through his fingers. It had a fine, earthy smell.
‘Nothing more,’ he said sadly. I strained what Meroe calls my intuition for some trace of the lovers, but all I felt was silly. So I gathered up my fine new skirts and went to find Goss in the market. She seemed to have recovered her aplomb. She had alsofound a sequined T-shirt. Of course. I mobilised my credit card again. It was a rather pretty garment.
Timbo had returned by the time we made it out of the convent and into St Heliers Street. I had never heard of St Helier. Such a lot of saints in an unholy world. Who would have the heart to attack a harmless runaway and a pregnant girl? I asked Daniel this question, and he shrugged. As good an answer as any, I suppose.
Timbo giggled when asked how Jason was managing with Bunny. But he doesn’t like to talk with his mouth full and we had bought him a whole packet of the convent’s very good ginger biscuits, so we passed the journey home in a mist of spicy crumbs.
Arrived at Insula, Goss went up to her own apartment to have a shower and share her experience with Kylie. I went to mine for a wash, as well. I was hot and weary and disgusted, a nasty combination. But I felt better when I was clean, and my new clothes really were lovely. I swished when I moved.
‘That’s called a froufrou,’ remarked Daniel, sliding a hand under the skirt. And encountering my sensible Cottontails. This proved no barrier and I spontaneously decided to go and see Jason later, when he and Bunny would have had a chance to form a bond.
We barely made it to the bed. Air conditioning has done wonders for my love life.
Some time later we took a mutual shower and dressed to see Jason. My froufrou had gained a certain panache with practice. I had never worn long skirts in the daytime before. I liked them. Daniel departed to talk to the Lone Gunmen, our resident nerds, about retrieving all the messages from the SIM card of the ruined mobile phone. I ascended in the lift to the top floor, where Jason occupied an apartment which had been lent to Mrs Dawson bythe exceedingly rich owner. He had it on the understanding that he kept it neat and tidy, which he mostly did because one who has lived on the street appreciates a roof over their head. And has very few possessions.
Jason opened the door. He had an armful of rabbit. It was attempting to disembowel him with its strong clawed back feet. He was holding it very tightly.
‘Gimme,’ I said, taking Bunny and supporting him by his body. His feet fitted nicely into my hands. He stopped struggling instantly. I could feel his little heart racing against my sensitised breast.
‘What were you trying to do, Jason?’ I asked my apprentice.
‘Put the bloody ointment on his feet,’ said Jason sulkily. There had clearly been an imperfect fusion of souls between Jason and Bunny.
‘Two-person job,’ I told him. ‘Let me in.’
The apartment was, as usual, tidy. It had been augmented by a large, even luxurious bunny cage. It had a water bottle, a litter tray and a retiring room, and was heaped with hay. Jason had cut up a substantial salad for the rabbit, despite his scowl. I sat down with Bunny on my lap and stroked him on the forehead. His fur was as soft as down. His heart slowed down and he did not struggle as Jason applied the ointment to his sore feet. Then I fed him a handy bit of lettuce and put him back into his cage with the salad. He settled down to nibble. I did like the way his little brown nose whiffled. I could tell I wasn’t going to be able to eat rabbit again. Not that I had eaten it much anyway.
‘Apart from that, how has your day been?’ I asked, and Jason cracked and laughed. He ruffled his blond curls.
‘Not bad. I got a righteous serve from that thin chick for having a companion animal, when Timbo was carrying the cage inside. She was real loud until Rowan shut her down. What’s her problem?’
‘She’s a fierce animal-rights person.’
‘Then she ought to be glad
‘Nothing more,’ he said sadly. I strained what Meroe calls my intuition for some trace of the lovers, but all I felt was silly. So I gathered up my fine new skirts and went to find Goss in the market. She seemed to have recovered her aplomb. She had alsofound a sequined T-shirt. Of course. I mobilised my credit card again. It was a rather pretty garment.
Timbo had returned by the time we made it out of the convent and into St Heliers Street. I had never heard of St Helier. Such a lot of saints in an unholy world. Who would have the heart to attack a harmless runaway and a pregnant girl? I asked Daniel this question, and he shrugged. As good an answer as any, I suppose.
Timbo giggled when asked how Jason was managing with Bunny. But he doesn’t like to talk with his mouth full and we had bought him a whole packet of the convent’s very good ginger biscuits, so we passed the journey home in a mist of spicy crumbs.
Arrived at Insula, Goss went up to her own apartment to have a shower and share her experience with Kylie. I went to mine for a wash, as well. I was hot and weary and disgusted, a nasty combination. But I felt better when I was clean, and my new clothes really were lovely. I swished when I moved.
‘That’s called a froufrou,’ remarked Daniel, sliding a hand under the skirt. And encountering my sensible Cottontails. This proved no barrier and I spontaneously decided to go and see Jason later, when he and Bunny would have had a chance to form a bond.
We barely made it to the bed. Air conditioning has done wonders for my love life.
Some time later we took a mutual shower and dressed to see Jason. My froufrou had gained a certain panache with practice. I had never worn long skirts in the daytime before. I liked them. Daniel departed to talk to the Lone Gunmen, our resident nerds, about retrieving all the messages from the SIM card of the ruined mobile phone. I ascended in the lift to the top floor, where Jason occupied an apartment which had been lent to Mrs Dawson bythe exceedingly rich owner. He had it on the understanding that he kept it neat and tidy, which he mostly did because one who has lived on the street appreciates a roof over their head. And has very few possessions.
Jason opened the door. He had an armful of rabbit. It was attempting to disembowel him with its strong clawed back feet. He was holding it very tightly.
‘Gimme,’ I said, taking Bunny and supporting him by his body. His feet fitted nicely into my hands. He stopped struggling instantly. I could feel his little heart racing against my sensitised breast.
‘What were you trying to do, Jason?’ I asked my apprentice.
‘Put the bloody ointment on his feet,’ said Jason sulkily. There had clearly been an imperfect fusion of souls between Jason and Bunny.
‘Two-person job,’ I told him. ‘Let me in.’
The apartment was, as usual, tidy. It had been augmented by a large, even luxurious bunny cage. It had a water bottle, a litter tray and a retiring room, and was heaped with hay. Jason had cut up a substantial salad for the rabbit, despite his scowl. I sat down with Bunny on my lap and stroked him on the forehead. His fur was as soft as down. His heart slowed down and he did not struggle as Jason applied the ointment to his sore feet. Then I fed him a handy bit of lettuce and put him back into his cage with the salad. He settled down to nibble. I did like the way his little brown nose whiffled. I could tell I wasn’t going to be able to eat rabbit again. Not that I had eaten it much anyway.
‘Apart from that, how has your day been?’ I asked, and Jason cracked and laughed. He ruffled his blond curls.
‘Not bad. I got a righteous serve from that thin chick for having a companion animal, when Timbo was carrying the cage inside. She was real loud until Rowan shut her down. What’s her problem?’
‘She’s a fierce animal-rights person.’
‘Then she ought to be glad
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