Chapter Nineteen
While Nosy was healing, and Lady was heavy with her second pups, a messenger ran into the village one day and up to Nameless Fox's house. "You are Nameless Fox?" he asked.
2 "I am," said Nameless Fox.
3 The man opened his pouch and took out a scroll. "Official correspondence," he announced, "you will have to sign for it." He turned the pouch around, flipped open the back, revealing a parchment. Taking out a pen and opening an inkwell, he wrote down the number on the document's seal, then handed Nameless Fox the pen. Nameless Fox signed then opened the document.
4 "From First Speaker, Northern City," he read, "to Nameless Fox, Fox Village, Southern District. Greetings! A complaint has come to my attention that you are keeping wild dogs that are a threat to the community.
5 I wish you to come to Northern with these animals on the date assigned, and speak your case before me. Yours in Their Service, The First Speaker of The Lords, Northern City."
6 "Can you wait for a reply?" Nameless Fox asked the messenger. The man nodded. "Come in," invited Nameless Fox, "there is some roast meat from last night and some fresh squeezed red berry juice. And there should be some bread, hot from the oven."
7 "It would be an honor, sir," the man agreed. He sat down opposite Nameless Fox while on the reverse side of the scroll he wrote his message. 8 "Greetings, First Speaker," he began, "in response to your request on opposite this parchment, I would be more than willing to come and make answer to these charges. Though fair hearing was given on this matter.
9 But I must request a delay. The animal in question is heavy with pups and a journey at this time would endanger her safety. 10 The pups should arrive shortly and be weaned in about three months. May I respectifully request a delay of that long to come and answer these charges? Yours Most Respectfully, Nameless Fox."
11 He dusted the parchment, put the dust back in its container, rolled the parchment, and tied it with its original ribbon. Then he took a silver coin from his coin bag, handed it and the parchment to the runner. The runner took the parchment but refused the coin.
12 "On an official message and a reply," he explained, "we're not allowed to accept payment. I shouldn't have even accepted the food, but this smoked meat and trail cakes get a little boring."
13 He looked at the parchment and smiled. "Ah, sir," he said, "hadn't you better put on it where it's going?" 14 Nameless Fox laughed, took the parchment and wrote 'First Speaker, Northern City,' on it, and again handed it back. He saw the man to the door and watched him rush from the village.
15 "How hard they run!" he thought. "Two circles going at all times, night and day, between the major cities and villages. Most runners were on the road for six weeks at a time, then had three weeks off and went out again.
16 But without them, communication between the cities and villages would be slow and awkward. Family letters went by ox cart, but official messages and business documents went by runners when speed was of the essence.
17 "How wonderful it would be if they had dogs!" thought Nameless Fox. They could carry four times as much, and travel three times as fast. And the whole system would require far less riders than runners. It would be something to think about.
18 Two weeks went by, when the runner returned. "Another message, sir," he announced.
19 Nameless Fox took the scroll and opened it. When he read it, he just about fell over.
20 It said, "Greetings, Nameless Fox. Have read your request for a postponement and understand its reasoning. As the delay would be so long, and I will be travelling through your area on my yearly inspection tour anyway, perhaps it would be better if I come to you! 21 I could probably render a better decision anyway if I see these animals in their home environment. You can expect me in your village in about six weeks.
22 Kindly do not make any elaborate preparations. I know how busy village life is, and do not wish to create a disturbance."
23 Nameless Fox reached in his coin purse, took out a silver coin, handed it to the runner. "I know you can't accept this personally," he instructed, "but take it to Northern and donate it to The Runner's Widows and Orphan's Fund."
24 "Gladly, sir!" the man answered. "Any reply?"
25 "No," answered Nameless Fox, "but wait one minute." He went inside, grabbed a fresh loaf of bread, cut off a good chunk of meat, and brought them out to the runner.
26 "Thank YOU, sir!" the man said. He turned around and sped off, eating as he ran. Nameless Fox went in the house.
27 "He's coming!" he cried, "Here, to the village, in six weeks!"
28 "WHO'S coming?" asked Yellow Blossom.
29 "The First Speaker!" explained Nameless Fox. "He's coming here, to hear the case!"
30 The pan Yellow Blossom was holding bounced off the floor, as she turned slowly around and faced her mate. "The First Speaker?" she gasped. "Good Lords! I've got to finish the baby's new gown, the hut needs to be
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