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Family Matters
© 2022 by M. Mitch Marmel
Thumbnail art © Tatsunoko Prods. Reproduced under Fair Use.
Part Thirty-four
Bearovitch:
Josef Anton watches as Seagull cloaks, and he knows that it has lifted off. How does Josef Anton know?
Ha ha ha!
Josef Anton bump his head against one, many years ago. You can not fool Josef Anton twice. He hears the engine sound move off, and he turns to the Commodore. “Sir,” Josef Anton says, “I am under your orders until His Majesty returns.”
Flamingo nods. “Er, yes, those are my orders as well, Lt. Bearovitch.” He smiles. “I would like very much to hear about Lowfolk navies, if you’d like to share that information.”
Josef Anton has heard of this word, ‘Lowfolk,’ but remembers his orders. “Josef Anton would be happy to talk with you, Commodore, and Josef Anton swears that it is all true.” The Commodore smiles and we go to his office for tea and chat.
The Commodore has a samovar in his office, and Josef Anton is reassured.
He is clearly among civilized furs.
***
Matt:
I had told the flight crew to describe a pair of lazy figure-8s over the capital, to give the King and his family a good view of the place before following the line of the river down to the sea. We were running on artigrav and ion engines; a little slow, but very quiet. If anyone down below heard us, I seriously doubted it, and if anyone caught a whiff of ozone, hopefully they’d think a thunderstorm was nearby.
We’d switch from the ion thrusters after we went paws wet.
At least one member of the party noticed this. Prince Gawain asked, “Why are we moving so slowly, Colonel? The report that my uncle received said that your machines were fast.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Those were combat aircraft, designed for speed and maneuverability. The Seagull is designed to transport more than one fur, or a large amount of cargo, and therefore is limited regarding its speed.” I smiled, especially when I saw his wife had her ears swiveled toward me. “We can go faster, but I ordered the pilots to go this slow.”
“Why?”
“I thought that His Majesty might want to see a part of his realm from a vantage point he might have never had before.” Gawain nodded, and I stood up and turned to see the King and his brother looking at me before glancing at each other.
Must be that telepathy – sorry, Elf-mind, that they use.
One klick offshore, I said, “You might want to brace yourselves, please,” as the ion thrusters changed to the SC-97’s turbojets with a whining roar, and the sea started to flash past below us. A few tails bottled out in surprise at the feeling of acceleration.
Prince Roland beckoned me over. “Tell me, Colonel. How long until we arrive?”
“One moment. Gertrude?”
“Sir?”
“ETA to Musashi?”
“Thirty minutes, Sir, present speed.” The Marshal cocked an eyebrow at that, and I got the hint.
“Increase speed, notify the Commodore we’ll be early.” He nodded at me.
The King asked, “Why so long?”
“Your Majesty, you call this body of water the Encompassing Sea,” I said, “and I have to say that it is very large. We moved the ship further out to avoid making any more contact with any Elves.”
“I see.” He turned back to watch the sea passing by below and appeared to doze off.
A few minutes later I got up and opened a cupboard. “Would anyone like a snack?” Ears swiveled, most notably the Marshal’s, and I took a double pawful of packets out. I gave a few to Prince Roland, one (with a bow) to the King, and one to the Princess.
Prince Gawain asked, “What are they?”
“Honey-roasted bees, Sir,” I replied. His wife had already opened her packet and was trying one. She liked it if the delighted smile on her face was any indicator. He waved off the proffered packet and his ears swiveled as his wife took it instead.
Suspicious, not hungry, or slightly airsick? If I weren’t on my best behavior, I’d test that third hypothesis.
The Marshal had already eaten both of his packets. I gave him a few more and he said, “These are quite good, Colonel.”
“Thank you, Sir. They’re the Commodore’s favorite snack, and since you are skunks yourselves,” I spread my paws, “she was very pleased to share.”
The King merely nodded, watching the sea pass below while eating a honey-roasted bee every now and then.
The Seagull was moving along just south of Mach 1 when Heathcliff said to me over his shoulder, “Colonel? Visual contact, Musashi.”
“Very well,” I said. “Drop speed, bring us down to one hundred meters and give us a slow route around the ship.” I grinned at the quartet of Elves. “We’re almost here, and I think you’d want to see the outside of the ship before we land.”
“Where – oh! I see it! Look, Gawain,” Princess Persephone said. “It’s huge.”
That's what she said. I thought to myself. The old jokes are the best ones.
