He blinked, struggling to process what she had said. By the time he had thought of something to say, she had walked off. He watched her disappear through the front door of the women’s dormitory, where he was not allowed to follow.
Chapter 35
Snapper had set his alarm early for a couple of reasons. The main one was to catch Caper before class, but not far from his mind was that it would be best to escape the room before Swifter awoke. But when Snapper sat up, his roommate’s bed was still empty. That puzzled him, but he put it out of mind for now.
He skipped breakfast and made straight for the lecture hall, trotting up the steps two at a time to reach the history classroom. When he got there, as he’d hoped, the old owl was alone.
“Good morning, Professor.”
“Snapper? You’re not in any of my classes today.”
“I have a question for you.”
Caper set his pen on the lecture podium and glanced at the wall clock. Seven-thirty. “Can I tell you a joke your father used to tell me?”
Snapper frowned. “Sure.”
“He said, ‘I fought countless dogs, I fought rams, I fought Boxer, and I fought warthogs in the Great War. None of that compares to the struggle of dragging my son out of bed each morning.’” Caper laughed, tickled by the memory.
Snapper did not smile. When Caper noticed, his face turned serious again. “I am saying that this must be important to you. What’s your question?”
“Dreamer. The girl from the quarry with the scars on her face. Who is she?”
“Must—” Caper took a deep breath and smoothed his ruffled feathers. “Must you know everything about everyone?”
Snapper took a step forward. “She approached me yesterday to ‘apologize.’ She said she had something to do with what happened to my father, just out of nowhere. Like she knows something. Is she messing with me?”
Caper’s posture sank in defeat. “No one minds their own business in my school, do they?”
Snapper glared.
“Alright.” Caper glanced at the door. “Her perspective on what happened may be somewhat skewed, but she is not lying to you. She met your father during his trips to the quarry. I ensured that she was admitted here for the same reason I did for you—to get her out of a dangerous situation. Now, that’s all I am going to say about it. Whether she chooses to tell you more is up to her. And for the Goddess’s sake, I hope she doesn’t.”
“That’s fair.” Snapper thought for a minute. “Unrelated question. Swifter didn’t come back to the dorm last night. Any idea where he’d be?”
Caper’s brow knotted. “I think he got hurt playing ball and spent the night in the clinic. I’m surprised you’re so concerned.”
“I wanted to talk to him, that’s all. Anyway, I’ve got class at eight. Have a good day, Professor.” Snapper turned for the exit.
“Snapper, what are you doing this evening?”
“Uh…” The boy gulped. “Probably reading.”
“Above ground, I’ll assume.”
Snapper turned so the owl would not see his smile. “Maybe.”
Chapter 36
The click of the doorknob jerked Mauler out of his somnolent haze. He stood up, eyes trained on the little window. Normally he could see the face of Caper or Boxer through the glass. No one was there. Was someone trying to sneak in? He stepped in front of Ponder as the door slowly swung open.
“What is it, Mauler?” asked Ponder, alarmed.
When the door cleared the frame, Mauler picked up the scent coming into the room. He relaxed, feeling silly.
Snapper’s head poked in. “Good afternoon. Is it alright if I come in?”
Mauler backed up, realizing that Snapper was too short to be seen through the little window. No one was trying to get the drop on them.
“Of course it is, Snapper,” said Ponder. “Has Professor Caper accompanied you? We wanted to ask him a question about this morning’s headline.”
Snapper glanced down the tunnel. “No, I came on my own.”
“Tell me you are not missing any classes for this.”
The sheep shook his head. “Today was all about one of my electives. Anatomy. Lecture and lab. I actually really enjoyed it.”
“That is good news. Are you alright? You seem distracted.”
Snapper frowned. “There’s a lot on my mind. Classes. Dealing with my meathead roommate. And… something else.”
“You mean someone.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“I can read it all over your face. No need to be shy with us, Snapper. We do not get to speak to anyone except each other.”
Snapper nodded. Mauler saw him relax. “There’s a girl from the quarry. She’s different from the other students. More… like me. Keeps to herself. She came to me apologetically, thinking she had something to do with what happened to my father.”
Ponder sighed. “You like this girl, but the connection dredges up painful memories. Have you come to see if we can help you sort through this?”
Snapper looked away. “Yes.”
“Nothing would make us happier. Talk to us.”
“I… wanted to ask you both about my dad. The night we were attacked, I saw him drop the Old-Timer persona so the fighter could come out. That was really the only time I ever saw him being… Trampler. I figured that side was at work when he was rescuing you, too. I thought you could tell me what he was like.”
Mauler realized he had not caught the meaning of most of this conversation. He decided it was best to keep quiet and let Ponder navigate whatever was happening here.
“I wish I could answer,” Ponder replied, “but I only saw him for a second before he rammed the dead tree off the cliff. He never said a word to me.”
Snapper’s face fell. “I figured that’s what you would say. I’m sorry. It was a dumb question.”
Ponder’s eyes gleamed. “But Mauler had considerably more contact with him. Maybe he can tell you.”
Snapper took a slow step closer to Mauler. “Hey, buddy. Can I ask you a question?”
