Taking a Path Offered

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

The usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber. Used with permission

Songmarks currently on-duty feline instructor, in this case Miss Blande at the moment, looked up from the papers before her, transfixing the young hound Florence Farmington with her gaze. “You are taking employment for no pay?” she asked. There was more than some disbelief in her voice, along with a touch of anger.

“I am” the hound admitted freely. “I am contracted to living quarters, food and two uniforms, with allowance for cleaning. I have already examined the conditions that I will be living in, and the uniform style I will be wearing. All are agreeable. I also have my allowance from father. Which, as I will not be going home, he has increased to cover anticipated living expenses while Songmark is closed. They are less than the travel cost home and back, to his pleasure.”

“I see. And what of your personal project with the Huntress Gilda?”

“It is currently set aside, until next school year Mam. Gilda has most politely informed me that I could not possibly afford her services during Tourist Season. Having examined her accounts, I have come to agree.”

Surprise shown on the felines face. “Gilda allowed you to view her accounts books? My, this is an interesting change. Huntress’s are normally exceedingly careful who see’s there accounts after all.”

“She allowed me to study the current volume only. In full Miss Blande” Florence corrected. “Unknown to me, half of Gilda’s normal charges for my instruction were subsidized by another. This other is half of the company I will be working for. It was the dalmatian Miss McMaster to be exact, who paid half of my time with Gilda. As Miss McMaster is both native and attracted to males only, I am quite certain that it was not for immoral reasons. Though I honestly wonder the actual reasons myself.”

“A debt made not to your knowing or agreeing too is not a legal debt on Spontoon” Miss Blande countered. “Even by another Songmark girl. Or a native.”

Florence nodded in agreement. “I am not being forced into this employment Miss Blande. Nor do I believe that I would have ever been aware of this arrangement, had I not asked to see those accounts. I was offered the position well before reading that ledger. With the understanding that I would be working under the conditions I have stated. Mrs. Benevedo has admitted that I had been selected by the two of them much earlier, and that when I went to Gilda of my own free will, that she was able to instruct me in things that I would need to know while working for them. I must admit Miss Blande. I can not think of anything Gilda instructed me about that could be of use working for Kart-Tombs Charter Flights. Still. When I spoke to Miss McMaster, it is she who owns controlling interest as you are aware. She was careful to explain that there were very important, and very private flights that, my knowing of certain things. Well. I would be at comfort piloting the aircraft with such furs aboard, as I would be aware of what was going on was quite consensual.”

Miss Blande quite professionally hid her own reaction to those words, for she had often been a passenger aboard such flights in previous years. On both sides of the aisle. Then there was the secret information that she and the other instructors were privy too. Standing, she picked up an envelope from her desk, checking to insure that it was the correct one for this student. “Will you be pilot or co-pilot?”

“I was hired as pilot Mam. Though the aircraft is their oldest, I have carefully inspected her. She is in very good condition. I have been assigned Nikki’s slave Crystal, who has been given to me as my assistant. She will be my co-pilot, co-engineer and such. I like her Miss Blande. She is pleasant, intelligent and. Well, she is a very attractive vixen. I just wish that she was not a slave. She would make a great friend I think.”

“As many do. Including Nikki herself. Yet what the Gods have set forth to be, these things mortals may not change. No matter the fairy tails and legends. Crystal was born to be a slave Florence. It is her great fortune to fall within Nikki’s paws, and not some others who’s names come quickly to ones lips. She is to be your Gopher?”

“Yes Mam. She will be my gopher. Mrs. Benevedo, who was a Songmark student herself, has trained her personally I am informed. Also her knowledge of languages that I do not know will be extremely useful. I have been ordered to stay as far away from Krupmark and Cranium Island as I safely can. Certainly I am aware of the reasons, having listened to Lady Allworthy’s dorm and having read what happened to that Rain Island aircrew. Certainly I have no desire to visit either location. Not alive. Hopefully not dead either.”

