Longen returned to the cell block and ripped sheets with a vengeance. Second shift sank gratefully down on soft, clean beds and snores could be heard throughout the compound. But whispers and theories still abounded.. * * * Word got around The Captain’s Hole broke another one. Word also got around that a Mystery had landed in their midst. Some said perhaps an Eye.
. But Eyes asked questions. Poked their noses in the works. Mystery didn’t do any of these things. Except for small talk, he stayed clammed up. Mystery also stopped a runaway ore train. Someone upside yelled the magic words – “Grab Ass and Run!
” A murmur rose.. “Train lost it’s brakes again..” Before anybody could say otherwise, Shadow jumped on the track. Nobody was going to jump on it and pull him off either..
They did watch, however. The male slammed his pick into the rail with such force the handle cracked.. Did it again and the wood broke. Then shoved boots against the spot and arching against the wall, bent it further. Some of the miners murmured about how much they would like to jump on the male and ride him..
Then the cart-train came down the track and they forgot about everything but getting out of the way. “Jump!” Insane yelled to the brakeman. The squirrel didn’t have to be told twice.. He leaped, tumbling. And missed the show.
. The crazy male stood to one side and when the lead cart hurled by, jumped on it like he wanted to mate with it! The impetus, along with the bent rail, was enough to derail the first cart. It jerked, bent, and plowed into the wall.. This fouled the rest of the train up and ore went everywhere. But it Did stop the carts.
. “What a Mess!” When the dust had settled a bit, the miners ran to see what they could salvage of the insane one. But Instead of finding a sack of broken bones, or even a greasy splotch, they saw him walking up the tunnel, dusting himself off! Following was a handful of others, grinning and whispering about the cannonball who had been tossed in their midst. “Nah, We caught him on the second bounce..
Gave us a good fondling, he did..” A guard came down and surveyed the mess. “Nasty.” The squirrel who was the working the brake, shook his head. “Crazy creature..
Mad as a Blowen, And as hard on the equipment!” And so the male was named. “Anybody got a spare pick? Mine got broken..” The guard shook his head. “No, But you can grab a shovel.
. Nobody Leaves until this mess is Cleaned up!” A groan. “But Dinner will be waiting, That much I guarantee!” A ragged cheer. And both crews got busy digging the debris out of the way, so the ore could be salvaged. A mountain of feline maleness came over to help the man work a chunk of rock free.
“Thanks..” A grin. “Been watchin ya male. Like what I saw. Name’s Rocker. I like tossing rocks around.
” He growled, pulling another big piece of wall away. “You are Blowen.. A Blowen is an Explosion. When we hit a gas-pocket, usually. Cleans a tunnel out faster than the shift-end whistle..
” A ferret-looking being brought water. Watched as the man swallowed the dipperful. “Show-off..” The cat growled as the mammal gasped.. “You didn’t swallow.
.” A grin made his cheeks turn red. “There isn’t enough in that dipper or in your nuts to make me swallow..” Rocker shook his head in disgust. “Keep staring at my crotch like at and I might get to liking it..
” The ferret slapped his butt. “Good!” Then made his way down the tunnel. “Get back to it..” A guard growled, wanting to slap his paw to a few well-rounded butts as well..
Somebody ordered a new set of cars to take the loose-stuff upstairs. They also found a couple mangled, but serviceable. These were horsed back onto the tracks, then filled. “Damn, We’ll be here until Next year.. These shovels are too small.” Rocker growled agreement.
The man grinned at him. “Want to try something?” The leonine looked at the man. “Here?” Another grin. “Help me tip this cart over..
” They shoved a cart over so the lip was on the floor. Blowen worked a section of metal that was once the front of an ore cart free and started using it like a huge plow-blade. “You ain’t stealin chits from me That easily..” The cat grinned to himself and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the human, made short work of the clean-up. Then came the harder task of pulling the twisted metal and wreckage off the tracks. “Rocker, a Favor.
.” The cat growled, working on a stubborn ore-cart. “Need a drink..” Rocker shook sweat from his eyes. “Don’t give me that..
You are just gettin hot watchin my butt wiggle, And want time to cool off…” They both laughed. The big feline moved off to find the Bucket Holder. When he was out- of-sight, the male hunkered down, and with seeming ease, moved the twisted metal away from the wall, and let it fall over with a crash..
Did the same to another piece of wreckage. Those few beings watching this figured he was probably using a spar for leverage, and thought little of it. Only one being watched keenly.. And knew what he saw. Hy-Oin, GuardMajor shuddered. Watched the impossible happen again as a half-ton of bent-up ore- cart was lifted up, and tipped over again.
He made his way over to the circle of guards who stiffened at seeing him. “Blowen is Off-limits as of Now..” One of the burlier monsters growled and smacked his 3-foot baton into his hand. “A Snoop? We can take care of him..
” Hy-Oin looked the creature over. “And you could wind up taking a walk over a railing too.. Nobody Touches him. Watch him well.. But no one moves.
If there is trouble, you wait until it dies Natural.. Understand?” They grumbled, but weren’t about to get demoted. But they had to wonder why a seemingly harmless male could make the GuardMajor’s antenna knot.. Later that night when all the workers had filed out and were milling around, putting their shirts on and waiting for the chain, Rocker came over and grabbed the man’s hand.
“Good work, down there..” Shadow smiled, and clasped the feline paw firmly. Who growled and playfully pushed.. When nothing happened, he gave another, harder shove. Still nothing.
. “Rocker lays under Nobody!” He hissed, no longer playing.. The male put his other hand on the back of Rocker’s head, Pressed his boot into the cat’s crotch, “Hey!” And tossed the startled animal over his shoulder. Rocker came to rest hard-up against the man’s back, hands still clasped.
“I don’t want you under me, Rocker.. I want you beside me..” He turned and gave the cat a kiss. The feline growled but returned the lip-press. “You two done Dancin?
” A guard huffed. Rocker stuck his tongue at the badger. “Jealous..” Then laughed and got in chain. But he remembered the feeling of the human’s skin against his..
– end of part 1