Mauler glanced between the two of them.
“Just try, Mauler,” Ponder urged.
“It’s fine if you don’t have the words yet,” Snapper added quickly. “I can ask you another time. It’s just been on my mind.”
Mauler sat up straighter. “Ask.”
“Well, alright. When Boxer was telling me your story, he said that my father whispered something to you. He didn’t say what. I… was hoping you could tell me what he said.”
Ponder said nothing. Mauler’s jaw moved, as was his habit when searching for words. He thought hard, bringing up unpleasant images of being chained to the post in the middle of the HoundBlood ring. He recalled the old ram standing in front of him as he pulled against his restraint.
His eyes went wide. “I remember.”
The joy on Snapper’s face encouraged Mauler. He stared at the floor and concentrated on the sounds the old ram had made so he could repeat them. Each syllable came out individually, carefully pronounced.
“He said… ‘You’re full of powerless fury. You rage at an injustice you cannot reach out and destroy. Someday you may set that anger free against this world, but not now. Be wise. Your chance will come in time.’ And…” Mauler paused and met Snapper’s eyes. “He said, ‘You remind me of my son.’ That is what he told me.”
Snapper threw himself into the beast’s chest, startling Mauler into stepping back. When he tried to pull away, he realized the boy was crying. He looked to Ponder, utterly confused again.
“It is alright,” said Ponder in a reassuring voice. “Your father was great. You must miss him terribly.”
Snapper did not answer. He wept into the fur of Mauler’s chest. Nervously, Mauler put a hand on the sheep’s shoulder.
Finally, after what seemed hours to Mauler, Snapper stepped away. His eyes were red and damp.
“Thanks, Mauler,” he said. “If there’s anything I can do for you…”
&n
bsp; Ponder’s eyes flashed again. “Just do not get into trouble on our account.”
Her words seemed to bring Snapper back to the present. “Yeah. Caper’s already suspicious.” He wiped his face. “I’ll be back to see you as soon as I can.”
Mauler touched the wet fur on his chest. “Did I help?”
“So much, big guy. I’ll figure out a way to pay you back.”
“Just do this for us, Snapper,” Ponder said. “Heal.”
Snapper’s brow knotted. “You know what? You’re right. It’s time for me to heal.”
“Will you talk to the girl from the quarry?”
“Yes. And my roommate. I’ll come back tomorrow morning, OK?”
“Only if your schedule permits, please.”
Snapper did not answer. He seemed driven, as if he had made up his mind about something. He exited the little room and they heard him run down the tunnel.
Ponder sighed. “Well done, Mauler. He needed that.”
Mauler sat beside her, still feeling unsure about what had just happened. “He needed that,” he echoed quietly.
Chapter 37
It’s time for me to heal.
After he emerged from the tunnel, Snapper headed straight to the clinic on the second floor. He found Swifter sulking on a cot, glaring at a splint around a hind leg. Unsurprisingly, he was not pleased to see Snapper.
“Come to gloat?” Swifter scowled.
Snapper shook his head. “I don’t even know what happened.”
“Dorper went too hard. He head-butted me full-on in the leg. Cracked an anklebone. They said it’ll be months before I can play again. That’s what I came to University for. If I lose my spot on the team…”
Snapper felt a pang of sympathy for his roommate. Intramural sports were everything to Swifter.
“So, obviously,” Swifter continued, “I’m in no condition to settle up. Check back in eight weeks.”
“Look, man, I overreacted.”
Surprised, Swifter met the other sheep’s eyes. “Yeah… I’ll say. But I was being an ass. I’d be really torn up if my dad got killed like that too.”
Snapper grinned. “You’re medicated.”
“Doped up to my ears. I probably won’t remember this conversation. Even so, I take back what I said.”
“It’s fine. Some things have happened… it’s not as bad as it was before.”
“That’s good.” Swifter grimaced. “This hurts, man.”
“Even with the medication?”
“Yeah. It’s keeping me awake. All I want is some sleep.” Swifter shifted his position, gritting his teeth as he tried to get comfortable.
Snapper took a long look over his shoulder. No one was in the room. He brought his face close to the cast.
“Dude, what are you doing?”
“You said you probably won’t remember I was ever here, right?” Snapper inquired.
“What?”
“This will take the pain away and you’ll sleep.”
“You’re weirding me out. Hey, what the heck, man? Your eyes are turning green!”
Chapter 38
Snapper ate a quick dinner in the courtyard while keeping an eye out. He had one more person he wanted to speak with before retiring to his dorm to study. He found her, as expected, keeping to herself by the gate.
“Evening, Dreamer,” he said.
She glanced over her shoulder, politely turning away until she had finished her mouthful of grass. “Hey, Snapper. How are you?”
“Just fine. I was sort of hoping for a do-over. Last night I was suspicious you were playing a joke on me. I’m sorry. I should have taken you seriously. I appreciate what you said.”
“Well, thank you for that.” She turned away. “See you in class.”
“I… was hoping we could talk more.”
“I don’t have anything else to say.”
“Not about… that. We can talk about other things.”
