“Hey, Dude, you want to ride?”
He meowed as if he were answering, and I lifted him up to the saddlebag.
Torin boosted me up again, then swung onto Lambo, and we started walking. Our road was muddy from the rain, the horses splashed in the puddles. Yet again it was good I had on rainboots.
“I think I’m getting used to this.”
He chuckled. “Finally.”
“And any day now the vessel will kick back on and I will be whisked back home.”
He nodded.
“When was the longest you went without it working?”
“Three days.”
“So literally any minute now. If you think about it, it could be on a three-day timer. It’s been three days, maybe it will just start working again — If you feel it, make sure you grab my hand.”
“I will.”
We rode a bit farther, the rain-dampened world stretching quiet around us.
“I wishwe knew how to work it… at this walking pace, how long before we get to Max?”
“Includin’ this day, two more beyond.”
“Does it bother you that I like to talk so much on our trip?”
“Nae, I prefer the talk. Twill keep the road short — a long silent ride grows verra borin’.”
“That’s nice, when I go hiking with Coop—” I decided not to talk about him. “Never mind.”
Torin glanced over, mild and steady. “Ye are goin’ tae be grateful tae be reunited with Master Cooper?”
I didn’t answer, instead I asked, “How long do you think we’ll have been gone?”
He asked back, “How long was I gone between visits?”
“Seems like it was always the next day.”
“Tis likely ye will be gone for a day. They will be verra worried, but I will get ye returned afore they grow verra fearful.”
“IfI get home.”
“Ye will. I will get ye home tae Master Cooper if tis the last thing I do.”
“Please don’t say that, I do want to get home, but I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
The horse shifted back and forth under me.
I said, “You’ll be glad to have me go home, I havenotbeen helpful.”
“I will miss ye when ye are gone.”
“That is nice of you to say. I’ve been a huge pain in yer arse. Webothknow it.”
He laughed. “Ye hae occasionally been a pain in m’arseanda dick.”
