send the Queen several feet back and on her duff.

While the Queen was down, the dragon turned it's head only slightly to focus on Kami. "Rise up, for I shall carry you to your destiny," and arrayed it's whiskers - barbels - into a stairstep shape for her. Obediently, Kami climbed up them, taking a seat at the back of the dragon's head.

Almost immediately after that, the tatsu - dragon - spun it's head around, moving swiftly through the water and the surface of said water, kicking up sea spray all around it.

"Behave, Endo Kami of Samuri," the dragon told her. "Breath deep and seek peace."

Obediently, Kami did as she was told, breathing deeply and focusing on the calmness in the center of her turbulent emotions; the calmness grew and grew, until it was dominant.

Below her, sea-spray was no long being kicked up by the dragon's swift passage through the water. Now, they were soaring over it - not truly 'floating' for that held connotations of drifting like a passive cloud.

"Wise and ancient, tatsu," Kami said, "is there something you wish for me to do?"

"Not ancient," it corrected her. "I mere centuries." On the horizon, Kami could see Santa hElena, siloetted against the sky. "The dragons must destroy the tengu before their passion kills this land," the tatsu told her.

With a turn of the tatsu's sinuous body - no wings - they headed towards a little valley trimmed in on all sides by little mountains or big hills, depandant on your perspective. The valley had at it's center a sparkling lake of crystal-clear water. Kami could see the depths of it, and wondered who possessed it.

The dragon came in for a landing, letting her see that Colonel Montoya was there. The tatsu allowed Kami off it's head once it had come to a complete stop and lowered it's head. Luis Montoya held out his hand to help her down from the height.

Kami knew to behave around the dragon, and that it very likely had a reason for allowing him to be here. "A place like this," Kami remarked; "it must be worth it's weight in gold."

Montoya nodded. "The dons are kept busy squabbling over their own paltry water deposits, thus protecting this place," as the dragon paled into invisibility - the only sign of it's passing was the ripples as it submerged entirely into the lake. "And yet it pales into insignifigance next to such as you.

"I am truly sorry, Kami," Luis apologized. "I know that I should not have felt anger at your siding with the Queen; my emotions overcame me. Can you ever forgive me?" and gave a deep bow.

Kami bit her lip, thinking. Finally, "After a time, I believe so."

"I thank you, Kami-san." Seeing her looking at him appraisingly, "Is there something else?"

"I wish to apologize to you for thinking -" but could not say it.

"It is alright," Luis told her. "'Ill luck, they say, rarely comes alone,' particularly my own."

Kami smiled at that. "I read something like that once," she remarked. "And I was also simply wondering if you had any condiments on you presently."

"Sadly, no," Montoya answered, suspecting something. "Might I inquire as to why?"

Kami's eyes looked down for a moment. "My master once told me that -" and she made sure she remembered the words right, "'It is a saying that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him.'"

Montoya smiled, and gave a slight bow. "I am flattered, senorita, that you consider me even a nominal friend. I am truly touched," and reached up to wipe at the corner of his eye; after that, "And I am also pleased that Hideo has passed on his copy of 'Don Quixote' to one so deserving as you."

"You knew my master?" Kami asked, more than a little surprised.

Luis nodded. "I first met him when I was a youth, callous and uncouth. He helped me to be patient, and taught me something about Nippon...."

~~~~~

MANILLA, SPANISH PHILLIPINES; APRIL 8TH, 1802

The sun was rising over the city of Manilla, a northern city of the once-glorious Spanish Empire in the Phillipines. Having lived in one rising empire or another, kingdoms and chiefdoms too, Luis Montoya was not impressed with the heritage he had been born to.

They'd had to move here, leaving their post in the nation of Air, in the North African heartland. Luis missed his friends, and also was rather upset that they only moved when he was getting fluent in the local language - almost no matter how quickly he picked it up, it was time to go then. Before Air, it had been Morrocco, and before that, Britain....even at a young age, Luis knew they were going further and further.

But it wasn't his parents' fault, Luis Montoya knew. It was that beached whale that had the temerity to call itself an Ambassador for Spain! The man - if it really was one - had been caught with so many women that it was a wonder his wife put up with him at all; for all Luis knew, she didn't.

"Why do they put up with all these scandals?" Luis asked his father. "Why do they not simply send him home and replace him with someone better?"

"Because," his father replied, "the Ambassador has many strong allies in the Royal Court, so he cannot be dismissed."

"Overstuffed peacocks," Luis muttered, refering to the Ambassador and his Cortez, "nothing but useless skirt-chasing blubber."

"Watch your tongue, Luis!" his mother remanded at him.

Luis dipped his head down. "Yes, mother," and went silent. He knew that nobody in this household countered her word; anyone who tried, wound up with a week-long welt.

Young Montoya walked out the front door, not even hearing a 'be home in time for supper' behind him; not from his family. Nobody objected to his going out when he wanted to; why would they? He was a Montoya man: he knew how to fight, how to beat up, how to pummel. Nobody messed with a Montoya twice!

Luis just kept walking, not really minding whereever he ended up this time. With a chuckle, he remembered the time he'd walked into the backstage of a slave auctionyard.

With a start, he bumped into somebody in the here and now. "Hey!" he said, then saw that this wasn't one of those arrogant Chinamen - the difference wasn't blatant, but his eyes had become discerning over the years - this was someone different, a people he'd never seen before. "My apologies," he said in Latin, something he figured was a common language.

"I forgive you," the man told him. "It was an easy mistake: I was not watching where I was going, I suppose."

Luis's eyes widened as he soaked that in: the other man was willing to take the blame? "I am Luis Philip Montoya," he introduced himself.

"I am," the man said, bowing a respectful amount, particularly to a teen, "Kiyomasa Hideo."

TBC

ARCHIVE NOTE: Sequel P-O-W ss found on Rodlox's author page on the Cart
http://www.oocities.org/manzanacore/rodloxstories.html

By Rodlox

NOTE: this is a QOS spin on an old airplane joke.
#18 CHALLENGE RESPONSE

~~~

Robert Helm was peacefully sleeping in his bed in his room in his home in the pueblo of Santa hElena. He heard the first birdcall of the morning.
Unfortunately, he was trying to sleep.

Fortunately, it shut up when he threw his empty gun at where it was perched.
Unfortunately, that collapsed the shelf with many of his things.

Fortunately, he wouldn't have to clean it up for a while.
Unfortunately, he would have to clean it up eventually.

Fortunately, the bird began to sing outside.
Unfortunately, it was part of a chorus now.

Fortunately, nothing untoward happened when Robert sat up in bed.
Unfortunately, when he started to stand up, the sun got in his eyes.

Fortunately, his feet found his slippers.
Unfortunately, he slipped on them.

Fortunatley, there was only one thing in his downward arc.
Unfortunately, it was the musket ball.

Fortunately, it did not explode.
Unfortunately, his chest felt like it had.

Fortunately, he decided not to risk cooking breakfast.
Unfortunately, he also had no food in the pantry anyway.

Fortunately, nothing happened when he opened the door to escape his home.
Unfortunately, the door hit him in the butt on the way out.

Fortunately, the sun was not in his eyes now.
Unfortunately, it had rained last night.

Fortunately, he did not slip in any puddles.
Unfortunately, Robert stepped on a peasant's submerged rake.

Fortunately, it did not dig into his flesh like a certain woman's nails.
Unfortunately, the pole swung up and swatted him in the face.

Fortunately, he backed away from the rake.
Unfortunately, it was into the wall.

Fortunately, he remembered that there was a doctor in the house.
Unfortunately, he was it.

END