A Glass Of Water
During Eurofurence in Belin this year, I joined a story-writing-panel."
Professional writers, editors and publishers gave advices and information how to wirte and publish furry releated stories.
As the "official language" of Eurofurence is English (though held in Germany), also this story writing panel was held in English and the publisher was from an American editinghouse.
Anyhow, at the end of the panel there was a special task: To try to write within 15 minutes as much of a story using some keywords which were chosen randomly by the audience. I had to deal with the words: "hyena", "Police officer", "desertplanet", "Hospital", "glas of water".
So here is a quite bizarre story about a hyena and a dragon (both in anthropomorphic bodies). Angani was so kind to edit the story for me, correcting lots of mistakes...
A Glass Of Water
The rays of the sun heated up the small, meagerly furnished room. There were no shutters and of course the curtains, brown colored like the sand in front of the window, did not provide any shelter at all. Sure, the whole planet was one single desert, but even for its inhabitants, who were used to that rough climate, the outside temperature was particularly high.
The heat only fortified the stinging stench of sickness, dried blood, cleaning supplies, and germicides. Nevertheless, another vaguely familiar scent could be smelled as well in this room.
Joey, the hyena, whimpered. His throat felt like abrasive paper, his lips were dry and swollen. He didn't mind that he had eaten anything for days, but after three days without anything to drink, he felt that he was about to die of thirst. He moved his head as far as he could and looked around, but still no one had brought him anything to drink. Actually, he hasn't seen any nurse or even a doctor in this strange hospital yet. He wondered why he was brought here if they had the intention to let him die anyways.
He sighed heavily. He would give anything for just a glass of water. He even considered collecting his own urine, but his body was too dehydrated to produce any liquid. He would even drink the urine of any other living being around, but he was alone in this room, in this hospital, on this goddamn planet.
Well, not all alone, though. There was indeed someone in the room he could ask for a glass of water: A large, gorgeous dragon with golden shimmering scales, known as Golden The Boss. A pair of red glowing eyes followed every movement the hyena made.
What a pity that this dragon was the very reason why Joey was in this hospital with nearly all his bones smashed and broken. This dragon has actually tried to kill him. Of course, the dragon was waiting now for an opportunity to complete his assassination attempt. It would be easy for the golden one to poison the water he was asking for, so asking the dragon for help was not an option.
As leader of one of the most influential syndicates of the planet, Golden The Boss was not amused about the fact that Joey as chief inspector of the local police department had started to interfere with his business.
Joey, of course, knew damn well that sticking his muzzle into the syndicate's affairs would be dangerous and risky. But he was still at the beginning of his career and he hoped to get a promotion soon. It was not only a question of reputation, but above all a question of money. He wanted to offer his family a better life as he was able to do now and one day, he hoped, they could afford to leave that planet, starting a new life somewhere else, far away from heat, dust and sand.
For now, though, his only wish was just to get a glass of water. Fresh, pure water. And he wanted to know why this dragon was around, just watching him and not yet finishing him off. But he didn't want to talk to him nor would he ask that dragon for the glass of water.
"You seem to be thirsty, my old friend", Golden broke the silence. His voice did not sound unfriendly. "What about a glass of water?"
The officer stared at the dragon: "How the hell did you come here? Where are the nurses? Where are the doctors? Where are the other patients? Why..."
"Sssh! Far too many questions, don't you think so? That's quite rude of you, since you did not answer my question first: Do you want me to bring you a glass of water? It won't cost you much and I promise you not to poison you."
Joey didn't want to beg this dragon for water. He would rather die of thirst before accepting any deal this dragon might propose. He would never ask for the possible price for that damn glass of water. He would...
"What do you want from me?" he finally whimpered.
The golden dragon showed his sharp fangs as he gave the hyena a broad smile: "Nothing, to be honest."
"Nothing?"
"Yes, I want nothing from you. I want you to do nothing, I want you to hear nothing and I want you to see nothing."
"You know damn well that I can't do that. I am a police officer, after all."
"Well, a parched police-officer. But I wonder if a dead cop is of any use at all?"
"It has been you who tried to kill me, after all."
"That's just business and nothing personal. You and your men know the rules of the street - hunter and prey. We both know the risk. You also could have killed me. I just have been the stronger one. Besides, do you really think, that you would be able to speak to me right now if I actually had planned your death? So, what about the glass of water now? As I said, all I want for it, is nothing."
