Cologne eyeballed Nabiki, briefly wondered if she was making a joke, then stretched out her hand for the straw. When she felt a faint magical pulse coming from the stuff, she cackled. “Oh girl, what did you get yourself into this time? Make a bet with a dwarf? You know, tall, pointy hat, lives underground, mines for precious gems and minerals? Haw haw.”
Nabiki looked a little confused. “No. Actually, this isn’t mine.” She explained what had happened that morning, that typical morning, and waited for the old amazon’s reaction.
“Well, typical that you’d be the one who decided to deal with this.” Cologne said, unconsciously echoing Nabiki’s own sentiments of the entire day. “And of course you come to me. Well, sorry girl, this time I can’t help. This isn’t in my area of expertise. I can tell that the straw is magical, so don’t try and tossing it. That would be bad, very bad. If you do do anything, you’ve got to use this straw.” She handed it back to Nabiki, neatly wrapped back in its bundle.
Still persisting, Nabiki pulled out the parchment letter that had come with it from her back pocket. “Well, what about this? Can you tell me anything? Please.” She gritted the last word out.
Cologne glanced at her, then took the letter in her hands and carefully examined it. “This is the one? All the straw spilled out from inside here? There were no side flaps or anything? Well, I can definitely feel a magical pulse. The same one that was in the straw. It is also faint, but stronger than the straw. That may be because there were only a few pieces, or it just may be that it’s a stronger pulse. No way to know unless I go check it. You didn’t move it, did you?” At her nod, Cologne shook her head. “Then it is useless. Too much interference from you and the move will not make an accurate telling.”
Cologne looked more carefully at the parchment letter. She examined the seal. After a minute, she said “I have learned all I can. This is an old family seal. As I am not knowledgeable on Japan’s history, I cannot say more. The letter is unique, being on parchment, not paper. That is also an old way. The ink is an ancient recipe that I have seen in China. My recommendation to you is to look for help from the family that has the greatest sense of tradition, the longest history and the most money here in Nerima. They will be able to help you.”
Nabiki goggled at Cologne’s pronouncement. Get help from the Kunos? When pigs fly. That’s like walking into the spider’s web. But, if she wanted to know, she’d have to do it.
Cologne watched the play of emotions across Nabiki’s face. The disgust, horror, refusal, then uncertainty, speculation and finally resolve. Inwardly, she chuckled. This was too easy, she thought. Oh she could have told the girl the entire answer in a matter of seconds, but that wouldn’t have been fair now, would it?
(Posted Wed, 16 Apr 2003 04:57)
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