We did a slow pass down the ship’s port side, from stern to bow, before doing a little pirouette and passing down the starboard side to give our passengers a good view. “Colonel?” Gertrude asked, and when I looked away from our guests she said, “Message from the Commodore. Landing bay doors will open on approach, so you can stop showing off.”
King Adler gave a soft chuckle as I grinned. “She can’t blame me for showing her ship off,” I said. “Land us, please.”
“Yes, Sir.”
We reached the stern and dropped toward the landing bay as the aft deck opened up; it’s a little intimidating, landing facing the aft main battery turret, but the passengers won’t see it. We landed with the lightest of bumps, and the thrum of power died away.
Prince Gawain helped his father into his wheelchair, and I bowed as the ramp came down and the royal party started to disembark.
The ship’s bosun sounded her whistle, and a double file of the crew in formal uniforms came to attention as Low saluted, then bowed slightly. “Your Majesty, Your Highnesses,” my dear wife said, “welcome aboard the Musashi.”
***
Stormy:
I had just finished cleaning the Stove and making sure that all of the utensils that Papa had gotten for me were all in their proper places, and I was coming up the stairs from the cellar when I heard voices coming through the kitchen from elsewhere in the house.
“What’d I tell ya, huh, Lupo? Is it as big as I said it was?”
“If anything, it looks bigger, Cannizorro.”
“And it’s just been sitting here all this time.”
“You’d think it would have spoiled by now.”
“Not a chance, Lupo. Didja see how cold the box it’s sitting in is?”
“Yeah, it was pretty cold. So, what are you thinking, Cannizorro?”
“I’m thinking it’d make a big meal, Lupo. We’d need a lot of bacon.”
“Mmm, bacon . . . you know what, Cannizorro?”
“What, Lupo?”
“I’m thinkin’ we should have a talk with that new cook, and see if he’ll do the cooking.”
I reached the top of the basement stairs to see the wolf and the fox who serve at the Temple slip out of the kitchen, but not before the wolf got his paw smacked by [Little Toy] for reaching for a freshly baked roll.
Hm.
What was that all about, I wonder?
***
Roland:
We had landed in a large metal cavern, with craft similar to the one we had traveled in arrayed in rows along either long side. After my brother and nephew were greeted by the Commodore, she escorted them to review the members of the ship’s company who had been set up as an honor guard, and to introduce several of the ship’s senior officers. My nephew’s mate, Colonel Mason, and I followed behind His Majesty.
“Commander Delgado, Your Majesty,” and a canine with large, dish-shaped ears and a blotchy fur color scheme bowed. “The Commander is the Chief Medical Officer.” The Commodore glanced at Gawain and added, “I had thought of having him push your wheelchair for you, to relieve your son of the task.”
Gawain flicked his tail. “I hope you’re not implying that I am weak, Commodore.”
The Commodore did a rather curious thing. Her eyes moved to look at my nephew before her head turned, and she said, “Far from it, Your Highness, and I apologize if I implied that. I am merely being hospitable.”
Before Gawain could say anything my brother said, “And we welcome your hospitality, Commodore. I would be pleased to have your Doctor move me about.” He glanced back at his son, who grudgingly nodded and stepped back to stand beside Persephone as the painted wolf came forward. “Lead on, please, Commodore.”
Low smiled. “Of course, Your Majesty. I had thought that we should show you the machines that your seaside villagers saw. They’re one deck below us.”
We started walking, my brother and the Commodore in the lead, followed by the Crown Prince and Princess, with myself and Colonel Mason following.
“I have been wondering something, Colonel.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
I lowered my voice slightly. “I note that everyone of your crew speaks Standard Elvish. Do you teach it in your schools, or is it another example of your ‘technology?’”
The bear gave a soft chuckle. “It’s an S.E.P., I’m afraid.”
“’Sep?’”
“No, S. E. P. It stands for Someone Else’s Problem.” He sighed. “It’s the closest thing to actual magic I’ve ever encountered before coming to Faerie, and I’ve been to quite a few places. Don’t ask me how it works, though – I have enough aggravations.” He leaned toward me slightly. “I tried to figure it out once, and it took me two bottles of neat spirits to recover.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Only two?” We both started to laugh.
Our party paused on a square section of the deck marked off in yellow paint, and after a warning to brace ourselves the section descended to the lower deck.
I looked around. “Eala.”
<NEXT>
<PREVIOUS>
<FIRST>
© 2022 by M. Mitch Marmel
Thumbnail art © Tatsunoko Prods. Reproduced under Fair Use.