"What about my job, my career? I have got a family to take care of."
"Do you really think that you are taking care of your family by parching?"
"Well, it's a question of honor as well."
"Honor?"
"Honor, indeed. I have sworn to never accept deals with any criminals. I am definitely not bribable. Not by money, not by luxury, not by..."
"Not even by a single glass of water for saving your life?"
Golden sighed heavily and without any further answer he left the room. After a while he returned, holding two large glasses of pure, fresh looking water in his hands.
He put them at the small table next to the bed.
"Now, my friend, it's your choice. Tell me, from which of the glasses I should drink. I am going to prove you that this water is not poisoned."
Joey shook his head and motioned the dragon to come closer.
"Please", he finally whimpered. "Please let us end this cruel charade. I know you want to see me dead and I don't want to sell my soul for a single glass of water. As I said, I can't promise to leave the syndicate alone. I can't tolerate and ignore its and your activities. But I propose another bargain."
The hyena's eyes fluttered feverishly.
"What sort of bargain?" The dragon's tail swished back and forth. "Now you get me curious."
And then the hyena started to talk in a weak and cracky voice. The dragon listened carefully, his eyes widened in surprise every now and then.
As Joey has finished, the dragon asked softly: "Are you really sure about that? How can I be sure?"
"I am by all means", the hyena said as firmly as he managed in his condition.
"Well, I am not convinced", Golden hesitated. "Hyenas can't be trusted."
Joey nodded. "You are right, just as dragons can't be trusted. But this will convince you. Reach in my pocket of my jacket over there. The left one."
"If this is a trick of yours..." The dragon snarled as he uses two of his talons. Delicately he fished a piece of paper from the pocket. "A... letter?"
"Read it", the hyena said softly.
Golden The Boss nodded, unfolded the piece of paper and started to read.
"Oh, I see. That's clever, indeed. Now I understand fully."
He handed the letter back to Joey. "And you are still sure about it?"
The hyena nodded and sighed. "I don't have another choice, do I? So, deal?"
"Deal!" the dragon accepted and offered the officer the glass with water: "Now, how about a glass of fresh, cooling water?"
"Indeed, now since I don't have anything to lose anymore. I only ask you to keep your promise. And please make sure that no one else gets afflicted by it."
The dragon handed Joey the glass. "You have the word of Golden The Boss. I also promise you to take care of anything by myself personally. Cheers!"
Joey accepted the glass and took a careful sip. He savored the sensation of the fresh, still cool water against his brittle lips. It was just plain water, but for Joey it tasted like one the finest wines and he enjoyed every single gulp.
After he has finished the glass, the dragon took it away from him. "Another one?"
The hyena shook his head. "No, thank you."
"So, anything else you need? We have that bargain now."
"No, thank you. You can leave me alone for now. I assure you not to run away."
The dragon chuckled: "Indeed, there would be no place in the universe where I would not hunt you down."
As Golden was about to leave, Joey said: "Oh, wait, my friend. I nearly have forgotten. There's another letter in my pocket. It is important to me that you read that as well. It is very important."
"Oh?" The dragon searched the officer's jacked for the other document and frowned as it looked somewhat familiar to him.
***
"Flight Alpha-Delta-Charlie 756, destination Lunaris, welcomes all the passengers on board. After the takeoff we will serve dinner and later our Captain is going to prepare everything for hibernating. We wish you a save and relaxing flight."
In the third row of the shuttle a young female hyena looked out of the window, watching the planet beneath them becoming a small brown spot in the eternal darkness of space.
She sighed happily: There would be a better life for the two children and her on Lunaris. She had already an offer for a new job, a very well paid position, after all she was now the widow of a sort of a national hero.
Again she had a look on the paycheck she held in her hands. The insurance company never would have paid as much when her husband had died on cancer as the doctors had diagnosed on him. But he died on duty, and there was even a state funeral for Joey.
Only one thing made her wonder: Shortly after the funeral the owner of the insurance company by himself appeared at her home. Never before she had seen such a beautiful creature like that golden dragon who handed her the paycheck and three boarding passes for this shuttle. "It is my own airline as well", he had explained. "Just as the company on Lunaris you can work for, if you are interested in the job. It would be my honor and pleasure to welcome the wife of such a brave and duteous officer in my service."
END.