“Very well.” Holding out her envelope Miss Blande smiled at the young hound. “Your written permission to accept this position, as requested by Kart-Tombs. You will have of course, a complete, and detailed report of all of your adventures. Even ones you consider most personal. We must have our own entertainment after all. It is due the last day of the first week of your third year. It could be worth up to a fifth of your total grade for the year. And Miss Farmington?”

“Yes Mam?”

“Your interest in males Florence. Has it truly been ended. As Molly and a few others seem to believe?”

Florence blushed so deeply that the feline was certain that it had to reach her toeclaws. “No Mam. I am as interested in males now as the day I first arrived. I have simply learned, with Gilda’s aid, how to suppress my interest. To channel that natural interest I have in males to my interest in females. I have always been attracted to both sexs Miss Blande. Though I have always much preferred men to women. Gilda has suggested that like herself, I may one day walk both tracks of the road quite comfortable, at the same time. When I wed, be certain that I will re-adjust my desires accordingly. There will be no others in my life than my husband, and the pups that I will happily bear for him.”

“Very well. I think that information would stun a certain third year. Should she ever hear of it. You are not to tell her. This is a subject she so badly misunderstands that I find her amusing. You will not be the one to ruin my amusement. Dismissed.”

“Thank you Miss Blande.” Taking the offered envelope she turned sharply on one booted foot, then marched out of the office. Florence was completely unaware of the future planned for her by others. Nor that her instructors had carefully reviewed, and agreed to such plans. Or of what had happened in Kuo Han to a certain feline and doe.

Watching her leave, the feline though was certain that Florence, if given full knowledge of this, would have eventually accepted. Crystal truly needed a compassionate owner, and Florence truly needed a girl Friday that she could trust with her life. And the lives of those she loved. Best though to allow Nikki to proceed in her own, rather devious manner. Especially since a certain spirit had agreed that for this hound, it was the best path possible for her.

Near a week later Florence and her dorm said their goodbyes to Songmark. Mainly by leaving the gates and not looking back. All four girls of Florence’s dorm had located employment of a kind, though Marjory and Roberta would probably be sitting in the Air Hall quite a bit. Kate though would be joining the Purple Nurple, as the Songmark Girls had begun referring to Spontoon’s rather brilliantly painted medical rescue craft. Though the pay was minimal, the ability to fly such a unique aircraft at all hours, in all weather conditions was simply beyond the Australian mouse’s ability to resist. Especially considering the side benefits of complete medical coverage, meals, room and uniforms fully paid for. That she would have two mink co-workers who had already worked with the craft for nearly a year was a plus. In any case, her own finances had been improved, as had been Florence’s, when she had informed her own family of her choice.

Arriving on Casino Island Florence said her good-byes to her friends, making plans to meet and discuss each others progress when possible. At least Florence and Kate would have permanent address’s for the others to leave message at until school started in the Fall. As the hound slowly made her way towards Kart-Tombs offices she noted the handsome American Cougar known as Two Red Stones. He was currently talking with a very attractive Cape Hydrax, well talking would be putting it mildly the hound decided. As the smaller Hydrax seemed quite taken by the American cougar. Still at the sight of him it took all her control to keep her tail from reacting. To anyone watching, they wouldn’t have known which of the two that the hound was looking at that caused her tail to quiver so. Cougars you see, were Florence’s dream choice, and Two Red Stones was one who took very good care of his body. As she walked past she bit her upper lip, mentally running through the mantra that Gilda had taught her. By the time she finally arrived at Kart-Tombs the hound had her body back under control. Not so her dreams.

“You early” the Persian feline Malou said as Florence walked into the main office. She was, Florence noted, working on a rather delicate bit of jewelry while at her desk.

“Yes Mrs. Benevedo” Florence agreed. “I know that your wife and Miss McMaster told me that I could wait until Monday. But...” She spread her paws. “I simply could not wait.”