Part Thirty-four
Bearovitch:
Josef Anton watches as Seagull cloaks, and he knows that it has lifted off. How does Josef Anton know?
Ha ha ha!
Josef Anton bump his head against one, many years ago. You can not fool Josef Anton twice. He hears the engine sound move off, and he turns to the Commodore. “Sir,” Josef Anton says, “I am under your orders until His Majesty returns.”
Flamingo nods. “Er, yes, those are my orders as well, Lt. Bearovitch.” He smiles. “I would like very much to hear about Lowfolk navies, if you’d like to share that information.”
Josef Anton has heard of this word, ‘Lowfolk,’ but remembers his orders. “Josef Anton would be happy to talk with you, Commodore, and Josef Anton swears that it is all true.” The Commodore smiles and we go to his office for tea and chat.
The Commodore has a samovar in his office, and Josef Anton is reassured.
He is clearly among civilized furs.
***
Matt:
I had told the flight crew to describe a pair of lazy figure-8s over the capital, to give the King and his family a good view of the place before following the line of the river down to the sea. We were running on artigrav and ion engines; a little slow, but very quiet. If anyone down below heard us, I seriously doubted it, and if anyone caught a whiff of ozone, hopefully they’d think a thunderstorm was nearby.
We’d switch from the ion thrusters after we went paws wet.
At least one member of the party noticed this. Prince Gawain asked, “Why are we moving so slowly, Colonel? The report that my uncle received said that your machines were fast.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Those were combat aircraft, designed for speed and maneuverability. The Seagull is designed to transport more than one fur, or a large amount of cargo, and therefore is limited regarding its speed.” I smiled, especially when I saw his wife had her ears swiveled toward me. “We can go faster, but I ordered the pilots to go this slow.”
“Why?”
“I thought that His Majesty might want to see a part of his realm from a vantage point he might have never had before.” Gawain nodded, and I stood up and turned to see the King and his brother looking at me before glancing at each other.
Must be that telepathy – sorry, Elf-mind, that they use.
One klick offshore, I said, “You might want to brace yourselves, please,” as the ion thrusters changed to the SC-97’s turbojets with a whining roar, and the sea started to flash past below us. A few tails bottled out in surprise at the feeling of acceleration.
Prince Roland beckoned me over. “Tell me, Colonel. How long until we arrive?”
“One moment. Gertrude?”
“Sir?”
“ETA to Musashi?”
“Thirty minutes, Sir, present speed.” The Marshal cocked an eyebrow at that, and I got the hint.
“Increase speed, notify the Commodore we’ll be early.” He nodded at me.
The King asked, “Why so long?”
“Your Majesty, you call this body of water the Encompassing Sea,” I said, “and I have to say that it is very large. We moved the ship further out to avoid making any more contact with any Elves.”
“I see.” He turned back to watch the sea passing by below and appeared to doze off.
A few minutes later I got up and opened a cupboard. “Would anyone like a snack?” Ears swiveled, most notably the Marshal’s, and I took a double pawful of packets out. I gave a few to Prince Roland, one (with a bow) to the King, and one to the Princess.
Prince Gawain asked, “What are they?”
“Honey-roasted bees, Sir,” I replied. His wife had already opened her packet and was trying one. She liked it if the delighted smile on her face was any indicator. He waved off the proffered packet and his ears swiveled as his wife took it instead.
Suspicious, not hungry, or slightly airsick? If I weren’t on my best behavior, I’d test that third hypothesis.
The Marshal had already eaten both of his packets. I gave him a few more and he said, “These are quite good, Colonel.”
“Thank you, Sir. They’re the Commodore’s favorite snack, and since you are skunks yourselves,” I spread my paws, “she was very pleased to share.”
The King merely nodded, watching the sea pass below while eating a honey-roasted bee every now and then.
The Seagull was moving along just south of Mach 1 when Heathcliff said to me over his shoulder, “Colonel? Visual contact, Musashi.”
“Very well,” I said. “Drop speed, bring us down to one hundred meters and give us a slow route around the ship.” I grinned at the quartet of Elves. “We’re almost here, and I think you’d want to see the outside of the ship before we land.”
“Where – oh! I see it! Look, Gawain,” Princess Persephone said. “It’s huge.”
That's what she said. I thought to myself. The old jokes are the best ones.