She slowly faced him. This time she was the one who looked skeptical. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe we could take a walk. Have dinner in the plains tomorrow.” Snapper fidgeted, realizing how stupid he must have sounded.
Her eyes searched him in that humiliating way. Deciding she was not going to answer, Snapper started to turn.
“Yes. We could do that.” Dreamer’s tone was light, but her expression did not change. “Meet you right here?”
His heart raced, but he tried to look composed. “Sounds great.”
Chapter 39
Dreamer was as surprised as everyone else to see Swifter walking into the first Wednesday class as if nothing was wrong. She had heard he’d be in the clinic for quite a while. She wondered what Snapper would think.
I’ll find out when History starts at ten, she thought.
Her classmates’ happiness to see Swifter sounded off to her as clearly as if they’d been singing it out loud. That made it all the easier to isolate the negative emotions in the room.
At the front, Caper smiled with the rest and greeted Swifter. But Dreamer could tell he was annoyed.
Something’s wrong here. Well, something other than the usual.
Since the attack, people tended to avoid her. That didn’t surprise or upset her. What was upsetting were the emotions revealed to her. When her fellow sheep looked away, they did not do so out of revulsion at her. It was always fear, guilt, or shame. Her face reminded them of something horrible in their own lives. This undercurrent of darkness, while always there, had come to the surface now that she walked around with evidence of the brutal punishment.
The owl watched the clock until eight-thirty arrived. “Alright, everyone. Settle down. We’re all glad to see Swifter is fine. Perhaps after that scare he’ll learn to wear pads.”
Everyone laughed. Even Swifter chuckled at his own expense. Caper favored them with a little smirk before continuing.
“This is Theology 101, Wednesdays and Fridays. Everyone supposed to be here? Good. I always enjoy teaching this course. I feel that the primary school doesn’t adequately cover the history of religion in the world.”
Someone spoke up at the front. “I always heard that you’re the big skeptic around here. Why do you teach this?”
“Excellent question. I know the words ‘secular’ and ‘atheist’ are tossed about when people describe me. The truth is that I absolutely believe in the existence of these gods. There is rational evidence of their existence. What I oppose is dogmatic clinging to old traditions at the expense of new knowledge and social progress. And frankly, I just find this subject fascinating.”
He turned around and drew a five-petal flower on the chalkboard. “Everything starts here. Can anyone tell me what this represents?”
Dreamer raised her hoof. “That’s Arghast the Father Orchid. The first of the gods.”
Caper raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. “Did the missionaries teach you that in the quarry?”
“No, sir. My father told me about him.”
“Wonderful. I’ll have to send old Shiver my regards.” He wrote “ARGHAST FATHER ORCHID” under the picture of the flower.
“In addition to being the first of all, Arghast is the god of fear and chaos. Optera, Karkus, and Toxid are three of his many children.” Caper drew stick figures of a dog and a bird to one side.
“Arghast created the world and gave it to his two first-born children. They created the dogs and the birds, the first species to live in the world.”
Above the bird, he drew a pair of eyes with long lashes. “Optera the Winged Goddess commands the elements of water and air. We have a shrine to her up in the mountain, and there are statues of her in Fleece City and the quarry town.”
“In the city, the statue of Optera is kneeling on a flower,” Swifter spoke up. “Is that Arghast?”
Caper smiled. “Very good. That’s right. Optera is the firstborn and known for being clever with words. Birds value that characteristic to this very day. Bird missionaries visit both sheep settlements
to educate about the Church of Optera. Out of curiosity, how many Church members do we have in this class?”
About two thirds of the students in the room raised their hooves. Dreamer was not among them. She let her eyes drift across the assembly.
“After the War, birds negotiated a deal that allowed them to encourage sheep to worship Optera,” Caper said. “They’ve been quite successful. Despite my public disagreements with Reverend Specter, I find the Church often does good work in promoting social cohesion.”
That’s one way of putting it, Dreamer thought. She knew all too well that the Church of the Goddess did two things in the quarry. One, it shut people up about the bad conditions by promising that more suffering in this life would earn rewards in the next. Two, it ensured that the violence in the quarry was entirely one-sided by encouraging—no, demanding—unconditional forgiveness from sheep.
Dreamer could still remember the bobbing head of the pastor in the quarry in the days after Scurvert had attacked her.
“Your duty is to forgive,” the old egret had said. “Optera will deal with the crime in the next life. If you do not forgive him in this one, my child, I’m afraid that puts you in the wrong.”
Dreamer had gotten a lot of practice at putting the summer incident and its aftermath out of mind.
Caper sidestepped to the picture of the dog and drew a fanged mouth over it. “Karkus the War Hound is hailed by the dogs as being the most skilled warrior to ever exist. He controls earth and fire. They worship him in a volcanic hotspot that lies directly below Fleece City.
“At first, these two gods set their newly created people to fight for supremacy—Optera in order to gain favor with Arghast, Karkus just for love of war. But they matured and eventually sought peace and civilization.”
Caper drew a crude sheep on the board. “Arghast could not have this. He sought chaos. So he made a race of hardy but timid people. He knew his two children would each want these sheep for themselves. To make sheep harder to control, Arghast gave a few of them a violent temperament… and horns.”
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