Malou gave the hound a knowing smile. “It is same with my stallion.” Standing, the feline walked over to one of the three file cabinets, opening the third drawer to remove a rather large loose leaf folder. “Is routes we fly” she explained, carrying the heavy book in both paws. “Mainly charts. Crystal with Miss McMaster on flight. Be back six hours. You study yes?”

“Yes, I will. Where should I sit?”

“You sit my stallions desk. She back from Rain Island Sunday evening. Return special travelers. Allthing business. We not do often. We never talk about. You have paper from school?”

Removing her envelope from her Songmark blazer Florence offered it to the older feline, while balancing the heavy book in her other paw. “I have not read it, as instructed by Miss Blande.”

“Between you, Songmark. I not bother Songmark business” the feline answered, picking up a deadly little knife from her desk to slit the envelope open. Removing a single sheet of paper she dropped the envelope to her desk. It hit with a heaver than expected plop Florence noted, indicating at least another sheet of paper within. From the sound, probably two. “Is good. You read, I find full contract. You read contract full. Make sure wife not sell you Krupmark.”

“You mean Kuo Han don’t you” the hound asked with a smile. Malou’s emotional response surprised her.

“I hear about Pennington girls” the feline answered, her voice heavy with emotion. “Molly. Nikki not make such joke ever again. I not. Crystal not go there. Ever. Miss McMaster not. It hateful place. Kuo Han. May it burn forever. Now you read, I much work have to do.”

Florence followed her orders, quickly finding herself sitting in an over-large leather chair filled with the scent of the well known mare. Within the book, which she quickly discovered was actually a backup file of charts, were courses. Distances, fuel consumption tables and more. Without her two years at Songmark the hound know that she would have been completely lost. Most of the notes were in what she had learned was Songmark Code. ‘Blande’s third distance test times one point one three’, ‘Devinski’s favorite vacation spot’, ‘Fuel for three Dorms average weight’ and such. Not unbreakable, for any Songmark girl would have understood the connotation. No pilot trained elsewhere would have the slightest clue.

It was her contract that slightly confused the hound. Picking it up she walked back to Malou’s desk. “Mrs. Benevedo. This item, transferring ownership of Crystal to myself. Why would your wife wish to do this? She knows that it is against my personal beliefs to own a slave.”

Smiling, Malou opened a book beside her, taking out a single sheet of paw written paper, offering it to the hound. “She think you ask question. Is answer. Something think about. She sometime do thing I not understand.”

Accepting the paper Florence returned to Nikki’s office. Once she had returned to the chair she started reading.

“Miss Farmington;

            I am quite aware that owning a slave is something that you yourself are very uncomfortable with. I myself was as uncomfortable with such when I entered Songmark. You see, I had grown up surrounded by servants. Servants, in the Fillypines, are little more than paid slaves.

            Florence. You must learn to understand that you will be working with people who sometimes treat their companions as no more than a slave. And that this is fully accepted by their companions. Even desired.

            You will also require a constant companion during your flights, Crystal is the only employee our company available for such work. As she is known to be a slave, only by being her owner will you be able to protect her from someone who may desire her and attempt to use local laws to ‘capture an escaped slave.’ Therefore I have decided to transfer Crystal’s ownership to you, that you may learn how to act around such people. I am not asking you to accept such activities, owning Crystal has been difficult for me. Only the knowledge that she would turn to someone else. Perhaps even Kuo Han, has given me the strength to accept her. Now you must do the same.

                                                                                                       Nikki Benevedo

‘Its only for the summer’ Florence told herself. ‘I can manage that long. I guess. And it will give me insight to the problem.’ Picking up her pen she signed both the employment contract, and ownership papers for the American vixen legally now known as Crystal. Before her last year of school started she would make certain to return that woman to Nikki’s care. Explaining to her instructors why she owned a slave over the break would be embarrassing enough. To return to school as a slave owner. That simply would not do. Not at all.

So little did dear sweet Florence understand of what was planned for her. Or that the transfer was permanent.