Of Mice and Boys

Penn sat hunched on the Eastern catwalk. His lithe frame was bent double as he perched on the stone ledge like a falcon scanning the skyline for prey.
“What’s the verdict?” I leaned against the doorframe trying to look imposing.
“Twelve, maybe fourteen.” He spat over the edge in a rough fashion. I nodded and walked down the spiral stair case to where Gabe, Tim, and Shane were all waiting with long broom sticks with frog trident prongs fastened dangerously to the ends. Encouraging looks were passed from one knight to the other and then Penn and I, with spears in hand, led the men out side into the harsh glare of the sun. I stepped out to the head of our party and stood before them with an air of authority.
“I don’t want to lose any body today; we go out there and get back. Once we find one nail it fast and nail it hard. Bring it down in the first thrust. I’m not ready to have to explain to anybody’s parents why one of you is frothing at the mouth. Gabe spoke up,
“What if I have amebic dysentery?” I stared at the ground and shook my head. The knights all adopted mournful looks as we remembered our fallen brother who wasn’t here with us today.
“Guardia? That doesn’t involve frothing.” I informed Gabe. “Not at the mouth anyways…” I added just in time before Gabe could give some other remark.
Penn shot me a look, I nodded, and he ran off ahead to scout for our prey in the woods.
“Chris?” Gabe looked over at me. I could feel it coming
“Yes Gabe…”
“Why don’t we burn witches like they used to in these days?”
“Because Gabe,” I stared to tell the tale again using my almost sing song voice “The burn season ended a week ago.”
Gabe was blank for a second, and then his face lit up.
“Ohhh…”
I nodded and we made to move for the woods.
Spears at the ready we plunged into the small forest to the East of the castle. We walked for a while and then arrived at a small clearing. Penn ran up from out of the shadows and whispered to me,
“There’s a whole nest up ahead just under that old log.” Signals flashed from my second in command and I simultaneously. We stopped. Tim gave Shane a condescending look which Shane returned with a shrug. Gabe was trying to light something on fire.
“Gabe!” Penn exercised his authority as second and command and made a bold choice, that would have made Smokey proud, and chastised Gabe. He looked around and slipped the lighter into his pocket. Tim looked bored.
“Maybe we should try that again.” He pointed out our obvious error of acting in tandem. I let Penn make his signals solo this time and we spread out, enclosing the log in a circle of spears all encroaching slowly.
Penn moved first and kicked the log aside. Well he tried, it really just made a low thud sound and a green branch flew back and exacted nature’s revenge. Penn crumpled to the ground clutching his groin.
“Man down, man down…” Shane cried just as our prey scampered forth. Three mice ran out from beneath the log. Gabe screamed like a little girl and ran away the opposite direction spewing warnings of rabies. Shane turned and looked the other direction. Penn moaned. Tim and I shot after the mice, spears in hand. They had about twenty feet before they would be safe in the grass. We had to move fast. Tim launched a spear and it struck the ground ahead of one of the mice which turned and headed back twords us. Gabe’s warning sunk in as Tim screamed too. He bolted leaving me alone on the hunting ground. I leveled my spear and took flight after the mouse, abandoning the other two to the sanctuary of the tall grass. Shane was looking for Tim. Gabe was up in a tree trying to light a patch of sap. Penn was turning white.
I saw my whiley little target dodge into a bush and I took aim. He dove. I hesitated. The little bastard stopped and looked at me. I swear he just looked at me. My eyes filled with sudo-tears and I dropped my spear. To this day I swear that mouse nodded at me and then scampered into the brush.
I turned and walked away from my spear. Wiping my eyes I walked back to the log and tried to help Penn up. He however had already found his feet and was running with his jacket outstretched twords Shane and Tim. Both had their own jackets off and were working in a frenzy to stomp out a patch of brush just beneath the tree Gabe had sought refuge in. In the background Gabe stood by and smiled as the fire spread.

© Capt C Staudinger 2006