ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

---

Mithent's Confused Interdimensional Travels part 6

"You two from 'round here?" asks Bob, several miles further down the Purple Brick Road. "We don't see many giant canaries in Schnozz."

"Actually, we're not giant -" starts the secretary indignantly.

Mithent glares and interrupts the admission. "Uh, uh, we're not giant blueberries, she means."

Min Tan looks darkly at the two. "Good. I /hate/ giant blueberries. I cut two down with my chainsaw only last week."

"Well, we must hear about that /later/." snaps the secretary, then turns to Mithent and murmurs, "Why can't we tell them we're dragons?"

"Dragons? Where? I'll kill 'em. They eat giant blueberries, and I /hate/ anything that eats giant blueberries." threatens Min Tan, becoming quite psychopathic.

"But - you said you hated giant blueberries?" protests Mithent.

"Yeah. But, well. Where are these evil dragons then? Huh? Huh?"

"They're aren't any. She said - flagons. Yes. She asked if we had any flagons."

"Oh, okay. But watch it." threatens Min Tan, and then changes mood completely. "I've got a bit of ale if you want it."

"No, thanks, I decided against the flagons." replies the secretary, glaring.

"If ya say so."

Just then, a mouse runs out of some bushes and squeaks loudly, baring its teeth.

"Hey there, lil fella!" calls down Bob cheerily.

"I'll - I'll nip yer feet right off, I will!" boasts the mouse indignantly.

Bob grins and, bending down, taps the mouse on the head. "You're pretty cute, y'know that?"

"I am *not* cute, I'm fierce and nasty!" squeaks the mouse, lifting a paw menacingly.

"Aaw, it wants to shake hands," comments Mithent. "You're not fierce or nasty, y'know."

"Well, I - I try..." replies the mouse, then looks a little downcast.

Mithent lifts the mouse up with a wing. "If you want to be more fierce, maybe you should come with us to the Blizzard of Schnozz."

"Oh - really? You'd have me?"

"If you want. Just no trying to scare my secretary."

The secretary merely glares.

"Call me Iuou'erv." offers the mouse. "Or Frank for short."

"Sure. I'll - er - stick to Frank." replies the non-glaring canary, replacing Frank on the road swiftly.

And so the five set off along the Purple Brick Road, banal music and all, to their final destination: The Blizzard of Schnozz. Well, unless they get waylaid by any evil witches on the way, of course, but it's a bit too early in the story for that to happen.

Mithent turns to the secretary briefly. "Y'know - I was /almost/ right about the cowardly lion, wasn't I?"