We did a slow pass down the ship’s port side, from stern to bow, before doing a little pirouette and passing down the starboard side to give our passengers a good view. “Colonel?” Gertrude asked, and when I looked away from our guests she said, “Message from the Commodore. Landing bay doors will open on approach, so you can stop showing off.”
King Adler gave a soft chuckle as I grinned. “She can’t blame me for showing her ship off,” I said. “Land us, please.”
“Yes, Sir.”
We reached the stern and dropped toward the landing bay as the aft deck opened up; it’s a little intimidating, landing facing the aft main battery turret, but the passengers won’t see it. We landed with the lightest of bumps, and the thrum of power died away.
Prince Gawain helped his father into his wheelchair, and I bowed as the ramp came down and the royal party started to disembark.
The ship’s bosun sounded her whistle, and a double file of the crew in formal uniforms came to attention as Low saluted, then bowed slightly. “Your Majesty, Your Highnesses,” my dear wife said, “welcome aboard the Musashi.”
***
Stormy:
I had just finished cleaning the Stove and making sure that all of the utensils that Papa had gotten for me were all in their proper places, and I was coming up the stairs from the cellar when I heard voices coming through the kitchen from elsewhere in the house.
“What’d I tell ya, huh, Lupo? Is it as big as I said it was?”
“If anything, it looks bigger, Cannizorro.”
“And it’s just been sitting here all this time.”
“You’d think it would have spoiled by now.”
“Not a chance, Lupo. Didja see how cold the box it’s sitting in is?”
“Yeah, it was pretty cold. So, what are you thinking, Cannizorro?”
“I’m thinking it’d make a big meal, Lupo. We’d need a lot of bacon.”
“Mmm, bacon . . . you know what, Cannizorro?”
“What, Lupo?”
“I’m thinkin’ we should have a talk with that new cook, and see if he’ll do the cooking.”
I reached the top of the basement stairs to see the wolf and the fox who serve at the Temple slip out of the kitchen, but not before the wolf got his paw smacked by [Little Toy] for reaching for a freshly baked roll.
Hm.
What was that all about, I wonder?
***
Roland:
We had landed in a large metal cavern, with craft similar to the one we had traveled in arrayed in rows along either long side. After my brother and nephew were greeted by the Commodore, she escorted them to review the members of the ship’s company who had been set up as an honor guard, and to introduce several of the ship’s senior officers. My nephew’s mate, Colonel Mason, and I followed behind His Majesty.
“Commander Delgado, Your Majesty,” and a canine with large, dish-shaped ears and a blotchy fur color scheme bowed. “The Commander is the Chief Medical Officer.” The Commodore glanced at Gawain and added, “I had thought of having him push your wheelchair for you, to relieve your son of the task.”
Gawain flicked his tail. “I hope you’re not implying that I am weak, Commodore.”
The Commodore did a rather curious thing. Her eyes moved to look at my nephew before her head turned, and she said, “Far from it, Your Highness, and I apologize if I implied that. I am merely being hospitable.”
Before Gawain could say anything my brother said, “And we welcome your hospitality, Commodore. I would be pleased to have your Doctor move me about.” He glanced back at his son, who grudgingly nodded and stepped back to stand beside Persephone as the painted wolf came forward. “Lead on, please, Commodore.”
Low smiled. “Of course, Your Majesty. I had thought that we should show you the machines that your seaside villagers saw. They’re one deck below us.”
We started walking, my brother and the Commodore in the lead, followed by the Crown Prince and Princess, with myself and Colonel Mason following.
“I have been wondering something, Colonel.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
I lowered my voice slightly. “I note that everyone of your crew speaks Standard Elvish. Do you teach it in your schools, or is it another example of your ‘technology?’”
The bear gave a soft chuckle. “It’s an S.E.P., I’m afraid.”
“’Sep?’”
“No, S. E. P. It stands for Someone Else’s Problem.” He sighed. “It’s the closest thing to actual magic I’ve ever encountered before coming to Faerie, and I’ve been to quite a few places. Don’t ask me how it works, though – I have enough aggravations.” He leaned toward me slightly. “I tried to figure it out once, and it took me two bottles of neat spirits to recover.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Only two?” We both started to laugh.
Our party paused on a square section of the deck marked off in yellow paint, and after a warning to brace ourselves the section descended to the lower deck.
I looked around. “Eala.”
<NEXT>
<PREVIOUS>
<FIRST>
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Brown Bear
Size 1600 x 900px
File Size 657.9 kB
Listed in Folders
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