Stoatie shoved a pounding head under the tap of the water pump in the yard. A couple of sharp yanks upon the lever finally brought ice-cold water coursing out over him. He shouted a wordless yell but did not move. A few more rhythmic soakings and he ceased. He stood up and stretched out.
He had spent the night in the ditch just outside Bree. That was no inconvenience to him. It happened with dull monontony. The hangover blasted away by the pump from the spring was an almost daily routine. There was just the small matter of remembering the night before and everything would slide into place as it always did.
He stood there, thinking. His face, somewhat like the last, forgotten potato in the sack was further wrinkled with his thoughts. He bit at a nail that was coal-black. "Ah could do with a cuppa," he said aloud to no one in particular. "Na, too much trouble." He retrieved a bottle from his filthy coat pocket. It was all but empty. "Oh well, this'll have to do me." He unscrewed the top and 'knocked back' the remainder of the yellowish liquid inside. With little care for the hooves of animals he cast the bottle aside upon the cobbles of the yard. It shattered. The loud noise on an otherwise eerily quiet morn almost made him jump.
He swore under his breath. "Ah remembers, that's it. Best find the Boss. Ah remembers exactly what's required of us today." He allowed himself a little chortle. "Now, where did I leave him?"
[ March 16, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]
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Auriel
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